Jujutsu Kaisen 0

Jujutsu Kaisen 0[lower-alpha 1] is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Gege Akutami. Originally titled Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School, it was serialized in Shueisha's Jump GIGA magazine from April to July 2017. After Akutami launched Jujutsu Kaisen in 2018, the series was retroactively retitled Jujutsu Kaisen 0, making it a prequel, and released in a single tankōbon volume in December 2018. It was licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media. The series follows the young student Yuta Okkotsu who becomes a sorcerer to control the Cursed Spirit of his childhood friend Rika Orimoto.

Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Cover of the tankōbon volume, featuring Yuta Okkotsu (left) and Rika Orimoto
呪術廻戦 0 東京都立呪術高等専門学校
(Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Tōkyō Toritsu Jujutsu Kōtō Senmon Gakkō)
Genre
Manga
Written byGege Akutami
Published byShueisha
English publisher
ImprintJump Comics
MagazineJump GIGA
DemographicShōnen
Original runApril 28, 2017 – July 28, 2017
Volumes1
Sequel
Film

Akutami wrote the series without any themes to follow but instead wanted to write and draw cool looking characters. Critical reponse to the manga was generally positive with several reviewers praising the role Yuta has and his tragic relationship with Rika. However, writers were divided in regards to who was a more fitting protagonist to Akutami's works as Jujutsu Kaisen instead focuses Yuji Itadori who, while having several similiraties with Yuta, they have different characterizations. Nevertheless, the manga's artwork was praised. An anime film adaptation by MAPPA, directed by Sunghoo Park, is set to premiere in Japan in December 2021.

Plot

Yuta Okkotsu is a timid 16-year-old high school student who is surrounded and helped by Rika Orimoto, his childhood friend who died six years ago and has turned into a cursed spirit, as both of them promised to get married when they grow up. In November 2016, he meets Satoru Gojo, a jujutsu sorcerer, in whose guidance, he joins the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School in order to control Rika and avoid his solicitude. There, Yuta meets the sorcerers Panda, Maki Zenin, and Toge Inumaki. Yuta starts training with Maki who mentors him swordmanship to begin to develop his own powers and compensate for his psychical weakness.

As months pass, Yuta becomes more skilled in powers, able to control Rika and close with his fellow students. He becomes a sorcerer able to exorcise spirits. Rika's curse attracts Suguru Geto, a sorcerer friendly with Gojo but at the same time keeps an antagonistic relationship with him. Geto wishes to create a shaman only world, which Yuta disagrees with. This soon leads to a clash between the sorcereresses as Geto wounds Yuta's classmates. Angered, Yuta releases Rika whom he allows her absorb his soul if she helps him defeat their enemy. Geto is severely wounded, losing an arm and tries to escape only to be killed by Gojo.

As Gojo returns to the school, Yuta is still alive as the mentor explains to the teen that Rika did not curse Yuta; Instead, when Rika died, Yuta accidentally cursed her, forcing her to remain by his side. As Rika passes to the afterlife, Yuta reunites with his classmates but still wearing Rika's engagement's ring.

Production

During publication of the monthly series, Akutami had no intention of having his series published in the Weekly Shonen Jump. However, the positive response Jujutsu Kaisen 0 led to turn the series into it the main manga. When starting this series, Akutami had no planned themes in regards to the narrative but instead just the idea of giving characters a cool appeal. As this happened, the narrative of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 ended up being connected with the other manga with the final chapter being conceived as soon as he started writing it. However, he claims he was not sure about the possibility of properly connecting the beginning with the ending.[3] Yuta and Rika were the first created character intended as a combo for the manga.[4] In regards to the designs, Akutami found that the early design of Yuta was too similar to fellow jujutsu sorcerer Megumi Fushiguro to the point they might confuse the readers. He similarly noted the same similarities between Inumaki and Yuji Itadori.[5] As a result, Akutami changed Yuta's look for the main series.[4]

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Gege Akutami, the four-chapter series, Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School, was published in Shueisha's Jump GIGA magazine from April 28 to July 28, 2017.[6][7] The chapters were later published in a single tankōbon volume, retroactively titled Jujutsu Kaisen 0, released along with the third volume of Jujutsu Kaisen on December 4, 2018.[8][9]

In North America, Viz Media announced the English language release of the volume in July 2020.[10] The volume was published on January 5, 2021.[1]

Chapter list
No. Title Original release date English release date
0Blinding Darkness
Mabushii Yami (眩しい闇)		December 4, 2018[9]
978-4-08-881672-2		January 5, 2021[1]
978-1-9747-2014-9
  • 1 "The Cursed Child" (呪いの子, Noroi no Ko)
  • 2 "Deeply Blackened" (黒く黒く, Kuroku Kuroku)
  • 3 "The Punishment for Being Weak" (弱者に罰を, Jakusha ni Batsu o)
  • 4 "A Bright Darkness" (眩しい闇, Mabushii Yami)

Theatrical film
Main article: Gekijō-ban Jujutsu Kaisen 0

After the Jujutsu Kaisen anime television series finale, an anime film adaptation of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 was announced.[11] As with the Jujutsu Kaisen television series, the film is produced by MAPPA and directed by Sunghoo Park.[12] The film will be distributed by Toho[11][13] and it is set to premiere on December 24, 2021.[14][13] King Gnu will perform the theme song "Itto" (一途, "The Only Way").[15] Park commented that the movie will include new content not featured in the original Jujutsu Kaisen 0 manga.[16]

