It would be a stretch to say that anyone doubted Jujutsu Kaisen 0 would be a huge success when it hit theaters, but it was perhaps more surprising that it became as big of a success as it was. The film made over $34 million in the U.S. alone, and for those who haven’t seen it, who are wondering if they need to watch the series first: good news, you don't.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 premiered in Japanese theaters on December 24, 2021, directed by then-series director Seong-Hu Park, making it his last time as director of the franchise as of the time of writing. It is a prequel to the events of the series following a different protagonist, Yuta Okkotsu, and it serves surprisingly well as an introduction to the world of Jujutsu Kaisen.
An Accursed World
When Yuta Okkotsu was a child, the girl he loved and promised to marry, Rika Orimoto, was killed, but she didn’t disappear from the world. She became a curse, clinging to Yuta and hurting those who tried to hurt him. When Rika brutally attacks his bullies, he’s given the chance to go to Tokyo Jujutsu High, where he can learn to be a sorcerer and use his cursed powers for good.
One of 0’s blessings is that it effectively operates without the assumption that the viewer has seen the TV series, which makes a lot of sense. 0's manga wasn't merely a prequel but was literally written and published before the main series as a prototype. It was only given the "0" retroactively to reflect its place in the story.
The nature of curses and the work of jujutsu sorcerers come naturally over the course of Yuta’s journey, all the more impressive considering the film’s rather brisk pace. By the 15-minute mark, he’s already on-site at his very first exorcism. The story is set one year before the main series, and takes place over that very year, watching him go from a weakling to one of the most powerful characters in the series.
The Tale of Yuta Okkotsu
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Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is - in many ways - a twisted love story by which Yuta comes to reconcile with the cursed spirit of his love looming over him. It’s a story about someone who is wary of others and who lacks confidence because of the danger he poses to people, and who learns to value himself. It is an origin story divorced from the main story but with many of the supporting cast members.
Part of how this story works so well is through Yuta’s bond with his classmates, the first-years who are second-years during the main series. Maki Zenin, Toge Inumaki, and everybody’s favorite, Panda. Viewers get to know each of them through Yuta’s training and more specifically, the missions he goes on with Maki and Toge. To anime watchers, their stories are nothing new, but their relationship with Yuta feels special.
Things like Maki’s family drama and her unique status as a sorcerer are retold in a new way that stresses her growing fondness for Yuta, as opposed to how standoffish she was at the start. The four of them together have great chemistry together and Jujutsu Kaisen’s comedy is just as charming as it’s ever been.
Then, there's Rika. At times, her love for Yuta can feel more horrific than beautiful, but their relationship nevertheless serves as the emotional crux of the film. The trauma of her death, the circumstances of her continued existence, and Yuta’s journey to freeing her from the curse are handled wonderfully. Plus, Rika’s immense power as a curse offers a justification for Yuta to become even more absurdly powerful during the climax.
A Cinematic Event
Although Seong-Hu Park might not be the director of the anime going forward, he most certainly left the franchise on a high note, because Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a gorgeous film. The TV series was already notable for its character designs, monster designs, and fluid fight animation, but it’s amazing what a film budget and a letterbox aspect ratio can do to up the ante just enough.
Not everyone is a fan of the movie’s letterboxing, as it can feel more like a purely aesthetic choice that cuts part of the animation to make the experience feel more arbitrarily like a “real film.” Your mileage may vary, but it certainly distinguishes the film just enough from the main series while maintaining a similar quality. And that’s a big reason why this film can serve so well as a starting point to getting into Jujutsu Kaisen.
The most fan service to be found comes from the cameos during the “Night Parade of A Hundred Demons,” a climactic attack on Tokyo and Kyoto by thousands of curses. The sorcerers fighting in the battle run the gambit of supporting characters from the TV anime, from professional sorcerers like Nanami and Mei Mei to the students of Kyoto Jujutsu High.
These characters and their appearances undoubtedly will hit harder with pre-existing fans, especially with characters like Todo or Nanami. On the other hand, the sheer quality of their scenes should have new viewers excited to learn more about them. There aren’t many scenes that would throw new fans for a loop because of knowledge they aren’t privy to, save for perhaps the post-credits scene.
Previously, we’ve written about Kizumonogatari and how that film might not be effective as a tool to get into the Monogatari series because of the steep climb in visual quality. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 doesn’t have this same quandary, because while it is certainly a high-quality film, it doesn’t tower above its parent series. It is, if anything, an excellent litmus test to see if Jujutsu Kaisen is right for you.