Uzumaki’s adaptation is nothing short of a nightmare. This holds especially true for the producers who took their sweet time in animating it. From pacing to visuals, the series is garnering heavy criticism from the viewers. With the second episode’s lackluster style, fans lost all hope about the series. However, the tides might turn in their favor through an unexpected move.
As the credits of episode 3 rolled in, most fans were taken by surprise. Especially with Junji Ito’s debut in his series as a pivotal character. Despite the horrid animation in the second episode, there’s still hope. Ito’s cameo could be the very saving grace for his magnum opus.
Junji Ito’s debut in the anime is more than promising
Junji Ito is a seasoned mangaka when it comes to the horror genre. From Tomie to Hellstar Remina, he has produced some impeccable horror stories. His use of body horror in the series sets his work apart from his contemporaries. This is attributed to his medical expertise as well as knowledge of the human anatomy. However, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
The mangaka has cited H.P Lovecraft as his inspiration on several occasions. In contrast to Western representations, Ito uses a different approach to his works. His works magnify and underline horrors on a broad spectrum. From iron nails to spirals, the entities are benign yet destructive in most ways. His authorship extends to the manga as well as anime through his cameos.
The mangaka made his official anime debut in Uzumaki’s third episode. As opposed to the botched animation in episode 2, his cameo was delightful.
Junji Ito in the credits of Episode 3!
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What’s more interesting is that the rolling credits confirmed his debut. This, however, isn’t the first time he debuted in his series. He made his manga cameo in The World of Horror as well. While this seems hopeful, it doesn’t negate the studio’s failure. Despite the painstaking efforts, their failure might be attributed to the curse of botched adaptations.
Uzumaki is plagued with the curse of botched adaptations
Unlike most of Ito’s previous works, Uzumaki was a much-awaited release. As viewers and readers waited with bated breaths, it turned out to be an utter failure. It is evident in the second episode and its absolute mockery of the art. Ito’s masterpiece was reduced to cartoonish representations. It further flattened out the details and intricacies that are the signature of the mangaka’s art style.
What’s even more disappointing is that this move is followed by the producer’s claim of authenticity. The black and white tones are what add to the essence of the manga. The series managed to retain that vibe albeit with its destruction of detail. The last straw to this was the flattening of the ever-present details.
This is evident in the beach scene in the episode two. Another caveat to this is the pacing issue that most animated series grapple with. It is evident with the cramming of twenty manga chapters in four episodes. The series is nothing short of a disaster albeit its production time and years.
It is safe to say that Studio Drive has disappointed not just fans but several readers and viewers. What adds to the disappointment is the sheer time they took to render the work. Despite the series taking six years, it proved to be utterly underwhelming. One can only hope Ito’s cameo to salvage its eventual ruin.
Uzumaki is available for streaming on Adult Swim. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.
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