This fall, anime fans eagerly awaited the return of the master of horror, Junji Ito , to television with the adaptation of his masterpiece Uzumaki . The anime, produced by Adult Swim and Production IG , promised to bring to life 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's clear that Uzumaki failed to live up to the level promised at the beginning.
The final episode shocked fans with its fast pace and amateurish 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 episode onwards 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 out THIS HERE pic.twitter.com/Hbcj4orCVi
The rise and fall of the Uzumaki anime
The initial success of Uzumaki left Junji Ito fans hopeful that this would be the definitive adaptation of the master of horror. Known for his terrifying stories and disturbing art, Ito is often compared to Stephen King. However, the production faced several challenges. According to Jason DeMarco, an executive at Adult Swim, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the schedule, and the shortage of professionals in the industry only worsened the situation.
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 with the production resulted in a series that did not live up to the grandeur of the original work.
Finally, Junji Ito's fans can only hope for a new adaptation worthy of his talent.
