Uzumaki Is Great, But It Has One Major Flaw

Uzumaki Is Great, But It Has One Major Flaw

As a lifelong fan of horror manga, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the Adult Swim adaptation of Junji Ito’s masterpiece, Uzumaki. Having finally had the chance to dive into this twisted tale, I must say it’s a rollercoaster ride that both thrills and frustrates in equal measure.


At long last, Adult Swim presents “Uzumaki,” a highly anticipated anime adaptation of Junji Ito’s masterful horror manga. Collaboratively produced by Cartoon Network, Production I.G., and Studio Drive, this adaptation has successfully captured the essence of Ito’s artwork, portraying the haunting town with authenticity. However, despite the positive reception, “Uzumaki” is not without its flaws in this limited series. Thus, it seems appropriate to address some of the major issues that need resolution in this chilling adaptation.

For depicting the eerie and unsettling atmosphere of Junji Ito’s work, it’s challenging to find a more fitting tale than “Uzumaki.” Although Kirie and Shuichi are the primary characters, the story expands into multiple chilling tales set within the haunting environment of this series. Some of Ito’s scariest monsters from the series continue to appear on various merchandise even today, proving their enduring appeal since their initial release decades ago. Here at egmr.ru, we highly appreciate “Uzumaki,” but remember that not everything that shines is gold.

Uzumaki Is Great, But It Has One Major Flaw

Slow Down Uzumaki

Uzumaki is not just lengthy but also jam-packed with the chilling mysteries that define Junji Ito’s classic. The original manga brimmed with eerie corners of the haunted town, and to match this pace, Adult Swim had to accelerate the speed of the animated series. However, this fast-paced approach means that the suspense and tension don’t have enough time to build as they did in the manga. Consequently, it was a formidable challenge to replicate the source material effectively, and while the anime adaptation manages to achieve this in many aspects, occasionally pausing for breath would greatly enhance the series.

One of the best benefits of Ito’s printed story is the chance for horror to be unleashed at the flip of a page, as the master of horror was a premiere example of how best to lay out a scene for maximum terror. For example, the infamous “spiral-faced girl” has become a trademark of Ito’s art, perhaps one of the most recognizable depictions in his career. While done solidly in Adult Swim’s anime, there’s something that’s lost in the translation here and that is simply more of the fault of manga versus anime in general.

In the case of Kurie and Shuichi, there isn’t a significant development of their characters, mirroring the original source material. This approach allows viewers to imagine themselves in their shoes, yet it might not foster deep emotional connections between the characters and the audience. It’s a matter of individual preference, but this aspect should be considered as these high school students encounter terrifying events without extensive exploration of their character development amidst the chaos.

Uzumaki Is Great, But It Has One Major Flaw

Uzumaki Needed To Be Longer

In essence, it appears that four 30-minute episodes might not suffice to fully portray all the diverse occurrences happening in Kurouzu-cho. The time spent by the animators to produce this work is evident in the quality of the art, and perhaps more installments would have been beneficial in this scenario. To put it simply, it’s a desirable predicament to be in, as we, the viewers, are eager for more glimpses into the scenery and events. However, the narratives, though connected under the same roof, can sometimes get overshadowed when there’s a hurry to introduce the next supernatural element.

In the end, the anime “Spiral binds Uzumaki” is destined to become a classic, and for us, it already stands as one of the best horror animes ever produced. Regrettably, the bar for being the best isn’t particularly high in the realm of horror anime because such content is relatively scarce. However, Adult Swim and Studio Drive have recently announced that they are unlikely to delve into any other works by Junji Ito, but it would certainly be captivating if they applied the lessons gleaned from “Spiral binds Uzumaki” to future projects.

Keep tabs on the upcoming anime adaptations of what could potentially be remembered as the most terrifying anime ever, including Junji Ito’s works. Stay tuned with Team Anime at egmr.ru for the latest news about Uzumaki, and don’t hesitate to chat with me @EVComedy about comics and anime-related topics.

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2024-10-03 01:40