Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3: All art Easter Eggs in the opening

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The third season of Jujutsu Kaisen premiered on January 8th, and the opening episodes quickly established many of the story’s key plot points.

Okay, so at first glance, this new arc feels like classic Jujutsu Kaisen – you’ve got all the sorcerers battling it out, cursed energy everywhere, and Sukuna being, well, Sukuna. But honestly, the more I pay attention, the more it feels like I’m wandering through an art museum. It’s a really weird but cool twist!

As a fan, I’ve been really struck by how Mappa weaves in references to classic paintings throughout the Culling Game arc. It’s not just visually stunning, but it adds this incredible sense of foreboding, like the story knows things are about to get really painful for everyone involved.

The Scream by Edvard Munch

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The connection to the Culling Game is instantly recognizable, even if you don’t realize it right away. The distorted imagery, quiet desperation, and feeling of a breaking reality all reflect the game’s central theme: individuals driven to their limits, silently suffering as cursed energy overwhelms them.

Ophelia by John Everett Millais

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The way Mai Zenin floats in the water strongly recalls Ophelia’s peaceful, yet tragic, stillness – with the added imagery of floating flowers and a calm water surface. Considering the themes of sacrifice and fate in Jujutsu Kaisen, this scene feels less like a beautiful visual and more like a subtle foreshadowing of something terrible to come.

Two sleeping children by Peter Paul Rubens

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Okay, so I was watching the new Jujutsu Kaisen opening, and there’s this shot of Mai and Maki sleeping next to each other. It’s clearly inspired by this classic Rubens painting, and honestly, the original feels so peaceful and safe. But seeing it in JJK just hurts because it shows what their relationship could have been – a quiet, happy moment – before all the messed up stuff with the Zenin clan ruined everything. It’s just a fleeting image, but it really sticks with you, you know? It makes you think about what could have been.

The kiss by Gustav Klimt

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The beautiful, golden aesthetic often seen in Klimt’s paintings takes on a darker meaning in the opening sequence of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3. While Yuta and Rika appear to be embracing lovingly, the scene actually conveys a sense of possession and deep sadness. For viewers familiar with the movie Jujutsu Kaisen 0, this imagery powerfully shows their tragic relationship – a love twisted by death – without any need for explanation.

Dead mother by Egon Schiele

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Schiele’s stark portrayal of sorrow feels connected to clues we’ve already seen about Yuji Itadori’s past. The current season started to reveal details through the character Choso, and this new image implies the next season will reveal much more.

Camille Monet and a child by Claude Monet

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Okay, so seeing Panda and Yaga bathed in that soft, almost painterly light… it felt a little off for Jujutsu Kaisen, honestly. But it really hit me that even cursed spirits and creations can be family. Still, that warmth made me uneasy! Jujutsu Kaisen never lets you enjoy a peaceful moment without something bad happening later, so I’m bracing myself for what’s coming.

You can now watch Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 on Crunchyroll! The first two episodes are already out, and new ones will be released every Thursday at 9am Pacific Time.

Want to learn more about Jujutsu Kaisen? You can find details on the most surprising character deaths, characters who didn’t live up to their potential, and the final fate of Sukuna in the manga.

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2026-01-09 00:49