MAPPA makes a lot of anime these days as they try to become a legendary studio. But, achieving a status like Ghibli, Madhouse, Ufotable, and Kyoto Animation takes time. Mappa executives, on the other hand, have another plan in mind.
I won’t be linking to all the Twitter accounts complaining about the HORRID working conditions during the production of Season 2. Some wanted to quit, and it makes sense. MAPPA knew that the Shibuya Incident was basically a slaughter fest full of insane fights. Most of season 2 is just one fight after another, important fights. So, one would expect this season to have a different release schedule, maybe an episode every other week. Naturally, that didn’t happen.
And anyone who watched the season sees that. The production is rushed to hell and back, unlike in the Great Pretender. Some fights look spectacular, probably because the animators had enough time to do their best. Others look super rushed and unfinished: the Jogo vs. Sukuna fight and the Sukuna vs Mahoraga fights are prime examples. Don’t get me wrong, they are still awe-inspiring and exciting battles, but you can see a stark difference in production when you compare those to Gojo’s scenes and Toji’s battle with Dagon.
So, did MAPPA eventually let the staff breathe? Nope, as multiple Twitter accounts of the team started sharing their experience online, it seems like the studio execs started roleplaying as real-life anime villains. Staff couldn’t leave the office; they had to sleep there, and supposedly, the team had to sign an NDA to not talk about the work conditions publicly…
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, as this studio regularly takes the hottest manga each year, multiple projects at a time sometimes, without considering the strain it puts on the staff. The anime industry as a whole is known for its cruel treatment of its workers, but this is reaching inhumane levels. Let’s hope the animators, writers, and everyone working on the shows we love unionize as soon as possible.
Remember, when you watch Mappa anime, there’s a good chance that the people that made it haven’t gone home in quite a while.
