Have You Watched Jujutsu Kaisen?

Jujutsu Kaisen is the hot stuff strutting their legs on the anime streets right now. It’s a must have product that anime sensei’s have been serving as the new drug to get hooked on. And a lot of people have become proud addicts of the thrilling show. The story has garnered a large fanbase that has boldly and harmoniously sung its praises, leading to an overwhelming amount of success. Just recently in 2020, the show was bestowed the honor of being recognized as the Anime of the Year at the 5th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

But is it worth the hype?

Everyone and their mom is watching the show. Meaning every anime fan is naming it as a current must watch, listed safely in their recommendations. And with so many people constantly harping on the greatness of the show, it’s bound to be asked if the anime is worth all the hype. Thus where I come in!

This article is going to be discussing anything and everything that makes up the horror action series Jujutsu Kaisen. And in the end, to wrap up a meticulous, thorough review of all the anime has to offer, I will be providing the ultimate answer you all will be patiently waiting for: Is Jujutsu Kaisen all hype or praiseworthy?

Plot

First let’s discuss the premise of the show.

In the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, every living thing releases negative emotions known as Curse Energy. Because of this constant release of energy Curses are born, a race of spiritual creatures who take the forms of horrific monsters whose sole purpose is to wreak havoc on humanity.

The only people who are equipped to deal with such calamities are Jujutsu sorcerers, a trained set of people who master the control of Cursed Energy flowing in their bodies.

An amazing concept that is unique in its own right off the bat. What further develops the plot is our main protagonist Yuji Itadori. At the start of the first episode he’s a regular kid who goes to high school and participates in a club. In the end, he becomes a vessel for the King of Curses, Sukuna. A vile person who slaughtered many in his previous life that all Jujutsu sorcerers are working to kill.

Basically, we have the show’s main protagonist and antagonist rolled up into one body. An idea that glues all eyes to the screen by continuously adding questions that have us fiending for more.

Is our hero going to be alright? Is he stuck with that evil Curse in him forever? Do they have to kill him now? What happens next?

Incredible plot that only gets better the more you watch. Even so, there are still more traits to an anime that define whether or not it's truly worthy of being a must watch. And one of those features is—

Anime Opening Theme

Yes. I am being serious.

Anime openings are important for one sole reason. They set the tone for the show. When you watch an anime opening you get a good idea of what the show is about, the overall atmosphere of the story, and the pace it will set out to create. And Jujutsu Kaisen’s opening does all that and then some.

So for this article, I’m only going to be discussing the anime’s first opening. Leave those who have yet to watch it a little nugget to look forward to. Which means we’ll be talking about the song Kaikai Kitan by Eve.

The song itself has an uptempo feel to it that matches the lively energy the anime serves up. The catchy instrumentals paired with the melodic voice of Eve is just perfect synergy that captures the playful energy of the characters in the anime. What makes the scene work even better for this opening is the duality in the visuals.

There are times in the opening where it shows two versions of reality. For example, there’s a shot where our main protagonist is riding on a train by himself with bright colors used. A second later, the vibrant world beyond the glass of the train goes completely black and we see the reflection of our protagonist, but this time their face is littered with strange black markings.

So while the song is giving the audience a joyful ambiance that is sometimes matched with equally brilliant visuals, there are times when the opening drops hints at the dark nature carefully embedded in the anime. A foreshadowing that allows fans to buckle up before things get hectic.

Overall: Amazing!

Characters

To make it in the film industry, you have to have a story with good characters. And Jujutsu Kaisen doesn’t disappoint in that area as they’ve blessed fans with an anime patented youthful trio.

Yuji Itadori

This guy rocks. He’s so lovable. I mean, who can dislike someone who can literally punch through walls, put their life on the line without hesitation, and goes out of their way to save people. Plus the man said he likes girls like Megan Thee Stallion! What more needs to be said of Itadori’s stand out personality!?!

In all seriousness, Itadori is a good main protagonist to get behind. He’s interesting from the get go, showcasing his incredible athletic abilities with outlandish strength and jaguaresque speed. And his laid back, carefree personality adds a bit of levity to the horror based anime. He also has the typical altruistic, “I’m gonna save everyone”, hero’s mentality known for anime protagonists, so that’s another thing going for him.

But even a positive force like him will show off their dark side when pushed too far. Itadori has to bear his eyes at some very harsh images that some with killing Curses. There are times when those scenes push him over the top and we see our good natured hero lose his composure, willing to respond with actions that go against who he is.

Then there’s his interesting relationship with the Curse he cohabits his body with, Sukuna. Their duality is what makes the show so enjoyable. Part of you is hoping for the best with Itadori and root for him when he’s able to control Sukuna. Another part of you wants to see Sukuna make some noise and spread terror for a few minutes. And you get both desires fulfilled at times. It’s a constant battle for balance that you constantly have to fret about. A thrilling experience that has you ready for the worst and hoping for the best. A truly special dynamic.

