Summary
With a mix of sorcerers and cursed spirits populatingJujutsu Kaisen’snarrative, there’s one character that doesn’t seem to fit in either category. Panda,Masamichi Yaga’s magnus opus, is a mutated cursed corpse creation, born out of a cursed technique that allows Masamichi to imbue cursed energy into dolls to turn them into sentient beings.
However, Panda isn’t a regular cursed corpse, as this sentient puppet is imbued with three different cursed cores. Each core has its own identity, meaning Panda plays host to two other individuals who he refers to as his ‘siblings.’ Each core is accompanied by a specific set of powers and abilities, coupled with a unique disposition that defines each one’s fighting style.
What Are Cursed Corpse Cores?
The Secret To Panda’s Strength
Cursed corpses are a result of a cursed spirit taking host in an inanimate object, allowing them to take physical form. Since naturally occurring cursed spirits are hostile towards humans and sorcerers alike, theirresultant cursed corpseswould naturally be of no use. However, some sorcerers have the ability to induce an artificial curse on an inanimate doll, a process that is achieved through cursed corpse cores.
In a way, these cores serve as the heart of cursed corpses, as their cursed energy circulates through this core. If the core is somehow destroyed, the cursed corpse will also perish along with it, meaning their entire sentience and existence is tied to these cores of cursed energy. Normally, cursed corpses can only host one core, though there’s one unique corpse that defies this notion with three different cores infused into one body.
Panda’s Three Cores
Panda’s superhuman strength andunprecedented cursed energyalready sets him apart from his cursed corpse counterparts, yet his true power lies in his three cores. Each core has a unique identity, meaning three different personalities occupy Panda’s body. Apart from bearing a unique persona, each core is accompanied by their own unique abilities.
There are three cores inside me, and by switching out which one is the main core, I can convert my body.
Until all three cores are destroyed, Panda can’t be defeated. In the event of one or two cores being destroyed, Panda can eventually recover his fallen siblings as long as he stands. Even if Panda’s own core is destroyed, he maintains his own form and the ability to think, meaning the three individuals only cease to exist after all three cores are destroyed.
Gorilla Core
The Gorilla core is Panda’s brother, known for his unprecedented strength. WhilePanda’s own strength is superhuman, Gorilla mode adds on to this prowess by a considerable degree. In Gorilla Mode, Panda takes on the form of a gorilla, turning his body extremely hard and durable as well. In this form, Panda gains a technique known as Unblockable Drumming Beat.
My older brother, Gorilla Core, is focused on power for short, decisive battles.
As the name suggests,Unblockable Drumming Beatturns Panda’s attacks into unblockable fists, since each attack resonates through the target, negating all shields and blocks. Coupled with Gorilla Mode’s extraordinary strength, this attack mode is sure to finish most of Panda’s fights. However, using Gorilla Mode results in excessive depletion of cursed energy, meaning Panda can’t utilize this power for prolonged periods.
Panda Core
While Panda himself is the one at the helm of this cursed corpse, he is merely a core along with his two siblings. Panda’s core has been described as a more balanced identity, with a mix oflevel-headed rationalityand superhuman strength. While Panda doesn’t boast any special techniques like his Gorilla counterpart, he makes up for it through high cursed energy and intelligence.
Since Panda’s own core is the balanced type, he naturally conserves cursed energy in this form. Moreover, he can fake the concentration of his cursed energy inside his body to bluff out his opponents into attacking a fake core. While this may not be a technique of the Panda core, it’s still a resourceful skill that Panda can use as a last resort.
Triceratops Core
Described as Panda’sshy and bashful sister, the Triceratops core is yet to be revealed in the anime, though Jujutsu Kaisen’s manga has featured a glimpse of this power. In this form, Panda takes the shape of a bipedal triceratops and gains a more slender and feminine body.
However, the extent of Triceratops core’s powers was never exactly revealed, leaving fans in the blue as to what this form can do. Since Panda has stated that his sister is shy and kills whoever looks at her, it can be assumed that this core is also focused on power, similar to Gorilla core.
Jujutsu Kaisenis available to stream onCrunchyroll.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Based on Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen manga, Mappa’s battle shonen anime envisions a world where Jujutsu Sorcerers battle against entities born out of Cursed Energy. One day, a teenager named Yuji Itadori is dragged into this conflict when he eats a possessed finger.
