Jujutsu Kaisenskyrocketed in popularity like never before in 2024, and even the series' voice actors are taking note of the cultural impact the hit shonen anime has had. Adam McArthur, the American voice actor for protagonist, Yuji Itadori, commented onhow remarkable he finds theJujutsu Kaisenfandom,as well as his most exciting collaboration with a musical artist.
According to Adam McArthur’s remarks in an exclusive ScreenRant interview, the talented voice actor is continually in awe ofJujutsu Kaisen’sunprecedented success, four years after the first episode of the anime adaptation aired. He spoke about the growing prevalence of anime merchandise in stores,Jujutsu Kaisen’swidespread popularity on TikTok, and,most incredible to him, a reference to the series in a song by Megan Thee Stallion.
Yuji’s Voice Actor Was Shocked To Hear His Character in a Megan Thee Stallion Song
The Artist Used One of McArthur’s TikToks in Her Song, Giving the Voice Actor Quite the Surprise
McArthur expressed astonishment at love forJujutsu Kaisenhe sees daily on social media, which has resulted in many TikTok trends featuring audio from the anime. One of theseJujutsu Kaisenaudios featured another noteworthy celebrity, Megan Thee Stallion. In Megan’s song, “Otaku Hot Girl”, featured on 2024 album,Megan, the song begins with Yuji Itadori’s voice speaking, hilariously, about his type in women. Shockingly, McArthur was unaware the collaboration between himself and Megan was even occurring, becausethe artist sampled a clip he had made while in character as Yuji and posted on his TikTok years prior.
“It’s weird. But the thing is that this kind of stuff has been happening the whole time with JJK. I’ll just be like scrolling through my TikTok and it’ll be like car video, a family prank video, and then the next video is my voice from JJK.
It’s always funny to me too like when stuff goes viral on TikTok because a lot of times it’s not what you would expect or it takes a while to ramp up. But yeah, hearing the audio from Otaku Hot Girl was definitely – I think it’s just funny because no one expected it. The reaction was amazing. Oh my gosh.” - Adam McArthur, voice of Yuji Itadori
In a clipposted on TikTok by @crunchyroll, Adam McArthur spoke in-depth about what it was like to inadvertently create the crossover of the year with one of the most accomplished artists in hip-hop. Although he never expected Megan to use his video in her song, the experience only further proved the massive cultural impactJujutsu Kaisenis having on the anime fandom, which Megan is a part of.Megan Thee Stallion is an outspoken anime fanherself, and has posted incredible cosplays of herself as various characters, including Shoto Todoroki fromMy Hero Academiaand even Gojo Satoru fromJujutsu Kaisen,recognizable blindfold and all.
Megan Thee Stallion Is an Anime Lover Too, Making the Collaboration Even More Epic
The Lyrics to “Otaku Hot Girl” Are Filled With Clever References toJujutsu KaisenPlot Points and Characters
The song McArthur’s voice plays a starring role in, “Otaku Hot Girl”,is not only a tribute to anime in general, but proof ofMegan’s love forJujutsu Kaisenspecifically. With lyrics like"can’t touch me like Gojo, look good in all my photos,“and"He don’t run from me ‘cause he wanna get caught in my domain expansion,“it is clear Megan has a deep appreciation for theJujutsu Kaisenseries specifically. In the song, she also references her other favorite animes, includingNaruto,but it is undeniable that the rap artist has a soft spot in her heart forJujutsu Kaisen.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Will Address a Conflict That’s Was Introduced Well Before the Manga Ever Launched
The stakes of Jujutsu Kaisen’s third season are going to be higher than ever for Yuji because of one small storytelling choice by Gege.
His collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion is not the only positive reception toJujutsu Kaisenthat has surprised Adam McArthur; the voice actorwas also astonished to see massive amounts ofJujutsu Kaisenmerchandisesuddenly appearing in retailers worldwide. Gone are the days when anime merchandise could only be purchased online or in select specialty shops. Now there are items fit for any fandom in major retailers like Walmart and Target, and McArthur still recalls how “wild” it felt to stroll through stores and see the anime he worked on plastered across various items for sale.
MoreJujutsu KaisenMerchandise Is Available Now Than Ever Before
Brands Like Sanrio, McDonald’s, UNIQLO, Dolce & Gabbana, and Fortnite Have ReleasedJujutsu KaisenCollaborations
Jujutsu Kaisenhas been featured in countless brand collaborations,including everything from fast food to fashion. Theyreleased an adorable Sanrio collaborationfeaturing apparel, keychains, and other items depictingJujutsu Kaisencharacters drawn as Sanrio icons like Hello Kitty. During summer 2024,Jujutsu Kaisenalso appeared at McDonald’s, with a specialJujutsu Kaisenmeal that was available for purchase and included a new dipping sauce, Special Grade Garlic Sauce, created just for the partnership. Many other brands, like UNIQLO, Dolce & Gabbana, and Fortnite, among others, also partnered withJujutsu Kaisen,making it so that the anime could be found nearly everywhere.
Jujutsu Kaisen Partners With UNIQLO For New Clothing Line
UNIQLO has just announced an exciting clothing collaboration with Jujutsu Kaisen coming soon for fans of the immensely popular manga/anime.
“It is a testament to how far anime has come. It’s like, you know, anime has always been around and anime has always had a loyal following. But now there’s a difference. It is mainstream.
You’re walking around in Target, Walmart, the mall - all these stores and you’re seeing merch for Jujutsu Kaisen. It makes buying gifts for my mother incredibly easy. So for that, I’m very grateful. It’s just wild.” - Adam McArthur, voice of Yuji Itadori
Adam McArthur stated that the increased amount of merchandise in stores is “a testament to how far anime has come,” which is indeed true, becauseJujutsu Kaisenis one of the series that most helped anime become more mainstream.More collaborations and amazing crossovers like McArthur’s voice in Megan’s song are sure to be on the way, as the series’ popularity only increases by the day. Even though the manga has officially ended as of September 2024,a third season of theJujutsu Kaisenanimeis on the way, and it does not seem like the hype surrounding the series will die down anytime soon.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Cast
Jujutsu Kaisen follows Yuji Itadori, a high school student with extraordinary strength, who becomes intertwined with curses after ingesting a cursed object. Under the guidance of sorcerer Satoru Gojo, Yuji joins Tokyo Jujutsu High School to combat malevolent forces and navigate his new, perilous existence.
