What was a
masterpiece for the world, for others was a disappointment. Japanese
criticism of Jujutsu Kaisen has surfaced following the premiere of
episode 4, "Perfect Preparation," creating a glaring cultural rift.
While the West celebrates visual brutality with a 9.8/10 on IMDb, local
audiences in Japan feel that MAPPA sacrificed the heart of the
story for the spectacle.
Empty
show? The reason for Japanese criticism of Jujutsu Kaisen
The
extended 28-minute episode adapted the Zenin Clan's massacre in a style that
many compared to Kill Bill: saturated colors, cinematic framing,
and fluid action. However, for the Japanese public, this "cool"
aesthetic diluted the tragedy.
The main
complaints are that Mai's sacrifice and Maki's grief lost
weight. Rather than feeling like a painful transformation born of loss, some
fans argue that it was presented as a simple stylized "power-up,"
where the music and the fast pace left no room to process the sisters'
mourning.
Action
vs. Narrative: The Eternal Debate
This
contrast highlights how we consume anime. The international public, driven by
the hype of social networks, valued the choreography and the
"hyperkinetic" animation. Instead, Japanese audiences prioritized
fidelity to the somber tone of Gege Akutami's manga.
Although no
one denies the technical quality, the question remains: Should an adaptation
prioritize looking good or feeling good?
