Jujutsu Kaisen set the platform for an enthralling second season with the first few episodes. As the story moved toward the action-loaded Shibuya Incident Arc, viewers expected MAPPA animation to give their best. However, some episodes featured a massive drop in quality that resulted in animators having to apologize to the fanbase publicly.
Despite the ending of Attack on Titan, the studio reportedly has been keeping unrealistic expectations for the development of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2. The overburdening workload has led to an overall bad output. Multiple JJK animators have expressed discontent with the assigned production schedule in the past few months.
Amidst the rumors of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 being postponed to provide a much-needed break to the staff, MAPPA workers have been calling out the company for its workplace ethics. One animator expressed their anger by sharing a clip on X depicting the ‘demolition’ of MAPPA production’s floor.
Jujutsu Kaisen Animator Disses MAPPA Studios By Recreating A Scene From Sukuna’s Fight
Although many staff members have complained about MAPPA’s hectic work schedule in the past, a new wave of outrage hit the studio in October 2023. Reports stated that the staff had to sign non-disclosure agreements about Jujutsu Kaisen’s development.
In the latest news, the anime community has been shocked to learn that the production behind fan-favorite animes like Chainsaw Man and Zombie Land Saga has reportedly stalled the pay of several workers. Animators believe that the pay doesn’t match the heavy workload or the inhumane work conditions they have to deal with.
Responsible for the creation of Season 2 Episode 17, Jujutsu Kaisen animator Hone_Hone took a dig at MAPPA Studios by sharing the raw artwork for the episode. He used the raws for Mahoraga versus Sukuna to depict a fight in the MAPPA’s office that ultimately led to the destruction of the place. The caption reads:
“Here’s a small fact or rather an inside joke… The building that will be destroyed in this cut actually exists in Shibuya, but since I couldn’t find the floor plan or photos of the interior, I instead demolished MAPPA’s magic production floor, which was just the right size… The reception from the staff was very good.
小ネタというか内輪ネタなんですが
このカットで壊れるビルは渋谷に実在するんですが、内観の間取りや写真が見つからなかったので、代わりに大きさがちょうど良かったMAPPAの呪術制作フロアをぶっ壊しました
スタッフ受けが非常に良かったですw pic.twitter.com/SAGpkN7kyu
— ホネほね (@Hone_honeHONE) November 16, 2023
Hone using MAPPA’s building as an inspiration for Episode 17 speaks for itself. Mahoraga’s fight with Sukuna is renowned for the widescale destruction that it created, destroying several buildings into rubble, thus showing the discontentment the animator harbors with the studio.
Also Read: Can Gojo Satoru’s Domain Expansion Defeat Mahoraga That Made Sukuna Sweat?
The Long List of MAPPA Controversies
MAPPA Studios has a tendency to take multiple animation projects which leads to a rigorous work schedule for its employees. In the past, many workers have complained about being underpaid and overworked to the extent of having no breaks for several days. Freelance animator Mushiyo once told AnimeNews Network in a 2021 interview that the work environment was like a factory and 80% of the staff were discontent with the workplace.
Attack on Titan animators, who were universally commended for their work in the season finale, were also overworked. Comicbook reported that one of the staffers called out fans for harassing the AoT animators, stating that they have been “pouring their sweat, blood, and tears into making this show look as good as it can be in an insanely short amount of time.”
The controversial NDAs that MAPPA Studios’ workers had to sign became the final straw. They believed it to be a method to silence their ongoing outrage on social media. Despite the controversies surrounding the studio, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 is going to continue as there is no official confirmation about a postponement.
Also Read: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 May Take a Serious Hit, Things With MAPPA Look Worse Than What We Were Told
