One Piece animator supports MAPPA amid new controversy

A One Piece animator has stepped forward to support MAPPA amid the latest controversy.

MAPPA’s biggest anime of 2023, Jujutsu Kaisen, made headlines for not only the beautiful anime adaptation but also the studio’s alleged working conditions. The studio is infamous for accusations of overworking the animators, but the heat of the controversy particularly intense this time.

One of the most renowned One Piece animators, Vincent Chandsard, also worked on Jujutsu Kaisen’s Sukuna vs Mahoraga episode. Although the episode was well-received by fans, it shed light on MAPPA’s tight schedule.

The French animator’s statement in his latest podcast has attracted a bit of attention amid so much backlash. While almost everyone supports Vincent’s criticism, another One Piece animator, Mamoru Yokota, thinks otherwise.

One Piece animator doesn’t agree with Vincent Chandsard’s MAPPA criticism

Crunchyroll

Animators Dourian Coulon and Vincent Chansard recently attended a podcast where the latter commented: “I don’t want to support a company that ideologically doesn’t care about working conditions. Go asked me, and I like working with him. He also doesn’t want to work anymore for MAPPA.”

However, after the episode aired, he declared that he would not be working for MAPPA again. Vincent shared on X/Twitter that he only reconsidered because of Hakuyu Go, another animator from the JJK team who also contributed to countless popular projects such as One Punch Man, Fate series, etc.

In response to Vincent’s statement, Mamoru Yokota posted: “Regarding the declaration by overseas animators saying ‘I won’t work for this company anymore!’ – while the work environment and such is one thing, how were the conditions when the work was first ordered?

“If it met the expectations for the job, then isn’t it the fault of the director, production, or production committee rather than the production company? If there was slashing of pay or delays or exploitation, then that’s one thing, but otherwise…”

In another post, Yokota wrote: “In countries where there is anime situation and support in other countries, there are many restrictions on the content, and you can’t do what you want, so if you want to create a popular screen based on the original work, if you want to do a Japanese work, there are differences in national circumstances and financial situation.

“I have to think about it too. I’m the standard! If you say so, why not start a company and use it as a banner for the working environment? I told someone else before, and they got angry.”

Contrary to Yokota, fans and animators are calling out the studio for their unreasonable work schedule. The Chief Animation Director of Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Terumi Niishi, called Vincent’s statement “refreshing” and even wished more people in the anime industry to be like him.