English Dub Review: Jujutsu Kaisen: “Nonstandard”

Overview: Yuji (Adam McArthur) and Todo (Xander Mobus) continue their fight with Hanami (Marie Westbrook) with Aoi unleashing his signature technique that changes the tide of battle. 

Our Take: “Nonstandard”, just as the name implies, goes above and beyond the norm to deliver an awe-inspiring showcase of what you would expect a Shonen to nail: fights. But well animated fights are a dime a dozen you may say in these types of anime. There needs to be an element that helps set it apart from the rest of the spiky-haired protagonist led pack. One might say a power that claps back (I’m here all night folks). Enter Aoi’s Boogie Woogie. The transportation aspect keeps the Todo and Itadori team-up fast paced and unpredictable. There’s also some good strategy involved too with Aoi and the use of fakeouts. But it’s not just the frenetic combat that makes these fights so damn enjoyable. That wouldn’t be half as fun if not for Todo himself.

Todo has personality in spades, constantly oozes with it and sure as heck never lets you forget it. His goofy, off-the-wall facial expressions sell his over the top personality and make him an absolute joy whenever he’s on screen. Not to mention the melodramatic high school “flashbacks” with his “high school crush” Takada truly is the perfect cherry on top. Also, we are given just the smallest sliver of his backstory. While it doesn’t paint the whole picture, it gives us a nice glimpse that sets up his journey of becoming a sorcerer well, and is even slightly more illuminating for up-to-date manga readers. But even better is how the character is more than just a comedic relief. His standout moments of badassery with his innovative cursed technique and how he applies in combat in unison with Yuji shows how threatening he is and more than just good for punchlines. However, whereas Todo is imposing, Gojo takes it to a whole other level.

Satoru Gojo. This man never ceases to amaze. Just when you think you have figured out his ceiling he shatters your expectations as bad as Hinami would’ve been had she not escaped. Hollow Purple is one of his most visually stunning techniques to date, there’s not even any crazy animated scene surrounding it. It’s more so the use of strong visuals like purple water droplets and a beautiful collision of colors that really make the technique pop aesthetically. However, this episode is not without that classic MAPPA magic. With each passing episode and, especially this one, it becomes clear that blistering fast fights are their bread and butter and they love to gorge us. Just like that of Aoi and Yuji, a relentless onslaught of ferociousness is unleashed upon our eyeballs that the studio has, at this point, trademarked. 

Episode 20 of Jujutsu Kaisen delivers yet another true stunner with an outstanding sorcerer battle, laughs all around from the most eccentric of characters and gorgeous animation and art design that caps off the cursed spirit’s invasion to perfection.