THE MAPPArenowned studio responsible for hits such as ‘Attack on Titan‘, ‘Chainsaw Man’ and others, is facing a serious crisis due to recurring allegations of an abusive work environment.
Although it is recognized for the excellence of its animations, the studio has always been involved in controversy. However, the recent allegations, intensified during the second season of ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’, reveal an alarming scenario.
History of toxic environment and other complaints
Allegations of a toxic environment, excessive overtime and unfinished episodes are nothing new at MAPPA. Since the start of the fourth season of ‘Shingeki no Kyojin’, complaints about unrealistic deadlines for delivering episodes and inhumane working conditions have emerged.
Animators who were previously linked to the studio were the ones who reported these situations.
The situation worsened during the production of the second season of ‘Jujutsu Kaisen‘. Arai Kazuto, director and storyboard artist for one of the episodes, revealed that the team requested the chapter be postponed due to time constraints, but the request was denied.
Additionally, other segments of the anime were completed just hours before broadcast, indicating intense pressure on the animators.
Tweet with the phrase ‘it’s over’, from the Mappa director and storyboard. – Image: Twitter/Reproduction
Episode 12 featured the expression of mental exhaustion by director Ookubo Shunsuke, who used an image of the protagonist of “Shirobako”, an anime about anime production, to describe the fatigue caused by the abusive pace of work.
Tweet from the director of Shirobako, representing his mental exhaustion. – Image: Twitter/Reproduction
The complaints also reached the production of the film ‘Jujutsu Kaisen 0’, where an animator denounced impractical deadlines that resulted in the delivery of the feature film in just four months. To get an idea of what this intense pace does not necessarily reflect in good works, the films of Studio Ghibli take two to three years to complete.
Furthermore, there are reports that MAPPA is attempting to silence the animators through confidentiality agreements, seeking to avoid disclosing the difficulties faced during the production of the second season of ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’. Encrypted and symbolic messages on social media demonstrate the collective collapse of the animators in the face of the exhausting work process.
The possibility of postponing or pausing the season to allow the crew to rest is unfeasible without the approval of the production committee, which includes companies such as TOHO Animation and Shueisha. To date, the case remains unresolved, reflecting a blatant disrespect for the animators, who have suffered from labor abuses for years.
The MAPPA studio, known for its excellent animations, is facing a delicate moment, shaking the confidence of employees and the public.
