5 Jujutsu Kaisen moments inspired by other anime
Studio MAPPAGege Akutami has widely acknowledged Bleach as a source of inspiration for Jujutsu Kaisen. However, the popular series also incorporates elements from various other anime.
Jujutsu Kaisen is possibly the most well-known and popular shonen anime series at the moment. And that’s partly because of the immensely successful Shonen series that came before it.
In an interview with the legendary Bleach mangaka Tite Kubo in 2021, Gege Akutami revealed that he used three prominent manga and anime series as inspiration: Bleach, Hunter x Hunter, and Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Fans speculate that everything from domain expansions to Yuji Itadori’s hair color is based on elements from these series. Here are five of the most obvious elements drawn from these classic Shonen series.
5 Jujutsu Kaisen moments inspired by other anime
Sharp-eyed Jujutsu Kaisen fans may have already picked up on the series, drawing inspiration from other beloved anime. And for those who haven’t caught on, Gege Akutami is open about how his childhood favorites influenced his work. Take Aoi Todo, for instance, who’s based on Bleach’s Kenpachi Zaraki, or Yuji Itadori, drawing inspiration from Naruto Uzumaki, and Megumi Fushiguro is based on Naruto’s Sasuke Uchiha.
But the similarities go beyond the characters. Let’s look at five elements of Jujutsu Kaisen directly inspired by other anime series.
1. The Magic System
One of Jujutsu Kaisen’s major inspirations is Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter. And this comes through most in the series’ magic system.
At the core of Jujutsu Kaisen’s magic system is cursed energy, which is a source of power associated with negative emotions like grief and rage. This energy can then be manipulated by sorcerers as a weapon against cursed spirits.
Because most humans experience strong negative emotions from time to time, there is an abundance of cursed energy and spirits for the sorcerers to combat.
Akutami has announced that Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter, where the characters’ use of Nen determines their power level, is a main source of inspiration for Jujutsu Kaisen’s power system—combining Hunter x Hunter’s Nen with elements of Daisuke Ashihara’s World Trigger, where characters use special skills and weapons to channel energy.
2. Tournament Arcs
Ever since Yu Yu Hakusho exploded onto our screens in the 90s with endless, awe-inspiring tournament arcs, it’s almost mandatory for every Shonen series to have some tournament or competition, and Jujutsu Kaisen is no exception.
Filled with new characters and abilities as they compete against each other, Jujutsu Kaisen’s school tournament – called the Kyoto Goodwill Event Arc – in Episodes 14 to 21 might have ended abruptly. However, it gave us a huge amount of comic relief and introduced us to some of our most beloved characters, including Aoi Todo.
3. The “Chosen One” trope
For as long as shonen anime has existed, so has the “chosen one” trope. What’s a chosen one, you ask? Well, it’s a character who possesses some great power or destiny, meaning they are the only one able to save the world.
If you haven’t guessed it already, Jujutsu Kaisen’s chosen one is our very own Yuji Itadori. The series begins when he swallows an ancient cursed finger. It should have killed him, but fortunately, he can contain the curse’s power. This means he has to become Sukuna’s vessel, providing us with the gut-wrenching, heart-breaking adventure of Jujutsu Kaisen.
4. Domain Expansion
The exact origin for Jujutsu Kaisen’s spectacular Domain Expansion technique is less clear. Fans typically point the finger (no pun intended) at either Naruto’s Genjutsu or Bleach’s Bankai. Although, considering how Gege Akutami has professed how much he loves both series, it’s likely that both are true.
In Jujutsu Kaisen’s Domain Expansion, the user completely controls the domain and whoever is inside it. For example, in Satoru Gojo’s Infinite Voice, Jogo couldn’t get close to the sorcerer since it was his territory. This follows the same logic as Naruto’s Genjutsu, as the user uses this technique to trap their enemies similarly.
Both Domain Expansion and Genjutsu can also be broken in the same way. The trapped person must overpower or counter it with their own cursed technique.
5. Shibuya Incident Arc
Finally, we have Mechamaru and Jujutsu Kaisen’s Shibuya Incident Arc.
Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most well-known and respected anime of all time, and in Jujutsu Kaisen’s recent Shibuya Incident Arc, fans were quick to point out how the classic series left its mark.
Now, this isn’t really anything new. Gege Akutami has always been open about how big of an influence Hideaki Anno’s work had on his own series, especially with breaking away from traditional tropes and leaving certain events unresolved. However, this time, the inspiration proved to be more aesthetic than storyline-based. Fans quickly pointed out how Kokichi’s secret weapon, Mechamaru, resembles Asuka’s unit.
From mecha battles to tried and true shonen tropes, Jujutsu Kaisen has cemented itself in anime fans’ hearts as one of this generation’s greatest series. And it’s no wonder. Gege Akutami has drawn on elements from the series’ predecessors to create a new and exciting series with just enough nostalgia that we’ll remember for decades.
How to watch Crunchyroll from outside your location in 2023
Crunchyroll is the world’s best hub for streaming anime, whether it’s One Piece, Attack on Titan, or Jujutsu Kaisen – and thanks to ExpressVPN, you can access the platform’s full library even if you’re outside the US.
If you’re abroad, here’s what you need to do to access Crunchyroll’s full selection – and it really is this simple:
- Sign up for ExpressVPN, which has ultra-fast servers and offers a secure, private connection wherever you are in the world.
- Connect to a location anywhere in the US; Express VPN allows you to choose from 24 different spots, from New Jersey to Santa Monica.
- Visit Crunchyroll online and start streaming all of your favorite animes – and perhaps some you’ve never watched.
Accessing Crunchyroll’s US roster makes a difference; for example, Hong Kong users only have access to less than 100 titles, while the US has nearly 1,000 movies and TV shows.
You can also stream anime on Crunchyroll for free with an ad-supported plan, or you can pay for a subscription – there’s even a 14-day free trial if you can’t quite make up your mind.
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