Anime Thoughts: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1
If you haven't jumped on the Jujutsu Kaisen bandwagon yet, what have you been doing with your life? Because show easily became my favorite anime of all time. It's time to get your cursed energy flowing because we're diving headfirst into the supernatural world of this epic anime's first season.
Plot (No Spoilers, Promise!)
Jujutsu Kaisen kicks off with a bang - quite literally! It follows our seemingly ordinary high school protagonist, Yuji Itadori, who stumbles upon a cursed object as he was hanging out with the Occult club of his school. But here's the catch: it's no ordinary cursed object; it's housing a malevolent and powerful spirit. Classic horror movie mistake, right?
Things escalate fast, and Yuji finds himself smack dab in the middle of a secret organization's mission to exorcise curses. As Yuji and his friends, along with a mysterious Jujutsu student, Megumi Fushiguro, were being attacked by curses that came out of nowhere, he made the split second decision to swallow the cursed object to save his friends and Megumi . And that, my friends, is how Yuji becomes the host to a powerful curse.
The Characters
The characters was the main reason why I fell in love with this show (as well as the manga). Each character in Jujutsu Kaisen have their own unique flavor and characteristics.
Yuji Itadori, our main character (technically), is genuinely relatable, and you'll be rooting for him from episode one. He's got this mix of determination, humor, and an insatiable appetite that's impossible not to love.
We also got Megumi Fushiguro, the cool and mysterious sorcerer, and the ever confident and strong-willed Nobara Kugisaki. These three make up the core trio, and their interactions are the stuff buddy-cop dreams are made of.
But it's not just our heroes who steal the show. The villains (curses, really) are downright creepy and intriguing. Sukuna, the "King of Curses," is a character you'll love to hate. His dynamic with Yuji is definitely fun to watch.
But the real star of the show, for me personally, is Satoru Gojo who I am absolutely in love with. He is considered the strongest sorcerer of this generation. He sometimes act like a lunatic but he has the best intentions for his students. Oh and did I forget to mention he is extremely tall and extremely good-looking.
Animation and Action
If I had to describe the animation in one word, it'd be "mind-blowing." Studio MAPPA really did an amazing job animating the manga! The fight scenes are a visual spectacle. It looks so good! The curses are grotesque in the best way possible, and the battles are fast-paced and adrenaline-pumping. You'll be itching for the next fight scene like an addict.
Story and Pacing
Jujutsu Kaisen manages to balance its serious moments with humor extremely well. It delves into deep themes of life, death, and the consequences of one's actions while making you giggle at a well-timed joke in the same breath. The pacing is top-notch, with just the right amount of action, character development, and world-building in each episode. It just keeps you on your toes the entire time. 24 episodes doesn't feel like 24 episodes.
Music and Sound
The opening theme, "Kaikai Kitan" by Eve, and the ending theme, "Lost in Paradise" by ALI featuring AKLO, are bangers that'll make you want to get up and dance. I have Kaikai Kitan is constantly on repeat.
Overall Thoughts on Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 is everything you could ever ask for in a shonen anime. It takes you on a rollercoaster ride you do not want to get off from. It has great animation, well-developed characters, amazing action scenes, and such funny banters between the characters. I would definitely recommend this anime to anyone wanting to get into the genre.
