Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death Blu-ray Movie Review

Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death continues the action-adventure fantasy. The Shonen anime series returns with a small story arc in the second season of the feature-film. Created by Gege Akutami, Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death features theme song music performed by Tatsuya Kitani (ending). Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death features animation production by MAPPA (Terror in Resonance, The Rose of Versailles).

A short episode arc within season two and preceding the main season two story arc of Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Shibuya Incident. The Hidden Inventory/Premature Death story arc adapts a segment of the manga and is considered a more standalone installment compared to the present-day setting of the main season two arc. Hidden Inventory/Premature Death serves as a prequel installment preceding events that occur in season one and Jujutsu Kaisen 0. For fans wanting some backstory, the short arc covers a time period of the teenage years of some of the characters.

Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto are both in their teen years and are spending their days at Jujutsu High School. The short form prequel arc explores how the two teenage legends started out and went from being mere high school students and close friends to becoming opponents with one another.  Hidden Inventory/Premature Death explores that backdrop – the history of the characters as teenagers starting to turn into enemies. What caused the rift between these former allies and friends?

The character designs by Sayaka Koiso (Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Ninja Kamui) and Tadashi Hiramatsu (Re: Cutie Honey, His and Her Circumstances) are well-done and one of the highlights. Character design elements are in line with the aesthetic qualities of the other installments – as Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death explores a prequel setting it still provides designs consistent with the other story arcs.

The crisp animation is one of the highlights of the anime series. Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death features art direction by Junichi Higashi (Excel Saga, The Legend of the Legendary Heroes). The animation style is noteworthy and provides a wonderful showcase of the series artistry. The team of animators delivered something notable as a prequel installment within the anime franchise.

The cinematography by Teppei Ito (Wistoria: Wand and Sword, Chainsaw Man) is one of the visual strengths of the series. Ito is a solid cinematographer and provides a lush aesthetic to the series production. Ito has a good grasp on the aesthetic qualities of the cinematography – both the light and dark aesthetic elements. As a result, there are some stunning visuals highlighted by the cinematography.

The score composed by Yoshimasa Terui (Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, Jujutsu Kaisen 0) is a solid backdrop to the action. The score by Terui is engaging fun. The music helps build on the production – enhancing the action sequences. Terui provides the whimsy to the season two mini arc and helps establish the stage for the prequel arc.

Edited by Keisuke Yanagi (Tokyo Ghoul, The Gymnastics Samurai), Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death is a short form arc. As such – editing is more judicial and the arc isn’t extended like in some of the lengthier story arcs. The shorter story arc form is something that ultimately is enhanced by the editing.

Written by Hiroshi Seko (Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga), Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death is going to appeal to fans of the anime looking for more fun installments. The second season saga is a shorter form narrative within the second season of the hit anime series and delves into some character moments from the characters younger teenage years. Fans will appreciate getting these glimpses into the characters.

Directed by Shōta Goshozono (Ranking of Kings, Chainsaw Man), Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death provides more of the action and adventures fans have come to expect. Though the Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death season two installments are shorter compared to the lengthier season two arc as featured with Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Shibuya Incident, there is still fun for dedicated fans.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Crunchyroll, Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The release features a solid transfer with good color reproduction and fine detail. The line art and background animation are well highlighted on the release. The robust colors are impressive and work well for the presentation.

One of the strengths of physical media is the superior video encoding provided. Streaming video services tend to offer a more compressed video quality compared to disc. For home theater enthusiasts who want the best video presentation available, the physical format can provide higher bit-rates and less compression. This is certainly a notable selling point still in the era of streaming services. There is always importance for physical media – arguably even more-so in the streaming age.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 (with English subtitles). The sound direction by Yasunori Ebina (Date A Live, The Everyday Tales of a Cat God) is well preserved on the release. The lossless audio encoding crisp, detailed, and engaging. The English surround sound option offers a somewhat more expansive soundstage option with more channel separation. The Japanese audio is still going to appeal to enthusiasts wanting a superb lossless option in stereo.

Blu-ray provides lossless audio encoding. Streaming video services only provide lossy (non-lossless) audio encoding with more compression. The physical Blu-ray format offers a true lossless audio quality with a lower bit-depth and higher bitrates. The encoding is superior and will appeal to both audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts who want to eek out the best in the soundstage.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release is a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack edition. The release comes with an o-card slipcover. The inside of the case includes limited edition character art cards.

Fans should also note that the package is designed to fit inside of the limited-edition box-set of Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Shibuya Incident (available separately – and with a removable pack-in bonuses box where the Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death can be added in afterwards). Collectors will appreciate the customizable packaging aspect alongside the limited edition of the Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Shibuya Incident box set. While not a perfect "all in one" season two option, it is nice Crunchyroll designed the two separate releases to be able to be combined as one set if collectors opt to purchase both of these releases.

On disc supplements include:

Promo Videos (HD, 4:18)

Textless Opening (HD, 1:32)

Textless Ending (Hidden Inventory/Premature Death) (HD, 1:32)

Unfortunately, the one downside to the release is the lackluster supplemental package. The extras aren't that in depth and there aren't many exciting supplements on the release. The supplements should have been more extensive. The release may have been more well rounded with making-of featurettes, audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes, cast/crew interviews, and more.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death is a short form collection of episodes in the second season. The short episode collection is designed to go alongside the other season two collectors' box-set, the Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Shibuya Incident set. Fans of the hit anime series will want to see Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 2 - Hidden Inventory/Premature Death and consider adding it to their collection. The first print run of the release also includes an o-card slipcover. The supplements are light but fans collecting the series on physical media will want to continue. Recommended.