Anime's Strongest Characters Are All Different, But Jujutsu Kaisen's Gojo Is My Fave For a Simple Reason

Anime has completely redefined the meaning of the term "strongest character," and no hero proves this monumental impact more than Jujutsu Kaisen's Gojo Satoru, who bears the nickname, "the strongest sorcerer," not just as a mere title, but as a way of life. He is still considered one of the most powerful heroes of all time, to a degree no other character has yet to match, and I think I have pinpointed the reason why.

The "strongest hero" archetype is immensely popular, and most anime series have someone who fits this bill, from One Punch Man's Saitama to Mob Psycho 100's Mob. Gojo is my favorite character in this category, and the reason I love him specifically is because of how complicated he is, and there is much more to Gojo's outward strength than meets the eye.

For The Best-Written Mighty Characters, Their Strength Is a Double-Edged Sword

Mob, Gojo, and Saitama All Face Emotional Burdens as a Result of Their Powers

Although characters like Mob, Gojo, and Saitama are capable of impressive feats of power, these accomplishments come at a staggering personal cost. On the surface level, it may seem these heroes have it all, but each of them suffers dire consequences in order to use their remarkable skill. For example, Mob's psychic powers are virtually invincible, but to harness them, he must repress and bottle up his emotions to an uncomfortable and unhealthy level to have the power payoff necessary to pull off the most effective attacks. This causes an exhausting strain on the hero, despite his astounding abilities.

Saitama of One Punch Man is very strong and, as the title of the series suggests, can defeat any villain with just one simple punch. This may sound like a wonderful technique to have, but in Saitama's case it makes him incredibly depressed and causes him to question himself. Every victory comes easily to Saitama, so none of them feel earned, and he is left feeling unaccomplished and directionless in life. Although he is the strongest character in his universe and no evildoer can beat him, he unfortunately bears the tremendous emotional burden of this limitless power every day.

Gojo’s Abilities Isolate Him From Other People in Both Figurative and Literal Ways

His Unending Power Makes It Nearly Impossible for Him To Have Genuine Relationships With Others

The mental weight on Gojo is similar to Mob's or Saitama's, as he is the strongest sorcerer in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe and well-respected in many circles for how many curses he can exorcise in such a short time, but is left with a sense of purposelessness due to his state of near-perfection. I love Gojo's characterization because his struggles and the downsides of his power are not glossed over; many scenes feature Gojo alone, having self-doubts, and feeling completely lonely and isolated because of how his abilities push him away from those around him, both in a figurative sense, and in a literal sense.

Gojo's skill, "Limitless," particularly the "Infinity" component, makes him unable to be touched, which feels significant to me on a deeper level. For all the power Gojo has and the achievements he has reached, he cannot enjoy the simple pleasures of life, like being touched and known by another human being. Losing Geto's friendship was so crushing to Gojo because he was the only person who began to understand Gojo, and in his absence, Gojo is alone again with nothing to comfort him but his seemingly endless reserves of power and Cursed Techniques, a fate that would leave anyone empty.

Gojo Is Often Portrayed Through Other Characters’ Perspectives

By Showing Him Through Others’ Eyes, This Further Highlights the Detachment Gojo Feels From Himself

Make no mistake, Gojo does seem to take pleasure in his power and using it to wipe out evil, so he does not seem to regret being born with these abilities. However, there is a very real negative side that does affect the sorcerer, and many other characters of this "strongest" archetype. Unfortunately, when anime characters are written in this style and gifted titles like "strongest," but live flawless lives with no struggles, they feel hokey and unbelievable, which I feel makes it really difficult to write a character like Gojo or Mob that genuinely works well in their story.

Although they have saved humanity time and again, Gojo's superhuman abilities have also caused issues for himself and others, and intriguingly, the story often portrays Gojo from the perspective of another character, particularly Yuji Itadori, the protagonist, Yuta in JJK 0, and, at times, Geto, because he is one of the only people to see past Gojo's outer persona for an extended period of time. Because of his commitment to his duty as a jujutsu sorcerer and his promise to vanquish evil, Gojo is emotionally detached from his surroundings and everyone in his life, to his own detriment.

Gojo’s Emotional Burdens Cannot Be Wiped Out as Easily as a Cursed Spirit

The Complex Nature of His Character Arc Keeps Him From Being Too Unrealistically Flawless

One of my favorite Jujutsu Kaisen quotes is, "Are you the strongest because you're Gojo Satoru? Or are you Gojo Satoru because you're the strongest?" spoken by Geto. This remark poses a very important question to Gojo, asking him if he is who he is because of the power that he has, reducing his identity to his abilities, or if it goes deeper than that. This quandry is likely one that puzzles Gojo himself, and makes him one of the series' most fascinating and complex heroes, because Gojo's sheer power sometimes makes it difficult for him to ascertain his own identity.

If he could, I don't think Gojo would trade his power, nor should he. But characters like him, Saitama, and Mob offer a refreshing twist on the concepts of strength and power, suggesting that these gifts are not always all they are cracked up to be and have negative effects too. The emotional obstacles Gojo faces within himself and his relationships with others are a constant in Jujutsu Kaisen that not a single one of his powers can solve, and this keeps the story interesting, as well as cementing Gojo's status as anime's most complicated, but strong hero.