Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is now playing in theaters in the United States in both subtitled and English dubbed. This film is a brilliant, dark, and exciting introduction to the Jujutsu Kaisen series.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0: A brilliant introductory film
Jujutsu Kaisen is a dark, supernatural adventure anime series following the manga written by Gege Akutami. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a prequel film to the series based on the manga of the same title. Yuta Okkotsu, a nervous high school student, who enrolls in the mysterious Tokyo Jujutsu High School under the guidance of Satoru Gojo after being haunted by the curse of his childhood friend, Rika Orimoto. Audiences across the United States can watch it in theaters and select IMAX.
The film does an excellent job explaining aspects of the series for those who may have never seen an episode of Jujutsu Kaisen. They can easily follow the elements of the story without feeling lost or confused. It does not spoil plot points, either. For those of us who are familiar with the series and/or the manga, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 offers incredible backstories to the characters we have already gotten to know. As a whole, the film explores a romantic tragedy within its supernatural elements. Themes of guilt and coping with a childhood curse create a very dark tone. However, the writers do a fantastic job with comedic timing to break up the looming darkness of the curse.
The story is centered on Yuta Okkotsu. He is supported by his friends Panda, Maki Zenin, Toge Inumaki, and teacher, Satoru Gojo. Yuta’s story was heartbreaking and beautiful. He is unsure of himself at first but grows into a student willing to work hard to control the curse of his friend, Rika. His friends are supportive of his situation and are willing to help him train and grow. Each of the characters is dynamic, well-written, and relatable in their own ways.
MAPPA, the studio behind Jujutsu Kaisen and Jujutsu Kaisen 0, did an outstanding job with the animation. Each fight scene is brilliantly detailed. The scenery, such as the high school, city streets, and forested areas, is stunning. Each character is drawn and animated so well, and the curses are scary!
Overall, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a dark film that brings epic fight scenes and a heartbreaking yet beautiful story to life. The pacing of the entire film is well-timed. As someone who is a huge fan of the series, I enjoyed getting to know Maki, Panda, and Toge more than what is explained in their episodes. Plus, having more background on Gojo and the antagonist, Geto, helps put a lot of the series into better perspective. Everything is explained so well that everyone, from new fans to seasoned fans, will have a great understanding of the mysterious Jujutsu High School and Jujutsu sorcery. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this film.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is animated by MAPPA and directed by Sunghoo Park. The film is available in both English dub and subtitled. It is out now in more than 1500 theaters nationwide and in select U.S. based IMAX theaters. Tickets are on sale in the United States and Canada.
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