Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Episodes 1-2 Review: MAPPA Went Off!

Two new episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 are here, where we see a distraught Yuji on his own mission, while being hunted by Yuta. Let us find out how the episode really went.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Overview

Jujutsu Kaisen is adapted from Gege Akutami’s popular manga, first revealed as an anime project in late 2019. Following the intense conclusion of Season 2, the series was officially confirmed to continue in August 2025. The new instalment is based on the Culling Game arc.

The season kicked off with a one-hour premiere special on January 9, 2026. Shota Goshozono steps in as the director, while Yosuke Yajima and Hiromi Niwa return to handle character designs. Alongside, composer Yoshimasa Terui looks after the musical aspects.

Season 3 adapts several major manga arcs, including Itadori’s Extermination, Perfect Preparation, and the opening phase of the Culling Game. The story follows the jujutsu sorcerers as they are forced into a deadly, large-scale battle orchestrated by Kenjaku. They work toward two critical goals: stopping his plans and rescuing Satoru Gojo from the Prison Realm.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Episodes 1-2 Review

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is back with a bang, and right off the bat, they are not holding back. Things jump straight into the very bad situation of Japan, where a post-apocalyptic scenario is going on. All the heroes who worked so hard in the Shibuya incident are now being branded as traitors and hunted mercilessly. Yuji refuses to return to his school, and now, he acts independently with Choso, so that he can kill as many curses as possible. Choso, who was against Yuji, is now completely in favour of him because apparently they are brothers.

But that is not all. Another important character gets introduced here, and it is none other than Naoya Zenin. His personality is absolutely deplorable, but at the same time, he is immensely talented. The moment he arrives, it is established how important he is going to be this season, both as a sorcerer and as a villain. Megumi becomes his nemesis without even trying, and his involvement only complicates the circumstances.

The biggest highlight, however, is the conflict between Yuta and Yuji, two very unlikely characters. They should have been fighting on the same side, but feate pulled a joke on them, and now they’re enemies. Another aspect of this season is that the animation seems absolutely brilliant. Every frame looks gorgeous, and even the lighting and shadow effects are very realistic. However, we do not know yet whether this will stay consistent, as in the second season, the animation faltered a lot towards the end.

Also Read: 5 Best Upcoming Anime of 2026: Most Anticipated New Series

The good news is that MAPPA dropped two episodes at once to celebrate the highly anticipated arrival of the third season. The second episode was needed because it officially talks about the Culling Game. We realise just how grave the situation is, and the picture becomes clearer here. We also get some much-needed updates on characters, who suffered tremendously in the second season.

Verdict

I was in awe of the two episodes from the moment they started. MAPPA really said they will outdo their own animation and showed what they are capable of here. I really pray that they stay on the same track and deliver praise-worthy episodes every week.

The biggest strength of Jujutsu Kaisen is still its engaging story. I could somewhat predict the twist in episode two, but the execution made it work regardless. With much higher stakes ahead, I’m more than ready to be part of this thrilling journey.

Must Read: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Review