In this recent ranking, Jujutsu Kaisen made two notable appearances. Volume 20, featuring the intense battle between Reggie Star and Megumi Fushiguro during the “Culling Game” arc, claimed a prominent spot within the top three positions. Meanwhile, Volume 1, which showcases the iconic moment where the protagonist Yuji Itadori consumes the withered and decayed finger of the undisputed King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna, secured the 15th spot on the list.
This ongoing dark fantasy manga, which initially debuted in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump in March 2018, hints at a possible conclusion in its latest chapters. Alongside other notable works like Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man and Yuji Kaku’s Hell’s Paradise, Jujutsu Kaisen is part of the modern shonen genre’s Dark Trio and boasts a massive fan base. Akutami’s creation ranks among the best-selling manga globally, with over 80 million copies in circulation.
The anime adaptation by MAPPA has been equally triumphant. The first season, which aired from October 2020 to March 2021, clinched numerous awards at the 2021 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including Anime of the Year, Best Antagonist, and Best Ending Sequence. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 premiered in July and embarked on its second major narrative arc, the Shibuya Incident, depicting intense battles between Jujutsu Sorcerers and cursed spirits in the eponymous Tokyo ward. “Where Our Blue Is,” performed by Tatsuya Kitani, was voted as the top opening theme song for the summer 2023 anime lineup.
Beyond the anime series, Akutami’s manga has also inspired several stage plays. The second Jujutsu Kaisen stage play is set to premiere at The Galaxy Theater in Tokyo on December 15, featuring a showdown between the students of Tokyo’s Jujutsu High and those from their sister school in Kyoto.
Moreover, the Jujutsu Kaisen franchise is expanding into the realm of video games. A smartphone game titled “Jujutsu Kaisen: Phantom Parade” is anticipated to launch later this year, and a fighting game called “Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash” was announced in July. The multimedia franchise notably collaborated with Fortnite earlier in the year.
In North America, VIZ Media is the distributor for the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, also available on Manga Monster for free, while the anime adaptation by MAPPA is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
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