Uzumaki Failed to Break Anime's Worst Curse, But It Showed Us How It Could Be Done

For many months, fans of the celebrated horror manga author Junji Ito waited excitedly for the release of the Uzumaki anime adaptation. This terrifying story is considered one of the artist's best works, thanks to its amazing psychological horror, disturbing illustrations, and intriguing plot. Followers of Ito’s manga expected an adaptation that would do right by such a beloved series.

Yet, once the series concluded, fans were again disappointed by how the story of Kirie and Shuichi was adapted. As with other anime based on Ito's works, the studio in charge of most of the anime could not effectively convey the horror and tension that the manga causes to the reader. Nonetheless, the first episode of the series, which was produced by a different studio, proves that Uzumaki and other horror manga could one day be correctly adapted.

Uzumaki’s Adaptation Left Much To Be Desired

The Animation and Pacing Ruined This Long-Awaited Show

Uzumaki is an anime adaptation of one of Junji Ito’s best works, which was announced back in 2019. This four-episode show tells the story of Kirie and Shuichi, a couple who live in the remote town of Kurouzu-cho, or Black Vortex Town in English. The original manga revolves around the strange occurrences that have taken place in their home, all of them related in some manner to a particular symbol: the spiral. The inhabitants of the town have developed an obsession with this shape, causing horrifying entities and deaths to happen daily.

Ito’s original manga took the idea of a spiral, a shape humans see daily, and transformed it into a symbol of absolute terror and despair. His art horrified millions of readers, who praised the creator for its amazing use of shadows, body horror, and eldritch abominations. As such, when the anime was released, fans expected to see their favorite moments in the manga being animated in a disturbing and fascinating manner. Their disappointment was immense once they saw the anime.

Many of the most vital plot points were simple redraws of the manga with static images sliding down the frame. Adding to the lackluster animation, the pacing of the story became erratic, with several scenes being shortened, many of the most shocking moments being cut, and almost no time for fans to comprehend what they were seeing. Although episode #4 managed to stick the landing with a much higher animation quality and appropriate pacing, most fans had already dropped the show by the time it was released. The show became an example of how not to adapt Ito’s manga.

Episode 1 Proves the Series Could Have Been a Masterpiece

The Animation and Pacing Are What the Show Deserved

One of the main reasons why fans were so disappointed with the overall performance of the Uzumaki anime adaptation is because episode #1 was extremely satisfying. Unlike episodes #2 and #3, handled by Studio Akatsuki, the first entry in the series was animated by Studio Fugaku. The initial episode of the show was everything fans expected from an adaptation of Ito’s work, as its pacing and animation perfectly conveyed the horror of the manga. The use of color, shadows, and the unsettling movement of the spirals, such as in the scene when Azami’s head swallows her eye, was truly memorable.

Episode #1 is proof that with proper time and resources, Ito’s horrifying stories can satisfyingly come to life. The studio took the time to make sure that the creepy environment and horrifying world of the author were translated effectively into anime. When episode #1 was released, the already-hyped community became even more excited about the show, expecting the quality to remain consistent. The series' falling off so quickly became such a disappointment because viewers already knew that it could have been an amazing experience.

The Series Faced Many Production Issues

From COVID-19 to Insufficient Animation Time

Shuichi's Father in Adult Swim's Uzumaki stirring his chopsticks in a bowl to create a spiral shape.

Even though fans have complained extensively about the work of Studio Akatsuki after the release of Uzumaki, the series had many other issues from the beginning. Animators working on episode #1 were given ample time to design and animate, as well as a significant budget to work with. Studio Akatsuki was not as fortunate, as the workers faced many difficulties while making the show. For starters, the series began production during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused issues for many other productions at the time. As such, the animators had to work with limited resources.

Moreover, there have been many reports of animators claiming that they were rushed and pressured by the producers to deliver the show as fast as possible. Coupled with a much smaller budget than the one destined for episode #1, there was not much they could do to salvage the series. These circumstances could explain the need to shorten certain stories and the uneven animation quality that has been harshly criticized by viewers for months.

Junji Ito’s Works Are Extremely Hard to Adapt but Not Impossible

Episode #1 Is Proof That a Great Show Could Be Released in the Future

Kirie and Shuichi Holding Each Other in the City of Spirals Below Kurouzu-cho in Uzumaki

There is no doubt that Ito’s manga are some of the hardest to adapt successfully into anime, as the author has a particular and unsettling style that does not always work as an animation. The horror creator specializes in making the reader feel uncomfortable and perturbed, which is why most of his best and most disturbing drawings have an outstanding amount of detail. Nonetheless, episode #1 of the Uzumaki anime proves that with enough time and resources, an anime worthy of the author’s work could become a reality.

Future adaptations of his work will need to give animators the time needed to translate the beloved panels created by Ito into a shocking and memorable series. By following the formula used by Studio Fugaku, an animated version of another of the beloved author’s terrifying stories has the potential to become an instant classic. Woefully, as of January 2025, there are no plans to adapt another of his manga.

Despite the disappointing performance of the Uzumaki anime, fans can rejoice in the knowledge that there is a way to effectively adapt his works. Future anime based on his stories should follow the example of Studio Fugaku. If they indeed do, many incredible horror anime could be waiting for viewers in the future.