Attack on Titan, Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen and more: Is studio MAPPA taking…
Attack on Titan, Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen and more: Is studio MAPPA taking on too much?
Studio MAPPA has been churning out high-quality projects since its foundation, beginning with Shinichirō Watanabe’s Sakamichi no Apollon, and moving on to popular anime like Terror in Resonance, Yuri. on Ice, Kakegurui, Banana Fish and Dororo, among many others.
But since the studio has been expanding and attempting to break out of the influence and shadow of Studio Madhouse, MAPPA has developed a mixed reputation.
An anime loses its studio
Moist Meter | Chainsaw Man
While the studio’s animation quality has improved dramatically, rumors of the studio’s animators being pushed to work grueling hours has also spread.
The latest announcement regarding Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 has once more fanned the flames, causing many viewers to question if MAPPA would be able to handle the four new projects it has taken on. Especially since fans have high hopes from all of them.
Studio MAPPA’s recent projects, allegations and predictions
Recent projects
It was in May 2020 that MAPPA announced that they were taking up Attack on Titan’s final season over from Wit Studio, while an anime adaptation of Chainsaw Man was announced in December 2020. The studio also confirmed that they are working on Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku during Jump Festa 2022.
「MAPPA SHOWCASE 10th ANNIVERSARY」in 大阪 開催決定
スタジオの歴史を振り返りながら、当時の原画や中間制作素材など、貴重なプロダクト資料と共に作品の名シーンを追体験
会期：2/11（金）-3/13（日）会場: hmv museum 心斎橋 「HMVBOOKS SHINSAIBASHI」店内 hmv.co.jp/news/article/2…
The studio is also confirmed to be working on Alice and Therese’s Illusion Factory, Dance Dance Danseur, Kakegurui Twin, Yuri. on Ice: Ice Adolescence and Zombie Land Saga the movie.
“Dance Dance Danseur” TV anime theme songs:
Broadcasting begins April. (Studio: MAPPA)
【TVアニメ #ダンス・ダンス・ダンスール 新情報！】 主題歌アーティストがついに解禁！
OPは #YUKI『鳴り響く限り』 EDは #ヒトリエ『風、花』に決定しました
They released the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 movie in December 2021 and on February 12, 2022, announced the return of the popular anime with a second season. It was announced during the same event that the studio will animate the second season of Vinland Saga.
MAPPA’s work conditions
@TropicalMaku I love MAPPA but every time they announce another new project they are working on I remember how the director of last AoT season looked like. Damn those under eyes bags carry the weight of the world
Considering the studio’s previous works and Attack on Titan’s animation under Wit Studio, fans were in for quite a rude shock when final season 4 part 1 aired. The animation seemed rushed and the quality seemed subpar, but that might be attributed to the unbelievably-short deadline they were given to animate and air 16 episodes.
Attack on Titan Episode Director Currently working at Studio Mappa for anyone who’s wondering what the current working conditions are like…
Attack on Titan final season part 2 seems to have redeemed itself with the fluidity and quality of animation, but it probably came at the cost of the several animators’ well-being.
Animation studios are infamous for their long work hours, but MAPPA may have gone a step further, overworking animators to the point where they quit the company.
Animator leaves MAPPA after being overworked to hell. Here is what he said in the tweet:
MAPPA isn’t some GOAT, it’s just filthy corporation running behind money neglecting the health of thier employees.
One such animator compared the work environment there to being akin to working at a factory and pulling all-nighters for weeks on end. The studio also faced accusations regarding not providing the required basic training to in-between animators, and for grossly underpaying animators as well.
While the final product is indeed some breathtaking animation, as in Jujutsu Kaisen 0, the verdict is divided based on whether the ethical implications should be considered or not. While many fans are strongly against the studio’s work culture, others believe that only results count.
Can MAPPA do justice to these anime adaptations?
Mappa’s goal of producing so many high shelf anime and being seen as this high shelf studio doesn’t really seem to be working. Like everyone is happy with the work they’re producing for the most part but I don’t think anyone is really happy with Mappa specifically.
The studio might be able to deliver the same consistent level of animation for all of its new projects, but even that possibility is being stretched thin with the studio taking up more and more series.
Chainsaw Man was confirmed to be in production in 2020, but no release date has been announced yet. Similar is the case with the Yuri on Ice!! prequel movie, Ice Adolescence, which was first announced in 2019.
Studio MAPPA really needs to take a break. They have been so overworked especially recently, and their committee keeps adding more big-name series to their list, which only adds to them being more overworked and exhausted.They need to slow down and let their employees rest.
