The Yin and Yang of Sorcery: Adam McArthur and Ray Chase on Their Powerful “Jujutsu Kaisen” Characters

 

Jujutsu Kaisen has quickly become one of the most popular shows of the season and it’s found a clever and subversive way to approach standard shonen and supernatural tropes. The anime is set in a world where evil Cursed Spirits prey upon the vitality of humans, while a select group of sorcerer exorcists devote their lives to exterminating these demonic entities. Yuji Itadori is a typical high school delinquent, but he ends up in an impossible situation after he swallows a cursed talisman—demon Ryomen Sukuna’s finger—and finds himself partially possessed by the legendary demon. Yuji’s unique position sets off a series that’s full of thrilling action sequences, an addictive story, and engaging characters.

The English dub for Jujutsu Kaisen has been a triumph for Crunchyroll and the series has assembled a very fitting cast for the anime’s memorable characters. Yuji Itadori and Ryomen Sukuna become intrinsically connected on this strange journey and their respective voice actors, Adam McArthur and Ray Chase, opened up about their determined characters and the deep universe that Jujutsu Kaisen creates.

Daniel Kurland: You have a long history as a voice actor, but this is really your first role in an anime. What kind of relationship did you have anime beforehand, has it since changed, and is this a transition you had been hoping to make for a while?

Adam McArthur: I’ve had an appreciation for anime since childhood, but I definitely didn’t get really into it until about 4 or 5 years ago when a friend told me to watch Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood and My Hero Academia shortly after that. I was blown away. I’d say that ever since watching My Hero, especially since it’s a show that’s still on, my interest has been piqued about working in anime. Thankfully it all came together at the perfect time, and I get to lend my voice to Yuji.

Daniel Kurland: Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the more popular anime of the year and it had quite the reputation before it finally became animated. Did you have any kind of awareness of it before you started working on it?

Adam McArthur: I did! And I was super excited when I got an audition for it. It’s pretty incredible to be a part of a show that already has such a huge fan response. It’s also, scary! I have to tune a lot of it out and just focus on doing  good work!

Daniel Kurland: This is a show where most characters occupy some shade of grey and Yuji is no exception. Talk about the dichotomy within the character and the slippery slope that he faces as he allows more killing into his life?

Adam McArthur: Yuji has quite the journey. Even in the earliest episodes we start to see his evolution and all the things he has to wrestle with. We see a bright, naturally gifted, happy young boy evolve because he has to. Because he faces a lot of really dark things. The stakes are so high for him and it’s been really fulfilling to go on the journey. I can only imagine where we’re headed! It’s exciting. And terrifying!

Daniel Kurland: Would you like to see Yuji give in more to those darker impulses or do you hope that he remains uncorrupted?

Adam McArthur: Both. I hope he stays as uncorrupted as possible, but I do think he’s going to have to give in and learn that life isn’t so black in white. Sometimes the gray area is where you have to fight. It doesn’t mean you still can’t be a good person.

Daniel Kurland: So much of Jujutsu Kaisen is set in high school. Is it helpful to have that lighter slice of life material to balance the show and highlight Yuji’s youthfulness?

Adam McArthur: Definitely! I think it also helps when we see the darker moments to make them feel even more impactful! In a way too, it makes the character more real. We all experience both light and dark, just like Yuji.

Daniel Kurland: Jujutsu Kaisen tows the line between both action and horror. Does that affect what you bring to your performance for Yuji?

Adam McArthur: Absolutely. This role requires a huge range and I love that. It’s like vocal gymnastics! Yuji really is an actor’s dream character.

Daniel Kurland: You have experience in real life as a martial artist. Does that make a difference or at least become helpful on some level when playing a role like this that does feature so much combat?

Adam McArthur: Definitely! I like to think it helps me add some realism to the fight scenes and reactions from punching, and also getting punched!

