In this fall, the anime fans eagerly awaited the return of the Terror Master, Junji Ito , to television with the adaptation of his masterpiece Uzumaki . The anime, produced by Adult Swim and Production IG , promised to bring all the peculiar horror of Ito's works.
Key Animation: 🌪️🪂
— Pekuga Perfect Shots「作画 🥸」 (@Pekuga_Pr) October 20, 2024
Anime: Uzumaki (うずまき) – #04 pic.twitter.com/8HX3xHiVqt
However, after months of production and an acclaimed premiere, the animation suffered severe criticism. Now, with the final episode available, it is clear that Uzumaki was unable to maintain the level promised at the beginning.
The last episode shocked fans with its fast pace and amateur animation, with scenes that looked like they were made in PowerPoint. Therefore the first episode was well received, but the animation flaws became evident from the second and continued until the disappointing end of the series.
Uzumaki is really in the running for one of the worst anime of the year
— Tarsi🦋 (@shadowarlok) October 20, 2024
So many years to come THIS HERE pic.twitter.com/Hbcj4orCVi
The rise and fall of the Uzumaki anime
Uzumaki 's initial success left Junji Ito fans hopeful that this would be the definitive adaptation of the horror master. Known for his haunting stories and disturbing art, Ito is often compared to Stephen King. However, production faced several challenges. According to Jason DeMarco, executive at Adult Swim, the COVID-19 pandemic seriously impacted the schedule, and the industry's lack of professionals only made the situation worse.
Therefore, with a tight budget and little time, the team had to choose between abandoning the project or delivering the four episodes in the best possible way. Unfortunately, the decision to continue production resulted in a series that did not live up to the grandeur of the original work.
Finally, Junji Ito fans can only hope for a new adaptation that matches his talent.
