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Despite the immense success, the popular anime and manga seriesJujutsu Kaisenhas been a center of controversy for almost the entirety of 2023. This year has seen a lot of controversy surroundingJujutsu Kaisenand MAPPA in particular, from fans signing petitions to postpone the anime to animators openly complaining about unfavorable working conditions on X (Twitter).
It also became the focus of another controversy before the year was through. Due to his animation of the character Todo, who is a fan favorite in the second season of the popular anime seriesJujutsu Kaisen, the lead animator has been the target of harsh criticism and harassment from some fans.
The animator was forced to issue an apology to the fans for the scene, which was only included in the anime, following the harassment. The animator took to X and tweeted a formal apology that explained how he found out that cross-dressing is a sin in religion and he apologized for it.
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Jujutsu KaisenAnimator Was Harassed For Dressing Aoi Todo as a Schoolgirl
A scene featuring Aoi Todo fighting Mahito while dressed like a schoolgirl was exclusive to the anime version ofJujutsu KaisenSeason 2 Episode 21. Todo essentially did this so he could fight with all of his strength unlocked, and it helped him feel better to picture his idol, Takada-chan, fighting alongside him.
While most of the audience enjoyed the scene, some fans were furious that Todo was dressing like a girl and threatened to kill the animator, Sota Shigetsugu. Shigetsugu is well-known in the animation industry for giving scenes humorous twists, as shown by the scene that wasn’t in the original manga.
However, cultural differences prevented some fans from Arab countries from accepting the cross-dressing scene. Shigetsugu went on to X to apologize for the scene which hurt the emotions ofJujutsu Kaisenfans. He issued a formal apology from his official account which was later deleted by the animator.
Read More:Jujutsu Kaisen Makes a Big Announcement After the End of Season 2, Promo For The “Culling Game Arc” Released
Jujutsu KaisenAnimator Apologizes For Aoi Todo’s Scene
Shocked by the unfavorable reaction,Shigetsuguwent onto X(Twitter) and expressed regret for any inconvenience he may have given to certain viewers. He clarified that he was ignorant of the theological ramifications of cross-dressing. His tweet read:
“I had wondered why so much criticism came from the Islamic world when it was so well received in Japan, but I was convinced when I learned that cross-dressing is a sin in religion and therefore there is a strong sense of rejection of such things. I apologize for any discomfort this may cause you.”
More people came out in favor of the animator’s work despite the criticism of some. As soon as they realized there was no need to apologize for the scene, fans started expressing their gratitude to the animator. The whole point of the segment was to lighten up the action scene.
Read More:5 Times Jujutsu Kaisen took Inspiration from Other Anime and Manga to Further Better Gege Akutami’s Magnum Opus
Nevertheless, the episode was one of the best episodes of season 2 that were animated by Shigetsugu, and other than the controversy, the episode was loved by the majority of theJujutsu Kaisenfans.
Tarun Kohli
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2959
Tarun Kohli is the Senior Anime Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,900 published articles. He currently specializes in critiquing One Piece and other Shonen anime. A passionate fan of the genre, his love for thoughtful analysis reflects his genuine appreciation for the art of anime. His deep understanding of anime culture has earned recognition from industry figures such as Adi Shankar and the creators of Blood of Zeus.
