Jujutsu Kaisen is Overrated, But Still Better Than Most Shonen Anime

Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most popular and beloved new-gen shonen anime that quickly gained a massive fan base who absolutely fell in love with its grim world. Now it has become so popular and publicized that many claim it to be overrated and undeserving of all the attention it receives. This is because, at the end of the day, JJK does not showcase anything vastly different from what other anime in the shonen anime genre have already done before. It also draws inspiration from established franchises like Naruto and Bleach, borrowing many of its ideas.

However, even after taking elements from here and there, Jujutsu Kaisen pulls it off with finesse. It stays away from many of the shortcomings and clichés of shonen anime with its fast pace and bold decisions regarding its characters. Thus, despite having common themes, Jujutsu Kaisen successfully becomes an anime that deserves all the hype it gets.

Jujutsu Kaisen Blends Shonen Anime Tropes to Form Its Story

From the moment the Jujutsu Kaisen anime came out in 2020, it became one of the most promising new shonen anime within the community. People started raving about the animation and the interesting characters who were not just good-looking, but also very strong. But, right off the bat, fans could identify that even though the anime itself is great, it also heavily relies on inspirations taken from its predecessors, like Naruto and Bleach.

For instance, Sukuna, a villainous curse getting sealed inside Yuji, is very similar to Kurama, a perceived terrifying monster being sealed inside Naruto from Naruto. The only difference here is that Kurama and Naruto developed a positive bond as time went on. Sukuna, however, remained hostile and antagonistic towards Yuji till the end. Sukuna is such a hater of Yuji that in Chapter 248 of the manga, Sukuna ruminates about his reason behind his disdain for Yuji and swears to crush his ideals just to prove Yuji wrong.

Other than that, Yuji’s closest friends are Megumi and Nobara, who become his classmates at the Jujutsu High. Though not very close at first, they quickly become a solid team of sorcerers who start to share an unbreakable bond. This dynamic of having one male and one female friend and then forming a trio of sorcerers also mirrors Team 7 from Naruto. Here, as well, Sasuke and Sakura join Naruto to become powerful shinobi under the tutelage of a white-haired teacher, who also happens to cover a part of his face.

The resemblance between Naruto and Yuji, Sasuke and Megumi, and Nobara and Sakura is pretty evident. Yuji is as simple-minded and pure as Naruto, Megumi is just like the brooding and reserved Sasuke, and Nobara is as boisterous as Sakura. Though they definitely differ to a large extent, the similarities are also obvious. But it is not just Naruto from which Jujutsu Kaisen borrows this heavily.

In the very first episode of Bleach, Ichigo, a delinquent high school boy, suddenly gets the power to become a Soul Reaper out of nowhere. This was the same way Yuji gets his powers by swallowing Sukuna’s fingers overnight. One also cannot ignore the fact that Gojo, the playful yet mysterious teacher from Jujutsu Kaisen, is a mixture of Urahara from Bleach and Kakashi from Naruto.

Though these are mostly fan interpretations, Gege Akutami confirmed at a Jujutsu Kaisen Q&A event in Tokyo that Megumi is inspired by Rukia. This makes sense because just as Megumi is present when Yuji gains his powers, Rukia is also there when Ichigo begins his journey as a Soul Reaper. However, these things do not make Jujutsu Kaisen a bad anime because it actually utilizes these elements and makes its storyline even better.

Jujutsu Kaisen Outshines Most Shonen Anime With Its Individuality

It is undoubtedly true that Jujutsu Kaisen follows a formula, but it does it in such a productive way that it works. First of all, MAPPA delivers a top-tier visual experience with its animation that gives this anime a unique identity by elevating its fight sequences and providing fluid action choreography. The voice actors also do a phenomenal job by breathing life into their characters, especially the main cast, whose dialogues turn into memorable moments. Even its background scores, opening and ending themes, add to the anime’s strengths, making it even more enjoyable.

But apart from that, despite being a shonen anime, Jujutsu Kaisen does one thing perfectly that has always been criticized in anime. It does not waste its time on meaningless information, endless backstories, or random explanations in between battles. The audience gets just as much information about the power structure they need for the moment, and things carry on at a fast pace, keeping everyone hooked.

Perhaps the best aspect of Jujutsu Kaisen is that it is not afraid of breaking one particular shonen anime norm and stepping out of its comfort zone. Very few shonen anime kill off one of their most popular characters without much thought. But Jujutsu Kaisen does exactly that in Season 2, by getting rid of Nanami, even when he is at the height of his popularity within the franchise. His death was needed for the plot, and the makers went with it without fearing any backlash from fans for the sake of the story.

Jujutsu Kaisen also executes villainous characters exceptionally well, which is a key element in popularizing an anime. A great villain often defines an anime’s success, and series like Naruto and Bleach prove this better than most. Characters like Madara from Naruto and Aizen from Bleach steal the show whenever they come on screen to showcase just how powerful they are. It will not be an exaggeration to claim that, for some fans, they are more iconic than the heroes.

Similarly, in Jujutsu Kaisen, Sukuna takes all the limelight for himself wherever he appears. He becomes the ultimate threat to the protagonist and others, increasing the high stakes of the story. Just like him, Toji, who only appeared for a few episodes, still managed to become one of the most memorable villains ever by becoming an absolute menace to two of the strongest sorcerers ever.

Jujutsu Kaisen Has Great Female Representation

Shonen anime fumbles massively in its representation of female characters. Naruto, which is so famous for its hero, villain, and emotionally moving arcs, still gets criticized for depicting an uninteresting female cast. Many absolutely hate Sakura for her occasional toxic behavior, and understandably so. Her character development does not feel convincing enough to be seen as complex, which leaves many fans finding her more irritating than well-written.

Dragon Ball has the same issue where most major female characters, like Chi-Chi, are introduced with strong potential, but the narrative quickly sidelines them into housewives, mothers, or background supporters. Even Bulma, who stays somewhat relevant, is absent for long stretches, with her return tied to her relationship with Vegeta rather than her own arc. Bleach, however, does a much better job with its female representation, and Jujutsu Kaisen follows a similar path.

Here, characters like Maki and Nobara come off as well-fleshed-out, with powers that can even rival their male counterparts. Maki, especially, stands out as a persona who did not let the tag of being born as a non-sorcerer stop her from training and successfully becoming one of the strongest sorcerers.

Nobara proves her strength by holding her own against powerful enemies, especially in her and Yuji’s battle with the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings’ brothers, Eso and Kechizu. Not only her, but Miwa, who trolls herself by labeling herself useless, is one of the most pleasant and relatable characters from Jujutsu Kaisen. She might not be as powerful as others, but she is still a breath of fresh air who deserves all the support she gets from her teammates.

The reason Jujutsu Kaisen‘s females get so much appreciation is that they do not exist merely to further Yuji’s journey as a hero or for the larger narrative. They exist as proper multifaceted characters with their own stories, motives, and goals that are just as important. For instance, Maki’s defiance of the Zenin clan and Miwa’s drive to support her family showcase their determination. Plus, dynamics like Maki and Nobara’s supportive bond highlight female mentorship, which is pretty rare in shonen anime.

Jujutsu Kaisen may take inspiration from classic shonen anime elements, but it polishes them in a way that feels fresh. It proves itself to be an anime truly worthy of all the praise, living up to the expectations of both long-time anime fans and newcomers within the community.