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The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Junji Ito’s horror classic, Uzumaki, has finally crashed onto screens with its unsettling atmosphere and unapologetic horror. The first episode of the anime has already been considered the best horror episode of all time. However, for some, the narrative in the show constitutes a major pacing issue, leaving some viewers disappointed.
Now, this creates some very interesting dynamics of exposition versus visual narrative, especially in a lot of key scenes as part of explaining flashbacks told by characters. This sort of unorthodox pacing should generally be a weakness, but in this particular case withUzumaki, it might turn out to be beneficial for the overall narrative!
How Does Episode 1 of Uzumaki Compare to The Manga?
Aframe-by-frame comparisonbetween the anime adaptation and the manga counterpart ofUzumakishows a surprisingly high level of fidelity. That is, most shots are simply recreations with minimal changes. Indeed, many of the changes are merely reorderings of the original material. This degree of similarity presents the possibility that even a fan animation could leverage such scenes to build up a superior manga adaptation.
It would be too early to say whether the adaptation is worthwhile until the anime is completed. Also, the fact that the anime itself makes several cost-cutting measures, such as the use of stills in certain sequences, gives more reasons to be pessimistic though. An unofficial remake could well fill gaps and animate parts not included in the official adaptation by taking off from what already exists.
“Already the freakiest sh*t I’ve ever seen in anime”: Junji Ito is Leaving Fans Traumatized With Bone Chilling Horror in Uzumaki
Despite a few limitations,Uzumakiis still themost amazing Junji Itoadaptation so far, bettering its predecessors in terms of fidelity and atmosphere. Its faithfulness to the source material must be attributed to the dedication of the production team. Even with all its creative liberties, this adaptation is definitely the best representation of Ito’s unsettling vision and a compelling competitor for further anime adaptations of his works.
The Rushed Pacing of The Anime Actually Suits Better
The anime adaptation ofUzumakimay have raised eyebrows among fans, but surprisingly, it is kind of perfect in harmony with the tone and themes of the story. The utter weirdness and nightmarish atmosphere ofUzumakiis actually defined by the sudden and inexplicable fall of the town into madness, which is exactly what the breakneck pace of the anime conveys to the eyes of viewers. No one has any room for thinking through as they are hurled headfirst into the horror.
The anime version hence managed to capture the dazed feel of events too strange and overwhelming in Kurouzu-cho. Although the whole plot of the story could be ruined by this leisurely pace, the manga itself is full of urgency and unpredictability. The residents of the town at every moment are in an inexplicable panic, and are becoming crazed spiralists!
Uzumaki: 5 Other Works of Junji Ito That Need an Anime Adaptation Soon
That’s why, the fast-paced storytelling of the anime replicates the ominous feel of all the claustrophobic incidents, leaving viewers truly stunned in fear. While faithfulness is always nice to see for a manga, here though, the anime better serves the message of chaos, confusion, and inescapable horror by drawing the viewers into Kurouzu-cho’s vortex of madness.
Uzumakiis available to watch onMaxandAdult Swim.
Diganta Mondal
Anime Content Writer
Articles Published :742
Diganta Mondal is an avid Content Writer at Fandomwire, specializing in anime and pop culture-related stuff. With over 600 published articles, he boasts his knowledge on this beloved media and strives to connect with fellow anime enthusiasts all across the globe.Despite having a non-journalism educational background, his love for shows like Vinland Saga, Violet Evergarden, and other Naoki Urasawa works constantly inspires him to share informative news, theories, and recommendations on almost all anime genres, aiming to create a shared platform for nerdy discussions.
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