Jujutsu Kaisen 0

Yuta Okkotsu lives with an unbearable weight on his shoulders, followed by a curse, that of his dead best friend, Rika.  The power this curse grants Yuta brings him to the attention of Satoru Gojo, who welcomes the troubled teen to Jujutsu High School.  Here, Yuta begins training alongside a trio of highly skilled First Year students as he seeks to control Rika’s power and perhaps break the curse on her.  Unfortunately, one of Jujutsu High’s former students is about to return to settle an old score.  Though only beginning his own journey, Yuta must confront the pain of his past to pave a way for his future.

Jujutsu Kaisen has quickly risen to become one of the most popular Anime of the new decade.  For me though, I’ve tried several times to get into it but just haven’t been able to.  Sure it looks pretty and the action is admittedly good but I cant get into the main trio of Itadori, Fushigoro and Kugisaki and their mentor, Gojo.  So it’s kind of funny that a movie that focuses on another set of characters I did like, plus a character that’s yet to make his appearance in the main series (to my knowledge) ends up proving to be the kind of experience I wanted from Jujutsu Kaisen to begin with.  This prequel film, which has gone on to become one of the most successful Anime film in history, has a better lead character than Itadori, gives viewers more time with fan favorites and, best of all, offers a thrilling, scary and emotionally charged stand alone story that requires very little knowledge of Jujutsu Kaisen to enjoy.
 
Like I said, I know I heard his name mentioned a couple of times when I tried watching the show but if Yuta had been the main protagonist from the beginning (which I guess this movie technically is), I’d be more on board.  He is a stark contrast to Itadori, more withdrawn and less outgoing and bears a stronger backstory, in my opinion.  The first ten minutes of JJK0 do an excellent job setting up Yuta’s sad tale with his beloved Rika and how their shared tragedy gives way to horrific power that Yuta needs to learn to control ASAP if he wants to keep people from getting hurt.  Yuta is a kind soul, through and through and his time at Jujutsu High with Maki, Panda and Inumaki molds him into a more confident and reassuring figure by the films big climax.  It helps that we get to see Yuta go on actual missions with Maki and Inumaki which gives viewers a chance to see these amazing warriors and their unique abilities in action; Maki being a gorgeous spearwoman and Inumaki basically being Anime’s answer to Black Bolt from Marvel’s Inhumans.  Panda get his time to shine too but he doesn’t get a mission with Yuta to shore up their bond, which feels disappointing I’ll admit.  All of this flows pretty nice and smooth, creating a nice little arc for Yuta that feels compelling and exciting while never losing the tragedy that makes it such a draw.
 
Seeing Yuta unleash the fury of Rika is just one of the many action packed highlights of JJK0.  The TV Series already stands out from its fun and unique action but this movie takes things to a whole other level and it sucks I never got a chance to see it on the big screen.  The scale of the fights in JJK0 are staggering with Yuta and his fellow Jujutsu Sorcerers battling hellish demonic curses.  Enormous, and either consisting of huge eyeballs and/or hundreds of contorting and twisted bodies, the curses of JJK are the stuff of nightmares.  While it’s fun seeing the First Years fight their way through legions of these monsters, it’s their big showdown with franchise baddy Geto that steals the show.  Not only does it give Panda his chance at a big action scene, but wow is Yuta vs. Geto a fight for the ages, on par with that of Rengoku vs. Akazaka in the Demon Slayer: Mugen Train movie.  Explosions, special curses being thrown left and right and a nice mix of Dragon Ball/Naruto style hand to hand combat, the spectacle on display is why I love Anime to begin with and fully shows off part of the reason why Jujutsu Kaisen has been hailed as an instant classic. 
 
For all of the dazzling spectacle and bloody action from Studio MAPPA (I can see why they’ve been tapped for the Chainsaw Man Anime), JJK0 thankfully never loses its sight on the characters.  Some of the movies best moments are Yuta just hanging around his three new friends, especially a rather heartwarming scene between him and Maki before the final battle kicks in (I cant be the only person who ships them after seeing this).  Even Gojo, who I have mixed feelings about, comes off as a bit more restrained though he’s still goofy.  Main villain Geto is very much the Magneto against Yuta and his fellow X-Men and yet his rather generic villainous speeches about looking down on Humanity never feel annoying, if anything they only hype you up to see Yuta kick his ass properly.  If I could’ve used more of anything in this movie, it might be a little more downtime with Yuta and Rika, maybe seeing them chat student and curse when they aren’t in danger.  They’re developed fine as a leading duo but when JJK0 begins to lean into the usual Shonen tropes of having a ton of fanservice cameos during one of the big showdowns in the finale, you kind of wish that time had been better spent.  Seriously, not every Shonen movie needs every character from the TV Show to appear.  Even Geto’s subordinates feel underdeveloped and more like one offs because of this.  Less is more sometimes guys.
 
It might lack the popular lead trio of the TV Series but I think Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a better movie for it.  Yuta is a great lead and giving more spotlight to Maki, Panda and Inumaki isn’t ever a bad thing.  The animation is ridiculously good, showcasing titanic action scenes that are well drawn and choreographed, and there’s a powerful tale about trauma, acceptance and learning to live with it and move on without it weighing you down.  And yeah, everyone who loves Gojo, the movie has plenty of him so thumbs up there.  Seriously, if JJK had started off with Yuta as the main character, I might be more into it.  If he is due to appear later on in the series, I might actually be willing to give it a shot.  Ignoring that though, this is a really good action Anime movie and another good example of Shonen Anime films stepping up their game.  So for all of you who finally wanted me to enjoy something about Jujutsu Kaisen, congratulations, this movie is a win for me.
 
9/10