Rating: 4.5/5
The show that took the anime world by storm, “Jujutsu Kaisen,” concluded its 24-episode first season on March 27 after premiering in October. The anime world has had all eyes on the animation studio MAPPA Co. for the last few months, as the studio is additionally producing the blockbuster final season of “Attack on Titan.” With “Jujutsu Kaisen,” MAPPA might just be on the brink of a new anime staple.
“Jujutsu Kaisen” follows the story of Yuji Itadori, a goofy teenager with exceptional athletic prowess and a heart of gold. Yuji’s characterization is nothing new—this type of character is common in anime—but he is lovable nonetheless. One day, monsters called curses are drawn into Yuji’s school by a Sukuna finger, one of 20 fingers of the sorcerer Sukuna that have become cursed objects. After swallowing the finger to gain the power to fight the curses, Yuji becomes a vessel for Sukuna, and discovers he has the ability to suppress Sukuna’s immense power. This encounter leads Yuji to enroll in a school that trains Jujutsu sorcerers to fight the curses. Yuji does so with the goal of swallowing the rest of the Sukuna fingers to unite Sukuna, and to then let himself be executed in order to destroy Sukuna for good.
By far the most praiseworthy aspect of “Jujutsu Kaisen” are the visuals, especially during the fight scenes. Dynamic shots and clever cuts make the action in these scenes feel exciting and leave viewers wanting more. While many of the characters utilize interesting abilities to fight curses, I found that the best fight scenes consisted of Yuji fighting hand-to-hand. Episodes 12 and 20 highlight this action, as quick shots follow Yuji and a partner coordinating a barrage of devastating strikes against their opponent.
It’s not just the action that’s stunning in “Jujutsu Kaisen,” but also the design of the curses. The curses look grotesque and otherworldly, even the humanoid ones. Ranging from a little creepy to sleep paralysis demon, the horror of the curses provides all the more reason for viewers to want to see the Jujutsu sorcerers succeed.
While thoroughly impressed by the show’s visual set pieces, I have mixed feelings about the characters. The characters and their interactions are fun to watch, especially those including Yuji’s eccentric Jujutsu teacher Satoru Gojou, but there’s more that the show can do in terms of character development. The show often gives glimpses into the characters’ pasts and makes it clear how their pasts are influencing their actions, but beyond that, there isn’t much change in the characters. Yuji’s classmate Megumi Fushiguro—who’s around since the first episode—only really becomes fleshed out toward the end of the season. The show is probably leaving more in-depth explorations of its characters for future seasons, but as it stands, I was still able to enjoy the characters in season one.
Another criticism I have is how there isn’t really a sense of progression. Not much gets accomplished in regards to taking out the villains. You can’t even measure the show’s progression by how many Sukuna fingers Yuji swallows, since he swallows a few in the beginning and then one at the very end. The only thing that makes the later episodes feel different from earlier episodes is how strong the curses are.
Furthermore, “Jujutsu Kaisen” feels slow at some points despite overall decent pacing. There’s an arc starting around episode six where Yuji barely interacts with the other characters. Although sitting through this arc does eventually reward viewers with episode 12 and the exciting next arc, the buildup to the climax feels bland and way too long. The show also slows down after episode 20, so the season ends in an awkward spot. It wouldn’t quite make sense for the show to end on episode 20, but episode 24 doesn’t nearly match the excitement of episode 20.
Though “Jujutsu Kaisen” isn’t the most thought-provoking show, I do find it interesting how the explanation for the existence of the curses is that humanity’s negative emotions created them. Yuji’s main motivation in the series is to die a “proper” death surrounded by those he cares about, which I think raises a legitimate question about what the idea of a “proper” even means. Despite some issues, I’d say that “Jujutsu Kaisen” lives up to hype.