The opening intro song for “Jujutsu Kaisen” season 3 is packed with historical art references and callouts to other famous works. It’s essentially a masterpiece by MAPPA that combines King Gnu’s genius song “Aizo” with amazing animation.
Astute viewers have noticed numerous historical art references within the opening song.
TikTok users like ArrivalofTears, along with numerous users on X, have been studying the opening and finding every reference they can.
Here’s a look at them.
“Dead Mother I” by Egon Schiele
An image showing Yuji Itadori’s mother with baby Yuji was based on the painting “Dead Mother I.”
The painting was made on Christmas Day 1910 in just a few hours, when Schiele was only 20 years old, according to the Leopold Museum. They write: “Rendered in cool, dark shades with sunken features and refracting eyes, she seems to be saying goodbye; the supposedly protective gesture of the emaciated hand adds to the impression of dying. Will her demise seal the fate of the unborn child or will its bonds be broken by her death?”
The painting is very appropriate for Yuji’s past, as we learned in last week’s episodes.
“The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt
This next one might be tougher for some to identify.
“The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt is also mimicked, albeit with a very different color scheme and theme. It is Klimt’s most popular work, according to Gustav-Klimt.com, and harkened to Klimt’s interest in the Byzantine period.
“Morozumi Bungo No Kami Masakiyo” by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
CrunchyrollThis next one might be tougher for some to match.
It’s apparently inspired by “Morozumi Bungo no Kami Masakiyo” by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. According to the Museum of the Fine Arts of Boston, it’s from the series “Courageous General of Kai and Echigo Provinces.”
“Gozu Tenno” by Utagawa Kuniteru
This next one — showing Maki — was also changed quite a bit, but is still mostly recognizable. It appears to be inspired by “Gozu Tenno” by Utagawa Kuniteru.
“The Scream” by Edvard Munch
This reference was perhaps the easiest for viewers to identify. Some wonder if this might be showing a young Suguru Geto and symbolizing the existenial dread he felt.
“Camille Monet and a Child in the Artist’s Garden in Argenteuil” by Claude Monet
Monet also has a reference in the opening song.
“Ophelia’ by John Everett Millais
The reference to “Ophelia” by John Everett Millais is one that might have been tougher for some to identify. In this one, Mai takes on the role of Ophelia.
“Two Sleeping Children” by Peter Paul Rubens
The sleeping children shot appears to show Mai and Maki in a position similar to “Two Sleeping Children.” According to the National Museum of Western Art, this was made by Peter Paul Rubens around 1612-1613 and “is thought to depict Rubens’ elder brother’s orphans.”
“Ghost in the Shell”
There’s even a clear reference to “Ghost in the Shell” from 1995 in the intro video.
Tadanori Yokoo’s ‘Y-Shaped Crossroads’
There’s also Tadanori Yokoo’s “Y-shaped crossroads,” clearly depicted.
Some viewers like to compare the opening to a museum exhibit, and they make a good point.
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