Uzumaki Episode 1 Review

After what seems like an endless wait since Studio Drive and Adult Swim first announced their anime adaptation of Junji Ito’s Uzumaki, the first episode has finally arrived. Ever since first announcing the project at Crunchyroll Expo in 2019, Uzumaki has been plagued by countless production issues and delays, so much so that it’s almost a relief to actually see that the anime is still being released.

Episode One is here, but it feels like some fans are concerned over the project’s length. The anime will run for four weekly episodes, and though there are rumours that subsequent episodes will be longer than this 22-minute premiere, some viewers are worried about dreaded content cuts and rushed pacing. We should remember though, despite its renown and plethora of iconic moments, the original Uzumaki manga is not a very long read. While these concerns linger in the back of my mind though, the first episode of Uzumaki did more than enough to give me confidence in this adaptation going forward. With that being said, let’s get into our spoiler-free review of Uzumaki Episode One! 

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The Review

Image by Drive

After having his work plagued by less than stellar adaptations for years, I’m happy to report that Uzumaki feels like the first anime version of his work that really gets Junji Ito and his style. To be fair to Junji Ito Maniac and the Junji Ito Collection, the author’s work is undeniably a nightmare to adapt to animation. There’s a level of detail to his art that is almost destined to lose its charm when put into motion. Reading a Junji Ito manga feels like watching a nightmare unfold, and as morbid as it may sound, I’m pleased to say that episode one of Uzumaki feels the same way.

After many misses, an anime adaptation of Ito finally feels like what fans have been asking for – Ito’s art, ripped from the page, and put into motion. What the visuals sometimes lack in detail, they make up for in added frames and atmosphere, and Drive has taken full advantage of the added elements that an anime adaptation allows them to build on as opposed to the manga. There’s a certain choppiness to the animation that feels like you’re watching something completely otherworldly, yet strangely real – almost an uncanny valley between usual anime animation, and real life itself.

The sound design in Uzumaki is grisly, with no squelch or crunch spared in hand with the show’s horrifying visuals. What really makes Uzumaki excel in the sound department, however, is the music of Colin Stetson. Stetson’s work was used in one of the first trailers for the anime, and I’m overjoyed that his music has carried through to play such a major part in the actual show. For fans unfamiliar with his work, Stetson is the man behind the soundtrack of 2018’s Hereditary, a piece of horror media that, similarly to Uzumaki, drew on trippiness and nightmarish visuals to tell its story. Stetson is more than suited to the style of Uzumaki, and his soundtrack enhances the show greatly.

Image by Drive

Plotwise, Uzumaki follows the manga faithfully, so readers will know what to expect, though some scenes are mixed up from their original order in the manga, likely to better suit the pacing of a show. I’m sure this will cause discontent among some of the more hardline Ito fans, but I think that Studio Drive seems to have the best intentions for Uzumaki at heart, and are making moves that will be best for the anime adaptation in the long run. After all, the original manga can read like a series of short stories at times. Drive’s adaptation feels like more of a building narrative – we can only hope it pays off in the long run.

For those who haven’t read the manga, though, we’re keeping this review spoiler-free, so I won’t give much away about the plot. All I can say is that anyone encountering Uzumaki for the first time should be prepared for absolute insanity. The story is somewhat Lovecraftian, a narrative that uses the twisting of the mind in the presence of the otherworldly as its core, and builds on this core through horrific physical encounters. Ito knows how to craft a horrifying visual, and luckily, Drive’s adaptation manages to churn the stomach on a similar level.

The only weakness I can spot with Uzumaki so far is more of a preemptive one. To be completely transparent, as happy as I am with what we have so far, I’m not sure that this anime is going to be well-paced. Sure, future episodes might be longer, but four episodes doesn’t seem like enough to fully flesh out the content of the manga. After my first watch of the premiere episode, I’m already assuming that certain chapters of Uzumaki will be cut from this adaptation, which is a shame. To Drive’s credit, seeing chapters cut is such a shame because their stylistic choices and atmospheric development are both incredible – it would be a dream to see the whole manga adapted like this, but alas, it doesn’t seem like that’ll be the case.

Image by Drive

Overall, I’m more than happy with this adaptation from the jump, and to say I’m excited for future episodes is an understatement. Having waited the better part of five years for this anime to air, watching Uzumaki in motion makes me glad that, in the face of production issues, Drive opted to stick to their guns, take their time, and produce a piece of work to be proud of, rather than rush the project out in the face of mounting fan pressure. Had that happened, we’d probably have another Junji Ito Collection on our hands – and when you’re adapting a piece of work as beloved as Uzumaki, that’s an absolute no-go.

By the time I’ve seen next week’s episode in full, I think it’ll be easier to predict how much content will be cut from the manga. There’s one particular section that I already assume will be cut (though it is one of the most memorable segments from the original manga), but aside from this, I’d be curious to see what gets left on the cutting room floor. If they do happen to adapt said section which, for my Uzumaki readers out there, takes place in a hospital, I’m not sure what else could be cut from the story, while keeping it complete. Let’s hope that this isn’t a false start for Studio Drive, and they maintain this quality throughout the remaining three episodes.

What did you think of the premiere episode of Uzumaki? Did it live up to your expectations as an Ito fan, or did it fall flat? Or, maybe, this is your first time even hearing about this adaptation? Let us know in the comments, and see you next week for our review of Uzumaki Episode Two!

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Where to Watch Uzumaki?

Image by Drive

Uzumaki premieres weekly on Adult Swim, during the Toonami block at 12:30am EST. This means that if you’re reading from the UK, it airs at 05:30am! Luckily, you can catch each episode the next day on streaming, as every episode streams the following day on Max. Happy watching!

See also: Scariest Junji Ito Manga Stories

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