As the events of the Shibuya Arc are on their way to the end, Jujutsu Kaisen anime has managed to stand at the top of the list of Best anime series of 2023. The series not only had some amazing moments but also got some characters and storylines that became the fan favorite.
In a short period, Jujutsu Kaisen has managed to become one of the best anime series of all time, and the majority of the credit for this goes to the inspiration that Gege Akutami took from other popular anime and manga series. In an interview in 2021, Akutami stated that they took inspiration from three prominent anime series: Bleach, Hunter x Hunter, and Neon Genesis Evangelion.
These inspirations are evident in the series and have been noticed by anime fans, and these inspirations only helped the series to grow further. From the magic system to the Tournament arcs, all the events in the anime and manga that have been influenced by other anime series have become some of the most loving moments among the Jujutsu Kaisen fan base.
1. Domain Expansion
Domain expansion is considered to be the strongest technique in the entire Jujutsu Kaisen world. This advanced barrier technique is regarded as the highest level of jujutsu supernatural abilities. It creates the user’s natural domain inside a barrier that is permeated with their natural cursed technique. The user’s cursed techniques are enhanced within a domain expansion, and any activated ones are sure to hit.
Many fans believe that Akutami took inspiration for the Domain Expansion technique from Naruto’s genius ability or Bleach’s most powerful technique called Bankai. Both these techniques have variations where the user can cast a kind of barrier that enhances their strength and gives them a clear shot at the enemy.
2. The Cursed Energy System of Jujutsu Kaisen
Cursed spirits and sorcerers use Cursed Energy which is a source of power associated with negative emotions, to power their jujutsu. Cursed energy is also present in cursed objects, cursed tools, and cursed corpses. Usually used to strengthen the body and fuel cursed techniques, it makes the body much stronger than it was before.
The inspiration for Cursed Energy came from Hunter x Hunter where the characters of the series use a similar power system called Nen. Nen helps the users manipulate their life force into energy which they can use according to their will against the enemy. However, Nen has been hidden from the general public to maintain balance in society. Akutami have themselves confirmed that they took inspiration for Cursed energies from Nen’s ability.
3. Tournament Arcs
Tournament arcs are one of the most common concepts in the world of shonen anime. Almost every anime or manga series has a kind of tournament competition or battle, that is too much liked by the fans and gets great views. These tournaments determine the strongest character among all and also help viewers understand the fighting styles and abilities of the characters of the series. The Kyoto Goodwill Event Arc was the tournament arc of Jujutsu Kaisen, that featured many characters of the series and gave a great overview of the character’s abilities.
The origination of Tournament arcs came from Yu Yu Hakusho, which is one of the most popular anime and manga of all time. The series had a tournament arc called the Dark Tournament saga which was the longest saga of the entire series. Many fans believe that the Dark Tournament saga is the best arc of the entire series.
4. Mechamaru
Kyoto Jujutsu High’s second-year student Kokichi Muta was one of the most important characters in the Jujutsu Kaisen anime and manga series. Muta is unable to attend school himself as he has a sickly and fragile body he was born with as a result of his Heavenly Restriction. However, he uses a cursed corpse that he controls with his Puppet Manipulation technique. He is kind of a mechanical humanoid that has a variety of weapons that he can use in battles.
Akutami has been vocal about their inspiration from Hideaki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion and Mechamaru is the perfect example of this. Just like Mechamaru, Evangelions are also humanoid beings that have many weapons and abilities and can vary accordingly.
5. The Chosen One Trope
A person who is prophesied to either save or destroy a fantasy world is known as the Chosen One. It is generally the protagonist of the series who is destined to be the savior of the world and fight against the enemy troops. The storyline device is so common in anime that it has become cliched. Almost every anime series follows the Chosen One trope and the character who is the Chosen One has some sort of extraordinary ability that deems him different than other characters.
The chosen one in Jujutsu Kaisen is Yuji Itadori, who even after swallowing one of the strongest cursed objects in the entire anime, can control the demon Sukuna within him. The entire storyline of the series is based around this ability of Yuji.