Novel

A novel adaptation, written by Baraddo Kitaguni, based on a script by the film's scriptwriter Hiroshi Seko, is set to be published on the film's premiere date, on December 24, 2021.[17]

Reception

Jujutsu Kaisen 0 sold 70,774 print copies in its first week.[18] According to Oricon, the manga has sold over 1.6 million copies by the first half of 2021 (period from November 23, 2020, to May 23, 2021).[19] It had sold over 1.9 million copies by November 2021.[20]

Critics have commented about the manga's narrative. Manga News also enjoyed the focus given to Yuta's tragic romance as well as their deep bond featured in the prequel and hoped he might return in Jujutsu Kaisen supporting Yuji. Since it is a prequel independent on the better known Jujutsu Kaisen, manga News felt the story reached a proper conclusion.[21] Comic Book Resources enjoyed the handling of Yuta's curse and his relationship with the antagonistic Geto.[22] Boston Bartand Brigade on the other hand felt Yuta as a more appealing character than Yuji due to his tragic story, most notably his relationship with the late Rika, something that contrasts Yuji's demon Sukuna. As a result, the reviewer hopes Yuta returns into the main Jujutsu Kaisen manga.[23] The Mary Sue commented that since by the time of their review of the manga, Yuta's character was mentioned in the main story, he was looking forward to seeing his portayal as he was still a mystery. The Mary Sue noted parallels between both protagonists as well as their relationships with other characters.[24] Otaquest liked the manga, favoring the "compelling" Yuta over Yuji for the former's distinct characterization and role but lamented demoted roles the supporting characters had.[25]

In regards to the art, Comic Book Resources stated that it was well executed to portray the character's emotions and dark elements of the manga.[22] Boston Bartand Brigade enjoyed the artwork, mostly because of Akutami's fighting scenes.[26] Otaquest also enjoyed the fight scenes but felt some techniques elaborated by the characters were too exaggerated.[25]

Notes
  1. Japanese: 呪術廻戦 0 東京都立呪術高等専門学校, Hepburn: Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Tōkyō Toritsu Jujutsu Kōtō Senmon Gakkō, "Jujutsu Kaisen 0: Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School"

References
  1. "Jujutsu Kaisen 0". Viz Media. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  2. 『劇場版 呪術廻戦 0』今冬公開決定、主人公は乙骨憂太!?. Animage+ (in Japanese). March 29, 2021. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  3. Akutami, Gege (2021). Jujutsu Kaisen 0. Viz Media. p. 198. ISBN 978-1-9747-2014-9.
  4. Akutami, Gege (2021). Jujutsu Kaisen Official Fanbook. Shueisha. ISBN 978-4-08-882636-3.
  5. Akutami, Gege (2021). Jujutsu Kaisen 0. Viz Media. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-9747-2014-9.
  6. ジャンプGIGA 2017 vol.1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  7. ジャンプGIGA 2017 vol.4 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  8. 「呪術廻戦」3巻＆0巻明日発売、中村悠一が五条悟演じる作品紹介動画も. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  9. 呪術廻戦 0 東京都立呪術高等専門学校 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  10. Sherman, Jennifer (July 3, 2020). "Viz Media's Shonen Jump Adds My Hero Academia: Team-Up Missions, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Naruto: Shikamaru's Story—Mourning Clouds". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  11. Mateo, Alex (March 26, 2021). "Jujutsu Kaisen Anime Gets Film This Winter". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  12. 映画『劇場版 呪術廻戦 0』、特報映像解禁。主人公 乙骨憂太役に緒方恵美が決定. Tower Records (in Japanese). July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  13. Loo, Egan (June 13, 2021). "Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Anime Film Teases December 24 Opening With Visual". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  14. 「劇場版 呪術廻戦 0」新ビジュアルお披露目、百鬼夜行決行日の12月24日公開. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  15. Mateo, Alex (November 4, 2021). "Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Anime Film's Trailer Reveals, Previews King Gnu's Theme Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  16. "Jujutsu Kaisen Director Teases New Content for Prequel Movie". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  17. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 14, 2008). "Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Anime Film Gets Novel". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  18. Ressler, Karen (December 12, 2018). "Japanese Comic Ranking, December 3-9". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  19. Loo, Egan (May 30, 2021). "Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Volume: 2021 (First Half)". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  20. "Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Volume: 2021 — Demon Slayer Finale Sells Record 5.17 Million". Anime News Network. May 30, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  21. "Recension". Manga News. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  22. "Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 0 Presents a Pulse-Pounding Prequel for the Rising Shonen Star". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  23. "MANGA REVIEW | "Jujustu Kaisen" - Volume Zero". Boston Bartand Brigade. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  24. "My Manga Shelf Presents: Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 0". The Mary Sue. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  25. "Why Volume 0 Is a Must-Read for Jujutsu Kaisen Fans". The Mary Sue. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  26. "MANGA REVIEW | "Jujustu Kaisen" - Volume Zero". Boston Bartand Brigade. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
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