MAPPA is currently dealing with four major anime series in production and one ongoing. The studio is walking a very thin line right now, since overworking their employees will lead to either sloppy animation, or the animators themselves quitting.
While the studio does a truly-brilliant job in terms of animation, it might be better to harbor the tiniest bit of skepticism regarding their performance in the upcoming anime productions.
Chainsaw Man season 2: everything we know about the new season so far
2023 has been such a killer year already for anime, but one of its few disappointments is that we’ve heard so little about Chainsaw Man season 2.
In fact, despite its worldwide success last year, there’s been no official green light for the next chapter in Denji’s devil hunting saga. But we expect an announcement to rev up any day now and, with it, more helping of blood, guts, and gore – courtesy of Pochita, of course.
Until then, we’ve put together a primer on what to expect from Chainsaw Man season 2. That includes release date speculation, what manga chapters it could adapt, and more.
For more on some of anime’s biggest names, be sure to check out our guides to Demon Slayer season 3 and Jujutsu Kaisen season 2.
Chainsaw Man season 2 release date speculation
Chainsaw Man debuted during anime’s traditionally busy fall window in October 2022 and ran for 12 episodes.
While there’s been no official season 2 announcement just yet, we don’t anticipate the show being cancelled anytime soon. In fact, given Studio MAPPA’s incredible output in recent years, we wouldn’t put it past them to pinpoint a fall 2023 return – though 2024 could also be a distinct possibility, especially with Attack on Titan‘s series finale airing later this year.
Chainsaw Man season 2 story: what’s happened and what is it adapting next?
The first season of Chainsaw Man revolved around a boy called Denji and his Chainsaw Devil/dog companion Pochita. After inheriting his father’s debt from the yakuza, Denji becomes a Devil Hunter – but is killed by a Zombie Devil, one of many creatures that manifest from humanity’s fears.
Denji, however, is revived and fuses with Pochita to become the titular Chainsaw Man. By pulling the ripcord on his head, he can turn into what is, essentially, a sentient chainsaw.
Much of the first season saw him grow into his role as Public Safety Devil Hunter alongside partner Power, Aki, Himeno, and Kobeni. They face off against the likes of the Bat Devil, Ghost Devil, and Katana Man – who they eventually capture. The season ends with the Snake Devil killing Akane, the team being on the hunt for the Gun Devil, and the introduction of a mysterious new woman, who asks whether someone would rather be a “country mouse” or a “city mouse.”
The first season of Chainsaw Man adapted the first 38 chapters of the manga. So, if you want to read ahead to see what the second season will cover, then you’ll need to start from chapter 39.
As of right now, it’s unclear how far the next season will reach in terms of adapting the source material. We’re about 40% of the way through the manga’s first part (the Public Safety Saga), though there’s likely a little too much material to cover for just one 12-episode season.
REVEALED: Problems with Chainsaw Man and MAPPA
Unless the second season runs longer, we can see Chainsaw Man hurtling through the explosive Bomb Girl arc (chapters 40-52) and the International Assassins arc (chapters 53-70) upon its return. No spoilers here, but the woman seen at the end of the season 1 finale – Reze – will factor heavily into the next batch of episodes. The overarching threat of Gun Devil will also be keenly felt as the now-merged Division 4 of Public Safety and its team of Devil Hunters encounter new friends and foes.
Chainsaw Man cast: who could return for season 2?
We expect Denji (Kikunosuke Toya), Makima (Tomori Kusunoki), Power (Fairouz Ai), and Aki (Shogo Sakata) all to return. One major newcomer will be Reze (Reina Ueda), while we also anticipate much of the English dub cast to reprise their roles. news as and when we get it.
When can we expect a Chainsaw Man season 2 trailer?
Don’t expect a Chainsaw Man season 2 trailer anytime soon. With no announcement forthcoming, we’ll be lucky to get even a snippet of footage in the first half of 2023. Keep an eye on Crunchyroll’s social accounts and the official Chainsaw Man account for more in the coming months.
Where can I watch Chainsaw Man?
The first season of Chainsaw Man is available to watch subbed (and dubbed, with the season 1 finale hitting in English in mid-January) on Crunchyroll for Premium members. It’s safe to assume Chainsaw Man season 2 will also stream exclusively on Crunchyroll day-and-date alongside its Japanese broadcast time.
Not sure what to watch next? Here are some of the best anime shows you should be watching right now.
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I’m the Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.
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MAPPA held its Stage 2023 showcase event last night, bringing updates to some of the world’s most popular anime titles.
