Fans accuse MAPPA’s working circumstances of being to fault for the poor animation in the most recent episode, despite Jujutsu Kaisen animator Hokuto Sadamoto’s apology.
MAPPA studio animator Hokuto Sadamoto apologised on social media for the quality of the most recent episode of Jujutsu Kaisen after fans on X voiced complaints. However, many fans have defended Sadamoto, claiming that the issues stem from MAPPA’s working conditions.
In Season 2, Episode 14, Sadamoto did not receive credit as an animator, in an attempt to remain under the radar. But after his role was made public through a leak, viewers attacked his work on the show. Shortly after the episode’s premiere on Thursday, Sadamoto apologised via a tweet on X, the former Twitter. “I’ve done a job that no one would appreciate, and I’m sure I’ll continue to do so,” the translated tweet says. Apologies. I was furious about the leak, but I was really just being cowardly by trying to hide by posing as someone without credit in the first place. I apologise.
MAPPA's Working Conditions in the Anime Industry
For the episode, Sadamoto had only two weeks to do 250 animation cuts, which is a significant task for anyone, even a skilled animator, as he disclosed on X. The animation industry has a long history of mistreating its workers, and MAPPA is not an exception. This incident is just the most recent in that list. Similar accusations regarding the working conditions of the animators on Attack on Titan have already been made against the studio. Although Sadamoto was the target of the first reaction, many on X have defended the animator and the other members of the JJK animation team while trying to hold MAPPA responsible for the enormous workload that its staff members are assigned.
MAPPA’s greatest hits include Attack on Titan, which is immensely popular, and Jujutsu Kaisen. The first season of the show, which ran from October 3, 2020 to March 27, 2021, was adapted from the manga by Gege Akutami. It tells the tale of Yuji Itadori, a typical high school student who, through a series of unfortunate events, becomes the host of the evil cursed spirit Ryomen Sukuna and learns how to become a Jujutsu sorcerer.
With the release of Jujutsu Kaisen 0, a film that takes place before the events of Season 1 and tells the story of Yuta Okkotsu, a boy haunted by the cursed spirit of his childhood friend Rika Orimoto, who died in a tragic car accident, the anime quickly became a favourite among the anime community. On August 31, 2023, the second season of the main Jujutsu Kaisen anime series debuted. New episodes are being released every Thursday.
Sources: X (formerly Twitter), IGN India