'Jujutsu Kaisen 0' is The Quintessential Anime Movie Prequel

Thankfully, newbies can easily acclimate to the goings-on in Jujutsu Kaisen 0. The prequel is essentially the embodiment of Jujutsu Kaisen boils down to its most open components, which isn't shocking given that the film depends on a manga that takes place before the Jujutsu Kaisen manga. First distributed as Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School in the 2017 issue of "Jump GIGA," this independent short series about Curses and Jujutsu Sorcerers was intended to wrap up after only four sections. Before long, it acquired enough notoriety amongst readers for author/artist Gege Akutami to expand upon the world introduced in the first comic, at last coming full circle in the production of Yuji Itadori and the story that surprised the world.

Rightly so, as there's a lot here for longtime fans to appreciate. Firstly, Yuta Okkotsu is anything but another regular person - he's been referenced in the series a couple of times, yet this is his first on-screen appearance. He's given a delightfully lamentable origin story since it just so happens that the strong Curse that hooked on to Yuta is his youth love, Rika Orimoto. In the aftermath of kicking the bucket in a car crash, the delicate, caring young lady changed into a snake-like, fanged monster that might not have the most upsetting plan out there, yet compensates for it by the manner in which she acts. When the reviled Rika converses with Yuta in a youngster's voice about how much she adores him or kills individuals who menace him without apparently regretting it, the juxtaposition of her sickening appearance with her sweet aura is apparent. 

There are hints of that subject in the film: Yuta's curve is seemingly an example of giving up and continuing. His decisions around Rika are mixed, yet long-term fans are probably going to observe a ton of fulfillment in the ways the film adheres to a conservative, proficient variant of the establishment's thoughts. Whereas the anime dives deeper into more philosophical themes. What's more, by keeping things basic, the film entices fans to yearn for more and leads them right toward the TV show. It's the sort of rare prequel film that has something for everyone.

The film gives more screen time to Yuta’s adversary and the movie’s main villain/antagonist, Suguru Geto, who has been a consistent presence on Jujutsu Kaisen. He's generally treated like a background character in comparison to the much-hated Mahito. In Jujutsu Kaisen 0, however, Geto is definitely the center of attention. He's a pretty likable adversary whose best traits are showcased throughout the film. It's undeniable why Curses and different magicians are so attracted to him. Plus you get to witness how his behavior while attempting to carry out vicious monstrosities angers the film's primary characters.

The outcome of it all is an extraordinary battle between Geto and Yuta. With the camera doing an immaculate job at following Yuta's lightning-speed motions, viewers are treated to some jaw-droppingly stunning animations. While Yuta's pitted against Geto's immense Curses - which includes a black hole made up of thousands of cursed animals - their fight is reaching another level due to Yuta's increasing rage. This adds an additional layer to the entire action-packed experience. That comes as no surprise since the film's battle scenes were supervised by Sunghoo Park, who's responsible for producing the God of High School anime's exciting classes. It's all any viewer needs to stay invested and fulfilled during the film's hour and 45-minute runtime.