After receiving complaints from Jujutsu Kaisen fans on X, MAPPA studio animator Hokuto Sadamoto posted an apology for the quality of the latest episode -- but many fans have taken to defending him and blaming the problems on MAPPA's working conditions.
Originally, Sadamoto had hoped to stay under the radar by not being credited as an animator on Season 2, Episode 14. However, a leak revealed his involvement and consequently led to fans criticizing his work on the episode. Sadamoto tweeted his apology on X (formerly Twitter) soon after the episode released on Thursday. The translated tweet reads, "I've done a job that no one would appreciate, and I'm sure I'll continue to do so. Sorry. I got mad at the leak, but I was just a coward in the first place because I tried to run away by pretending to be a non-credit. I am sorry."
MAPPA's Working Conditions in the Anime Industry
Sadamoto revealed on X that he had only two weeks to do 250 animation cuts for the episode -- a huge undertaking for anyone, even a professional animator. This incident is the latest in a long list of mistreatment of employees in the animation industry, and MAPPA is no exception. The studio has also faced similar allegations in the past around the working conditions of animators working on Attack on Titan. While the initial backlash hit Sadamoto directly, many on X have taken to defending the animator and the rest of the JJK animation team, while seeking to hold MAPPA accountable for the massive workload given to its employees.
Jujutsu Kaisen is one of MAPPA's biggest hits along with the wildly popular Attack on Titan. The first season of the series, adapted from Gege Akutami's manga, was released from Oct. 3, 2020 to March 27, 2021. It follows the story of Yuji Itadori, a normal high school student who becomes a Jujutsu Sorcerer after a series of events lead him to become the host of the dangerous cursed spirit, Ryomen Sukuna.
The anime became an instant favorite among the anime community, and its popularity only increased with the release of Jujutsu Kaisen 0, a movie that predates the events of Season 1 and follows 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 second season of the main Jujutsu Kaisen anime series premiered on Aug. 31, 2023, and continues to release new episodes every Thursday.
Jujutsu Kaisen is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
Sources: X (formerly Twitter), IGN India
