Jujutsu Kaisen‘s talented author, Gege Akutami, has recently revealed a few of his inspirations when creating the manga. It is fairly common for a mangaka to be motivated by other successful and gifted creators, and Akutami is no exception. In a recent interview, he listed a few of his favorite fellow manga authors and discussed his admiration for them and their work.
The interview, entitled “Gege Akutami x Tite Kubo Special Talk” is posted on Edomonogatari’s website. During the discussion, Akutami spoke highly of two authors: Tite Kubo, fellow interviewee and the creator of Bleach, and Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of Chainsaw Man. He explains that although he greatly respects and enjoys the work of these two incredible writers, he makes sure not to copy them.
He states that he would “only hurt [himself] if [he] tried to copy their methods.” Although the two creators are incredibly hard-working and no doubt skilled, Akutami makes sure that he is not simply duplicating their techniques.
Gege Akutami Admires the Work Of Bleach & Chainsaw Man’s Authors
Produced by MAPPA, based on the original manga by Gege Akutami
Through his words in the interview, it is clear Akutami holds these other writers in very high regard. However, although he is inspired by them, he asserts how important it is for him not just to copy the greats, but to put his own original twist on the Jujutsu Kaisen manga he is writing. This is an incredible strategy because it ensures his work is distinct and unlike anything else out there, not just following in the footsteps of other manga, but unique in its own right. Akutami feels it would be inauthentic and unsuccessful to try to replicate these authors’ processes.
Instead of trying to be like other authors, Akutami focuses on his own personal talents and the story he was inspired to tell through Jujutsu Kaisen. Surpisingly, he refers to himself as a “commoner”, and feels unworthy of claiming to be on the level of the people he considers to be true manga stars. It is true that Bleach is one of the most acclaimed fantasy and adventure manga in recent history, and dark fantasy manga Chainsaw Man is rapidly rising in popularity as a breakout hit, but Jujutsu Kaisen is immensely successful as well, inspiring a wide fanbase worldwide.
Jujutsu Kaisen‘s Immense Success Is Due To Akutami’s Creativity
Akutami shockingly calls himself a “commoner”, but he has certainly proven his abilities as a mangaka
As one of Weekly Shonen Jump‘s most beloved and enjoyed series, as well as a smash hit both inside of and outside of Japan, Akutami’s manga has indeed achieved a star status on par with the other shonen manga greats he shows appreciation for. This success is largely due to how unique Jujutsu Kaisen is. Akutami puts a lot of effort into using creative character creation processes, fleshing out his characters, and making them well-rounded and memorable. The series’ exciting plot is intriguing and distinct, making it very different from all the other manga that are currently available.
By focusing on his unique skills and personal talents rather than just copying the methods of others, Jujutsu Kaisen has become one of the greatest manga of all time. The series was Japan’s best-selling manga in both 2021 and 2022, and the anime adaptation has become incredibly popular, receiving numerous awards. Although Akutami calls himself a “commoner” in the field of manga, no onlooker would dare see him in that light. He has certainly proven his talent by creating countless remarkable chapters of Jujutsu Kaisen, effectively cementing the manga’s status as one of the best ever made.
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Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen is a supernatural action anime that follows high school student Yuuji Itadori as he battles against magical curses. After Yuji selflessly saves a classmate by taking a curse into his own body, he is discovered and trained by a powerful sorcerer named Satoru Gojo. Gojo, who also happens to be a faculty member at a high school, enrolls Yuji there to help him and other students prepare themselves against the supernatural forces that plague humanity.
- Cast
- Junya Enoki , Yuma Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Adam McArthur , Asami Seto
- Release Date
- October 2, 2020
- Seasons
- 3
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- Franchise(s)
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- Writers
- Hiroshi Seko
- Directors
- Sunghoo Park , Shōta Goshozono
