Hollywood heavyweights Tom Cruise and director Alejandro González Iñárritu made a surprise appearance at the MAPPA 15th Anniversary exhibition in Tokyo this past Friday. The duo, currently in Japan to promote their latest film, Digger, took time to explore the studio’s history, with Cruise reportedly showing particular interest in the framing and character animation techniques used in Jujutsu Kaisen.
The visit included a private roundtable with veteran character designer and key animator Tadashi Hiramatsu, known for his work on Yuri!!! on Ice and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. During their conversation, the group touched on the evolving nature of the medium, specifically the transition from traditional paper-and-pencil animation to digital workflows. Hiramatsu emphasized the importance of foundational paper training, a sentiment Cruise echoed by drawing parallels to the preservation of an artist's authentic voice in performance.
Following the discussion, Hiramatsu presented the guests with a custom illustration featuring the star of his new film. The exchange was a highlight of the ongoing exhibition, which showcases the studio's output over the last decade and a half. The event is currently hosted at the Yurakucho Museum and is slated to remain open through December 27 before relocating to Fukuoka for a spring 2027 run.
This appearance marks another high-profile visit to the Japanese animation scene for Cruise, who previously toured the Ghibli Museum alongside director Christopher McQuarrie in 2025. With the exhibition now entering its final months in Tokyo, it remains to be seen if other international figures will stop by before the showcase concludes its run.
