The Rise of Jujutsu Kaisen
Anime has long held a significant place in pop culture, particularly in the United States. Iconic series such as Speed Racer, Dragon Ball, and Naruto paved the way for the genre. In recent years, however, a new generation of anime, including My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, and Jujutsu Kaisen, has gained immense popularity. The latter earned 11 awards at this year’s Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including Anime of the Year.
“A lot of it is the characters,” Clark said during an interview at Chicago’s Anime Magic convention. “It’s the world, but it’s also the characters. Gege Akutami created a wonderful cast that feels real. The main trio’s interactions are grounded, and Yuji, as a protagonist, faces tough challenges while genuinely feeling down at times. It’s really beautiful.”
Overview of Jujutsu Kaisen
Created by Akutami and produced by Studio MAPPA and TOHO Animation, Jujutsu Kaisen is a dark fantasy series that follows teenager Yuji Itadori. After becoming entangled in a battle between sorcerers and powerful curses, Yuji enrolls at the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School. There, he trains alongside renowned sorcerers, including Maki Zen’in and Kasumi Miwa—both characters voiced by Clark.
“I didn’t audition for either of them,” Clark revealed. “Since I had a relationship with the dub studio, they approached me as Maki appeared in the series. Then when Miwa showed up, they asked if I could voice her too. I did a quick Wiki search and thought, ‘Don’t they fight each other later?’”
Epic Battles and Character Development
In the first season’s “Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event – Group Battle 3” episode, Maki and Miwa meet for the first time and engage in a fierce battle. This scene showcases the depth of Clark’s work as both characters.
“That recording took two days because we couldn’t finish it all in one session,” Clark explained. “We recorded all of Miwa’s lines first, then Maki’s. This method helps the engineers keep everything organized, focusing on one character at a time.”
However, Episode 17 required separate recordings for each character due to its intense dialogue.
“Episode 17 was absolutely thrilling,” said Clark. “The women in this show are so strong and multi-layered. In this episode, there were hardly any male voices.”
During Maki and Miwa’s fight, another intense battle unfolds between Kyoto’s Momo Nishimiya and Tokyo’s Nobara Kugisaki. Their conflict highlights the pressures faced by women in the sorcerer world.
“The internal conflict between Nobara and Momo reveals the expectations placed on women in the Zen’in Clan and the sorcerer world,” Clark noted. “This adds real depth to the JJK franchise. The world Gege created is inherently messed up and traumatic, making it feel authentic even in its fantasy setting.”
Looking Forward to Season 3
TOHO Animation has confirmed a third season for Jujutsu Kaisen, revealing the first look during Season 2’s finale. While Clark is eager to reprise her roles as Miwa and Maki, she acknowledges the challenges faced by animators.
“Season 2 was intense, and I want the animators to have a long break,” she said. “But I also want Season 3 as soon as possible. It’s complicated because the pressure on the animators at MAPPA and TOHO was severe. Crunch culture in the anime industry is damaging, and it can lead to burnout at a young age. I love JJK, but I don’t want it to come at the expense of the artists.”
Despite these concerns, Clark views her return to voice Maki and Miwa as a joyful reunion.
“They’re both different but reflect aspects of my personality,” Clark shared. “Maki represents our internal struggles and is quite badass. Miwa is fun and bubbly, representing a lighter side of me. Playing both characters gives a fuller picture of who I am, and I’m excited to explore their stories further.”
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