Is ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ season 2 a prequel?

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Jujutsu Kaisen has captivated audiences with its intricate storyline, introducing beloved characters like Satoru Gojo, Yuji Itadori, and the formidable Curse Sukuna. With its manga ongoing since 2018 and an anime adaptation gaining immense popularity, understanding the timeline of events in the series can be quite a task for anime-only fans. Here’s a breakdown of the anime’s adaptation and its alignment with the manga arcs in season 2, particularly Gojo’s Past Arc.

The anime adaptation of Jujutsu Kaisen follows a complex order of events, leading to potential confusion for those unfamiliar with the original manga. Season 1 of the anime aligned chronologically with the manga arcs, covering the Fearsome Womb, Vs. Mahito, Kyoto Goodwill Event, and Death Painting arcs (chapters 1-64).

However, in Jujutsu Kaisen season 2, after concluding the Death Painting Arc, the adaptation diverges into Gojo’s Past Arc, spanning chapters 65-79 of the manga. This arc delves into the past, almost a decade back, revealing critical events involving Satoru Gojo and his former friend, Suguru Geto, before their current roles in the series. This arc explores their friendship, the emergence of conflict, and Geto’s transformation into an antagonist.

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Episodes 1-5 of season 2 adapt Gojo’s Past Arc, elucidating a significant backstory. The narrative shifts to the year 2006, portraying Gojo and Geto as second-year students at Tokyo Jujutsu High, tasked with safeguarding Riko Amanai, the Star Plasma Vessel, on a mission to Master Tengen. Their mission encounters formidable adversaries, including the Sorcerer Killer, Toji Fushiguro, hired to eliminate Riko.

The arc unfolds with Toji’s successful attack on Riko, ultimately leading to her demise, a pivotal moment causing Geto’s descent into darkness and his transformation into a villain. Geto’s struggle between his ideals and resentment towards non-sorcerers culminates in a tragic turning point, marked by his heinous acts, including the massacre of villagers and his own parents.

This arc showcases the intricacies of character development, revealing the genesis of significant conflicts and the evolution of pivotal characters like Geto into antagonistic roles within the series. Following this prequel, the anime transitions into the Shibuya Incident Arc (chapters 79-136), returning to the primary storyline and the main timeline of Jujutsu Kaisen.

Jujutsu Kaisen’s second season seamlessly weaves together the prequel arc of Gojo’s Past, offering essential context and insight into the characters’ motivations and the series’ overarching narrative, before continuing with the main storyline.