Summary
The second season ofJujutsu Kaisen,known as the Premature Death Arc/Hidden Inventory Arc or the Gojo Past saga, began in July 2023 and concluded in a devastating and death-ridden manner at the end of December 2023 with the heart-wrenching Shibuya Arc. Despite the sadness amongJujutsu Kaisenfans over the conclusion of the action-packed season, the announcement of the next season, The Culling Game Arc, swiftly followed.
As fans continue to process the aftermath of the traumatic Shibuya Incident arc, the upcoming Season 3, centered around the Culling Game, is anticipated to be the darkest arc inJujutsu Kaisenyet. The question remains: Are fans prepared to witness this darkness animated, and will the adaptation live up to the intensity of the original manga?
What Happened in Jujutsu Kaisen So Far?
Season one primarily focused on introducing and developing the main characters, particularly Itadori, Fushiguro Megumi, and Nobara Kugisaki, as well as other students and mentors, such as Zenin Maki, Inumaki Toge, Panda, and Nanami Kento -a former classmate of Gojo. Powerful curses like Jogo, Hanami, and Mahito were introduced, as well as their leader - Geto. Season two was split in half, with the first half focusing on the Gojo Past saga, which shed light on the relationship shift between Gojo and Geto, as well as introduced Fushiguro’s father - the formidable Toji. The Shibuya Incident, the latter half of season 2, shows the challenges and consequences faced during the Shibuya incident. The Shibuya Incident saw the deaths of many characters, including Kokichi Muta, Nanami, and Nobara (although this is not completely confirmed).
Additionally, although not killed, it is revealed that both Todo and Toge lost body parts. The ending also foreshadowed a terrible future for the world. Pseudo-Geto, in addition to sealing Satoru Gojo, planned all along to optimize cursed energy and advance humanity’s evolution by stealing Mahito’s technique. Through his fight with Itadori and Todo, Mahito reached his strongest level. Using Idle Transfiguration on marked non-sorcerers, he transforms them into vessels for ancient sorcerers like Sukuna, while also granting cursed energy to those with non-sorcerer brain structures. Pseudo-Geto plans to pit these new sorcerers and incarnated beings against each other in a fight to the death. The involvement of Megumi Fushiguro’s sister, Tsumiki, and the suspicion of Tengen’s role add complexity to his evolutionary plan. Fans also saw the return of Yuta Okkotsu, who has not been seen since the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 movie, which focused on Yuta and his curse - Rika.Yuta, who has been training in Africa with a sorcerer named Miguel,states that he will be the one to execute Itadori as revenge for Sukuna being the reason Toge is now missing a limb.
The Trailer Gives Fans a Sneak Peek of the Horrors to Expect
Following the release of the last episode, a teaser trailer for Season 3 ofJujutsu Kaisenwas unveiled on the official anime website, revealing that the new season will be titled the Culling Game Arc. The trailer was also posted on Toho Animation’s YouTube Channel, the production company behindJujutsu Kaisen.The 20-second trailer for Culling Game Arcfeatures Pseudo-Geto, who was revealed to be Kenjaku,Yuta, and Itadori, with the animation adapting manga panels rather than the familiar animation style, which should come as no surprise as it is not yet done. Although no specific release date has been provided, given the two-year gap between the first and second seasons, there is speculation that Season 3 may be released in the summer of 2025, although this remains unconfirmed.
Understanding the Culling Game
In the aftermath of the Shibuya Incident, Yuki Tsukumo confronts Kenjaku, who holds conflicting ideologies with her about humanity’s relationship with cursed energy. Kenjaku believes that humanity’s potential withcursed energy lies beyond jujutsu sorcerers and cursed spirits.To achieve his goal, he orchestrates the Culling Game, a lethal battle royale where players, marked individuals like Tsumiki Fushiguro, fight to the death using cursed techniques.
Kenjaku’s plan involves optimizing cursed energy through this unprecedented act of jujutsu terrorism, aiming to evolve humanity and prepare for a ritual involving the merger of Master Tengen with the humans of Japan. The game, spread across ten barrier colonies in Japan, has strict rules and will continue until all players are dead, ensuring the uninterrupted completion of the ritual.
The Culling Game is Going to Be an Intense Bloodbath
Following the harrowing events of the Shibuya Incident,The Culling Game Arc will take an even darker turn. The aftermath of the Shibuya Incident acts as a catalyst, propelling the story into a more unpredictable and emotionally charged trajectory. Season 3 will showcase a relentless exploration of the ruthless nature of the Culling Game, a deadly contest centered around murder and power. This sinister game is marked by impactful deaths that underscore the heightened stakes and moral dilemmas faced by the characters. The narrative will maintain a heightened sense of urgency and danger as characters navigate the treacherous waters of the Culling Game, a battleground where survival is contingent on one’s ability to wield lethal power.
Themes of sacrifice, survival, and the consequences of unchecked power will be even more pronounced, casting a palpable toll on the characters caught in the web of this deadly competition. The Culling Game Arc is poised to be a pivotal moment in the series, not merely as a continuation of the darker themes established after the Shibuya Incident, but as a deep dive into the harrowing dynamics of murder and power. The Culling Game Arc is not only a bloodbath and heightened tension but an exploration of the chilling depths that characters are willing to plunge into.Jujutsu Kaisenis on track to deliver an emotionally charged and transformative season as it delves into the uncharted territories of the Culling Game, making Season 3 the anime’s darkest arc yet.
