Both being blockbusters from hugely popular shonen franchises, the new Jujutsu Kaisen film compares well to the smash-hit Mugen Train.
Jujutsu Kaisen is a popular shonen anime series that, along with Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia, can be considered one of the new shonen “big three.” In many aspects, these three brands can be directly compared, and now they can be compared in terms of movies as well.
My Hero Academia, for example, has three films under its belt, while Demon Slayer has Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, which was a box office smash in Japan and internationally. Today, the Jujutsu Kaisen franchise caught up with its first film, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, featuring new protagonist Yuta Okkotsu.
IT’S BETTER: It’s not redundant with anime Jujutsu Kaisen 0
When an anime film is released, the content may be closely tied to an existing anime narrative, or it may be a completely solo film, or it may be somewhere in between. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a predecessor to the main series, and none of its elements appear in Season 1 of Jujutsu Kaisen. The Mugen Train movie, on the other hand, is a short story arc that was repeated in the first part of Season 2, meaning fans had to watch it twice before moving on to the Entertainment District story arc, which may have irritated some impatient fans. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 fully avoided this.
Not Better: Beloved Protagonist Yuji Is Absent
Some Jujutsu Kaisen fans may not have been offended by this, while others may have been. When an anime film is released, fans typically expect the protagonist to lead the supplementary adventure, such as in the My Hero Academia, Naruto, and Bleach films. However, not this time.
Because protagonist Yuji Itadori is absent from Jujutsu Kaisen 0, the film misses an opportunity to further develop and explore his character. Mugen Train, on the other hand, was captivating because it starred Tanjiro Kamado as well as Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira.
THIS IS BETTER: Jujutsu Kaisen 0 explored Geto in detail geto suguru
Many anime movie villains are gimmicks, one-off boss fights that the heroes must contend with in a setting that is conveniently outside of the main plot. Mugen Train’s villain, Dream Merchant Enmu, was a bit more relevant than that, but he was just a simple boss fight at the end.
Suguru Geto, the villain of Jujutsu Kaisen 0, is much more intriguing, as he has a deep worldview and a personal tie to Satoru Gojo himself. He also made it through the movie, despite the fact that he was formally killed off. He’ll be back for more films in no time.
It’s Not Better: Mugen Train Has Better Visuals
Anime movies, on the whole, have superior animation than the series they’re based on, and Jujutsu Kaisen 0 offers some of the best visuals of any modern anime film, including World Heroes’ Mission.
Right now, the UFOtable studio is legendary for its awesome visuals in the Demon Slayer anime and the movie, and even the movie Jujutsu Kaisen can’t beat Mugen Train at its own game, even if it tries to beat it. To do. Mugen Train can still claim to be, somewhat subjectively, the visually best film in the anime industry.
IT’S BETTER: Jujutsu Kaisen 0 did more worldbuilding
Although neither of these anime achieved much world-building, it’s simple to conclude that Jujutsu Kaisen 0 did more, even if some of that world-building was done solely through conversation. Mugen Train, on the other hand, takes place exclusively aboard the titular train.
Meanwhile, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 included action scenes set in a variety of places, including one in which Yuta Okkotsu and Toge Inumaki explored an abandoned, cursed mall. Next, Gojo’s dialogue alludes to the intriguing existence of an Ainu school of sorcery, which greatly expands the universe of Jujutsu Kaisen.
It’s no better: it lacks the emotional punch of Mugen Train
Both films had a powerful emotional impact on spectators, but unfortunately for Jujutsu Kaisen 0, the Mugen Train film set the bar too high for Yuta and his comrades to reach. This movie is famous for Kyojuro Rengoku’s heartbreaking yet heroic death at the end.
Even though it offers a lot of emotionally driven characters with a lot of personal stakes and emotion-based techniques, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 can’t quite compare. It will probably be a while before an anime movie can top Kyojuro Rengoku’s death scene.
IT’S BETTER: there are bigger battles
Some anime films involve a personal battle between the hero and the villain, such as Izuku vs. Flect Turn in World Heroes Mission or Kyojuro vs. Akaza in Upper Moon 3. Then there’s Jujutsu Kaisen 0, who went all out. And it was profitable.
Satoru Gojo and a few of his pals face up against dozens of Geto’s henchmen, including curses and humans, in a thrilling last confrontation. For the first time, Jujutsu Kaisen’s excellent combat system was applied on such a large scale.
It’s NOT BETTER: It introduced very few new characters of note
Anime movies, like Mugen Train’s Akaza, Enmu, and Kyojuro, or World Heroes Mission’s Flect Turn, are a terrific way to introduce fascinating new characters. Jujutsu Kaisen 0, on the other hand, presents relatively few new characters worth watching, which is a shame. Instead, the film employs well-known characters, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, it would be a shame not to present a memorable new villain for the heroes to fight, as My Hero Academia does on a regular basis.
IT’S BETTER: introduces a strange new curse
Curses are horrific creatures who often afflict and prey on humans in the Jujutsu Kaisen anime, as well as the original manga. The ferocious Mahito, as well as the Cyclopean Jogo and the doomed half-brothers, are good examples of this. But what if the curse was friendly?
Rika is Yuta’s childhood friend’s cursed remains, and she is both powerful and difficult to control. She embodies Yuji’s “black inner monster” concept, which he shares with Ryomen Sukuna. Mugen Train, on the other hand, having none of it.
It’s NOT BETTER: it doesn’t lead directly to anything
Not all animated films are expected to jump right into the next story arc. Mugen Train, on the other hand, helped create a new benchmark by taking place in the middle of two major story arcs and seamlessly transitioning into the Entertainment District story cycle. Other animated films could follow this example in order to feel in tune with their franchises.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 missed his chance. Even though the film is set a year or two before the main series, it nevertheless feels isolated from Yuji’s plot, despite the presence of recognisable people. It creates the sense that it can be skipped, but Mugen Train cannot be said in the same way.