Highlights
- Despite some complaints about the animation quality in the latest Jujutsu Kaisen episode, the series has consistently delivered great episodes, although they are facing production issues.
- The fight between Mei, Ui, and the Smallpox Deity showcased Mei's cursed technique and Ui's anti-domain technique, providing important information to the viewers.
- The episode ended on a high note with the dramatic entrance of Toji, setting up for a lot of exciting battles for the rest of season 2.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 38, "Fluctuations", now streaming on Amazon Prime.
The latest Jujutsu Kaisen episode has received some backlash from fans due to the quality of the animation. Complaints referencing the backgrounds, as well as comments of it being unfinished or unpolished have swirled around the internet. The production issues the series is facing are no secret as animators have been very vocal about it. Still, the issue might be coming more from an expectation standpoint rather than actual quality.
Not that long ago the talk was centered around what many thought was the fight of the year, with episode 37 being absolutely flawless. It wasn't the first time that the amazing quality of the animation was the highlight in season 2. The fact that the studio manages to consistently have these great episodes despite the production issues demands praise alone. The fact is, Jujustu Kaisen could be carried by its story, yet the anime adaptation has been doing a superb job adding to it and making it even better.
Die For Me
Even in an episode that gets questioned for its animation, they left some moments where they completely dismantle any kind of criticism. The best example is the 5-minute intro scene covering the fight between Mei, Ui, and the Smallpox Deity. Her movement and ax strikes are as smooth as it gets. Even the crow strike was great, which comes as no surprise, probably the issues came later in the episode as the deadline got closer and closer.
Animation aside, this fight gave a lot of information on how Mei's cursed technique works and why she brings Ui along given her wicked sense of life value. Her crow control has one final move that deals massive damage and is almost unavoidable. By making a death-binding vow with them, the crows multiply their maximum cursed energy output and charge in a deadly strike. Essentially, they commit suicide, a kamikaze attack only Satoru Gojo has been able to stop.
Ui Ui on the other hand has her ace up her sleeve when it comes to domains. He has a binding vow with his sister in which he agrees to limit his cursed energy until she gives him the permission to engage in combat or use jujutsu. His cursed technique is unknown, but he does have the New Shadow Style: Simple Domain. Against the Smallpox Deity he used this technique to nullify the gravestone hit giving Mei an opportunity to attack and defeat the cursed spirit.
The Projection Technique
After the opening, the episode had already moved to the next thrilling battle featuring Kento Nanami, Maki, and Naobito Zen'in against Dagon. This cursed spirit which was just a womb up until the fight started, proved to be as strong as the other cursed spirits and quickly developed his techniques and domain expansion. However, Naobito, the leader of the Zen'in clan was no joke either.
During Fluctuations, he showcased the power of one of the clan's inherited techniques: Projection. This powerful technique allows the user to divide 1 second into 24 frames and trace a predetermined set of movements to execute during that time. This creates the effect of the user having an insane speed. Also, everything the user touches must abide by the 24 FPS rule, and failing to do so results in being frozen for one second inside an animation frame. This technique in the hands of a master hand-to-hand combatant as Naobito is certainly dangerous. It will come around again in Season 3.
Megumi For the Rescue
Dagon's domain, Horizon of the Captivating Skandha pushed the trio to the limit. Naobito managed to repel some guaranteed-hit attacks with the anti-domain technique Falling Blossom Emotion but eventually got overwhelmed and lost his right arm. Nanami and Maki were both severely beaten up but managed to survive thanks to Dagon focusing his efforts on Naobito.
When they were on the brink of losing, Megumi entered the domain and deployed his own incomplete domain which nullified the guaranteed hit of Dagon's domain. While a battle of domains would have proved a severe defeat for Megumi, his strategy to simply release his domain to open a hole in the barrier was perfect. During this, there were also some impressive shots in terms of animation, especially when Nanami approached Megumi to protect him.
Family Reunion
The episode couldn't have ended on a higher note. Just when they are about to leave the domain, someone decides to enter through the hole Megumi opened. It was Toji, making a dramatic entrance with a totally nonchalant expression, he even seemed genuinely happy. This absolutely iconic scene was translated into the anime exactly as it was portrayed in the manga, yet it found some criticism from fans.
Earlier in the season with another iconic panel, precisely the one in the fight between Toji and Satoru, they decided to bring a different perspective to the anime adaptation. Some fans didn't like this "too creative" approach as it wasn't faithful to the original source. Now that they did it exactly the same it gets the same response. Technically speaking both scenes are perfect and reflect exactly what they have to reflect.
This definitely supports the discourse about Jujutsu Kaisen setting up such high standards that it doesn't really matter what they actually do, something will always be disappointing. Regardless of that, with Toji now in the epicenter of the conflict, and much more exciting battles coming the rest of season 2 will be in good shape, independently of what some fans may think about the animation.