Jujutsu Kaisen is facing the most bewildering moment in its history: its latest episode has captivated the West and is hated in Japan

The third season of Jujutsu Kaisen has raised expectations with its recent Annihilation Journey arc, where the narrative focuses on Maki’s vendetta against her Zenin clan. Chapter 4, one of the most anticipated by manga fans, has presented a climactic assault on the Zenin fortress, designed with high-quality pacing and cinematography, earning it an impressive rating of 9.8 stars on IMDb internationally.

Two completely opposite reactions

Despite its success abroad, Japan has reacted with discontent, giving the same episode only 5.7 stars. Japanese fans criticize the creative liberties taken by the MAPPA studio in the adaptation, suggesting that they have changed the characteristic and more reflective tone of the manga, prioritizing action and violence. This disparity in reception underscores the tensions in the anime industry regarding how to attract different audiences.

The criticisms include the infamous removal of popular characters, such as Naoya Zenin, and the use of visual styles inspired by Tarantino’s cinema, which have puzzled some fans. While Western fans seem to focus more on the quality of the animation and action, the Japanese emphasize the importance of the narrative, creating a dilemma for the creators: to adapt a work that can satisfy both the local and international audience.

This situation is not new; a similar pattern has been observed in the reception of other animes like Solo Leveling, which has had less impact in Japan than in the international arena. As studios seek strategies to balance these differences in the audience, the future of the series may depend on how they handle these divergent expectations.