From the studios behind anime hits like Attack on Titan Final Season, Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, MAPPA invited fans to see what projects they have cooking in the near future. Last night, MAPPA Stage 2023 took place at the Tokyo Garden Theatre, with Seitaro Mukai of comedy group Tenshin MC hosting the event. The 8-hour event was full of entertainment, although there were no major updates on some of their biggest hits, such as Chainsaw Man Season 2.
Here were the anime series mentioned at MAPPA Stage 2023:
- Hell’s Paradise
- Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill
- Attack on Titan
- Vinland Saga
- Chainsaw Man
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- The Mourning Children: Nagiko and the Girls Wearing Tsurubami Black
- Alice to Therese no Maboroshi Koujou
- Bucchigiri?!
Hell’s Paradise
Starting with the first and sadly more disappointing news, the Hell’s Paradise announcements at the event were bone dry. However, Yumiri Hanamori (Yamada Asaemon Sagiri), Ryohei Kimura (Aza Choubei), Rie Takahashi (Yuzuriha) and Chikahiro Kobayashi (Yamada Asaemon Shion) were all present to share their experiences of working on the show so far. It made sense for MAPPA to hold off on announcing plans for Season 2, as the series only has 8 episodes so far. They also announced that episode 9 will not be released next weekend (May 27th), but the following week on June 3rd.
Similarly, the Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill panel had no major announcements but was very interesting and fun. Fans were able to see Yuma Uchida’s incredible cooking skills as he prepared a beef curry dish using “wyvern meat”. Uchida talked and cooked for his fellow cast members Satoshi Hino, Hina Kino, Maaya Uchida, and MC Mukai.
Attack on Titan
Finally, some of the more exciting news! The Attack on Titan panel was very emotional for the fans and cast members who attended. It started with Romi Park (Hange Zoë), Yui Ishikawa (Mikasa Ackerman) and Yuki Kaji (Eren Jaeger) doing a live reading of some of the most intense scenes from the last season of the anime. Park spoke passionately about her role as Hange and how she has been playing her for so long. Attack on Titan Final Season director Yuichiro Hayashi then joined them to reveal a new key visual for the final instalment – stating that this would be the last for the anime.
Chainsaw Man
With so many announcements made at MAPPA Stage 2023, you’d think there would be a big update on Chainsaw Man Season 2, especially after that post in December 2022 with a picture of Denji and Pochita saying “See you again”. But no, the fans were disappointed. Their panel began with a Pochita mascot appearing on stage, followed by voice actors Kikonosuke Toya (Denji), Fairouz Ai (Power) and Shogo Sakata (Aki Hayakawa).
Tomori Kusunoki, the voice of Makima, was unable to attend due to illness. They talked about some of the iconic scenes from Season 1 as fans waited eagerly for an update that never came. The panel ended with the cast unveiling some new official merchandise for fans to buy online, and then the disappointed reactions flooded in. One fan mentioned staying up “until 4am for your guy’s chainsaw man panel and you guys don’t even mention anything about season 2 wtf…”.
Jujutsu Kaisen
To counter the lackluster Chainsaw Man panel, the Jujutsu Kaisen panel came out swinging—previewing the new opening theme song for season 2! Pretty much everyone expected a new trailer for the Hidden Inventory / Premature Death arc, premiering on July 6. The new opening son “Ao no Sumika” by Tatsuya Kitani was very hype, backed by the action-packed trailer.
The Hidden Inventory / Premature Death arc features a younger Gojo, Nanami and others from their school days – providing more backstory for these fan-favourite characters from Season 1. Character artwork for the highly anticipated Shibuya Incident arc was also shown. If you have read the manga, the Shibuya Incident arc is quite a shocker!
The Mourning Children: Nagiko and the Girls Wearing Tsurubami Black | Alice to Therese no Maboroshi Koujou
The subsidiary animation studio CONTRAIL has been working hard on Sunao Katabuchi’s latest feature film, The Mourning Children: Nagiko and the Girls Wearing Tsurubami Black. A teaser visual was showcased. As for Mari Okada’s Alice to Therese no Maboroshi Koujou movie, a new teaser trailer and visual was shown at MAPPA Stage 2023, with a release date in theatres for September 15—across Japanese cinemas.
Bucchigiri?!
To round off the evening, the only new anime that was talked about during the live show was BUCCHIGIRI (Bucchigiri?!). It was announced that Hiroko Utsumi (Banana Fish) will be directing the original anime project, which will follow the story of two friends who reunite and end up in a power struggle. The show is set to premiere in January 2024, and a teaser visual and trailer have been released.