Megumi Fushiguro

This guy also rocks. A bit less but still, I like him.

Fushiguro adds a seriousness to the show that is sometimes lacking with Itadori. A cold disposition that is accompanied by a calculating personality. But underneath all of that is a compassionate figure who wants to save people just as much. He may not scream positivity, but his actions definitely speak louder than he does.

Though his athletic traits aren’t up to par with Itadori’s, Fushiguro is still known to pack a punch. If not with his fists, then with his jujitsu. Within the magic system of Jujutsu Kaisen, Fushiguro has a solid foundation as a sorcerer. He’s a skillful and tactical fighter who can quickly assess and adapt to a situation at hand. Furthermore, he’s not scared to get his hands dirty, getting wrapped up in hand to hand combat from on occasion. A scrappy fighter who’s resourceful. Someone who’ll keep you on the edge of their seat. And he has plenty of room to get stronger as the series progresses.

Nobara Kugisaki

To finish our fearsome threesome we have the headstrong, independent, and vastly confident Nobara Kugisaki. A strong female lead who stays true to herself. She understands her worth and takes great pride in it, taking offense when someone doesn’t see her as highly as she does. Especially when it comes to her looks.

She’s also known as the outspoken one of the group, taking charge when decisions need to be made. Her unshakeable will is contagious at times when watching, making you feel as if things will work itself out for heroes in due time.

Like Fushiguro, she is a sorcerer. Though not as skilled, and not oozing with as much talent, she’s able to hold her own in a fight at a moment’s notice. But they are alike in that Kugisaki has enhanced strength like Fushiguro and is outstanding tactical intellect. And what she lacks in sorcerer abilities, she makes up with an unbelievable pain tolerance. Her body is just a strong as her will with there being times during the anime where she put her body to the limit, enduring some gruesome pain.

A treat to watch to say the least.

Satoru Gojo

Every anime group needs a cool sensei, and that’s exactly what Gojo is. He’s witty, unpredictable, and a total badass.

As a teacher, he’s everything you would dream for. He’s nonchalant and relaxed, dropping knowledge on his students when need be, but also allowing them to go through the trials and tribulations, giving them the opportunity to become more powerful in their own ways.

Now outside of this teacher role, Gojo exudes seriousness and cruelty at times that can be jarring. A good example is during episode 5 we’re seeing Gojo for the first time away from his students for a moment, dealing with the death of a character. The usual impish grin he has is gone, replaced by a deadpan face that wears a sneer at the end. And evenly states, without hesitation and thinly coated with angst, that he should “kill the higher ups” as he blames them for the character’s death.

This is the first time as an audience where we see Gojo in this light, and it immediately steals our attention. It’s the first time Gojo as a character flexes his authority. Letting it be known that he’s playing nice because he chose to, not because he has to.

The subtle flex he does at times is backed up by the fact that he’s regarded as the most powerful sorcerer in the series. Allies and foes alike fear his power, fulfilling both roles as a shoulder to lean on and a worthy opponent.

Animations

The animations produced for this show are breathtaking. The visuals are just mesmerizing as the coloring and shading for each scene does a great job at painting a picture that captures the tone the producers are going for. Whether it be a bright scene with the series’ main cast of characters in an active setting. Or a dark, monotone image of an eviscerated victim, highlighting its gorey aspect.

The animation also allows the anime to have fluid movement for the characters. It never felt like certain actions were stiff or clunking along as they moved around. This allowed for scenes to have a steady pace and not draw out moments, while also engaging the audience with sequences meant to get their heart pumping and limbs riddled with goosebumps. Speaking of which, it’s about time we talk about one of my favorite aspects of the series.

Fight Scenes

I love it.

There. That's it. Next heading!

All jokes aside, the fighting scenes were really fun to watch in this anime. I already discussed how well the animations are done for the show. And it stands out nowhere else as prominently as it does in the fighting scenes.

The fluid movements of the characters were perfect for having fast paced action at times. But the visual prowess of the anime allowed for certain fighting moments to drag on, drawing out every essence of suspense manageable. As I mentioned earlier, the show can tend to get bloody at times. And it doesn’t hold back. There are times where the audience witnesses a brutal murder take place and are left mesmerized, contemplating what happened.

The fight scenes do a great job at controlling the flow of the show. Adding a nice jolt or slowing things down when necessary. Also, very entertaining to watch (if you can handle blood).

Final Verdict

We’ve discussed it all. We looked over all the details, discussed all the finer details, and here we are. And without further ado, the answer of whether or not Jujutsu Kaisen is worth the hype is:

Yes.

With an outstanding plot, backed by entertaining characters, polished animation, and captivating fighting scenes, Jujutsu Kaisen is easily a must watch anime for anyone and everyone. I highly recommend you go watch it on whatever streaming platform you can find it on. It’ll be worth it.