Warning: Contains spoilers for Attack on Titan and Jujutsu KaisenI’ve seen more shonen series than I can count over the years. As one of the most popular genres, there are many incredible animes to choose from that fall under the shonen category. Despite all the different ones I’ve viewed though,two series have always been my absolute favorites:Jujutsu KaisenandAttack on Titan.Although their overall plots, characters, and animation are not comparable, I adore both of these series for the same unexpected reason.
BothJujutsu KaisenandAttack on Titanpossess sky-high death tolls, on a greater scale than most other anime series. SinceAttack on Titantakes place during a war, the death count quickly reached a staggering number of over a billion.Jujutsu Kaisen’sdeaths did not reach that horrific level, but over forty important main characters died, making these losses feel even more personal. Although it may seem strange to enjoy a series due to such a grim quality, my admiration for bothJujutsu KaisenandAttack on Titanlies inthe respectful, emotionally impactful manner in which these series handle death.
BothJujutsu KaisenandAttack on TitanHave High Death Tolls, Raising the Stakes in a Grim Way
These Shonens Handle Death Better Than Any Other Series
Attack on Titancenters around humanity’s war againstman-eating creatures called Titanswho threaten to wipe out all of humanity, whileJujutsu Kaisen’spremise focuses on a group of sorcerers who devote their lives to exorcising evil curses, led by the worst villain of all, Ryomen Sukuna, who also plans to destroy humanity. Since both shonens occur during a war, it makes sense for major death to play a part in these stories. The sheer magnitude ofloss of human life raises the stakes of these stories, urging fans like me to become even more invested in the storyline.
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Because of the prevalence of death,Jujutsu KaisenandAttack on Titanhave a strong emotional effect that not every anime does.Gege Akutami, mangaka ofJujutsu Kaisen,and Hajime Isayama, mangaka ofAttack on Titan,certainly never shy away from killing major characters, likeJJK’sGojo orAOT’sEren,often sparking outrage and heartbreak among the fandom. Despite fans' complaints though, these plot points don’t only provoke tears, they helped me become more interested in these series and eager to see what happened next and if the characters who passed away would be avenged by their comrades by the end of the story.
Deaths Like Nanami’s and Eren’s Were Handled Respectfully and Emotionally
These Hard-Hitting Deaths Offered Respectful and Emotional Send-Offs for the Series’ Best Heroes
These shonens do not just end characters' lives for pure shock value, which is a dangerous trap that some series fall into. I respect bothJujutsu KaisenandAttack on Titandeeplybecause of the respectful way that they handle these deaths.The final moments of characters in both series are often tragic and portrayed with emotional effect. For example, Nanami Kento’s death inJujutsu Kaisenseason two was one of the most hard-hitting anime deaths of all time, to the point that real-life memorials were constructed across the world for fans to pay their respects to the character.
Nanami was one of the most powerful and relatable jujutsu sorcerers. He often made witty remarks about hating his old, unfulfilling corporate job and dedicated himself to protecting the weak, two qualities fans especially resonated with. In theShibuya Incidentarc, he was murdered by the Cursed Spirit, Mahito, by being burnt and then transfigured beyond recognition. AlthoughNanami’s death was gruesome and heart-wrenching, in a way,it was a perfect send-off for the heroic figure.As he died, he envisioned a beautiful Malaysian beach, the place he planned on retiring to before his horrific demise ruined that hopeful possibility.
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Nanami and Nobara’s Deaths Are Unforgettably Tragic, Yet Filled With Symbolism and Meaning
Although Nanami’s death certainly did cause me to shed tears, I also appreciated how carefully and emotionally his final minutes were portrayed. His fantasy of Malaysia allowed him to die in peace, even though he was likely feeling pain. Furthermore, his persistence to keep fighting until he physically could not go on proved his dedication to the cause of fighting evil. Nanami’s death, although saddening, isone of the best death scenes I’ve ever witnessed, and one of the most powerful. Also inJujutsu Kaisen,Nobara Kugisaki’s death had a tremendous effect too, because of how suddenly it occurred.
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Nobara Kugisaki had been a part of the main trio of Jujutsu Kaisen, but has since become central to the series' most frustrating plot point.
Nobara was killed by Mahitoso quickly I barely had time to process it, left in complete shock. The main character, Yuji Itadori, shared in the audience’s dismay, as one of his best friends was annihilated right before his eyes. Nobara’s sudden takedown effectively proved just how far Mahito was willing to go andhow high the stakes of the battle truly were.Attack on Titan’smost sorrowful, well-written deaths also provoked my emotions, proved how high-stakes the war was, and got me more attached to the series.Attack on Titanwent even a step further thanJujutsu Kaisen,killing the main character, Eren Yeager.
Attack on TitanEven Boldly Killed Its Own Main Character
The Series’ Shocking Deaths Convey How Serious the War Against Titans Is
Eren Yeager’s own best friends, Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert, had to kill him to prevent him from committing genocide and killing everyone but Eldians.His death was the most movingand heartbreaking moment of the series, as his anguished friends mourned the loss of their childhood friend. Hange Zoe’s death also stands out, because of their heroic sacrifice. They threw themselves into a horde of charging Titans, knowing full well they would die, all to save their friends and protect humanity. Both of these deaths, although distressing, were necessary to the story and revealed how significant the war against Titans is.
A Year Later, Attack on Titan’s Ending Doesn’t Just Hold Up. It Is One of Anime’s Greatest to Date.
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These examples explain why I appreciate the deaths in these showsso much,even though I hate to see my favorite heroes die.Rather than rely on shock value kills, these series create harrowing moments that convey the dire circumstances of the battles the characters are fighting in. It is difficult to get so attached to these characters, only to watch them die, but these two shonen animes give these heroes the deaths they deserve, showing great respect for them and their heroic acts. Overall, because of these emotional scenes,Jujutsu KaisenandAttack on Titanhave made me more invested than any other series.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Cast
Jujutsu Kaisen follows Yuji Itadori, a high school student with extraordinary strength, who becomes intertwined with curses after ingesting a cursed object. Under the guidance of sorcerer Satoru Gojo, Yuji joins Tokyo Jujutsu High School to combat malevolent forces and navigate his new, perilous existence.
Attack On Titan
Based on the manga, Attack on Titan is a dark-action fantasy series set in a world where humanity has been corralled into walled cities from fear of monstrous human-eating Titans that exist outside of them. When protagonist Eren Yeager’s mother is killed in front of his eyes at a young age, his thirst for vengeance leads him to join an elite group of soldiers created to fight back against the Titan menace.
