‘JUJUTSU KAISEN’ has featured two opening themes by Japanese rock band King Gnu, and both became fan-favorite anime openings.
King Gnu, consisting of Daiki Tsuneta, Satoru Iguchi, Kazuki Arai, and Yu Seki, have been making music since 2015 and have built an international following with hits like “Hakujitsu,” “Boy,” “Ichizu,” and “Sakayume,” while also contributing music to anime including Weathering with You, Ranking of Kings, and JUJUTSU KAISEN 0.
King Gnu’s distinctive sound, built around heavy basslines, distorted vocals, brass accents, and addictive hooks, fits perfectly with the chaotic nature of Jujutsu Kaisen. Their music brings a frantic, unpredictable energy that mirrors the series’ darker arcs.
For the Shibuya Incident, “SPECIALZ” takes on a darker, almost villainous tone, with its chaotic sound and imagery matching the destruction unfolding throughout the arc. For the Culling Game, “AIZO”, meaning “love and hate”, reflects the complicated relationships and brutal death matches at the heart of the arc.
MAPPA’s animation further elevated both songs by matching their visuals to King Gnu’s experimental style, making “SPECIALZ” and “AIZO” feel less like openings and more like musical extensions of their respective arcs.
King Gnu delivered peak twice, but which one do you prefer: “SPECIALZ” or “AIZO”?
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