Highlights
- Don’t miss Jujutsu Kaisen’s special theatrical event featuring episodes with additional cuts and corrections on March 29.
- Episode 41, “Thunderclap, Part 2,” showcases an epic battle but was only a fraction of the intended vision, leaving fans wanting more.
- The Blu-ray release promises an improved version of Episode 41 with extended scenes and corrections, making it worth a watch on the big screen.
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Show Title |
Jujutsu Kaisen |
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Episode Title |
Thunderclap, Part 2 |
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Episode Director |
Hakuyu Go |
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Episode Air Date |
11/16/2023 |
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen, Episode 41, “Thunderclap, Part 2,” now streaming on Crunchyroll.
With just how many game-changing moments occurred during the Shibuya Incident, picking a handful of episodes to showcase the season’s strengths is a difficult proposition. There’s always going to be a great moment that’s missing, but Jujutsu Kaisen‘s upcoming short theatrical event isn’t about what’s missing, but rather what has been added, and that makes all the difference.
For one week, starting March 29, 30 theaters across Japan will be screening four episodes from the series, namely “Thunderclap, Part 2” and all three parts of “Right and Wrong” (Episodes 41-44). The first of those episodes, in particular, is the true draw behind this screening, as it will feature additional cuts and corrections to address what wasn’t finished before the TV airing.
An Unfinished Masterpiece?
Opinions are torn regarding Episode 41. Previously, we praised the ambition fueling this insane visual feast but criticized its uneven presentation and lack of clarity. The episode showcases the battle between the series antagonist, Ryomen Sukuna, and Mahoraga, a shikigami initially summoned by Megumi Fushiguro to bring down an enemy curse user. Of course, it was a last-ditch effort that would have killed Megumi in the process were it not for Sukuna’s intervention.
With Megumi’s survival required to protect his mysterious plans, Sukuna begins a fight with the most powerful shikigami, to protect one of the protagonists of the story, no less. This fight causes more destruction than any previous battle, produces the most harrowing body count, and ultimately serves as the apex of the Shibuya Incident. Unfortunately, the episode was not finished.
It Was Only a Fraction of the Vision
There’s a lot to appreciate about “Thunderclap, Part 2,” from the numerous callbacks to other shōnen greats, to the scale and imagination of the battle, and, of course, the music. However, it’s easier to appreciate these things when the visuals are easy to follow, and even those who vibe with this episode have to admit that clarity is not its strong suit. From unfinished cuts to scenes that don’t transition well, it can be as puzzling as it is mesmerizing.
Animator Roccia Nobili commented publicly in a now-deleted post that the episode was only “30% of the intended vision.” It should be stressed that the post was only deleted because fans who read it were attributing too much importance to the number, as Nobili pointed out in a follow-up. The hypothetical percentage of completion isn’t nearly as important as the degree to which the artists felt they had achieved their vision and the animators’ statements point toward a strong “no.”
How This Episode Can Meet Its Potential
People already expected that the Blu-ray release of Episode 41 would be an improvement. After all, anime fans are used to the home video releases offering the most complete versions, with corrected/touched-up cuts and the removal of ghosting/dimming that muddies a good scene. But this isn’t just any other episode, and it was worth asking what degree the BD release would expand upon the original.
The fact that it’s being put in theaters suggests that the difference is significant, but then again, TV episodes being stitched together and put in theaters is nothing new. Demon Slayer has done it a few times now, but always to build anticipation for a new season, the premiere of which is treated as the hook for these theatrical runs. Jujutsu Kaisen‘s third season, however, is still a ways away, and these four episodes aren’t even the last of Season 2.
Why This Screening Is Special
Despite that, an improved version of “Thunderclap, Part 2” seems worth the price of admission alone. Of course, expectations should be tempered regarding the extent of corrections, but even a little bit could go a long way. Not only is there work to be done to correct what is already there, but there are even cuts that never even made it in, or which were trimmed down severely.
Animator Vincent Chansard only partook in the episode out of respect for its director, the extremely talented Hakuyu Go. Otherwise, he promised himself he would never work with Studio MAPPA again and asserted such once more after it aired. How fitting then, that his work is some of the most awe-inspiring in the entire episode. And there’s even more that didn’t make it into the TV version.
It Deserves To Be Screened Overseas
As of the time of writing, there has been no announcement of any plans to bring this screening overseas, and the chances of it happening seem slim, but it feels like a guaranteed success. While personally, this screening would feel all the more complete with the inclusion of Episode 40 as well, it’s understandable why these four – on their own – represent this arc at its peak. It begins with a bang, sets off a string of heartbreaking tragedies, and culminates in a glimmer of hope.
Fans who loved Episode 41 would kill to see it on the big screen, and detractors would surely be curious about a cleaner, more refined version. It wouldn’t be the first time that Crunchyroll brought something like this to theaters, either. Those aforementioned theatrical re-edits of Demon Slayer have been brought to theaters in North America, even though, conceptually, there’s not much of a draw besides an early look at a new season.
For some, a screening of these four episodes might seem even less valuable, but the excitement of seeing a version of Episode 41 in a (more) complete state can’t be overstated. Season 2 was a triumph and, despite being subject to the broken standards of the industry’s most voracious studio, the work of its animators deserves to be appreciated in full. Or, at least as close to their original vision as possible.
Source: Comic Natalie
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