Leaks have become a very big problem in the anime sector, and now Souta Shigetsugu, an animator from Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece, is speaking out about it via Twitter.
What is bothering the animator of both works? Leaks have become a major issue in the anime sector due to the internet. Japanese works are often accessible before their official release, even before they reach non-Japanese markets.
Fans almost expect the latest chapters of their favorite manga to flutter fresh from Japan directly into their “feed” as quickly as possible. This has become especially prevalent with the manga Jujutsu Kaisen.
Last week, the final chapter of the adventure and fantasy manga Jujutsu Kaisen was released in Japan. A user on X posted the chapter online and garnered more attention from fans than the manga’s author.
The animator Souta Shigetsugu has noticed this and has had enough. On the social media platform X, he expressed his frustration and was upset about the leaks and the international fans who follow and celebrate them.
There is a lot of work involved in an anime, which, according to Souta Shigetsugu, must be respected:
“It disgusts me”
What is the problem with leaks? He emphasized that leaks undermine the hard work of the creators and ruin the viewing experience for many people. What frustrates him the most is that some international fans even praise leakers for their illegal work instead of respecting the official releases. Souta Shigetsugu directs harsh words towards the leak community:
How many reading and viewing experiences have already been ruined by leaks?
Of course, leakers and spreaders are scum, but normal fans shouldn’t be grateful for that or take it for granted… If anything, it’s people like that who disgust me.Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece animator Souta Shigetsugu via X.com
How far does the problem reach? The animator also criticized the simultaneous release of anime films in Japan and abroad. In his opinion, international premieres often lead to pirated copies circulating from day one. He advocated for a delay between Japanese and international release dates to curb the spread of illegal material.
The discussion about leaks, especially for popular mangas like Jujutsu Kaisen, remains a sensitive topic in the anime and manga community. Whether fans will be swayed by Souta Shigetsugu’s words remains to be seen.
Leaks are not only a major issue in the anime sector; publishers of games are also trying to combat leakers with hard measures: The company behind Genshin Impact is tackling leaks and wants to uncover the true identity of users on X.
