As expected, the blockbuster Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 officially premiered on January 9, 2026, causing a global stir in the anime community. However, the excitement was tempered when many hardcore fans quickly noticed a significant change in the showdown between Yuta Okkotsu and Yuji Itadori.
Episode 1 opened with the most anticipated battle: the pursuit of Yuji by the special grade sorcerer Yuta. While the animation quality remained top-notch, studio MAPPA’s decision to cut an iconic scene sparked a heated reaction on Reddit.
The missing “car toss” scene: A step back in showcasing power?
In the original manga, when Yuta carries out the death sentence on Yuji, the chase is intense. The standout moment is when Yuji punches a car into the air to overpower his opponent. Yuta then casually throws the car back at Yuji with one hand.
This detail surprises Yuji because Yuta’s appearance doesn’t suggest pure physical strength. However, in the anime adaptation, the entire car-tossing sequence was replaced by a fight inside a theater.
Fans outraged: “Yuji’s strength is being underestimated”
A Reddit post attracted hundreds of comments expressing dissatisfaction with MAPPA’s choice. Fans are upset because the car toss highlights Yuji’s remarkable physical growth after the Shibuya incident. Removing it makes the battle feel one-sided, as if Yuta handles Yuji effortlessly.
Several theories have been suggested to explain this change.
First, cutting the lengthy scene helps the episode end right at Yuji’s defeat, creating a stronger emotional impact for viewers.
Next, it seems MAPPA focused more on the fight between Naoya and Choso, which is considered to have more creative content than the manga.
Finally, Reddit user u/Responsible_Math_440 pointed out that the death game rules flash on screen too quickly, forcing viewers to pause and read, supporting the idea that MAPPA is speeding up the story’s pace.
Despite the controversy, the hype around season 3 is undeniable. Releasing two episodes on the first day and scheduling weekly Thursday airings has fans eagerly awaiting each installment.
Some optimistic fans note this isn’t the first time MAPPA has altered scenes (as seen in season 2), and the overall quality of the Culling Game arc remains in the hands of top-tier creators.