When Gege Akutami first penned the four chapters of what would eventually become Jujutsu Kaisen 0, it was just a short story called Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School. Nobody knew it would explode into a global phenomenon. Honestly, seeing the cast of jujutsu kaisen 0 come to life on the big screen was a massive moment for anime fans, mostly because it had to bridge the gap between a beloved manga and the high-octane energy MAPPA brought to the first season of the TV show.
The pressure was on.
Imagine having to voice a protagonist who isn't Yuji Itadori. That's a tough sell. Fans were already attached to the pink-haired boy with the Sukuna problem, so shifting focus to Yuta Okkotsu required a voice that could handle immense grief, terrifying power, and a weirdly sweet kind of "pure love" that borders on the disturbing.
The Heart of the Movie: Megumi Ogata as Yuta Okkotsu
Selecting Megumi Ogata to lead the cast of jujutsu kaisen 0 was a stroke of genius. If you've been around the anime block, you know her. She’s a legend. Most people recognize her as Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
She brings that same "I'm terrified but I have to do this" energy to Yuta. It's not just about screaming; it's about the shaky breath before the scream. When Yuta is mourning Rika Orimoto at the start of the film, Ogata’s performance is hauntingly fragile. You can feel the weight of the Ring on his finger.
Later, when Yuta finally stands up to Suguru Geto, Ogata flips a switch. The voice drops. It gets colder. It’s that range that made the prequel work for audiences who weren't sure if they’d care about a movie without the main trio.
Why the Voice Matters for Yuta's Arc
Yuta is a "Special Grade" sorcerer before he even knows how to hold a sword. That’s insane. The voice actor had to convey that Yuta is a victim of his own power. He’s not a hero at the start; he’s a guy who wants to die because his dead girlfriend is a giant monster killing people.
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The Queen of Curses: Kana Hanazawa as Rika Orimoto
You can't talk about the cast of jujutsu kaisen 0 without mentioning Kana Hanazawa. She is everywhere in the industry, usually playing "best girl" roles or soft-spoken heroines like Nadeko in Monogatari.
In this movie? She’s terrifying.
She had to play two versions of Rika. There’s the sweet, young girl who dies in a tragic car accident, and then there’s the Special Grade Vengeful Cursed Spirit. Hanazawa’s ability to transition from a playful "Yutaaaa!" to a guttural, demonic screech is what makes the relationship between the two leads so unsettling yet effective. It's a performance that makes you realize love, in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, is the most distorted curse of all.
The Villain We Love to Hate: Takahiro Sakurai as Suguru Geto
Let’s be real. Suguru Geto is one of the most compelling antagonists in modern shonen. He isn't just "evil." He’s a man who broke.
Takahiro Sakurai voices Geto with a smooth, almost oily charisma. He sounds like someone you’d want to grab a drink with, right up until he starts talking about "monkeys" and wiping out non-sorcerers. His chemistry with the rest of the cast of jujutsu kaisen 0, particularly Gojo, is what gives the movie its emotional core.
If you've watched the Hidden Inventory arc in Season 2, you know the history. But even in the movie, Sakurai’s performance hints at a deep-seated sadness. He isn't yelling his ideology at you. He’s explaining it like it’s common sense. That’s way scarier.
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The Dynamic Between Sakurai and Nakamura
The relationship between Suguru Geto and Satoru Gojo (voiced by Yuichi Nakamura) is the backbone of the series. When they finally face off at the end of the film, the voices do all the heavy lifting. Nakamura’s Gojo is usually arrogant and playful, but in his final moments with Geto, he sounds genuinely tired. It’s a masterful display of voice acting that doesn't rely on flashy effects.
The Students of Jujutsu High
Since this is a prequel, we see the second-years (Panda, Maki, and Inumaki) when they were just fresh-faced first-years. It’s kinda nostalgic.
- Mikako Komatsu (Maki Zen'in): Maki in the movie is a bit more abrasive than she is in the series. Komatsu voices her with a chip on her shoulder that feels earned. She’s the one who forces Yuta to grow a spine.
- Koki Uchiyama (Toge Inumaki): Talk about a hard job. He only says rice ball ingredients. "Tuna mayo." "Kelp." Yet, Uchiyama manages to make Inumaki feel like a protective older brother to Yuta just through tone and cadence. It's impressive how much emotion you can pack into "Salmon."
- Tomokazu Seki (Panda): Panda is... well, Panda. Seki brings a jovial, grounded energy that provides the much-needed comic relief in a movie that is otherwise pretty depressing.
Comparing the English Dub Cast
A lot of people prefer the sub, but the English cast of jujutsu kaisen 0 is actually top-tier. Kayleigh McKee voiced Yuta, and she did a phenomenal job capturing that high-pitched anxiety. She’s a trans actress who has a massive vocal range, which worked perfectly for a character who is often mistaken for being "weak" before he unleashes hell.
Anairis Quiñones played Rika, and her monster voice was genuinely skin-crawling. Ray Chase returned as Gojo, and he’s basically become the definitive English voice for the character, balancing the "cool teacher" and "god-tier sorcerer" vibes effortlessly.
The Impact of the Casting on Success
Why does the cast of jujutsu kaisen 0 matter so much? Because the movie made over $190 million worldwide.
You don't get those numbers just on animation alone. You get them because people connected with Yuta and Rika's tragedy. The voice acting made the "pure love" line at the end of the movie iconic. When Yuta says, "It’s pure love," and Geto responds with, "Then I’ll use my curse," the delivery is what makes your hair stand up.
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Facts Often Overlooked
People often forget that Megumi Ogata was hand-picked. The creator, Gege Akutami, actually envisioned Yuta having a voice that was "neutral, soft, and kind, but also with a large range of emotions." Ogata was the only choice that fit that specific, almost ethereal description.
Also, the recording sessions were intense. Because of the emotional weight, many of the VAs recorded their lines together to build off each other's energy—something that isn't always common in the industry where solo booths are the norm.
How to Experience the Best of the Cast
If you really want to appreciate the work put into the cast of jujutsu kaisen 0, you should watch it with a good pair of headphones. The sound design in the MAPPA films is layered. You can hear the subtle shifts in Kana Hanazawa’s voice as Rika fluctuates between her human form and her cursed form.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Post-Credits Scene: If you haven't, do it. It bridges Yuta’s journey to his eventual return in the main series (Season 2 and beyond).
- Listen to the Soundtrack: King Gnu’s "Ichizu" and "Sakayume" were written specifically with Yuta and Rika’s relationship in mind.
- Check Out the Manga: Read Volume 0 to see how the dialogue compares to the vocal performances. You'll notice where the actors added "flavor" to the lines.
The cast of jujutsu kaisen 0 didn't just show up to read lines. They defined the emotional stakes for the entire franchise. Without the vulnerability of Ogata or the chilling presence of Sakurai, the movie would have just been a well-animated fight scene. Instead, it became a story about the weight of grief and the cost of saying goodbye.