Do you have a Demon Slayer-sized hole in your heart while you patiently wait for the movie to come out? Or maybe you’re just on the hunt for the next gloriously gory yet strangely heartwarming anime to add to your queue? Then now’s the time to get in on Jujutsu Kaisen! You might think you’ve seen this story before, but we’re here to tell you why this increasingly popular action-packed shonen anime deserves your attention. Just how popular is Jujutsu Kaisen? “At launch, the series was trending on Twitter across four countries,” a Crunchyroll representative tells IGN. “[It] is one of the most popular series on Crunchyroll and has remained as one of the top titles over the last two anime seasons.” A series of infographics released by Crunchyroll in January, 2021, indicates that Jujutsu Kaisen was a top anime in North America in 2020, alongside My Hero Academia S4. It also made the list of "frequently favorite" anime for the service in 71 counties and territories. Read on for a breakdown of what the series is about, where you can watch it, and more...
Jujutsu Kaisen is the story of Yuji Itadori, an easygoing high school student who joins the occult club at school. When they accidentally summon grotesque creatures by messing with a cursed object, Itadori fights to save his friends’ lives. A sorcerer, drawn to the school by the dangerous object, reveals that it grants powerful cursed energy when swallowed. Desperate to save everyone, Itadori swallows the talisman—a decomposed finger. As a result, he’s possessed by Sukuna, the king of curses, and his life changes forever. Curses are monstrosities formed by an overwhelming amount of negative emotions, like shame or regret. The curses are drawn to places where those feelings are strongest. Unsuspecting humans are frequently attacked and killed by these horrors, and it’s up to brave and powerful sorcerers to destroy them before they cause more harm. As the new vessel for the malevolent spirit, Itadori shares his body with one of the most powerful curses of all. He’s sentenced to death by the curse-fighting sorcerers, who deem him too dangerous to leave alive, but an unconventional teacher at the sorcery school has an idea to postpone the execution. Sukuna’s 20 fingers are scattered around the world. If Itadori can track down and ingest every finger, he’ll absorb even more of the curse into his body. If Itadori is then killed, the curse will be completely destroyed along with him. The young student accepts the mission to put an end to Sukuna once and for all. He enrolls in Jujutsu Tech High School to learn sorcery techniques to aid in the search for the remaining fingers. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-anime-of-the-decade-2010-2019&captions=true"]
[poilib element="accentDivider"] Kelly Knox is a freelance entertainment writer who also contributes to StarWars.com, DCComics.com, Nerdist, and more. Follow her on Twitter at @kelly_knox to talk Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons, and comics.
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What Is the Jujutsu Kaisen Anime?
Literally translated as “Sorcery Fight,” Jujutsu Kaisen started in Japan as a hugely popular shonen manga series by Gege Akutami. Its first season as a highly anticipated anime kicked off in Japan in 2020. The story might sound familiar... at first. A charismatic young man finds a new home in a secret school dedicated to studying sorcery. He becomes a part of this supernatural world after he eats a finger belonging to a cursed spirit. Yes, you read that right.
Why Should You Watch?
You’ve never seen a “magic school” like this. Sure, the mainstays are all here: a likeable protagonist, close friends, unusual allies, and quirky teachers. There’s even a multi-episode arc featuring a battle against a rival school. But there are also elements that break the mold and indicate the stakes are very high in this world. Without spoiling too much, fans of Jujutsu Kaisen find out quickly that consequences matter in this story and no character is safe from them. That intensity, combined with flashy punches and kicks and disturbing imagery, could be overwhelming in any other series. But Jujutsu Kaisen flawlessly balances horror and action with humor and heart. Itadori is instantly charming. He can be naïve, thoughtful, and adorable, all while being possessed by an ancient evil. His mentor, Satoru Gojo, shares that same balance: awe-inspiring power paired with a playful personality. Gojo is already a fan favorite. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=You%E2%80%99ve%20never%20seen%20a%20%E2%80%9Cmagic%20school%E2%80%9D%20like%20this."] On the flip side of those lighthearted moments are gorgeous visuals that elicit a visceral reaction. Unsettling body horror, gore, and grotesque creatures ramp up the action even more and stick with you long after each episode is over. These moments ooze with dark energy that’s almost palpable. When—or if—the evil is defeated, there’s a real sense of relief that something horrifying is over.
How to Watch Jujutsu Kaisen
When you’re ready to give the first episode a try, you’ll find it right now on Crunchyroll. The first 13-episode arc recently wrapped up and the next arc only just began in January. Crunchyroll releases subtitled episodes the same day they air in Japan, so you’ll always be up to date. The series is available dubbed in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German, and you can also find the English dub streaming now on HBO Max. If you can’t wait week to week to find out what happens next, over 100 chapters of the currently running manga are at your fingertips thanks to Viz and Shonen Jump. As we mentioned earlier, the anime is increasingly popular these days. Of course, nothing is definite in the world of entertainment, so it could be that the series loses steam. But the numbers certainly seem to be on its side for now. So if you love horror and humor, don’t miss your chance to jump on the Jujutsu Kaisen hype train now.
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