Daniel Kurland: Jujutsu Kaisen is very blessed to have an extremely diverse cast of characters. Who has your favorite design or look and if you were to voice anyone else in the series who would it be?

Adam McArthur: The design for Gojo is so cool. Who doesn’t love those dreamy eyes! Lol… I’m very content voicing Yuji 🙂 I’ve got a lot on my plate to do him justice. I do think Toge Inumaki would be a ton of fun, though. I might also just be craving sushi 😀

Daniel Kurland: Do you know what lies ahead for your character? Are you the type to read the manga and research your character?

Adam McArthur: I’m trying my hardest not to get too far ahead. I actually like feeling surprised for the episodes I’m currently recording. The problem is, this show is so good and I genuinely want to know what happens next. As of right now, I haven’t read past where the sub episodes are, but I think that’ll probably change over the holiday break.

***

Daniel Kurland: Jujutsu Kaisen was already a very popular manga before it was turned into an anime, but did you have any kind of awareness of the series before you were cast?

Ray Chase: I did not! When the auditions came out I watched the trailer and was really impressed – then I watched the first episode and was so surprised that it was so funny! It’s a show that really plays with expectations.

Daniel Kurland: This is an action anime, but it’s also very much a horror series. Is that a fun mix to explore when it comes to your performance?

Ray Chase: Sukuna is really fun in that respect – he’s someone who can be really scary and intimidating at times, but then really funny too!  The scariest things in this show to me are the faces of some of these cursed spirits – really creep town.

Daniel Kurland: This anime is made up of both heroic sorcerers and demonic Cursed Spirits. Sukuna falls into the category of Curse. Do you have a preference on whether you play good or evil characters when it comes to shows like this?

Ray Chase: In anime being a hero versus a villain is usually so much more clear cut than in other media. You know that if you’re a hero, you’re going to have to scream a lot, which can be a major downside. But then you get a lot of lines and get to inspire others to do good! A villain will usually get to be a lot easier on your voice, and you get to taunt the hero a whole lot which can be fun. But it is harder to get in the mindset of villains – especially ones so cursed like Sukuna!

Daniel Kurland: On that note, Sukuna isn’t just a Curse, but he’s the much-feared King of Curses. Does a performance become more difficult when it’s a villain of this magnitude?

Ray Chase: It might become more difficult in that there’s more plot to keep track of (in contrast with just being a villain of the week), but it’s way more interesting to play a character’s arc over the course of a long show. Sukuna really fits that definition, and you can already tell that he’s learning and changing as the series progresses.

Daniel Kurland: Something that Jujutsu Kaisen does very well is how the characters have such strong convictions and it’s unclear exactly who is right or wrong in this war. Talk a little on how Sukuna views himself and the situation that he’s stuck in.

Ray Chase: Well, Sukuna deeeefffinitely is on the side of evil here. He’s only out for himself and the things he wants to do to women and children…? No. This dude is way evil.

Daniel Kurland: Have you read ahead in the manga and know what’s in the future for your character or does it make more sense to go in blind?

Ray Chase: I don’t read manga but I do watch the sub version before dubbing. It really helps to know where each specific scene is going before I go in to record. But not knowing where things go in the future is okay with me – that way I’m in the same boat as the characters I play. I’d like to be just as surprised as they are with their victories and failures.

Daniel Kurland: There’s very much an Eddie Brock/Venom from Spider-Man feeling between Yuji and Sukuna. Was that, or anything else, looked to as an inspiration at all?

Ray Chase: I’m unfamiliar with those characters and just looked them up – for sure there are similarities! Although Sukuna seems to be really working against Itadori’s best interest here.

Daniel Kurland: Jujutsu Kaisen features so many unique characters. Is there anyone who stands out in terms of their design or someone else you’d like you voice?

Ray Chase: You gotta go with Panda. He’s the best ever. I got the distinct pleasure of voicing someone else in the series already – the head waiter at that restaurant who gets set on fire! Even though he had only a few lines, he was really fun to dub!