Unveiling the Flaws in Jujutsu Kaisen's Shibuya Incident Arc: A Critical Analysis

Article Overview

Jujutsu Kaisen's Shibuya Incident arc is highly regarded as one of the best shonen arcs due to its nonstop action and high-quality fights, but it's still not flawless.

The anime adaptation of the arc was largely impressive, although there was one early fight with Yuji that can be seen as unnecessary filler and detracts from the more significant clash involving Gojo. However, Studio MAPPA redeemed themselves by dedicating proper care and attention to the remaining fights in the arc, demonstrating their skill in enhancing the source material within the anime.

Jujutsu Kaisen's Shibuya Incident arc is widely regarded as one of the top arcs in Shonen manga. However, despite the excellent job the anime adaptation has done in bringing it to the screen, there is one early fight in the arc that falls short of the high standard set by the show's battles. This serves as a reminder that even the best storylines have their flaws.

In episode #8 of season 2 of Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuji engages in a battle with a grasshopper curse, while Gojo confronts the powerful disaster Curses Jogo and Hanami. Although Gojo's fight is more captivating as he faces more significant enemies, the anime also places considerable emphasis on Yuji's fight, incorporating additional details and showcasing dramatic moments.

Although it enhances the fight from the manga, this additional element consumes valuable screen time that could have been devoted to Gojo's extraordinary battle. Consequently, it is somewhat disheartening to discover that the grasshopper fight is essentially mere filler.

Jujutsu Kaisen Made Yuji's First Fight in Shibuya Pure Filler

The Shibuya Incident is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest shonen arcs in history, and its focus on relentless action plays a significant role in this. Fans are constantly engaged as the arc swiftly transitions from one battle to the next. However, this continuous fighting presents a challenge for studios when it comes to ensuring consistent quality for every fight. Often, studios allocate the majority of their time and budget to highlight the most epic confrontations in the show. Unfortunately, MAPPA took a different approach with the grasshopper fight.

Fortunately, as the season progressed, greater attention was given to the crucial battles, such as Gojo's final showdown with the Disaster Curses and Yuji's fight against Choso. Even the less significant fights became more captivating, as MAPPA invested more care and effort into them. This allowed the anime to truly do justice to the nonstop action of the Shibuya Incident, which is an incredibly impressive accomplishment despite the initial setback. Studio MAPPA consistently enhances the source material in their anime adaptations, and Jujutsu Kaisen's second season is yet another testament to their prowess.

MAPPA Did The Rest of Jujutsu Kaisen's Shibuya Incident Arc Justice

Many people complain about this minor flaw because they hold the Shibuya Incident arc in such high regard. This arc not only transformed Jujutsu Kaisen, but also had a significant impact on shonen manga as a whole. Fortunately, Studio MAPPA exceeded expectations and successfully captured the greatness of the Shibuya Incident arc in the anime adaptation.

Stream on Crunchyroll.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of Jujutsu Kaisen, I found the Shibuya Incident arc to be a thrilling and captivating experience. The nonstop action and high-quality fights were a true testament to MAPPA's exceptional adaptation of the manga series. However, I do have some criticisms of the arc, particularly the early fight with Yuji and the grasshopper curse. While this fight was enhanced from the manga, it ultimately felt like unnecessary filler that detracted from the more significant clash involving Gojo.

Despite this minor flaw, I believe that the Shibuya Incident arc is still one of the best shonen arcs in recent memory. The anime adaptation did an excellent job of capturing the intensity and excitement of the manga, and I am eagerly awaiting the next season.