Latest news with #Sukuna
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The dark allure of Anime villains: The psychology of Pain, Aizen, Sukuna and more
Credits: Sportskeeda Anime has a rich tradition of complex villains whose personal stories go beyond simple evil. Characters like Pain (Nagato) from Naruto Shippuden , Aizen from Bleach , and Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen each carry deep backstories – from trauma and loss to grand ambitions. Fans often find these anime villains as compelling as the heroes, sometimes more so. Psychology helps explain why. Research suggests that villains with tragic pasts or human motives can evoke empathy, making them relatable. In fact, when a villain faces defeat, our brain's 'pain matrix' can kick in – we worry about their fate and even root for them. One fan blog notes that viewers may think 'I hate you, but I understand where you're coming from' and may secretly want the villain to win. This empathic response to villains helps explain their popularity: by seeing 'the humanity and underlying struggles' in a foe like Pain or Madara, audiences can feel sympathy and admiration. Complex villains and Anime morality Unlike one-dimensional bad guys, many popular antagonists blur moral lines. For example, Pain Naruto's arc is fueled by real loss: he endured war, witnessed the death of loved ones, and concluded that shared suffering is the only path to peace. His philosophy ('If one does not experience the same pain, they will never truly understand') forces hero and audience alike to question what 'justice' really means. In Bleach , Aizen presents a friendly facade but is actually a manipulative mastermind who wants godlike power. His calm, condescending style (dropping polite pronouns only after revealing his true self) exemplifies narcissistic ambition. In Jujutsu Kaisen , Sukuna is unabashedly evil – he 'lives only to fulfill his own whims and pleasures'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cinnamon: The Greatest Enemy of Blood Sugar Magazine Glyco Learn More Undo Yet fans are enthralled by his charisma and sheer power. Sportskeeda describes Sukuna as 'shrewd and strategic' with an 'extremely charismatic personality' that is 'both awe-inspiring and terrifying'. This mix of brutal power and confidence makes even a cruel character like Sukuna a fan favorite in the psychological anime community. Credits: CBR Trauma, power and redemption Many anime villains begin as victims of their world. Naruto's Pain grew up under war and was orphaned; his turn to villainy is steeped in that trauma. Similarly, One Piece's Doflamingo suffered childhood abuse as a former Celestial Dragon, feeding an extreme worldview. Fans often sympathize once they learn these backstories. As one analysis notes, anime series frequently reveal villains' humanity over time: Pain, Madara, Obito (also from Naruto ) 'initially appeared as detestable foes. However, as their backstories unfold, their humanity and underlying struggles become evident, earning them sympathy and admiration from fans'. Hunter x Hunter's Meruem illustrates this deeply. Born as the ruthless Chimera Ant King, he is utterly heartless at first. But through his bond with Komugi, a blind girl, Meruem begins to understand kindness and mortality. His transformation 'from a cold antagonist to an empathetic being is a storytelling masterclass' that challenges viewers' notions of evil and redemption. Such redemption arcs – often absent in Western villains – are key to anime morality : they show that even the darkest characters can reveal light, and that justice is complicated. Why fans love the villains Credits: CBR So why do complex villains sometimes outshine the heroes? Part of it is sheer charisma. Doflamingo's flamboyant cruelty and Aizen's cold genius make them endlessly entertaining. Part is relatability: many fans see a bit of their own struggles in these characters. Studies even suggest people pay more attention to villains than heroes, wondering if they'll ever get redemption. When Pain narrates the cycle of hatred or Meruem reflects on life, viewers get profound philosophy rarely seen in action shows. The result is a deep connection. Social media and surveys back this up: Sukuna topped many recent character popularity polls, and Meruem remains a fan favorite long after Hunter x Hunter ended. As Sportskeeda notes, fans tend to 'encounter villains whose actions, while unjustifiable, are rooted in circumstances that offer an understanding of their motivations'. This shift from disdain to empathy often makes villains more memorable and beloved. Indeed, timesofindia and other outlets list many anime bad guys (from Team Rocket to Dio Brando to Griffith) among fans' top favorites. These cult followings show that well-written antagonists have a real cultural impact: they spawn memes, inspire fan art, and even spark debates about justice. Conclusion In the end, the psychology of anime villains combines trauma, narcissism, power, and moral ambiguity. Pain Naruto's sorrow, Aizen Bleach's intellect, Sukuna Jujutsu Kaisen's brutality, and others show that villains in anime are rarely 'pure evil.' Instead, they often mirror the heroes' values in twisted ways – revealing deeper questions about empathy and morality. Fans are drawn to them because they are fully human (or superhuman) – flawed, deep, and at times sympathetic. As one analysis puts it, these characters 'transcend the label of 'absolute evil,' becoming more memorable and popular among audiences' who can't help but feel for their causes. By exploring their psychology, anime invites us to reflect on the gray areas of good and bad – and why sometimes the villains' stories leave as strong an impression as the heroes'. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Gojo vs Sukuna: One of the most electrifying battles of all time
