The protagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen has proven that he can outshine even the best of the best shonen protagonists with a stellar anime debut, but Yuji Itadori actually began his journey in the panels published by Gege Akutami. The Jujutsu Kaisen anime does a fantastic job of adapting its source material and a large part of this success has to do with Akutami's artwork.
Though Yuji is as reliable a protagonist in the anime as he is in the manga, the latter has taken Yuji down a path that has changed the young jujutsu sorcerer. The list below notes 10 ways that Yuji is different in the manga than he is in the anime.
10 The Black & White Manga Limits Yuji's Flamboyant Fashion Sense
The source material that the Jujutsu Kaisen anime borrows from is published in Shonen Jump as a black and white manga. While the black and white panels make for a compelling stylistic duality throughout Jujutsu Kaisen's manga run, there is something about the way the anime colors Yuji that really adds to his character.
The visual flair brought on by Yuji's pink hair perfectly complements the red accents Gojo sensei included in his school uniform. It also matches Yuji's bright personality, helping viewers by giving them the chance to use color theory to understand Yuji's personality.
9 Yuji Is A Much Stronger Jujutsu Sorcerer In The Manga
The biggest difference between the manga version of Yuji Itadori and the anime version is the amount of time Yuji has been training as a jujutsu sorcerer. As of now, the anime has covered less than half of the source material that Gege Akutami has published in Shonen Jump.
Yuji has developed his skills as a jujutsu sorcerer so far that he may now classify as a special grade jujutsu sorcerer in the manga. Choso puts it best when he describes Yuji's growth after the Shibiyu Incident Arc. "He's added finesse. Fluid control of cursed energy along with unreal physical strength... He's now a demon god." The Yuji that anime-only fans know is not a demon god yet, but hopefully, a few more seasons of JJK can get him there.
8 The Manga Recently Reinstated Yuji Itadori's Death Sentence
Thanks to the reputation and strength of Satoru Gojo, Yuji Itadori is nearly able to live the life of a normal jujutsu sorcerer by enrolling at Tokyo Jujutsu High. Despite being sentenced to death by whatever back door organization of ancient men that calls the shots in the world of jujutsu, Itadori is able to live out his sentence collecting Sukuna's fingers.
The direction Gege Akutami has taken with the manga has led to Yuji Itadori's exorcism being reinstated by the same back door organization that pushed for it in the first place. The sorcerer tasked with taking Yuji down is none other than the special grade sorcerer Yuta Okkatsu. Reinstating Yuji's exorcism forces him to approach the world of jujutsu sorcery much differently than the way he acts in the first season of the anime.
7 The Manga Uses Yuji As A Co-Protagonist Rather Than Framing Him As The Sole Protagonist Like The Anime
Though Yuji is the main protagonist of both the manga and the anime, the manga gives a number of different characters the chance to guide readers through their POV. Along with Yuji, Satoru Gojo, and even Seguru Geto act as protagonists for a short while in the manga.
Yuta Okkatsu is another character that serves as the protagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen in the manga. In fact, Yuta was introduced as a protagonist even before Yuji. Fans will experience more JJK with Yuta Okkatsu in the leading role when the Culling Game Arc continues in the manga and when the anime film adaption of Volume 0 is released.
6 The Manga Shows Yuji Prioritize Gojo & Sukuna Over His Grandfather's Cremation
The anime does a fantastic job of paying respects to Yuji's grandfather after he passes. The second episode takes Yuji to a crematorium to pick his grandfather's bones out of a pile of ashes. Animating Yuji with chopsticks is a difficult task to take on considering the manga never even shows Yuji enter the crematorium after his grandfather's death.
For a show that usually sticks very close to its source material, it is strange to see any scenes change settings in the anime adaptation, especially a scene as important as this. The manga shows Yuji and Gojo spending the majority of their time at the crematorium sitting on a bench outside while talking about Sukuna. This is in no way disrespectful, but the anime gives viewers a Yuji that understands how to conduct a Japanese Cremation Ceremony, putting him on an entirely different level of respect and maturity than his manga counterpart.
5 The Yuji Readers Find In The Manga Is Not Given The Chance To Show Off His Martial Arts As Clearly As Anime Yuji Does
Gege Akutami is an incredible artist, but a mangaka can only do so much in terms of action when being compared to animation. Even dedicated readers of the manga have to admit that Yuji appears to be a much better fighter in the anime than in the manga.
This doesn't mean that Yuji doesn't hold his own as a jujutsu sorcerer in the manga. In fact, Yuji accomplishes more impressive feats in the manga than he does in the anime. Still, the way animation depicts movement gives anime fans the chance to see Yuji demonstrate his skill as a martial artist as well as his overwhelming strength and speed.
4 Yuji Has Already Collected 15 Of Sukuna's Fingers In The Manga
On top of developing further as a jujutsu sorcerer, the Yuji that manga readers know is also the vessel for 15 of Sukuna's fingers. The anime version of Yuji hasn't even consumed an entire handful of Sukuna's fingers.
As Yuji continues to collect fingers, he proceeds to become more and more of a threat to the people around him. After consuming ten fingers at once during the Shibuya Incident Arc, Yuji nearly lost his will to live after Sukuna took control of his body and murdered thousands of innocent people. If it weren't for Okkatsu and Megumi, Yuji may have lost his will to survive, making him an entirely different character than the one anime fans have grown to love.
3 The Manga Gives Yuji The Chance To Prove That He Respects More Of Women Than Their Height & Hair Color
The Yuji fans meet in the anime is extremely nice and respectful to the people around him. Even when compared to other shonen anime protagonists, Yuji is impressively genuine and kind. Still, the way Yuji and Todo speak about women during the Kyoto Exchange Team Battle lacks the tact necessary to prove that either of them truly respects women.
The manga introduces Osawa, a young woman from Yuji's middle school that crushes over the young jujutsu sorcerer because of the way he is able to see the beauty inside of her before judging her outward appearance. The panels between Osawa, Nobara, Megumi, and Yuji are some of the best panels in the entire JJK Manga.
2 The Manga Proves That Yuji's Lineage Does In Fact Matter, Despite Yuji Trying To Deny This Fact In The First Episode Of The Anime
Yuji has had to mourn the loss of more friends than any teenager should have to. Luckily, the manga has helped fill in the holes left by Yuji's peers with family members. The anime does make it clear that Yuji's family is important by spending the first two episodes with grandpa Itadori, but the manga has taken it a step further.
As it stands in the manga, Gege Akatumi has shown fans glimpses of Yuji's brothers and parents. If Yuji survives the Culling Game Arc and is able to meet back up with Choso, fans may finally get the chance to meet all of his brothers and learn the true identity of his parents.
1 Gege Akutami Has Hinted At Yuji's Hidden Cursed Technique On Three Separate Occasions In The JJK Manga
According to fan theorists that have worked through the JJK manga, Yuji may have a hidden cursed technique that Gege Akutami has yet to reveal. During his battles with Todo and Choso, Yuji is soundly beaten to a pulp just before his opponents lose their fighting spirit after experiencing a fictional flashback.
The way Gege Akutami frames these past events that never happened makes it seem as if memories are planted in the minds of anyone who manages to push Yuji Itadori to the brink of death. If this is a subconscious cursed technique that Yuji simply hasn't learned yet only manga readers would have caught on. Until anime fans see more of Choso, the flashback Todo experienced will seem like nothing more than a dramatic flashback from Yuji's overzealous best friend.