Jujutsu Kaisen Studio confirms that it will not bend over backwards for international audiences
The chief executive of MAPPA said that while defending the strengths of Japanese anime, adapting manga for all is not a creative direction but an operation dominated by global audiences.
MAPPA CEO says global growth must sustain the momentum of Japanese anime
MAPPA is commemorating its 15th anniversary with a clear boundary - overseas audiences will not be able to control the direction of its creations, and the studio says they never will. The anime studio behind such blockbuster works as Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man has made its continued success part of its major global presence; however, president and chief executive Manabu Otsuka and anime director Kaori Makita, known for Hell's Paradise, were recently interviewed at Germany's AniMagiC festival using an interview roomAnime Corner about how the company needs to improve production worldwide while protecting the qualities that distinguish Japanese films today.
The anniversary reflects the nationwide network of talents.
For the past 15 years, MAPpa's official headquarters have been located in Nakano, Tokyo and the Tohoku region of Japan. This extensive nationwide presence has helped the studio to increasingly seek out talented young film actors from both urban and rural areas of the country.
In recent years, dark fantasy titles such as Jujutsu Kaisen have contributed immensely to the popularity of soft-core action scenes among mainstream audiences.
Global distribution is the driver of success, not creativity.
Otsuka said MAPPA is focused on preserving what sets anime apart from other art forms. He acknowledged that international audiences have a huge influence over the studio, but cautioned against going too far: "The international audience has tremendous influences on us", he said.
In assessing the current state of the anime industry, Otsuka says his biggest priority is to balance foreign influences and remain true to the essence of anime.
Adapting to a single audience experience.
The studio's perspective applies to both MAPPA originals and adaptations of iconic manga. Makita argues that international and domestic audiences tend toward the most popular adaptations for the same reasons, so when changing what is already available to viewers in different countries,[5] MAPpa does not need alternatives: "By being adaptable ... our focus is on making sense of the original material".
(Matthew 28:19, 20) What a wonderful privilege it is to be able to do so!
The upcoming list includes Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Part 2 and Chainsaw Man: International Assassins Arc, along with new animeIP such as Fall in Love and You False Angels.
The anniversary message gives readers a way to evaluate MAPPA's next chapter. Although the studio is expanding internationally, he says that the measure of this progress will show whether it can maintain the production volume required for global demand without sacrificing its unique appeal to Japanese anime.