Jujutsu Kaisen animator apologises to fans following backlash over Todo’s cross-dressing scene
In the latest episode of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, the anime community witnessed the apparent scandal of Aoi Todo briefly cross-dressing in his imagination and stirring discontent among Islamic viewers. Yes, an animated character’s choice of clothing seems to have real-world consequences.
What
On December 15, 2023, animator Sota Shigetsugu, a regular contributor to the series, took to addressing the criticism he received from members of the Islamic community, offering a formal apology for the ‘contentious’ scene added to Episode 21.
The scene in question unfolds in Todo's imagination, where he briefly cross-dresses alongside Takada-chan, a popular Japanese idol.
ALSO READ: Jujutsu Kaisen fans don’t fear, for our besto frendo Aoi Todo is finally here
The sequence, absent from the original manga, injected a humorous tone into the episode, as Todo and Takada executed a lively combo set to the tune of Takada-chan's "Climax☆JUMPING!" song, aiding protagonist Yuji in a pivotal fight against Mahito.
READ MORE: Jujutsu Kaisen sees off Mahito as Itadori makes his mark as the bane of Cursed Spirits
Known animation style
Despite the scene aligning with Shigetsugu's known penchant for injecting comedic twists into the narrative, it prompted criticism and online abuse.
Shigetsugu is notably recognized for his playful protest against MAPPA, the animation studio, in a prior episode where he humorously illustrated the destruction of MAPPA's production floor in Shibuya. This incident was explained as an inside joke, showcasing Shigetsugu's idiosyncratic approach to animation.
ALSO READ: One of the best animators of 2023 will never work with MAPPA again after Jujutsu Kaisen
Criticism of the cross-dressing scene emerged prominently under one of Shigetsugu's social media posts. Subsequently, both the critical comments and Shigetsugu's apology on December 15 were deleted.
Severity of offense
While a search of Arabic-language posts suggested a variety of responses, a significant portion of fans appeared indifferent to the perceived offence, questioning the justification for harassment and death threats directed at the animator.
While some fans defended Shigetsugu, others questioned the severity of the outrage, wondering why an animated gender-bending moment should lead to harassment or death threats. Because, of course, nothing says "reasonable discourse" like threatening someone over a fictional character's wardrobe choice.
However, in the grand scheme of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 controversies, such as the alleged sins of the animation studio MAPPA, this cross-dressing debacle seems almost quaint.
ALSO READ: Jujutsu Kaisen director hospitalised after 'exploitative' MAPPA working conditions
Despite the tiny debacle that has resulted from the recent episode, the broader challenges faced by animators this season including criticisms of MAPPA's ghastly production schedule, may overshadow this specific incident within the general fandom.