In 2021, the creator of Jujutsu Kaisen, Gege Akutami, and the creator of Bleach, Tite Kubo, sat together for an interview and discussed their works. Akutami and Kubo are some of the biggest names in the anime and manga industry as their works have been a source of entertainment for millions of people.
During the interview, the creators talked about how they got into the world of manga and what inspired them to create Bleach and Jujutsu Kaisen. Akutami has been quite vocal about the influence of Bleach and Kubo on their work, but according to them, they have only been using Kubo’s work for inspiration and are not imitating them in any way.
Also, during the interview, Akutami explained the difference between being influenced and straight-up copying someone’s work and why Bleach is the last manga that anyone must copy.
Gege Akutami Talks About Bleach’s Influence on Jujutsu Kaisen
The discussion between Akutami and Tite Kubo was shared in the Jujutsu Kaisen official fanbook and was later transcripted by Edomonogatari. In the interview, Akutami explained how they have been told by everyone that their work must be inspired by Bleach. Akutami cleared the air by stating that they have been indeed influenced by Kubo, but they have no intention of imitating him or his work in any way.
Akutami said:
“Everyone tells me all the time, “You must’ve been influenced by Bleach.” Of course I’m influenced by the things I read, and sometimes they affect my work in ways I don’t notice until I look back on it later. In that sense, yes, I’ve absolutely been influenced. However, I think it’s dangerous to methodically analyze Kubo-sensei with the intention of imitating him.”
According to Akutami, every creator has their own unique style and it would be unwise of them to just imitate their style and use it for their own work. If they even try to copy Kubo’s work, they will only hurt themselves and their creation.
Gege Akutami Explains Why Bleach is the Last Manga Anyone Must Copy
Gege Akutami has been a big fan of Bleach and Kubo since their childhood and they understand the consequence of copying or imitating such a legendary manga. This is why they go out of their way to avoid it and have formed their own identity in Jujutsu Kaisen. Their identity revolves around their ability to prevent explaining every small detail in their work.
Akutami stated:
“Since their creations are products of the instincts and talents that come with having such a strong identity, I’d only hurt myself if I tried to copy their methods. That’s why I go out of my way to avoid this pitfall. I’ve always loved reading Bleach, but I know that imitating it would be the death of me. Ultimately, I can’t copy it because it’s too unique.”
Akutami understands that they can use Bleach for inspiration but they cannot imitate it because Kubo’s identity is reflected in his work, which is what makes Bleach so unique. This is why if they or anyone else for that matter tried to copy his work, it would result in their own downfall. They also stated that just like Kubo, other creators also have a unique style and are only limited to them.
You can watch Jujutsu Kaisen on Crunchyroll.
