True success last year, many fans are waiting for the sequel to the anime of MAPPA studios, Jujutsu Kaisen. And while the animated film Jujutsu Kaisen 0 will land in our French theaters in a few days and we know a little more about the release date of the second season, it is interesting to observe the dynamics that connect the characters as well as the way in which they interact with each other within the work of Gege Akutami.
particular dynamics
Among the most recurring themes in the shonen style, one of the most recognizable is the importance given to friendship.. The bonds formed with friends, but even with enemies through struggle, as well as sadness and victory, are all elements that give meaning and motivation to protagonists and spectators alike. The shonen series are then characterized by their notable teams or their iconic duo, often based on particular dynamics.
Friendship describes part of the lasting appeal of the shonen genre thus, advocating the abandonment of fantasies of personal power in favor of more mature ideals of empathy and engagement. One of the most famous examples is probably that of naruto, whose eponymous protagonist possesses a deep empathy allowing him to enter into a relationship with almost all his enemies and win them over. Mocked by fans as “Talk no Jutsu,” this overpowered compassion has become its own genre cliché.
With that in mind, a now famous exchange in Jujutsu Kaisen illustrates a contrasting approach to character development, in which the latter resist false generalizations and instead create a more genuine misunderstanding. If this emphasis on self-control is important in the context of the series, it is because it allows greater realism, through the creation of more believable and authentic characters.
a real misunderstanding
If this pattern appears in many places during the Tournament arc, the exchange between Megumi Fushiguro and Noritoshi Kamo in episode 18 of season 1 perfectly illustrates this concept. In this scene, after a brief exchange of blows, Kamo enters the discussion with Megumi, thinking back to his own tragic history in parallel. Kamo lays out his intentions regarding Yuji Itadori, and then states, “You should be able to understand me. We’re the same, you and me.” To which Megumi flatly replies, “No, we’re not.” Somewhat irritated, Kamo insists once again, but Megumi continues to refute.
Although this slightly melodramatic swing is partly for humorous purposes, but also to confront the two visions of the characters, this moment brings a certain realism to the narration. Specifically, the scene highlights the distinction between inauthentic compassion and self-control..
Megumi, soon after learning the truth about Yuji’s apparent death, seems comforted in her perspective based on action and self-control. Kamo meanwhile, although deeply affected by the mistreatment inflicted on his mother, remains frozen in his obsessions., his grievances and his generalizations. Predictably, when Kamo projects this worldview to Megumi, Kamo is then rebuffed. In this sense, genuine antipathy trumps fake compassion..
the true potential of the characters
The irony of this scene also stems from the fact that Megumi and Kamo do indeed have similarities.the least of which is their membership in the Three Families, and with it the complex social world of Jujutsu Kaisen. The difference is that while Kamo has learned to adapt his legitimate bitterness to his self-image as an exorcist, literally drawing his power from the properties of his blood, Megumi has come to his side. , to find its strength elsewhere.
Therefore, Kamo’s comic misinterpretation of Megumi has another aspect: projecting his obsession onto Megumi is actually a false form of compassionwho enlists and minimizes others to reinforce his own self-image. Specifically, the series’ focus on trauma reconciliation and personal growth places additional demands on the realistic depiction of past lives.
Moreover, the concept of “occult energy”tying its users’ abilities to their individual psyches and emotional lives, gives these moments of antipathy real value not only in how the characters feel about themselves, but also in how they can shape the action. It makes the emotional lives of its characters a central plot mechanism rather than a diversiona contrast that enriches the fantastic world of Jujutsu Kaisen of a need for realism, then more credible.
