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Eiichiro Oda’s one-shot mangaMonstersrecently got an anime adaptation with the titleMonsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnationwhich was released on January 21 on Netflix. The series revolved around the story of Shimotsuki Ryuma fromOne Piece, who was known for defeating a dragon all by himself. He is considered to be the strongest swordsman to ever exist in theOne Pieceuniverse.
The anime adaptation was directed by Sunghoo Park, who is a South Korean animator and director. He is majorly known for directing the first season of Gege Akutami’sJujutsu Kaisenanime. Park’s contribution to the anime adaptation was one of the reasons whyMonsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnationbecame such a huge hit.
What manyJujutsu KaisenandOne Piecefans didn’t know was that Park sneaked a small easter egg in the series that was a direct reference to one of the bleakest moments inJujutsu Kaisen’sfirst season. When this reference was pointed out, fans were too shocked to find out the crossover betweenJujutsu KaisenandMonsters.
MonstersAnime Adaptation’s Director Added a Small Reference toJujutsu Kaisen
WhenMonsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnationwas released, aJujutsu Kaisenfan account@JJK_Myaon X(Formerly Twitter) pointed out theJujutsu Kaisenreference that director Park sneaked into the episode. The reference involved the protagonist Yuji Itadori, antagonist Sukuna, and the secondary antagonist Mahito.
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The reference is from the first season when Mahito used Junpei for his personal gain and later transformed him into a transfigured human. Mahito then forces Junpei to fight Yuji and in a desperate attempt, Yuji asks Sukuna for help. But Sukuna being the menacing figure he is, refuses to help Yuji, and both villains are seen laughing over Yuji’s suffering.
A similar reference was included inMonstersanime where the two major antagonists of the series Cyrano and D.R. are seen laughing over Flare’s naivety when she finds the truth about Cyrano and how he looted her village and killed her parents seven years ago. Although the plotlines of the scenes were different, they shared a similar animation style.
Fans Were Shocked To Find TheJujutsu KaisenReference inMonstersAnime
Park including theJujutsu Kaiseneaster egg inMonsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnationwas the perfect surprise for bothJujutsu KaisenandOne Piecefans. As the Monster series delved into thelife of Shimotsuki Ryumawho was one of the most prominent characters inOne Piece, getting an additional bonus worked perfectly in the favor of the series.
When @JJK_Mya pointed out the nod,Monstersanime had forJujutsu Kaisen,fans were startled. They instantly filled the comments with their opinions about the crossover.
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While some fans pointed out Park’s discreetness, some were just happy to see a peak anime referencing another peak anime.
Peak X Peakpic.twitter.com/2P3Ufpeycv
— jass (@JASS1000001)July 27, 2025
How jjk gets references in other anime shows it created a great influence
— Lyra (@lyrashizo)June 25, 2025
One piece and JJK?pic.twitter.com/HaC2YUQxE6
— J (@Joxhan)July 05, 2025
Peak x peakpic.twitter.com/UBnqRm6jsN
— .👨🍳 (@Yerioflagoss)June 06, 2025
pic.twitter.com/H4uUzHzYeM
— 👤Mahoraga🦍 (@aaron_dx02)July 24, 2025
Peak recognize Peak.pic.twitter.com/dflyytWjae
— The ONE & ONii (•̀_ •́メ)ᕗ (@KAGURABA_CHi)June 23, 2025
Although it has not been officially confirmed by Park or the other creators ofJujutsu Kaisenor theMonstersanime, the reference indeed helped the series and was greatly appreciated byJujutsu KaisenandOne Piecefans.
You can watchMonsters: 103 Mercies Dragon Damnationon Netflix andJujutsu Kaisenon Crunchyroll.
Tarun Kohli
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2959
Tarun Kohli is the Senior Anime Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,900 published articles. He currently specializes in critiquing One Piece and other Shonen anime. A passionate fan of the genre, his love for thoughtful analysis reflects his genuine appreciation for the art of anime. His deep understanding of anime culture has earned recognition from industry figures such as Adi Shankar and the creators of Blood of Zeus.
