(Wikimedia Commons)

On March 18, 2022, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, a prequel to the popular Japanese animated television series Jujutsu Kaisen, opened in North American theaters. MAPPA studios animated the action fantasy film based on the manga (Japanese comic books) by Gege Akutami. The movie came out in its original Japanese audio with English subtitles and with English-dubbed audio. Anime is popular worldwide, with this new film earning $150 million at the global box office by March 25.

The story follows the journey of Yuta Okkotsu, a lonely, bullied boy, and Rika Orimoto, the spirit of his childhood friend who haunts him. After Rika keeps injuring those around him, Yuta leaves his old life for a new one at Jujutsu High, where Jujutsu sorcerers learn how to wield cursed energy to exorcise curses from the world. At school, he meets his teacher, Satoru Gojo, and his three classmates, Maki Zenin, Toge Inumaki, and Panda. Yuta begins to feel useful and helpful, and together they fight cursed spirits and the film’s main antagonist, Suguru Geto, a power-hungry former student of Jujutsu High.

For fans of the show, this film is a must-see, and for others it is a way to get hooked into this popular franchise.