The first episode of the supernatural anime, Jujutsu Kaisen has arrived on Crunchyroll. Based on the popular Weekly Shonen Jump manga by Gege Akutami, the series follows Yuji Itadori, an ordinary high school student with tremendous physical strength who must learn to navigate the strange world of Curses and sorcerers he suddenly finds himself in.
The world of Jujutsu Kaisen is teeming with creatures known as Curses, which form from the collection of negative emotions felt by humans. Curses can bring pain and death to those they torment, but thankfully, they can be exorcised by cursed energy-wielding sorcerers. In anticipation of the anime, let's take a look at the series' cast of characters.
Yuji Itadori
Yuji Itadori is the protagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen. While certainly not an "all brawn, no brain" type, Yuji's predominant strength is his physical prowess, though he uses it to creative and intuitive effect. Yuji may have the makings of a great high school athlete, but he instead opts to spend time with his friends in the Occult Club.
Following the death of his grandfather, who implores him to help people and die surrounded by others, Yuji begins contemplating what the right kind of death is. After meeting Megumi Fushiguro, he soon faces the exact supernatural happenings that the Occult Club is hoping to encounter. However, when Yuji learns that a Curse threatens the lives of his friends and others, he is willing to do anything, even sacrifice himself, to save them.
To protect those around him, Yuji eats the finger of the Sukuna, an extremely powerful Curse whose soul now resides within Yuji's body. This fusion brings Yuji deep into the world of Jujutsu Sorcerers with no way of turning back. He's admitted into the Tokyo Metropolitan Technical High School of Sorcery, also known as Jujutsu High School, to join in the fight against Curses and track down Sukuna's remaining fingers.
Megumi Fushiguro
There's always room for the stoic bad boy of the group, and in Jujutsu Kaisen, that is Megumi Fushiguro. While he may seem to be taking the Sasuke approach, he cares deeply about saving those in danger of Curses. Megumi meets Yuji while searching for a cursed object, but their fates become embroiled after Yuji eats Sukuna's finger, the very cursed item he was looking for.
A student of Jujutsu High, Megumi has been honing his shamanistic skills for much longer than Yuji, and it shows. During their series' inaugural fight, Megumi debuts his curse technique by summoning two dogs molded from his cursed energy. Megumi's curse technique allows him to summon creatures known as Shikigami, which typically take the form of various animals like his dogs or the owl-like Nue.
Megumi is resolute in his goal to exorcise Curses and save the lives of those threatened by them but doesn't make himself out to be a hero for doing so. Outside of protecting people, Megumi's motives are relatively unclear, and he keeps much of his personal life a mystery from even his closest friends.
Satoru Gojo
There are all the other Jujutsu Sorcerers in the world, and then there is Satoru Gojo. Recognized as the strongest sorcerer, both by himself and those around him, Gojo has the lethal combination of massive amounts of cursed energy and a dangerously powerful technique. He's a teacher at Jujutsu High and takes Megumi and Yuji under his direct tutelage.
The blindfold-wearing Gojo is as mysterious as his choice in eyewear. He's incredibly nonchalant, even in the face of menacing Curses, but can flip a switch when the situation calls for it. After Yuji eats Sukuna's finger and the Double-Faced Specter takes control of him, Gojo isn't the slightest bit bothered by the Curses attacks. While he's certainly made a name for himself with most Curses fearing him, Gojo is wildly protective of his students, genuinely wanting to help them all, and hopes to improve the current state of the Jujutsu world.
Sukuna
Sukuna is a walking "aka," with names like the Double-Faced Specter and the title of King of Curses. He is an ancient Curse who, like Gojo on the other side of the conflict, is renowned as the strongest there is. One of the series' main antagonists, Sukuna's sadistic personality and cruel actions, all serve as reminders that he wants to make others suffer and enjoys inflicting pain on the world.
After Yuji eats one of his 20 fingers, Sukuna's soul merges into his new host's body. Though he takes over Yuji's body, planning to use it to wreak havoc, Sukuna cannot maintain control after Yuji proves to be a rare vessel capable of containing the fearsome Curse. While the situation isn't ideal for Sukuna, the 1,000-year-old Curse will not sit idly by without aiming to regain control and is frighteningly devious with his schemes.
Nobara Kugisaki
Nobara Kugisaki is a first-year student at Jujutsu High and rounds out the central trio with Yuji and Megumi. She comes from the Japanese countryside, claiming that her main reason for joining Jujutsu High School was to live in Tokyo and move out of her village. Nobara is headstrong with a frightening resolve that could shake even the most seasoned Curses.
Jujutsu Kaisen is all about the vast array of techniques, and Nobara's is among the best. Her Straw Doll Technique utilizes Nobara's expert use of a hammer, nails and a straw doll during combat to uniquely terrifying effect. While Nobara is quick to criticize her friends, she, like her classmates, will put herself on the line to protect them.
Kento Nanami
The opposite of Gojo's laid back, lackadaisical attitude and approach to life is Kento Nanami, a Jujutsu High alumni who serves as a mentor to Yuji and the other first-year students. His apparent indifference and aloof nature rival Megumi's, but his blunt irritability is unmatched. However, Nanami's stern demeanor stems from his strict moral values and is genuinely kind natured.
Seeing Gojo's blindfold and raising him a pair of signature sunglasses, Nanami matches his formal nature with his clean-cut appearance. While not an official instructor at Jujutsu High, Nanami acknowledges the necessity of sorcerers even if he doesn't always want to be a part of the job. Nonetheless, Nanami can't sit by when witnessing the mayhem caused by Curses and will step in to be the wantaway hero.
Maki Zen'in
A second-year student at Jujutsu High School and a member of the famous Zen'in family, Maki is known for her expertise with cursed-tools and her inability to see Curses naturally or use cursed energy. Maki has the makings of a natural leader, often taking charge of her underclassmen and classmates. As part of the Zen'in family, one of the prominent three families, excellence is expected and demanded of their members. Maki has an identical twin sister, Mai, whose ability to manipulate cursed energy has caused a rift to grow between the two.
Suguru Geto
Suguru Geto is mostly a mysterious figure, working in the shadows and helping the Cursed Spirits in their mission against humanity. He is calm and calculated, showing zero fear as a human sorcerer even when surrounded by powerful Curses. Dangerously cunning, too, Geto is ready to make necessary sacrifices if it means achieving his goals or gaining something valuable in return. Like many, Geto recognizes the threat Gojo poses to plans moving forward and will undoubtedly want him out of the way.
Mahito/Cursed Spirits
The collective negative emotions humans feel towards specific things result in the creation of Curses or Cursed Spirits. Mahito was born from the hate and fear humans have for other humans. As the most sadistic and immature of the Cursed Spirits, Mahito enjoys toying with people's emotions. Sometimes called "patchwork face," Mahito's animosity leads to an overall lack of concern for human life, never showing signs of sympathy, but rather excitement at the disarray he causes. While there are others among their ranks, Jogo and Hanami join Mahito as the more powerful Cursed Spirits in conflict with humans and sorcerers.
