"Wait, wait, wait" A Heartwarming Scene Instantly Turns into Horror… Fans Terrified by New Event PV Centered on Mai in Jujutsu Kaisen: Phantom Parade

On the X account for the anime Jujutsu Kaisen smartphone game "Phantom Parade (PhanPara)," the official PV for the story event "Utakata no Kazoku" was released. The drastic contrast—shifting abruptly from a peaceful interaction between sisters to an unsettling atmosphere—is generating huge buzz. Although it is a long-awaited preview for a new story for fans, its tone foreboding an unexpected horror turn has sent chills through social media.

According to a post from the account, the story event "Utakata no Kazoku" allows players to read a limited story centered on Mai Zen'in (VA: Marina Inoue) and earn in-game rewards. The event period runs from July 31 at 15:00 to August 18 at 14:59. Mai is the twin younger sister of Maki Zen'in (VA: Mikako Komatsu), who is a senior to the protagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen, Yūji Itadori (VA: Junya Enoki). She is a second-year student at Kyoto Jujutsu High and a Grade 3 Jujutsu Sorcerer.

In the video, set in a place bathed in bright light, Mai dressed in her Jujutsu High uniform is depicted tying the hair of a young girl wearing a kimono with a smile on her face. The sequence centers around a warm yet somewhat bittersweet everyday interaction between Mai, who is called "Big Sister," and her "younger sister." While a peaceful scene unfolds, there are also depictions suggesting poor health, as if Mai is pushing herself beyond her limits. Finally, when the older sister mutters, "What a truly troublesome younger sister," the scene completely transforms. It shifts to a depiction of a dilapidated house, finishing with an unsettling atmosphere hanging over the entire video.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Phantom Parade is the first smartphone game for the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen, based on Gege Akutami's smash-hit manga. In addition to allowing players to relive the story of Yūji Itadori and other sorcerers fighting to exorcise Cursed Spirits born from negative human emotions through high-quality graphics and full voice acting, it also features game-original stories and characters, earning strong support from many fans.

In response to the narrative shifting abruptly from a peaceful intro, fans shared reactions of surprise and confusion, such as "Wait wait wait wait what is this", "Stop with the unsettling vibes", and "A heartwarming scene turned into horror all at once... I used to skip the story, but now I'm definitely interested."

(C)Gege Akutami/Shueisha