Uzumaki Crew Details the Anime’s Long Wait: “It Almost Killed Us”

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As a dedicated fan of Junji Ito’s work and someone who has anxiously awaited the release of Uzumaki for years, the news that the anime is finally set to debut later this month is nothing short of exhilarating! The production delays due to COVID-19 were certainly disheartening, but it’s heartening to know that the team behind Uzumaki persevered and overcame those challenges.

In 2019, there was an expectation for a fresh interpretation of Junji Ito’s renowned tale, “Uzumaki.” Known as the master of horror manga, Ito has produced numerous spine-chilling titles throughout his career. However, not many can rival the popularity of “Uzumaki,” a favorite among fans. Years ago, Adult Swim revealed plans to transform “Uzumaki” into an anime series. Since then, there have been several production setbacks that left fans questioning if “Uzumaki” would ever make it to television. Now, the show is scheduled for release at the end of September and its team is discussing the hurdles they faced in bringing “Uzumaki” to life.

The confession originates from Vulture following their conversation with Jason DeMarco, the show’s executive producer. It was during this discussion that he revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to halt the anime production altogether; however, the dedicated team managed to unite and keep the project on track.

Why Did It Take So Long to Make Uzumaki

DeMarco stated that the pandemic essentially halted our show’s production for nearly a year, causing the most significant setback. Since our team was relatively small, even a few crew members and their families falling ill severely impacted both the production and our spirits. Bringing the show back to life after such a difficult period proved to be quite challenging.

It appears that Uzumaki faced two significant challenges: scheduling and workforce issues. The project was announced in 2019, right before the outbreak of COVID-19. Each country handled the pandemic differently, but Japan implemented strict lockdowns to safeguard its citizens. As a result, Production I.G had to reduce its operational capacity, causing Uzumaki to take a backseat during this period.

Due to some significant setbacks in the production process, the show “Uzumaki” was temporarily shelved, yet Adult Swim remained committed to realizing its unique concept. With director Hiroshi Nagahama at the helm and a compact team, they were eventually able to restart work on “Uzumaki“. The goal for this project, as emphasized by DeMarco, was to create an adaptation that accurately captured Ito’s disturbing style – a level of unsettling atmosphere that hadn’t been achieved in previous animated versions.

What’s Next for Uzumaki and Adult Swim After the Anime Premieres

Undeniably, the creation of “Uzumaki” was a passionate endeavor, and DeMarco has been open about the grueling process on social media. He recently admitted to his followers, “I hope you guys like it. It nearly took our lives.” With “Uzumaki” set to air on Adult Swim on September 28, there’s a lot of anticipation surrounding this Ito adaptation. Given that “Uzumaki” appears unlike any other adaptation given to Ito thus far, this is definitely a positive sign.

Over the years, a number of anime projects have tried to bring Ito’s work to life, but they have yet to capture his ominous aesthetic. Nagahama worked hand-in-hand with Adult Swim to craft an animation style that perfectly suits the vision Ito inked years ago. So if you are curious to see how Production I.G. fared with the series, you will get to peek its first episode later this month. The show will air on Adult Swim first before moving to Max several days later for those who’ve moved to streaming. The team behind Uzumaki worked incredibly hard to bring the series to life, and if we want more Adult Swim originals, netizens will need to show their support.

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2024-09-08 19:39