Review of Uzumaki Episode 1: A new addition to the horror anime genre is here, and it's the work of none other than Junji Itou himself. Let us see how this episode goes and whether you should watch it or skip it.
Uzumaki Overview
Uzumaki is an anime adaptation of the iconic Japanese horror manga by Junji Ito, known for its brilliant blend of psychological horror and surreal imagery.
It went on to receive widespread critical acclaim and is often considered Junji Ito's masterpiece. In recognition of its impact, Uzumaki was nominated for an Eisner Award in 2003, a prestigious honor in the world of comics. It also earned a spot on the Association for Teen Library Services' list of “Top 10 Graphic Novels for Teens” in 2009, further solidifying its status.
The anime series, announced at the 2019 Crunchyroll Expo, is a four-episode series animated by Drive and co-produced by Production IG USA and Williams Street. Hiroshi Nagahama directs the series, with evocative music composed by Colin Stetson. It debuted on Adult Swim's Toonami block before its Japanese release, offering an atmospheric adaptation of Ito's disturbing vision.
What makes the Uzumaki Horror especially disturbing is its subversion of the usually benign spiral symbolism, transforming it into something menacing, as the protagonists confront a force far beyond their reach. their control.
– Uzumaki episode 1 review contains minor spoilers –
Review and recap of episode 1 of Uzumaki
This anime is unlike anything you've ever seen before and honestly, it shouldn't be compared to other regular shows. From the promised plot to its animation, nothing can prepare you for what you will witness. The story here starts out simple, but as it continues, we see the town of Kurouzu go crazy over something as simple as a spiral. You follow high school student Kirie and her boyfriend, Shuichi, who also have very different personalities.
Shuichi appears as a very observant man who seems worried and paranoid from the start about the state of the town. He absolutely hates his birthplace and realizes that something is very wrong going on here. On the other hand, Kirie doesn't understand the severity of the situation like we the audience, who are witnessing all the madness for the first time.
Therefore, it is with her that our consciousness also discovers the town's bizarre happenings. Kurouzu is strangely decorated with spiral designs, and you can find it in bushes or even in drainage water. It's certainly not normal, but things go downhill when Shuichi's father becomes unhealthily obsessed with spirals to the point of performing unnecessary activities. The iconic scene of him sticking his tongue out and forming a spiral is especially famous.
But it's not just strange things or situations that are strange. The characters introduced here are also very strange and unusual. In addition to the leaders, we met others and two of them were of particular importance. However, among all the people who are gradually losing their sanity and becoming victims of something supernatural, only the two main characters are normal people.
Verdict
Personally, I love unorthodox animation, where we see a black and white performance that creates the illusion of manga coming to life. This adds to the sense of wonder as we get to witness the excellent art of Junji Ito, whose art style is central to the story's impact. The music is also very moody, with the ending theme perfectly complementing the show as a whole, using a hauntingly minimalist acapella performance.
All in all, even if you're not normally drawn to the horror genre, the compelling plot alone makes Uzumaki worth watching.
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