The manga artist Gege Akutami has rapidly risen to fame as the creator of the dark fantasy series Jujutsu Kaisen. With its unique blend of Japanese occultism, emotionally complex characters, and intense action sequences, the manga and its anime adaptation have gathered a devoted following.
However, Akutami has also developed a reputation for dramatically killing off well-liked characters out of the blue. This unpredictable storytelling leads some fans to wonder if the artist actually cares about the characters he has brought to life through his vivid panels.
While such plot twists certainly retain readers’ attention, some speculate that Akutami relates to his creations more as narrative devices than individuals garnering empathy.
This armchair analysis of the author’s creative process and connection to his fictional players continues to stir debate within the active Jujutsu Kaisen fandom.
Gege Akutami’s Personal Connection to Jujutsu Kaisen’s Complex Characters
As the imaginative mind behind the dark fantasy hit Jujutsu Kaisen, manga artist Gege Akutami has conjured up an array of vivid personalities that readers and viewers have come to love.
However, in various interviews, Akutami has hinted that among his wide cast of characters, there are a few that hold special meaning for him as their creator.
For example, when discussing the utterly merciless Ryomen Sukuna – the series’ chief antagonist – Akutami has revealed feeling an oddly close connection to this centuries-old embodiment of evil.
It seems the cold-hearted Cursed Spirit’s unrelenting power and lack of empathy somehow resonate with the artist. Additionally, Akutami has singled out Nanami Kento, the tough-as-nails Jujutsu sorcerer whose backstory is still shrouded in mystery, as another personal favorite character.
And then there is the terrifyingly unstoppable Toji Zen’in, who though lacking any Cursed Energy whatsoever, is still able to overpower the series’ strongest sorcerers through pure fighting skill. Toji seems to occupy a special place in Akutami’s heart as well.
So while Akutami is renowned for unexpectedly killing off Jujutsu Kaisen icons, apparently he feels a bond with particular creepy or complex personalities that prevents their premature demise in the ongoing manga.
The reasons behind the artist’s special affection for these villains, antiheroes, and morally ambiguous figures continue to intrigue fans.
From Darkness to Redemption
As the progenitor of the dark world of Jujutsu Kaisen, manga artist Gege Akutami harbors special creative connections to certain characters that long predate the series’ success.
Ryomen Sukuna, the utterly merciless and absurdly powerful King of Curses, was actually the very first character Akutami conceived when initially developing the manga. So in many ways, this primal embodiment of evil still occupies a unique space in Akutami’s mind.
On the other hand, the tough yet compassionate Jujutsu sorcerer Nanami Kento was not originally intended to be so beloved by his creator. In the early stages, Akutami envisioned Nanami as an antagonistic figure whose mysterious past would cast him in a far more negative light.
However, as the story organically unfolded, Nanami’s character took on a heroic tone and complexity that resonated more with Akutami’s vision.
In retrospect, the artist has expressed great affection and creative satisfaction with Nanami, considering the sorcerer’s blend of quirks, convictions, and lethal combat abilities a personal artistic triumph.
So while the sinister Sukuna arose first in Akutami’s dark imaginings, the redemptive evolution of Nanami seems to have fostered an equally strong creative bond over time.
Their creator’s candid insights provide a fascinating glimpse into the organic development of these integral Jujutsu Kaisen characters.
Gege Akutami’s Enduring Affection for the Unyielding Force of Jujutsu Kaisen
Manga artist Gege Akutami has not been shy about expressing his enduring creative affection for the formidable Toji Zenin. Though lacking any ounce of Cursed Energy, Toji’s sheer physical power and combat skill still establish him as an apex fighter in the world of Jujutsu Sorcerers.
Akutami has confessed that whenever he has spare time, he enjoys sketching this dangerous man who can overwhelm even the strongest jujutsu users through brute force alone.
Despite meeting his initial demise in Gojo’s Past Arc of the manga, it seems Akutami’s attachment to the formidable Toji prevented him from permanently killing off the character. He found a way to resurrect Toji during the catastrophic Shibuya Incidents, once again allowing his favorite fighter to wreak havoc.
Later, when Maki achieves her long-awaited power evolution to reach a level similar to Toji’s, Akutami spotlights an extended comparison between the two to highlight the unique talents of his cherished creation.
So while other artists may tire of their characters over time, Akutami’s obvious ongoing fondness for sketching the infamous Toji shows that some personalities indelibly etched in imagination can’t be brushed aside so easily.
