Junji Ito Never Ever Wants You to Speak With Aliens

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As a long-time fan and follower of Junji Ito’s hauntingly brilliant works, I can wholeheartedly attest to his deep-seated fear of aliens. Having spent countless hours immersed in his chilling manga, I can say with certainty that he knows more about alien horrors than most people ever will.

Junji Ito knows a thing or two about horror. From supernatural haunts to demonic curses, the award-winning artist has seen it all. Ito is not called a Master of Horror for no reason, but even with his work in mind, Ito is not invulnerable to scares. The manga artist has a few boundaries, and it turns out aliens are near the top of that list.

Without a doubt, he’s not interested in aliens. In fact, if the opportunity arises for you to engage with one, please consider avoiding him altogether.

Junji Ito Wants Nothing to Do With Aliens

During a conversation with Viz Media, Ito expressed his skepticism about extraterrestrial life when questioned on whether Earth is the only inhabited planet in the cosmos. It’s evident from his words that he thinks aliens do exist, but what he truly hopes for is that humankind never initiates first contact.

Ito expressed that, given the immense size of the universe, it seems plausible to him that some form of life exists elsewhere. As a result, he doesn’t believe we are the only intelligent beings out there. He then proceeded to discuss humanity’s potential first encounter with extraterrestrial life and advised those listening not to interact with any aliens they may encounter.

The artist cautioned, “Regardless of what happens, don’t react. If you do, it could lead to a dreadful alien attack.” Translated simply: “Don’t respond or bad things might occur, possibly an awful alien invasion.

Ito seems to harbor intense skepticism towards the existence of extraterrestrial life, viewing it as potentially dangerous rather than beneficial. He argues that at this point in human history, we are not ready for first contact with alien civilizations. While fictional works like Star Trek may portray such encounters positively, Ito believes reality could be far less forgiving. To him, the possibility of an alien invasion is a genuine concern, and he fears that reaching out to aliens might provoke an unwelcome attack.

Ito Has Already Explored Alien Horror Through His Manga

It’s understandable that Ito, being wary of aliens, often portrays this fear in his work. The prolific artist boasts numerous manga creations, and a significant number of them delve into the realm of extraterrestrials. For example, his manga “Sensor” is linked to aliens as it was influenced by a UFO legend in Ito’s hometown.

Ito shared with Polygon that he believed these peculiar objects in Sensor’s story were dropped by an Unidentified Flying Object, finding it intriguing. In the manga, a group of locals venture out at night to find glowing strands resembling golden hair falling from the sky. As a child, Ito witnessed this occurrence himself, but he later learned it was caused by fallout from a nearby volcanic eruption. However, whispers in town suggested aliens were responsible for these events, and this idea resonated with Ito.

In addition to delving into various themes, the artist has ventured into aliens and terrifying extraterrestrial encounters through “Remina,” a 2004 manga release. This narrative revolves around a group of scientists who make a startling discovery: an alien planet is on a collision course with our solar system. As this mysterious celestial body draws nearer, it becomes apparent that it’s not just a planet but a colossal alien with insidious intentions to devour Earth. With its chilling plot and striking visuals, “Remina” has been hailed as a horror masterpiece, earning the artist multiple awards such as an Eisner Award.

There is no denying Ito’s history with aliens, and he would love to keep it fictional. The artist doesn’t have great feelings about first contact, and honestly, who can blame him? The horror icon has thought up the worst endgames imaginable so far as aliens are concerned. So if you happen upon an alien some day, remember Ito’s warning.

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2024-11-04 20:10