Greetings, fabulous people of the Internet! Hanime on Anime here, and welcome to 2023’s first Character of the Month. And for this first pick of 2023, I went with my favorite, which was pretty hard because I had a decent selection of characters to choose from this time. But I honestly couldn’t get over this guy. I had to pick him!
That said, let’s talk about January’s Character of the Month, Yuta Okkotsu from Jujutsu Kaisen: 0!
Afflicted by a dangerous curse named Rika, his childhood friend killed in a horrific accident, Yuta finds himself in a bad way. However, he’s discovered by the Jujutsu Sorcerer Society and given two options: enroll at Jujutsu High, or die. Ultimately being forced to go by Sataro Gojo, Yuta begins training as a Jujutsu Sorcerer. He slowly gains better control of Rika and proves himself an excellent Sorcerer. But things get hairy when a former student named Geito arrives and declares war on the Society. Yuta’s skills are tested in a spectacular display of love and cursed energy.
So yes, I know that against several good choices from Chainsaw Man, I went with a kid who I basically compared to Shinji Ikari. But in a way, that is why I went with Yuta.
While not entirely like Shinji, he is reticent and troubled. Though in all fairness, both characters deal with a lot. Whether it’s having the burden of being the only protection for humanity (Shinji) or even being that threat (Yuta), that’s a lot for a teen. But where the similarities end is that Yuta wants to get out of his situation with his curse and is willing to change in the process, even when he sees that through at the end of the film.
And that’s what makes Yuta such a great character; he wants to change.
Not only that, he has room to change. He embodies the saying “you can only go up from here.” And he does go up from the start of the film.
It was something nice to see in Jujutsu Kaisen, even if the idea is nothing new. After all, Izumi Midoriya from My Hero Academia and Tanjiro from Demon Slayer are extremely popular characters who go through arcs where they grow in ability and change in personality and mindset. But compared to Yuji Itadori from the original Jujutsu series, it’s a breath of fresh air I think the franchise needed.
It makes a big difference when your main character has a goal they’re willing to fight for. And that’s why I love Yuta Okkotsu and why he won this month’s title. So keep fighting and moving on up, Yuta Okkotsu, cause you’re Hanime on Anime’s Character of the Month of January!
With January gone and February coming in just a few days, Flashback February is fast approaching! And this year’s event will be a fun one. For 2023, we’ll travel back to a feudal fairytale through cursed springs and unknowingly propose to an alien.
That’s right, fabulous people of the Internet! This year’s Flashback February is all about the anime adaptations of legendary mangaka Rumiko Takahashi! I’m keeping the anime I’ll be reviewing a secret for now. But I’m pretty sure the hints I dropped earlier will be a big giveaway.
But until next Sunday, be sure to stay tuned for more, and enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
-Hanime on Anime
Hanime on Anime 