Ah, so your child has come home from riding the bus and has declared that the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, the anime sensation that’s taken the world by storm faster than a cursed spirit on a rampage, is their next binge target.
Put a pin on that.
At its heart, Jujutsu Kaisen is a high-octane blend of supernatural battles, dark humor, and slices of high school life. It follows the journey of Yuji Itadori, a high schooler with Olympic-level athleticism, who inadvertently gets involved in the world of Jujutsu Sorcerers after swallowing a cursed object (because, why not?). Now, he’s battling malevolent spirits and learning about the power of friendship and internal strength in a school setting that makes your average high school drama look like child's play.
Apart from it being a fan-favorite and, quite honestly, my personal favorite current anime series, and constantly topping streaming charts and snagging nominations for its spell-binding animation and storytelling, it's worth putting all the hype aside for a hot minute and researching just how kid-friendly this sorcery-laden saga is.
Jujutsu Kaisen Parents Guide: Explaining The TV-MA Age Rating
Buckle up, fellow parental units, as we break down the age rating of Jujutsu Kaisen. It's not all fist bumps and friendship bracelets in this acclaimed anime. Here’s the scoop on what to expect before letting the kiddos dive in.
Sex & Nudity: Pretty minimal. The show's too busy with exorcising demons to bother much with the birds and the bees. There is the character of Todo, however, and he does love to talk about butts. Especially Jennifer Lawrence's.
Violence: Let's just say, it's not a pillow fight. From fists to cursed energy blasts, the action is intense, often graphic, and not for the faint-hearted. It is non-stop graphic anime violence galore, not to mention the really creepy-looking and downright disturbing curses and humans-turned-into-curses in the second season, which promptly get sliced up by my anime husband Gojo Satoru.
Language: Mild for the genre, but expect the occasional curse word to fly faster than a sorcerer’s spell.
Drinking & Drugs: Rarely on the menu. The focus is more on fighting curses than nursing hangovers.
The show's incredibly catchy second season opener can give you a glimpse into what's listed above (just make sure you have the volume up, because this is quite the bop):
Overall Verdict: What Age Is Jujutsu Kaisen Appropriate For?
While Jujutsu Kaisen rocks the anime world with its thrilling plot and eye-popping fights, it's a mixed bag for the younger crowd.
Officially, it’s pegged for teens and above, but here’s the deal: as a fan who's also a mom, I won't let my 7-year-old twins anywhere near it. Cam, they're 7, why would you even bring that up? I bring that up because my girls have watched most of Demon Slayer, which is also pretty heavy for their age, but it's a lot less disturbing than JJK. These little girls also watched The Lord of the Rings when they were 4 and weren't scared in the least - and Gollum is their favorite. I, as a mom, firmly believe that the content and the intense moments in this show in particular are not for younger kids. My girls will probably have to wait until they're 13 or so to get my blessing to watch the show. It's too dark and disturbing for younger kids. Sure, they absolutely know who mommy's anime husband is and why Gojo Satorou is perfect, but they've never seen a scene from the show.
The intensity of the battles, the occasional curse word, and the complex themes of morality and mortality make it better suited for older teens and adults. Sure, it's about bravery, the power within, and the importance of bonds, but it's also about facing your demons - literally.
So, unless you’re ready for some deep conversations and your kiddo can handle the occasional nightmare, maybe save this one for family movie night circa 2028.