Jujutsu Kaisen is a Japanese manga written by Gege Akutami, published on March 8th 2018, which was later adapted into a TV Anime series by the same name. It is about a high school student, Yuji Itadori, who, after eating a cursed object which contained the power of Ryomen Sukuna, becomes the vessel for him, enlists in a secret group of Jujutsu Sorcerers to eliminate curses.
The Text includes a creature called Mahoraga/Makora, which is inspired by other mythological creatures such as Yamato no Orochi, a gigantic serpent with eight heads and tails with bright red eyes and a red belly, written and documented in the earliest writings of Japanese texts.
The parallels between the two are undeniable, with the long serpent head and the big and robust figure that presents itself with their appearance.
From what I have gathered and analysed about his design and connections to religion and mythology.
He represents unrivalled adaptation, coming above all phenomena thrown at him, with a spin of the wheel above. This can be related to the human condition of adapting to a certain thing in high and great succession, but with one minor change, could cause great and grave destruction, as we were not ready for that.
His formal name in the series is called 'Eight Handled Sword Divergent Divine General Mahoraga', which, when translated, is the most powerful out of the 10 shadows technique and is rooted in Buddhist and Japanese mythology, such as his original translated name Makora, which relates to East Asian Buddhism.
The wheel represents the cycle of life as it spins adpting to new techniques with each turn. It also resembles a mark used by a Hindu deity and lifestyle known as Dharma, which is used by people who follow it, heeding its rules, almost as if it were law.
His appearance is almost angelic, with large wings for eyes and pale white skin very akin to holy figures such as angels.
This is especially evident with his wheel above his head very much mimicking a halo and different accessories he wears on himself, such as rings around his wrists and a pendant running along his collarbone, which could even give a sense of royalty among others.
However, with his cunning grin and long serpent/snake-shaped head, which in the bible are seen as a symbol of life, healing and rebirth, which correlates to their power being able to adapt to anything and everything. Additionally, his overall figure, being a large humanoid beast, gives an intimidating and cunning presence.
Additionally, His clothing is similar to that of a martial artist; using semiotics, you can interpret this creature as being very skilled in combat.
Geographically, it is set in Japan, with its culture shown throughout the series. I can identify this using semiotics, such as the writing being written in 'Japanese' and certain local elements mimicking culture and residential building infering it is set in modern times.
Jujutsu Kaisen is set in both a realistic and fantastical representation of mythology, with it being a more literal interpretation of a myth as it uses its elements to build characters and a world that feels grounded and natural, with elements of fantastical, scaled creatures and monsters.
One thing that I find most interesting is how, in the context of the story, this character is built to be a test for anyone who opposes him when he is summoned. Being a creature of immense power and adaptation is nearly impossible to match a foe like him unless you have two distinguishable techniques, then you may be able to rival him.
However, one I don't find quite as interesting but not bad is the giant blade wrapped around his right hand, as i dont believe it serves any real significance, from what I had researched, outside the story, with how it's told to just kill cursed spirits, monsters presented in the story.
Influences it could have on my work are the idea of biblical and angelic beings turned into all-mighty destructive threats that are a means to test whoever opposes them, as well as all the mythical references it uses in Japanese and Hindu culture, I may think of taking one or two aprts from this to use in my own work as reference for what I do in my FMP.
Design elements, though, could be the snake-like head that Mahoraga has, which provides an elegant but sharp design point with a lot of symbolism that can be tied behind when put into the context of everything surrounding him that we've discussed.
Reference for Dharma:
25.02.06
Contextual Analysis - Deltarune - 2
Deltarune was made by American indie developer Toby Fox. Development started in 2012 before the first 2 chapters were released in 2018 and 2021 respectivley with the third and fourth releasing some years later. It is still in ongoing development as of writing.
This is an episodic game which is set in a parallel universe to the creator's previous work, Undertale, released in 2015.
It follows Kris, a human, and Susie, a monster, after searching through the school's closet for chalk and falling into a dark world, they meet Ralsei, a prince from the dark world. Through their adventures, they close fountains to prevent an event called the 'Roaring', a cataclysmic event prophesied by Ralsei.
Through the 4th chapter, the main antagonist, The Roaring Knight, sets out to halt the gang's progress of sealing the fountain in the dark world they are in.
To do so, they pierce the ground and create a large dark fountain, which forms a Titan.
This mythological creature is a large, dark, humanoid monster with several eyes on its hands and shoulders, with pure white wings shielding its body. This resembles biblically accurate angels written in bible, being an eye surrounded by wings. It also adds horns protruding from its head aswell as a star acting as a shield for its face.
Its presence is fiercely intimidating as it looms over the characters with its enormous figure and piercingly bright star.
The mix of angelic and Hellish features on the titans' form gives an interesting take on a mythological creature, as it is very similar to a creature called Nephilim. These are creatures written in the Bible to be offspring of both the devil and angels, which makes their intentions and appearance all the more interesting, as it is a creature that would appear to aid in the world's destruction in the 'Roaring'.
This is furthered by the song that plays during the fight against this creature, being named Guardian, a guardian is something or someone that protects another, so its theme being named that gives it a very interesting presence in the story.
In relation to the human condition, I believe it presents an interesting take on being both an elegant creature aswell as a force of nature, chaos and destruction. additionally related to something that is bound to happen, such as in relation to the game's prophecy, as it is foretold.
Things that clue me in that this is a mythological tale, and where the narrative is set, are how everyone in this world is a monster, except our main character, but they are living as if they were civilised humans.
Using semiotics on the surrounding buildings, I can tell that this takes place near modern life with buildings made of brick, stone, wood, etc.
Additionally, various jobs are taken by the residents and buildings, such as hospitals.
I think this is more of a fantastical but literal representation of a mythological tale; however, there are some elements of realistic representation, such as the Titan being eerily similar to the Nephilim.
Parts of the media I find most interesting are how The Titan connects back to the overarching terror of the prophesied 'Roaring', which gives the player a connection back and a taste of what's to come for the future when and if this event passes.
I also adore the design of Titan, being a twisted Angel of monstrous tendencies, bathed in
glittering light as if it descended from heaven's surface. This could be something that may influence my work when thinking of creating either monstrous or angelic creatures.
However, parts I find not particularly interesting are how, underneath the Titan's shield/star covering its face, it is hollow without any features of a face. I do think this works well still to disconnect us further from what the Titan is, as it has very minimal distinguishable features, making its form horrifying.
Saying all that, though, I would probably avoid doing that and create something less akin to that.
