Jujutsu Kaisen’s illustrators struggle for better working conditions amid the release of the second season
Staff Writer
Jujutsu Kaisen, often praised for, among many factors, its fluid animations and dynamic, vivid graphics has garnered a reputation for being one of the best animes in the industry, according to various critics. But behind these intricate visuals, illustrators are struggling to loosen themselves from the suffocating conditions they are forced to work in by the Maruyama Animation Produce Project Association (MAPPA), the show’s animation studio.
MAPPA, notable for its work on popular anime Attack on Titan, Chainsaw Man, and of course, Jujustu Kaisen, has long been under fire for its disregard for its workers. This has intensified with the release of the second season of Jujustu Kaisen, with employees speaking out on social media.
Kosuke Kato, the primary director overseeing season two revealed details regarding the rigorous working conditions. He disclosed that the strict deadlines created an environment that required workers to alternate waking up “every three hours” to satisfy them. Later, in a post on X (Twitter), he posted, “I want to die quickly,” an alarming message that ignited both concern and heated debate within the community.
Surveys conducted in Japan revealed that nearly 70% of workers in the animation industry experience mental and physical taxation in response to the low wages and strenuous conditions they work under.
These injustices, though, are closer to us than we realize. Similar conditions prompted the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG – Aftra) strikes, which involved actors forming a union to fight for more adequate working conditions and pay. Likewise, when asked about the circumstances that necessitate the presence of a Teachers’ Union at American High, Mr. Howard, an elected site representative of the Union said, “There was a need to organize teachers to fight for better compensation.”
He reflected on the relationship between institutional management and the circumstances of workers, comparable to the dynamic between MAPPA and its animators. “It would be nice to have employers who didn’t make us fight for such things but the reality is that the role of management is to get employees to do more work for less money. The labor of workers is a resource companies are trying to cut costs on.”
Still, Mr. Howard believes in the people’s role in undoing such conditions. “Ultimately the power is in the voters of Fremont. Voters surrender that power when they don’t vote.” The participation of voters in improving working conditions for teachers is akin to the role that viewers can play in the reformation of MAPPA’s rigid production system and its effects on animators. He continued, “Our job is to constantly review what elected leaders are doing and hold them accountable.”
Despite this, a lack of awareness and care prevents action from being taken. Grace Wei (12), a student keeping up with the weekly episodes, commented on student awareness of underlying circumstances at MAPPA. “I think most people know that MAPPA treats its employees badly, but don’t know the extent of it.”
Regardless of the extent of student awareness, Wei believes students would be unwilling to extend their care. She continued, “Even if they knew everything, people would care more about Jujutsu Kaisen being a good show. We see it in politics too. People won’t boycott and sacrifice their seven-dollar coffees. None of these human necessities are enough to stop people [from watching the show].”
With a similar sentiment, Daniel Chen (11) said, “I feel like people have awareness but just don’t care enough to boycott the show.”
However, the role that we, the people, play in alleviating the struggles of animators who bring us primary forms of entertainment is worth taking initiative for.
Non-profit organizations like the Japanese Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) and the Animator Supporters Dormitory Project aim to foster better living and working conditions for animators by providing them with assistance and housing funds. Other methods, like purchasing merchandise, donating to artists directly, or merely keeping up with incoming information regarding the issue serve abundant purposes.
The relationship between economic systems, the public, and workers is one that manifests itself all around us. With this in mind, as members of an ever-growing socioeconomic climate, it is crucial that we, as citizens (and avid anime watchers), do our part.
Caption: Jujutsu Kaisen art and MAPPA’s logo. (PC: Amrita Venkatesh (11))
Eagle Era 
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