Uzumaki Anime Review: This is an anime series that is based on the manga having the same name. The manga was written by Junji Ito. There are totally 3 volumes of the manga, and there’s also a live-action version of it.
Consisting of only 4 episodes, Uzumaki anime is currently available on Netflix. It’s a horror genre series, and the manga one is extremely spine-chilling. The anime version of Uzumaki is also not falling behind; the plot is great, and it is engaging enough to watch till the end.
Plot Summary
The plot of Uzumaki anime focuses on the eerie vibe and the horror side. It is a story of people who are driven crazy by witnessing the situation of Kurouzu when there’s an involvement of spiral shapes and everything seems very weird and scary. The people of Kurouzu find themselves questioning the view their eyes are witnessing and how the whole situation is going to be harmful to them.
The people of Kurouzu develop the fear of confronting the spiral shapes as they start to witness horrifying results of the spiral shapes and their involvement in the situation. The town of Kurouzu needs to be saved from the spiral shapes and whatever damage they are causing.
Unique Horror Series But Rushed Plot
Uzumaki Anime Review: Uzumaki is a great anime series, and it’s a perfect watch for someone who is looking for a short mini-series. The story is good and the characters are interesting, but the anime version lacks a lot if we compare it to the manga version.
The anime one could have done a lot better, like the way we hoped for, but it didn’t meet the expectations. The manga is extremely good, and it is very well portrayed, but the anime didn’t do justice to the manga. The spirals in the anime play an important part, but the spirals are extremely well structured in the manga as compared to the anime.
Moreover, the story feels extremely rushed, but we can’t blame the anime as it is a mine version. If there had been more episodes, then we could have expected a detailed version of each and every character and could have seen more similarities to the manga.
Lost in Adaptation– A Beautiful Yet Frustrating Take on Junji Ito’s Work
Junji Ito’s works seem to carry an unfortunate curse—no adaptation ever fully satisfies fans. This series is another example of that struggle.
The first episode starts off strong with stunning animation, smooth rotoscoping, and a hypnotic flow that immediately grabs attention. But from the second episode onward, the quality drops drastically. The animation looks rushed, with stiff movements and a noticeable lack of detail. It’s shocking, especially considering the five years spent developing this anime.
It’s impossible to ignore the production issues that plagued this series. Instead of canceling the project, the studio decided to push forward, resulting in a messy execution. While I’m grateful the story was adapted at all—because it truly is fascinating—that doesn’t mean I won’t call out its flaws.
The decline isn’t just in animation but also in storytelling. The pacing is uneven, with important scenes feeling rushed or disorganized. For example, the transition between the second and third episodes—jumping from Kirie’s fall at the lighthouse to her suddenly being in the hospital—lacks any proper connection.
That said, there are still standout moments. The hospital scenes with the pregnant women and Shuichi’s mother are some of the best in the series. The original ending, too, is poetic and fitting—it mirrors the idea that everything eventually returns to its original state, just like Kurouzo Town itself.
It’s disappointing that this adaptation fell short, but it does have redeeming qualities. I can only hope that future Junji Ito adaptations receive the care, quality, and respect they truly deserve.
Verdict
Uzumaki anime is perfect for those who love watching horror and creepy vibes content, but at the same time, it can be a disappointment too. Well, it is said so because if someone has read the whole manga, then he/she will not be excited to complete the entire series as it is not up to the manga.
Overall, Uzumaki anime is a good watch, and it can be fun to watch it as an engaging and entertaining series due to its horror and thriller content, but the spirals could have been done in a better way.
Trailer
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