The Shocking Twist You Never Saw Coming: Jujutsu Kaisen Creator's Unexpected Character Revelation

Jujutsu Kaisen is renowned for its strong character development, although author Gege Akutami has occasionally received criticism for certain characters. Yuki Tsukumo serves as a prime example, as a Special-Grade sorcerer with great potential who unfortunately had a brief presence in the series. Aoi Todo, a student of Yuki Tsukumo, suffered a similar fate.

For viewers introduced to Jujutsu Kaisen through the first season of the anime, Todo became a major highlight of the story. His charm, unique approach to challenging others ("What type of women do you like?"), and impressive combat style made him incredibly entertaining and likable. Fans also adored the bromance between Todo and Yuji Itadori.

All of this makes Gege Akutami's use of the character all the more disappointing.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen.

Jujutsu Kaisen author Gege Akutami wasted Aoi Todo's potential

After the release of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime, Aoi Todo quickly gained immense popularity among fans. His comedic personality, exceptional combat skills, and the strong bond he formed with the main character, Yuji Itadori, contributed to his fame. However, as the story progressed, Gege Akutami shifted the attention away from Todo, causing his popularity to decline.

Nevertheless, Todo had another standout moment during the Shibuya Incident arc when he assisted Yuji in his fight against Mahito. Unfortunately, during the battle, Todo lost one of his hands, which was crucial for utilizing his Cursed Technique of switching places with a specific target by clapping his hands. This event held great significance for Todo's character development.

He was incapable of doing so, resulting in his complete removal from the storyline.

Although this decision is logical within the context of the fictional world since Todo can no longer utilize his Cursed Technique, which formed the foundation of his unique fighting style. However, from the fans' standpoint, it seemed unjust that a captivating character with considerable charm was excluded from the narrative without even having the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the plot, particularly given his connection with Yuji in the storyline.

Akutami's case for wasting some characters

The series Jujutsu Kaisen features a plethora of memorable characters, and Gege Akutami has skillfully crafted many of them. However, a few characters seem to have been overshadowed. Aoi Todo serves as a prime example of this, as mentioned previously, and Yuki Tsukumo experienced a similar fate, with only one battle against Kenjaku which resulted in her untimely demise. This portrayal felt inadequate for a sorcerer of her exceptional abilities.

Possibly stemming from the author's wish to conclude the series promptly, as indicated by their statements about ending it this year, it is understandable that certain characters may not receive the development they merit. While this may be disappointing, it is a commendable decision as long as the main storyline remains satisfying.

Over the years, manga authors like Tite Kubo, Eiichiro Oda, and Masashi Kishimoto have faced significant hardships. The era of them producing weekly manga for nearly two decades is unlikely to return due to the toll it takes on their health.

It has become a lot more common to see authors like Akutami trying to end their series quickly and characters like Aoi Todo seem to have been lost in the mix because of that.

Final thoughts