Through his candid comments, the mercurial manga author reveals that even his most destructive darlings still hold a precious place in his heart.
Candid Confessions on Jujutsu Kaisen Characters
As the mastermind behind Jujutsu Kaisen, manga artist Gege Akutami has shared intriguing insights into his creative connections, or lack thereof with certain integral characters.
Regarding protagonist Yuji Itadori, who ingesting Sukuna’s finger sets the entire dark series in motion, Akutami has admitted in the fan book Q&A that he has no particular affection or disdain for the character. However, he confessed to struggling at times with effectively handling Yuji’s personality and role.
Additionally, when interviewed by Mando Kobayashi, Akutami bluntly stated that in real life, he would unlikely get along with Yuji and his first-year Jujutsu High friends Megumi and Nobara. So while readers may adore these central heroic figures, their creator feels no close bond.
However, Akutami did reveal that he designed the character of Geto, the morally ambiguous Jujustu sorcerer turned human-hating revolutionary, based heavily on his favorite fighter from the classic anime Yu Yu Hakusho.
But he clarified that, unlike the original inspiration, his own Geto character does not elicit the same creative attachment.
So in sculpting the sprawling world of Jujutsu Kaisen, Gege Akutami’s personal preferences among his cast of complex sorcerers, cursed spirits and fearsome fighters continue to provide fascinating commentary on the unpredictable artistic process.
His insights reveal that the bonds between creator and creation are not always so easily defined.
Gege Akutami’s Struggle with Satoru Gojo’s Overwhelming Power
While mega-popular Jujutsu Kaisen character Satoru Gojo seems beloved by fans for his irresistible power and cocky attitude, his own creator Gege Akutami has made remarks suggesting some professional frustration with the powerful sorcerer.
Though never stating outright disdain for his creation, Akutami has dropped hints that Gojo’s overwhelming abilities have proven narratively problematic.
In retrospect, the artist admitted he made the mistake early on of inadvertently establishing Gojo as almost god-like compared to every other fighter in the Jujutsu Kaisen world.
This huge and unintended imbalance of power levels then became an obstacle for Akutami as he tried to craft nuanced conflicts and advancement for other key characters. He felt constricted by the corner he had painted himself into with Gojo’s design.
So in a pivotal arc of the manga, Akutami made the drastic decision to abruptly sideline his purported strongest sorcerer by having him sealed away and removed from action.
While fans may have been shocked by this twist, for Akutami it represented a cathartic creative release, finally allowing him to progress the intricate plot without Gojo’s powers dwarfing every other combatant.
Though Akutami may have harbored some professional envy and irritation with his own dominating creation, his candid remarks illustrate how even the most inventive artists can fall prey to unforeseen challenges born of their own imaginations. And sometimes such predicaments necessitate ruthless remedies, much to fans’ dismay.
More About Jujutsu Kaisen
Yuji Itadori seems like a regular high school student, except for his extraordinary strength and drive to help others, values imparted by his late grandfather. But Yuji’s life takes an abrupt turn when his friends accidentally unleash a dangerous cursed talisman that attracts sinister spirits.
To protect a sorcerer named Megumi, Yuji makes the fateful decision to swallow the talisman, becoming the vessel of a centuries-old evil curse named Ryomen Sukuna possessing formidable power.
By protocol, Jujutsu sorcerers must now execute Yuji for this breach. However, the talented Megumi’s mentor, the formidable Satoru Gojo, sees potential in Yuji’s unique ability to suppress Sukuna’s possession over his body.
Gojo convinces his superiors to spare Yuji to train him to one day consume and eliminate Sukuna’s 20 fingers, vanquishing the threat forever. Meanwhile, a sinister cabal of wicked spirits secretly plots catastrophic attacks to destabilize the world of Jujutsu magic and order.
At Tokyo’s Jujutsu High School, Yuji trains to harness his strange situation alongside Megumi and fierce Nobara Kugisaki under Gojo’s tutelage. During a harrowing mission, Sukuna forcibly possesses Yuji, though Yuji somehow regains control, intriguing Sukuna.
To hide this incident from authorities, Gojo continues training Yuji, who later befriends a student manipulated into violence, spurring Yuji’s quest for revenge.
As evil plans unfold, these young apprentice sorcerers must harness their burgeoning abilities to protect both worlds from impending calamity.
