Games
fromEsquire
2 days agoThe Best Anime of 2026 (So Far)
Jujutsu Kaisen's animated conversation showcases exceptional rotoscoping, elevating anime's artistic quality in 2026.
Jujutsu Kaisen has entered its Culling Game arc, and its opening sequence makes one thing clear: This is not a game anyone survives unchanged. Released online yesterday alongside the Season 3 premiere, the opening sequence abandons straightforward hype in favor of something more symbolic and, dare I say, disturbing. Set to King Gnu's "Aizo," the opening depicts the Culling Game as a curated gallery of violence and spectacle, where participation is compulsory for jujutsu sorcerers.
One Piece's Monkey D. Luffy joined the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade floats, the latest Demon Slayer film earned $780 million at the worldwide box office in 2025, and the animated musical KPop Demon Hunters (though not technically anime) became the most-watched original Netflix movie of all time. As someone who had no one to talk to growing up during the days of Naruto and Dragon Ball Z, it's tough to even process that the genre has reached mainstream status around the globe.
For Jujutsu Kaisen fans, Christmas Eve is a holy day of remembrance. If you're even loosely connected to the fandom, you've probably noticed it by now: the sudden return of best friends-turned-diametrically opposed soulmates, Geto Suguru and Satoru Gojo, to the timeline. Side-by-side edits. Manga screenshots. Subtle references that say everything without saying too much. The reason is simple and painful.
Where Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution absolutely excels for both fans and the uninitiated is in its visuals and sound design. Intense, bombastic showdowns incorporate everything from gore to monsters to visual design of earth-shattering beauty. The apocalyptic cityscapes, ominous sunsets and genuinely eerie subway battle sequences pulsate with off-the-wall creatures and grotesque villains. The soundtrack is genuinely banging, accompanied by really top notch voice acting.