Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3’s Release Plan Won’t Fix Its Biggest Problem

Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 finally has a date and a plan. It is rolling out in two parts, with part 1 arriving January 8, 2026. That sounds great on paper, but the adaptation math here is brutal, and if anything is going to trip this season up, it is pacing.

What season 3 is taking on

This run is reportedly tackling the entire Culling Game arc - 63 chapters by itself. Before the show even gets there, it also needs to cover Itadori's Extermination and the Perfect Preparation arcs. Add it up and you are staring at roughly 84 chapters.

For context: season 1 adapted 64 chapters up through Death Painting. Season 2 stretched to about 73 chapters. Trying to fold 84 chapters into one season - even if MAPPA pushes toward a generous 30 episodes - is a squeeze. Something has to give, and that something is usually breathing room.

Early pacing tea leaves are... dicey

The first two episodes of season 3 - also screened in the Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution movie - reportedly cover around seven chapters. That is a healthy pace. The worry kicks in right after. According to @Go_Jover on X, a generally reliable JJK watcher, episodes 3 and 4 may rush through the entirety of Perfect Preparation - 14 chapters in just two episodes.

That would be a lot, especially since Perfect Preparation is where the Zenin clan and fan favorite Maki finally get the spotlight they deserve. Compressing that arc would be a tough look and could ding the season's reputation before the Culling Game even gets going.

The production elephant in the room

Season 2 was dogged by reports of harsh working conditions for animators at MAPPA. Nobody wants a repeat of that. At the same time, nobody wants a breakneck adaptation that bulldozes character beats to hit deadlines. It is a tightrope: keep the team healthy, keep the schedule, and still deliver the show fans are expecting.

Why this season matters more than most

Beyond the obvious 'please make it look incredible' part - and MAPPA has been steadily cranking up the spectacle each season - season 3 is the runway to the finale. It sets the table for the last arc, with the main villains finally stepping fully into the spotlight. If season 3 sings, hype for the Shinjuku Showdown will go through the roof. If it stumbles on pacing or production, the endgame loses some punch before it even starts.

Quick hits

• Part 1 premiere: January 8, 2026
• Structure: Two-part season, with the first part expected to clear Itadori's Extermination and Perfect Preparation before diving deep into the Culling Game
• Planned adaptation: Roughly 84 chapters total - Culling Game (63) plus the two lead-in arcs
• Past benchmarks: Season 1 adapted ~64 chapters; season 2 adapted ~73
• Studio: MAPPA
• Creator: Gege Akutami
• Series premiere: October 3, 2020 (season 1)
• Genre: Gore, action, supernatural
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll (all current episodes are streaming)
• Manga: Available digitally on Viz Media if you want to read ahead

Bottom line: the ambitions here are massive, and the margin for error is thin. If MAPPA threads the needle, this could be the most electric stretch of JJK yet. If not, expect a lot of 'great fights, weird pacing' talk. Your move, season 3.