Shōnen has a ton of great protagonists, but none are quite like Yuji. He’s honest with himself and others at all times, incredibly forgiving, and determined to bear the weight of everyone’s burdens.
In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Yuji’s English voice actor, Adam McArthur, perfectly encapsulated why Yuji is such a charming character that fans around the world have fallen in love with.
Shōnen Is Filled with Amazing Protagonists
Shōnen has some of the most amazing protagonists in anime. From the older generation to the current generation, there is no shortage of amazing heroes that are set to change their respective worlds.
The older generation of shōnen is known for having light-hearted, heroic main characters who are always the first to jump into battle. Goku, Luffy, and Naruto are perfect examples of this bravery, as they’re all more than willing to step up to the plate and take on the strongest enemies in their respective series.
The new generation of shōnen protagonists are a lot different than their predecessors. While older shōnen series are much lighter in tone, new shōnen series go down a different, darker route. These new main characters are just as brave as their seniors, but they operate in much bleaker worlds that affect their personalities in a massive way.
Tanjiro from Demon Slayer is no pushover, and he’s the star of one of the darkest shōnen series ever made. The first episode of Demon Slayer is simply titled “Cruelty,” and the series spends no time hiding its dark undertones. Denji from Chainsaw Man is no different; while he’s a silly character, the world he exists in is anything but.
Jujutsu Kaisen Is the Current King of Shōnen
When it comes to the newest generation of shōnen anime, there’s plenty of competition for the top spot. Solo Leveling set the world on fire when it first came out, and its second season animated arguably the best arc in the entire franchise. My Hero Academia went out with a bang, making a good case for itself as one of the best shōnen franchises of the most recent era.
Chainsaw Man and Demon Slayer both deserve a mention here. They both had incredible anime films in 2025, and neither series looks like its slowing down any time soon. Out of every new shōnen series, however, there’s one that has taken a fairly noticeable lead over the rest: Jujutsu Kaisen.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Sequel is Over, So Now It’s Time For The Real Follow-Up Fans Have Been Begging For
Now that Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo has come to an end, it’s time for the real follow-up to Jujutsu Kaisen that absolutely needs to be created.
Jujutsu Kaisen is well and truly in a league of its own. It’s an outstanding series that has only gotten better thanks to MAPPA’s absurdly good animation. The first season was solid, the second season was even better, and the third season is nothing short of a masterpiece.
There are a ton of factors behind Jujutsu Kaisen’s success: Satoru Gojo has become an unbelievably popular character, the series itself is home to some of the best fights in anime, and above all, Itadori Yuji is a remarkable main character.
Yuji Is a Breath of Fresh Air
It might sound like hyperbole, but Yuji is truly unlike any other main character in shōnen. He’s the star of arguably the darkest shōnen series in decades, and he operates with a positivity that rivals Goku and Luffy. Despite every hard ship he’s gone through, at his core, Yuji is still a breath of fresh air.
He’s funny, determined, and someone his friends can rely on. No matter how hard Yuji gets knocked down, he’s always able to find a way to get back up. With the help of his best friend, Aoi Todo, and his mentor, Kento Nanami, there isn’t an obstacle Yuji can’t overcome.
There are few protagonists in shōnen who have suffered as much as Yuji. He’s lost several of his closest allies, has no living family members, and has had his body taken over by one of the most destructive, evil, and manipulative villains in anime.
He’s always able to find the bright side, and his English voice actor knows exactly why so many people gravitate towards the young Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Yuji’s English VA Knows Why Yuji Is Second to None
In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Adam McArthur had a few great comments about the character he plays. When asked about Yuji’s authenticity in the face of trauma, McArthur said:
“I think Yuji is always being authentically himself, and I think he’s not afraid to be very raw and emotional and react. You always know where he stands and what he’s thinking.
He’s a bad actor. Even when he says, ‘Who’s Gojo?’ to Hakari, it’s like why are you even saying something like that? He just always is who he is.”
If there’s one word that truly captures who Itadori Yuji is as a character, it’s “authentic.” McArthur’s summary of Yuji is spot on: there isn’t a moment in Jujutsu Kaisen when Yuji is trying to be something that he isn’t. He’s a wonderful character because of how genuine he is, even when it might be easier not to be.
His interaction with Hakari is hilarious because it’s a perfect example of how bad of a liar Yuji is. He never lies, so when he has to come up with something on the spot to take Hakari off his trail, he fails hilariously.
Will There Ever Be Another Protagonist like Yuji?
There may never be another protagonist quite like Itadori Yuji. He’s so wonderfully himself that Jujutsu Kaisen is better every time he’s on-screen. He’s a great main character that serves as a perfect foil to all the devious, deceptive villains in the series through his unbreakable authenticity.
Somehow, Yuji’s greatest trials and tribulations have yet to happen. The rest of season 3 is going to push Yuji well past his limits yet again, but thankfully, his unyielding determination will help him get through anything thrown his way through the rest of Jujutsu Kaisen.