Jujutsu Kaisen Explained
Jujutsu Kaisen has been a powerhouse for Weekly Shonen Jump since it began serialization in early 2018. The manga and its accompanying anime have left a solid impression on fans, who can’t seem to get enough of it.
Gege Akutami, the series’s creator, wonderfully blends intricate storytelling, fascinating characters, and compelling action sequences to create a world that feels richly dark and intriguing to observe. By tackling stimulating ideas surrounding friendship and personal growth, Jujutsu Kaisen managed to resonate with many audiences new and old.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s universe is thoughtful and creative. It’s brimming with enough mysteries, shocking revelations, and interesting physical confrontations to keep viewers on board for the ride. It’s a story that’ll leave audiences craving more and one that gets deeper the more it continues.
Being the geeks that we are over here, we’ll be diving deep into the rich concepts and lore of Jujutsu Kaisen, shedding light on the elements that make this story such a marvel to anime and manga veterans and newcomers alike.
Is this based on a manga series?
Yes, Jujutsu Kaisen is based on manga. It’s currently being serialized by Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Shonen magazine since March 2018. The manga has produced over 23 volumes as of July 2023. It happens to be a sequel to the author’s prequel manga called, “Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School.”
That story was serialized in Shueisha’s Jump Giga from April to July 2017. This manga went on to collect a single volume and its material was used to create the well-acclaimed Jujutsu Kaisen flick, Jujutsu Kaisen 0. This film was released in December 2018.
What’s the story about?
The story follows Yuji Itadori, who gets roped into the world of curses and jujutsu sorcerers after consuming the “father of curses,” Sukuna’s fingers and becoming his new host. This causes Yuji to develop supernatural powers, making him a potential threat to himself and those around him. He meets his new instructor Satoru Gojo who helps him enroll in Jujutsu High along with other students.
He plans to help Yuji control his newfound strength and become a skilled jujutsu sorcerer like himself. Plunged into a world filled with demonic entities, menacing magic users, and mysterious trails, Yuji must do everything in his power to protect the innocent.
Who is the author?
Jujutsu Kaisen is written and illustrated by Gege Akutami. However, Gege Akutami is the author’s pen name as information concerning their true identity and face hasn’t been disclosed to the public at this time. Akutami discovered their passion for creating manga after mimicking a friend’s drawing habits during their elementary school days.
Gege created several one-shots for Shueisha’s Jump Next catalog from “Kamishiro Sosa” to “No. 9.” Eventually, one of their one-shots titled “Nikai Bongai Barabarjura,” got nominated for one of Weekly Shonen Jump’s contests. They’d later work on “Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School,” resulting in Jujutsu Kaisen’s creation.
Did any manga authors influence Akutami’s work?
Several creators from Hunter X Hunter’s Yoshihiro Togashi and One-Punch Man artist Yusuke Murata played a huge role in inspiring Akutami’s work on the Jujutsu Kaisen. They’ve noted that Jujutsu Kaisen’s magic system is largely based on Hunter X Hunter’s.
Other works like Naruto, Bleach, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and others played a role in helping Akutami conjure up things for Jujutsu Kaisen too. Akutami isn’t afraid to make references to these iconic works in Jujutsu Kaisen either. One episode, in particular, has Yuji complain to Satoru about not being able to learn a flashy move like Goku’s Kamehameha or Naruto’s Rasengan.
How did Jujutsu Kaisen become popular?
While many adore Akutami’s work on the manga, Studio Mappa’s anime adaptation took the world by storm. Critics and fans alike praised Mappa for their strong attention to detail and handling of Akutami’s source material. Many who weren’t aware of the manga’s existence flocked to it after witnessing Mappa’s portrayal of its noteworthy events.
As for awards, the manga became the first-best-selling manga series (from the timespan of November 2019 to November 2020), with over 6,702,736 copies sold. It went on to rank highly in several publications lists like The New York Times Graphic Books and Manga Bestseller monthly list in 2021. The anime received the “Anime of the Year” award at the 5th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2020.
With character guest appearances in Fortnite and a new dedicated game on the way from Bandai Namco, Jujutsu Kaisen is here to stay.
In Conclusion
Jujutsu Kaisen is a fantastic manga series with an equally enjoyable anime adaptation. Unlike other Shonen Jump projects that end up getting axed, Jujutsu Kaisen struck fans at their core. This is thanks to the series’s stellar writing, world-building, and cast. With everything playing in its favor, Jujutsu Kaisen’s likely to go down as a shonen classic.
Are you a big Jujutsu Kaisen fan? What do you love most about this story? Let us know in the comments below!