Akutami may have suffered the same fate as Tite Kubo, and Jujutsu Kaisen’s ending reflects that

Modified Oct 12, 2024 23:30 GMT

Jujutsu Kaisen has captivated fans worldwide, with great world-building and intricate complex characters, but the ending has raised major concerns. Many fans argue that the ending seems rushed, and a lot of plot points are underdeveloped, creating noticeable plot holes.

This has drawn parallels between Gege Akutami and Tite Kubo, the creator of Bleach, as both had to face the challenge of wrapping up the series, each in its turn. The incomplete storylines and the enigmatic mysteries in Jujutsu Kaisen reflect the real challenges that an author often has, especially when struggling to handle the need to tell a tale within a deadline.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinion and includes spoilers from the Jujutsu Kaisen manga.

How Akutami may have been forced to cut out Jujutsu Kaisen chapters, explained

Satoru Gojo as seen in anime (Image via MAPPA)

The creator of Jujutsu Kaisen, Gege Akutami, might have faced pressures similar to those experienced by Tite Kubo, the author of Bleach—one of the three most popular Shonen Jump series.

Many fans believe Akutami was forced to wrap up the story early because of Shonen Jump’s relentless production schedules, which often prioritize timely releases over narrative depth. This results in questions left unanswered and plot threads left dangling.

The rapid speed of the final chapters of Jujutsu Kaisen leads fans to believe important developments were cut short. What Akutami originally envisioned for the story may have included great arcs and character development that under the constraints of the time given and deadlines, simply couldn't be executed.

Sukuna as seen in anime (Image via MAPPA)

It's a scenario similar to what Kubo dealt with in Bleach, which had a rushed ending, causing fans to be discontent. It also created additional debates about the demands that editors placed on creative minds.

The treatment of both Akutami and Kubo raises critical questions about the industry practices. Fans are now getting vocal about the need for a more balanced approach, in which creators are granted sufficient time to conclude their stories completely.

The present structure seems to be one of quantity over quality, leaving the stories lagged or even incomplete. It is crucial for the anime community to raise their voice and hold Shonen Jump accountable, to support a system that respects the creative process rather than constricting it.

What Gege clearly wanted to explore but never did due to Shonen Jumps's tight production schedule

Kenjaku as seen in anime (Image via MAPPA)

Gege Akutami clearly intended to investigate a number of intriguing themes for his series, that remain unexplored in this context, because of the pace of production for Shonen Jump. For instance, the Merger could have easily been explained to reveal much deeper connections between characters and abilities.

Further, the issue of body and soul raises some pretty serious philosophical questions that are left unexamined. Additionally, the nature of the Culling Game going hand in hand with Kenjaku's spiel on Tengen's betrayal could have opened up rich undertexts of storytelling and conflict.

Final thoughts

Gege Akutami's challenges with wrapping up Jujutsu Kaisen could be similar to the problems that Tite Kubo faced while ending Bleach, highlighting the struggles of creators within the demanding landscape of Shonen Jump.

The issues raised by fans over the rushed ending and the development of certain aspects of the story reflect an industry-wide problem, where deadlines outweigh actual content quality. What was meant to be conveyed was left behind at the end.

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Edited by Janhavi Chauhan