And this was pretty much all of the announcements made at MAPPA Stage 2023 this year! It was pretty mixed in the reception of the event. Essentially, the announcement lows were terribly low, but the thrilling trailers, teasers and live cooking show made up for it.
MAPPA Stage 2023: Release Time Expected Anime Announcements
As of writing of this article, there is now less than one day left until the anticipated MAPPA Stage 2023 begins, and fans cannot wait for the studio to reveal more information about their favourite series and upcoming ones.
MAPPA houses one of the biggest animes of today, including Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan, Chainsaw Man, and the recently released action-packed and thrilling series Hell’s Paradise.
Maruyama Animation Produce Project Association (also known as MAPPA) will broadcast their MAPPA Stage 2023 event on Sunday, May 21, 2023, to showcase its projects’ current status and updates.
MAPPA is currently working on big projects, including Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan Final Season, and Chainsaw Man. To give fans a glimpse of the current status of these projects, they decided to conduct the MAPPA Stage 2023 event.
Mappa Stage 2023 event should be aired for roughly 6 hours, from 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Japanese Standard Time (JST).
Where To Watch Mappa Stage 2023?
“MAPPA STAGE 2023” will be held at Tokyo Garden Theater at 11:30 pm Pacific Time on Saturday, May 20, 2023. Fans who cannot attend the event physically may stream the live telecast of the event through the official YouTube channel of MAPPA.
For those who will watch the event online, it will start internationally based on the following timezones:
- Central European Summer Time: 8.30 am, Sunday, May 21, 2023
- Eastern Standard Time: 2.30 am, Sunday, May 21, 2023
- Australia Central Standard Time: 4 pm, Sunday, May 21, 2023
- Pacific Standard Time: 11.30 pm, Saturday, May 20, 2023
- British Summer Time: 7.30 am, Sunday, May 21, 2023
- Indian Standard Time: 12 pm, Sunday, May 21, 2023
- Philippine Standard Time: 2.30 pm, Sunday, May 21, 2023
- Japanese Standard Time: 3.30 pm, Sunday, May 21, 2023
What To Expect from MAPPA Stage 2023
The MAPPA Stage will possibly reveal massive information and announcements regarding the popular series that the studio has and is currently producing.
Performers, staff, and cast members from many popular Mappa anime will also be present at the event and serve as panellists. Based on the post on MAPPA Stage 2023’s official website, the event will feature the following anime lineup:
- Attack on Titan
- Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill
- Chainsaw Man
- Vinland Saga
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
Attack on Titan Panel
In terms of one of their biggest anime project, Attack on Titan, fans can expect more information to be revealed during the event regarding the series’ final season and the possible release date of its special episode.
The voice behind Eren Yaeger, Yuki Kaji, as well as Yui Ishikawa (Mikasa), Romi Park (Hanji), and the series’ director Yuichiro Hayashi, will be the panellists in charge of revealing the announcements connected to the finale season coming this fall.
Jujutsu Kaisen Panel
Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 release is now just two months away and it was previously announced that a new trailer featuring the new theme song will be released during the Mappa Stage 2023.
Jujutsu Kaisen is surprisingly more profitable than Chainsaw Man for Mappa studio, as revealed by the CEO of Mappa, so fans should expect a pretty high-quality anime trailer.
The panelist for JJK includes Junya Enoki (Yuhito Kojo), Seto Asami (Kigizaki Nobara), Yuma Uchida (Megumi Yushiguro), and Megumi Ogata (Yuta Otsukotsu).
Chainsaw Man Panel (Season 2 Leaks)
Chainsaw Man fans have been anxiously waiting for any news on season 2. Despite the first season’s success, Mappa has yet to greenlight the second season.
Some rumours are circulating on social media channels that season 2 will likely be announced during Mappa Stage 2023 but no credible source has confirmed this rumour.
Chainsaw Man panel will be attended by the main voice cast of the anime series.
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill
For Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill, it can also be anticipated that the event will most likely talk about the happenings before or during the production of the series’ first season and the possible airing of its sequel.
Other exclusive information about the animes mentioned above and other upcoming series by the studio will most likely be unveiled during the said event, which will be held tomorrow (May 21)
MAPPA Stage 2023 Performers
The fans will also expect performances from Sehinsei Kamatate, who will sing the popular opening song of Attack on Titan Final Season Part 1.
The performance of Who-ya Extended for the opening sequence of JJK Season 1 was also confirmed, along with the performance of Anonymouz, who will sing the opening song of Vinland Saga, River.