The legendary game director just discovered what millions of fans already knew about the 2021 anime film.
Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, recently took to social media to confess something many anime fans will find amusing: he finally gets why Jujutsu Kaisen is such a massive phenomenon, and it only took him a 30,000-foot viewing of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 to figure it out.
The admission came after Kojima watched the film during a recent flight, sharing his in-flight watchlist that included titles like The Astronaut and the Exit 8 game adaptation. But it was Yuta Okkotsu’s story that hit differently.
A gaming legend bows to MAPPA’s craft
“I had only seen the first episode of the series before, but after watching this movie, I think I finally understand why it’s so popular. And once again… Studio MAPPA is incredible“, Kojima wrote on his official account.
For someone known for his cinematic eye and demanding standards when it comes to storytelling, this endorsement carries serious weight.
Kojima didn’t just casually enjoy the film, he publicly acknowledged the technical and artistic excellence that MAPPA brought to Gege Akutami’s dark sorcery universe.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0, directed by Sunghoo Park, serves as a prequel to the main series, focusing on Yuta Okkotsu and his cursed connection to Rika Orimoto.
The film became a global box office success when it hit theaters in late 2021, proving that the franchise’s appeal extends far beyond its core manga and anime audience.
Better late than never
Sure, Kojima’s arrival to the Jujutsu Kaisen party is fashionably late, the third season is already airing and deep into the Culling Game arc, but his recognition validates what fans have been screaming about since day one.
When a creator of Kojima’s caliber, someone who literally changed gaming forever, stops to highlight an anime film’s narrative strength and visual prowess, it’s a moment worth celebrating.
The fact that he specifically called out MAPPA shows he understands the studio’s reputation for pushing animation boundaries, whether it’s Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan’s final seasons, or Chainsaw Man.
For a man who obsesses over every frame in his own games, that compliment means everything.
If the Death Stranding director says it’s worth your time, maybe it’s time to finally catch up on what you’ve been missing.
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