Gojo vs Sukuna Jujutsu Kaisen manga could be dubbed one of the most amazing pieces of art to ever exist. As of now, the manga has ended, but it will be safe to say that the same left an unforgettable impact on the minds of the readers. And the road ahead in the anime is going to be a bumpy one for all the fans. Now, one of the most heartbreaking moments in the manga was the fight between Gojo Saturo vs Ryomen Sukuna . The battle was on a cosmic level as two of the most powerful characters from the manga went to war. Moving forward. Let's explore how Gojo vs Sukuna began and how it ended. Gojo vs Sukuna: The battle that changed the whole scenario We all know that Gojo got trapped in the Prison Realm right after the Shibuya incident. In the Culling Game arc, Gojo gets free from the realm and comes straight up with a challenge of a 1v1 brawl against Ryomen Sukuna. The clash was so goated that it has a name of its own, Shinjuku Showdown. And once the battle starts, it feels like both Gojo (Strongest Sorcerer Alive) and Sukuna (King of Curses) are using it to showcase all that they've got. Some of the moments from their fights like the use of Hollow Purple by Gojo, are going to break the internet when they get animated. The inclusion of Mahoraga from Sukuna's side flipped the battle. In the final blow, Mahoraga breaks Gojo's defence, and then Sukuna slashes him in two halves, which leaves everyone in shock. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo According to the writer of the manga, Gojo's downfall was predestined because he got wrapped in ego after defeating Mahoraga, and he thought that defeating Sukuna was something easy. The demise of Gojo was something that the fans were not expecting. And when it manifests in the anime, the fans will get more heartbroken for sure. However, from a story point of view, Gojo was meant to get eliminated so that the limelight could be shifted to Megumi and Yuji. All in all, the battle will surely be remembered for ages all over the globe because of the amount of power that was shown off in the same. Also Read: What will we get to see next in Kengan Ashura? Explored Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Gojo Saturo deserved a better ending as compared to what he got in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga
Gojo Saturo in Jujutsu Kaisen Whenever talking about new-age anime shows, Jujutsu Kaisen secures its place in the top 5 suggestions. The anime offered a familiar perspective, demons, demon king, sorcerers, powers, and a lot more. The best part about the anime show is that it introduced a lot of influential characters that left an impact on the viewers. One such character from the show is Gojo Saturo, one of the strongest sorcerers from the JJK universe. Now, all the people who are more than eager and have already covered the manga know that Gojo lost his life in the final stages of the manga against Sukuna. Moving ahead, let's discuss how he could have gotten a better ending in the manga. Gojo Saturo vs Sukuna: The Strongest Sorcerer vs the King of Curses Just after the Shibuya Arc, Gojo Saturo is sealed in the Prison Realm by Kenjaku. After almost 100 chapters in the manga and declares that he is going to fight Sukuna. The fight between the two was termed the Battle of the Strongest. The whole face-off was nothing less than a treat for all the anime fans. On one hand, we get to see some of the best moves by Gojo like the Hollow Purple, Domain Expansion, and Black Flash. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo On the other hand, Sukuna triggers Megumi's Ten Shadows technique to summon Mahoraga. However, Gojo stands in front of everything and causes a lot of physical damage to Sukuna. However, the Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 236 could be dubbed one of the most controversial ones as Gojo is sliced in half by Sukuna. And yes, here Gojo dies and moves to the afterlife. And next, Gojo's body was used as a vessel by his students to defeat Sukuna in the final battle. One of the reasons behind the removal of Gojo could be to give a chance to shine to Yuji, Megumi, and others to shine. However, fans all around the globe were pissed off at Gege Akatumi and he also incurred a lot of heat from the fans. On a concluding note, we can say that Gojo deserved a better ending than what he got/ At least his active participation after the Shuibuya incident could have changed the perspective of the fans.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 21 Ranked #1 on U.S. adult graphic novel chart march 2025"
The popular Japanese manga Jujutsu Kaisen has reached the top of the U.S. adult graphic novel charts for March 2025. According to data from Circana BookScan, Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 21 ranked #1 among all adult graphic novels sold in the United States last month. The series follows Yuji Itadori, a teenager who eats a cursed finger belonging to an ancient evil spirit named Sukuna. From that moment, Yuji becomes the host of Sukuna and is pulled into a world where sorcerers fight deadly monsters called 'curses.' With the help of a powerful sorcerer named Gojo and his classmates, Yuji must stop dangerous enemies while trying to control Sukuna inside his body. The Jujutsu Kaisen anime gained worldwide popularity for its fast-paced story, shocking plot twists, and intense action. The manga, which the anime is based on, continues to grow in sales as fans eagerly await new episodes of the anime. Jujutsu Kaisen volume 21 takes the lead in U.S In March 2025, Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 21 took the #1 spot on Circana BookScan's Adult Graphic Novels list, which tracks the best-selling graphic novels in the United States. This list includes sales data from major stores like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and many other retailers across the country. Volume 21 marks a significant turning point in the story, following the aftermath of the Shibuya Incident, one of the manga's most intense and action-packed arcs. This volume also focuses on Sukuna and several major characters, setting the stage for the series' final chapters. The English edition of the manga is published by VIZ Media and is available in both paperback and digital formats. Each volume contains approximately 190–200 pages and is priced around $10 to $12 in the U.S. Fans can also read Jujutsu Kaisen digitally through the Shonen Jump app or other official manga platforms. Manga continues to dominate U.S. market with Jujutsu Kaisen Jujutsu Kaisen isn't the only manga gaining popularity in the U.S. Other top-selling manga in March included Chainsaw Man, Blue Lock, One Piece , and Demon Slayer. These titles have captivated readers of all ages with their unique characters, exciting stories, and anime adaptations. What sets Jujutsu Kaisen apart is its blend of horror, deep emotional storytelling, and intense action sequences. The anime's success on streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix helped introduce the manga to even more readers, contributing to its rise in popularity. Although the anime went on a break after Season 2 concluded in 2023, the manga continues to release new chapters every week in Shonen Jump. As of 2025, Jujutsu Kaisen has sold over 90 million copies worldwide, making it one of the most successful manga series of this generation. Fans can look forward to more thrilling twists, intense battles, and character development as the final arc unfolds in 2025.
