The Best Anime of 2020
Winner: JuJutsu Kaisen
Staff Writer Keenan McCall: While they may be the most popular type of anime around, it’s rare for a shonen anime to stand out as the best among a year’s offerings. However, in the case of Jujutsu Kaisen, it’s hard not to point to it as an exemplar of the medium.
Everything about the series is a step above what one would expect. Where one would expect a simple supernatural investigation series with some battles mixed in, they find characters struggling with the weight of what it means to live a good life and pass on without regretting an unfulfilled life.
When one thinks the protagonist Itadori will be the typical “cheerful in even the most dire scenario” type, able to turn even the worst situations around, the series reveals he’s flawed, unable to save everyone he cares about.
And that’s just covering the story and writing. From an animation and art standpoint, it’s a marvel to look at. The show springs to life with fluid sakuga during the series’ fight scenes, while the quieter moments convey their beauty and weight with expertly used colors and designs.
It’s a fantastic series, plain and simple, and while it may only just be getting started, there’s little doubt that Jujutsu Kaisen stood out as something extraordinary.
