The first part of the Culling Game arc concluded on March 26th, and MAPPA did an incredible job bringing it to life. The shift from the intense tragedy in Shibuya to the ‘Battle Royale’ style Culling Game was a welcome change, focusing less on simply surviving and more on demonstrating total Jujutsu power.
This season, the animation style of Jujutsu Kaisen has become more artistic and cinematic, giving each school a unique color palette and atmosphere. Here’s a ranking of the best fights from Part 1 of Season 3, from good to truly unforgettable.
Yuji vs. Yuta
The battle is incredibly tense, showcasing Yuta’s effortless speed and skill against Yuji’s raw, forceful fighting style. It feels less like a fight and more like a terrifying chase scene, with Yuji as the one being hunted by someone considered the next Satoru Gojo.
The animators at MAPPA chose a cool, desaturated color scheme for this fight, which made Yuta’s cursed energy seem particularly frightening compared to other characters. The reveal of “Rika” was a highlight—MAPPA animated her pinning Yuji with a smooth, heavy motion that was both unsettling and perfectly illustrated why Yuta is considered second only to Satoru Gojo. It was a brief moment that left fans on the edge of their seats.
Megumi & Panda vs. Kirara
This fight was easily the most strategically complex of the season. It wasn’t about brute force, but about understanding and manipulating space. Kirara’s Love Rendezvous ability created a challenge where both fighters had to mentally connect constellations just to approach each other. It was great to see Megumi use his intelligence to figure out how the constellations moved while also defending against Kirara’s surprisingly smart attacks.
The animation prioritized clarity, especially when depicting Kirara’s complex technique. To help viewers follow the action, the anime used bright, neon-colored markers to represent the technique’s effects. The dynamic camerawork effectively conveyed the characters’ disorientation and struggle against unseen forces, doing a great job of bringing Gege’s unique power system to life.
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Choso vs. Naoya
The battle between Naoya Zen’in and Choso was deeply personal, pitting a fan favorite against a widely disliked opponent. Naoya’s unique ability, which is based on the 24 frames per second of animation, presented a huge challenge for the animators. However, the studio MAPPA brilliantly turned this difficulty into a visually spectacular sequence. The fight itself, where Choso nearly lost before unleashing both Supernova and Flowing Red Scale: Stack, was incredibly exciting and built up a lot of tension.
The scene where Choso landed that powerful hit and reminded Naoya he was a brother before a sorcerer was a truly memorable highlight for viewers. It instantly made him the most beloved older brother figure in the show.
Megumi vs. Reggie Star
The fight was a complex, strategic battle, almost like a chess match played with contracts. Reggie Star’s unusual ability to recreate things from paperwork – actually summoning cars, knives, and buildings from slips of paper – looked amazing on screen. The battle reached its peak in a fierce fight at the gym, forcing Megumi to use the full extent of his Chimera Shadow Garden powers.
The battle vividly showcases how objects fall and interact with their surroundings, especially with Megumi’s shadows and the pool’s water – details that were only suggested in the original manga. MAPPA’s animation elevated the fight by adding a fully realized, close-quarters combat sequence and a remarkable level of detail. Not only did the falling objects look weighty, but the impact of Reggie dropping cars on Megumi was truly felt.
Maki vs. Naoya
Everyone had been eagerly anticipating this match. It was the biggest challenge yet for Maki, who had seemingly reinvented herself. The animation truly shined when it revealed Maki had developed the same incredible awareness as Toji, allowing her to perceive even the slightest movements of air and particles.
At this point in the story, the animation shifted to a more striking style with bold lines and dramatic lighting, reflecting Maki’s new perspective. Her fearless response to Naoya’s attack demonstrated just how powerful she’d become. She defeated a high-level sorcerer with a single blow, appearing incredibly fierce. This was a satisfying conclusion to her growth as a character in this part of the season.
Yuji vs. Higuruma
This isn’t a typical battle; it’s more like a legal case unfolding with a judge’s gavel. Hiromi Higuruma has quickly become a standout character this season, and his Deadly Sentencing domain created a visually striking experience. Instead of a physical fight, this confrontation was about putting Yuji’s very soul on trial for the events that took place in Shibuya.
MAPPA delivered a visually striking episode, opting for a dramatic, stage-like presentation with intense lighting and a confined courtroom setting. The shift from the tense legal debate to the explosive fight was incredibly well done. When Yuji admitted to Sukuna’s actions, the quiet moments in the animation were more impactful than any action sequence. This adaptation not only did the manga justice but also amplified the emotional weight of the scene to a degree not seen since the conclusion of Season 2.
Maki vs. The Zen’in Clan
This wasn’t a fair fight; it was a complete one-sided beatdown. The “Perfect Preparation” storyline is when Maki Zen’in truly became the most popular member of the Zen’in clan. Following the heartbreaking loss of her sister Mai, the animation of Maki destroying the Hei and Kukuru units was incredibly intense, with a visceral, *Kill Billesque energy. It was relentless, violent, and lightning-fast.
This episode was beautifully directed, feeling like a true cinematic experience. The animated fight scenes highlighted how much faster and more skilled Maki has become. The climactic battle with her father, Ogi, was particularly impactful, delivering a powerful message with just a single, decisive blow – a perfect example of effective storytelling.
Yuta vs. Ryu vs. Uro vs. Kurourushi
The standoff at the Sendai Colony is widely considered one of the most spectacular fights in all of Jujutsu Kaisen, and even in recent anime history. It’s a chaotic battle involving a cockroach spirit, an assassin who controls the sky, and a fighter who blasts cursed energy from their hair. The fight featured intense close combat, incredibly powerful cursed techniques, and the legendary “Triple Domain Expansion” – a battle so epic it nearly crashed the internet.
It’s clear MAPPA invested a lot of resources into this episode, and the result was stunning. Ryu’s attacks were incredibly impressive, and Uro’s abilities created some of the most visually striking and unique animation seen in anime. Watching Yuta handle three powerful opponents while also keeping civilians safe perfectly demonstrated why he’s considered a top-tier sorcerer. The episode was a visual feast of incredible animation and stands out as the best moment of the Culling Game Part 1.
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2026-04-01 01:08