How did Sukuna originally look?

Sukuna's original appearance before becoming a cursed spirit in Jujutsu Kaisen is revealed through flashbacks and certain pieces of lore, though much of his history remains shrouded in mystery. Here’s what we know about Sukuna’s appearance when he was still a human:

1. Sukuna’s Human Form

• Appearance: In his original human form, Sukuna was depicted as a tall, imposing figure with long black hair and a sharp, striking face. He has a lean but muscular build, exuding an air of confidence and superiority. His features are angular, with a high forehead, sharp eyes, and a generally aristocratic appearance, which complements his personality as a former powerful sorcerer.
• Clothing: During his time as a human, Sukuna was usually seen wearing traditional Japanese clothing, a style common among warriors or powerful figures in historical Japan. His clothing, likely influenced by samurai or other aristocratic classes, is formal, dark-colored, and often associated with power and nobility.

2. Facial Features

• Distinctive Eyes: Sukuna’s eyes, both in his human and cursed forms, are one of his most distinguishing features. They are sharp, cold, and reflect his malevolent nature. His eyes hold a sense of arrogance and control, and they emphasize his superiority over others.
• Facial Expression: Sukuna’s expression in his human form often mirrors the way he acts as a curse — confident, cruel, and disdainful. His smile, in particular, is known to be sinister and mocking, which aligns with his personality. This expression carries over into his cursed form, where his face becomes more grotesque and marked by the iconic cursed tattoos.

3. Markings and Tattoos

• Tattooed Appearance: As a human, Sukuna didn’t initially have the markings that are so synonymous with his cursed form. The distinctive, jagged lines and patterns that are now part of his face and body came after his transformation into a cursed spirit. These markings were likely developed over time, as he grew more powerful and eventually became the King of Curses.
• Transformation into a Curse: Sukuna’s transformation into a curse was marked by the appearance of these tattoos. His skin became covered with these markings, and the face tattoos became more prominent. These markings symbolize the overwhelming cursed energy he now controls, and they became part of his identity as a curse, signifying his dominance over other cursed spirits.

4. Comparison to His Cursed Form

• From Human to Cursed Spirit: After Sukuna’s death, his curse was so powerful that it remained in the world in the form of his finger — a highly potent source of cursed energy. When Sukuna is resurrected in the body of Yuji Itadori, his physical appearance takes on a more monstrous form, with his face covered in cursed markings. His cursed form is drastically different from his human appearance, with more monstrous, exaggerated features such as his four-armed, four-eyed appearance.
• Cursed Form's Evolution: Sukuna’s true cursed form is far more terrifying, with his skin covered in dark tattoos that mark his immense power. His human form, though still menacing, was relatively more traditional in appearance, whereas his cursed form is a representation of his dark, primal energy. The duality of his character — from a human sorcerer to a terrifying curse — is mirrored in his transformation and physical change.

5. The Role of His Markings in His Transformation

• Markings as a Symbol of Power: As Sukuna becomes a curse, the markings on his body represent his ascent into a higher state of cursed existence. These tattoos are integral to his identity as the King of Curses. His original human form didn’t have these markings, and they came about as part of his transformation, symbolizing the power he accumulated over his lifetime as a sorcerer and later as a curse.
• Physical Evolution into a Curse: After his death, Sukuna’s original physical form essentially became irrelevant as he morphed into a cursed spirit with limitless power. The tattoos that now cover his body serve as a visual representation of his cursed energy, and they are a constant reminder of how he was able to transcend his humanity and become an apex predator in the world of curses.

6. Sukuna's Personality and Appearance

• Arrogance and Confidence: Even as a human, Sukuna’s appearance was meant to reflect his pride and arrogance. He saw himself as a being far superior to others, and this belief in his own greatness was evident in his human appearance as well. His demeanor, clothing, and overall presentation made it clear that he was a powerful and proud individual, capable of great cruelty.
• Regal Aesthetic: His appearance, even as a human, was designed to convey a sense of royalty, further emphasizing his belief in his superiority over everyone around him.

Conclusion:

Sukuna’s original appearance as a human was that of a powerful, confident, and regal figure, with traditional Japanese attire that reflected his status and strength. His facial features were sharp and commanding, and he exuded a sense of arrogance that matched his powerful abilities as a sorcerer. However, after his death and transformation into a cursed spirit, he became a monstrous being, marked by the tattoos and markings that define his current, terrifying form. These markings symbolize his cursed energy and dominance over the cursed world, a stark contrast to his once-human appearance.