"Jujutsu Kaisen" Season 3 "Culling Game Part 1" is a new chapter that elevates the previously depicted "Jujutsu Sorcerers vs Cursed Spirits/Curse Users" battles to an even bigger stage, centered on the fateful showdown—the Culling Game (Shimetsu Kaiyuu).
Broadcast is announced to start nationwide simultaneously from January 8, 2026 (Thursday late night), and the fan-awaited "major turning point" is coming ⚡ As "Part 1," it depicts the early to middle portions of the story, serving as the introduction to the entire "Culling Game."
Scale Expansion
The story expands further from "Shibuya Incident" to a nationwide or global jujutsu war. The stage, barriers, and rules change dramatically 🌍
The Fateful Showdown is Depicted
In the teaser visual, Yuji Itadori and Yuta Okkotsu, who share the same master, are shown crossing blades. The clash over their pasts, beliefs, and positions is key ⚔️
New Characters Join, Settings Deepen
For example, Naoya Zenin (VA: Koji Yusa) was announced to join, and information about "lineage," "traditions," and "jujutsu world structure" like the Zenin family and cursed techniques deepens 🔮
Darker and More Tense Tone
More than ever, "death," "decisions," and "responsibility" become themes, with increased depictions where "resolve" is questioned in both battles and daily life 💀
Animation & Direction Anticipation
MAPPA continues production, and with the stage scaling up, background art, CG, and action direction seem likely to evolve further 🎨
Story Connectivity is Incredible
The connection with Season 1, Season 2, theatrical film "0," and "Shibuya Incident" is very dense—watching "everything so far" lets you enjoy Season 3 more deeply ✨
Scale Expansion
As the story moves to the grand stage of "Culling Game," backgrounds, stage settings, and jujutsu battle scale expand. This likely increases both animation frame count and scene density 📈
Battle and Cursed Technique Expression Evolution
Action by MAPPA, proven in past seasons, evolves further. Fusion of special expressions, CG integration, and hand-drawn rapid cuts for cursed technique explosions, domain expansions, and barriers is expected 💥
Spatial Direction and Camera Work Improvement
With increased compositions like "grand stage," "multiple factions," and "simultaneous sorcerer offense/defense," camera work becomes more cinematic and three-dimensional than ever. Especially "bird's eye," "zoom," and "slow motion" direction seem enhanced 🎥
Emotion and Psychological Portrayal Enhancement
Not just battles, but themes like "death," "choice," and "responsibility" become main focus, so character expressions, eye lines, and detailed animation are emphasized. A feeling that direction where emotional ups and downs "come through visually" will increase 😢
Sound/Light/Color Direction Upgrade
As visual expression evolves, sound design (SE/BGM), color design, and lighting also upgrade. Direction with stronger contrast for darkness, cursed energy, and explosions is also a key point 🌈
Animation Staff and Technical Staff Attention
In interviews and such, MAPPA has shown enthusiasm like "we want to raise the dimension" and "further quality through fusion of hand-drawn, CG, and 3D" 🔥
Two People's Confrontation
The visual depicts Yuji Itadori and Yuta Okkotsu standing together, strongly suggesting their confrontation, cooperation, or fateful connection
Devastated Stage
In the background are compositions like "devastated city (seemingly Shibuya)" and "post-battle rubble/spreading shadows," foreshadowing a large-scale stage where the story "completely changes from daily life" 🏚️
Theme of Isolation
The line "I can no longer be with everyone" appears at the PV's opening, suggesting the protagonist's isolation, choice, and weight of responsibility as themes 💭
Inner Conflict
In direction, key characters' faces, gazes, and attitudes are drawn in close-up, emphasizing "inner conflict" and "moments of resolve" as visuals 😰
Dark Color Palette
Color and composition usage is also darker with stronger contrast than previous series, with "shadow" and "darkness" motifs standing out. This feels like a direction style fitting the title "Culling Game" 🌑
Team Battle Composition
Also, there are visuals where multiple characters are "back to back" or in stances heading to battle, suggesting team battles and multi-faction conflict compositions become important 👥
Original Manga Range
Season 3 "Culling Game Part 1" is expected to adapt the original manga from around Chapter 137 onward to around Chapter 221 📚
"Itadori's Extermination" Arc
Around Manga Chapters 137-143. The fate surrounding Itadori's execution is depicted ⚖️
Yuji Itadori
In this chapter, his fate of being assigned as "executioner," his fateful relationship with Okkotsu, and developments shaking his own beliefs are expected. His resolve and growth as protagonist are questioned 🔥
Yuta Okkotsu
Set for "full-scale entry" in Season 3, his confrontation with Itadori is also noteworthy. Focus on his conflict as someone with power and battles over what to protect. The flow from theatrical film "0" is also important ⚔️
Naoya Zenin
From the Zenin family, one of the most prestigious families in the jujutsu world. Appearing from Season 3, he creates big waves in the story from perspectives of lineage, cursed techniques, and status. Voice actor is Koji Yusa 🎯