The following contains spoilers for JUJUTSU KAISEN 0
With news brewing about the upcoming second seasonof the MAPPA-produced dark fantasy Shonen anime,JUJUTSU KAISEN,the upcoming streaming platform release of the franchise’s movie,JUJUTSU KAISEN 0, comes at an opportune moment after the film’s successful release in Japan and worldwide.
Featuring a character only mentioned in the main series, Yuta Okkotsu,JUJUTSU KAISEN 0serves as a prequel to the events of the main series, and it is set only about a year prior to the events ofJUJUTSU KAISEN. Here is the full run-down on the film ahead of its release on the Crunchyroll streaming platform.
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Plot
Yuta Okkotsu is a timid high school student who is traumatized not only from the bullying he experiences, but because he suffers from a deeply twisted curse. His deceased childhood friend, Rika Orimoto, died when they were younger in a tragic traffic accident, and upon her death, Rika attached herself to Yuta in full observance of their promise to be together forever. Now Rika is a Special Grade curse who has possessed Yuta, and is prone to lashing out violently towards anyone who threatens him.
One of the worst incidents occurred when four students were stuffed in a locker. Possessed by a supernatural entity that is in the same league as Ryoumen Sukuna, Yuta is captured by the Jujutsu authorities and set to be executed until Satoru Gojo intervenes. Yuta, ready to accept death due to the incredible strain the curse has placed on his life, sets out to learn more about the world of curses, with the promise of being able to one day exorcise Rika and live a normal life again. However, deep in the shadows lurks a radical who is planning to unleash pandemonium upon the world and rid it of all non-sorcerers – for good.
Themes
JUJUTSU KAISEN 0is ultimately about Yuta’s personal journey with grief, and how this grief culminated in a curse that affected his whole life, prompting his isolated, loner lifestyle. Through familiar shonen themes of friendship, triumph over evil and the senseless injustice in the world,JUJUTSU KAISEN 0presents the grief of its main character and antagonist, juxtaposing two very different, yet very similar experiences. Destiny also forms part of the thematic fabric inJUJUTSU KAISEN 0; particularly in one of the standout themes in the film –the juxtaposition ofthe series powerhouse Satoru Gojoand his best friend-turned enemy Suguru Geto – who aims to rid the world of non-sorcerers.
This depraved desire for genocide stems from Suguru’s own grief and anger at the world’s apparent unfairness, and the “lies” fed to him regarding the role of the strong in relation to the weak. Believing sorcerers to be the true humanity, Suguru’s path towards creating the utopia he envisions includes the abandonment of his humanity through the consumption of curses, amassing an army so that come Christmas Eve, he may envelop Shibuya and Kyoto in a sea of blood and curses. The climactic event in the film is referred to by Suguru as the “Hyakki Yakou” – “The Night Parade of a Thousand Demons”, a direct reference to the idiom stemming from Japanese folklore.
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The idiom refers to either an orderly procession, or an outright riot or parade of thousands of demons and supernatural entities that fill Japanese streets at night. It is comparable to the English concept of Pandemonium, or the Wild Hunt of various northern European folklore.
The basic premise of the Hyakki Yakou is that on one night each year, the Nurarihyon (Demon Lord) is set to lead a legion of all yokai in existence through the streets of Japan on summer nights. Anyone caught in the procession will either lose their life or be spirited away. It is said that the only individual capable of passing through the Hyakki Yakou unscathed is the clan head of an onmyouji – an exorcist, or in this case, a super-powerful Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Notable Characters
Art and Animation
MAPPA shines once more with the production of this film, as the studio staff manage to elevate the incredible art and animation seen in the original series. The introductory parts are rife with beautiful shots and delicately animated scenes that grab the attention of the viewer from the word go.JUJUTSU KAISEN 0really shows off; however, during the climax, where various curses and sorcerers engage in battle royale-style combat.
The fights featuring Gojo were a masterclass and the cameo appearances of various other characters from the series spawned some of the best-looking scenes from theJUJUTSU KAISENanimated franchise to date. One of the most exciting scenes in the film featured the salaryman Nanami and a rehashed rendition of his character theme, “Working Overtime” among other familiar tracks from the original soundtrack.
Verdict
JUJUTSU KAISEN 0is a gorgeous movie made with a great understanding of the horror elements that make JUJUTSU KAISENsuch a unique and interesting shonen series, as well as an understanding of the level of spectacle required in anime feature films.
The bar was already set high by the first season of the series; however, the film took things to a different level, with the art and animation being one of the best things about the film. While coherent, interesting, and moving at times, the story seemed to be oversimplified in certain parts, with Yuta’s obvious zero-to-hero trajectory building very predictably. Be that as it may,JUJUTSU KAISEN 0is incredible, and comes recommended for any fan of the series, of shonen, and of anime in general.
