As a seasoned manga enthusiast who has delved deep into the twisted realms of Junji Ito’s works, I must say that I find myself in a peculiar conundrum with Uzumaki. On one hand, the unwavering fidelity to the source material is something I have always appreciated (having read the manga multiple times). Yet, it’s also my downfall, as there’s little left to surprise me.
I love Junji Ito, and I love what is arguably his magnum opus, Uzumaki. I said as such in my lead-up to the four-episode series, which is currently airing on Adult Swim and MAX in weekly increments, and I’ll say it again. I love Uzumaki!
Although I’d love to declare this fresh anime as flawless, my honest thoughts remain that, despite enjoying it greatly, there are aspects of it that could use improvement. Shall we contemplate its potential shortcomings together for a brief moment?
Love: The Music
I have a strong affection for anime, and I particularly appreciate those with a somber tone like my favorite show, “Attack on Titan.” However, it’s not just the dark ones that I enjoy; in fact, most of the anime I watch is action-oriented, which often features intense music that really pumps me up.
Revisiting the captivating world of “Attack on Titan” once more, I penned down an analysis piece, meticulously grading each opening theme from the series. The selection and placement of each season’s intro were heavily influenced by the music. Unquestionably, Season 2’s intro stood out as the best, with “Shinzou wo Sasageyo” being a track that is hard to surpass in my opinion.
Instead, Uzumaki stands as the very opposite of exhilarating. This narrative gradually seeps into your consciousness and lingers, creating a sense of unease for extended periods. It’s a tale that would be diminished if it contained anything resembling the upbeat music you’d find in shows like Dragon Ball Z or other iconic anime.
Actually, I had some concerns regarding the music selection for Uzumaki. However, my fears were put to rest once I found out that they managed to find the ideal composer, Colin Stetson, to create the soundtrack.
Stetson often gets recognized for collaborating with bands such as Arcade Fire and Bon Iver, but he’s also highly esteemed for his work in films like “Hereditary” and the video game “Red Dead Redemption 2”.
As a saxophonist and multi-reed player, Stetson infuses the music with a nearly ethereal feel that is both soothing yet frustrating. This harmonious fit with the visuals is striking, and I can’t imagine revisiting this manga without Stetson’s captivating soundtrack echoing in my mind. Simply put, it’s pitch-perfect.
Don’t Love: The Dub Leaves A Little To Be Desired
Currently, my preference leans heavily towards subtitles over dubbed versions. To me, subtitled content is superior and no argument can sway me from this belief.
To be honest, I might not be the most reliable critic when it comes to the dubbed version of Uzumaki, because I’ve always found the subtitled version truly exceptional. Moreover, the characters seem to embody exactly how I had envisioned them speaking in their native Japanese language.
Although the dubbed version isn’t poor, I must admit it stands out as one of the better ones I’ve encountered recently. Yet, “It’s not bad” might not convey my full appreciation for it. The dialogue seems slightly off-kilter within this distinctly Japanese narrative, which makes me question if some essence is lost when hearing English voices in this context.
It seems many beginners may not take the time to choose the subtitled option, which is quite unfortunate. However, who am I to judge? After all, I’m just one of those people who prefers subtitles. You might have a completely different preference, favoring dubbing over subtitling.
Love: The Strict Adherence To The Source Material
Some individuals evaluate a film adaptation based solely on its faithfulness to the original source material. Contrarily, I’m not among those people. In fact, I find adaptations more appealing when they surpass the source material. The reasoning behind this is simple: if I’ve already read the book, why would I wish to re-live it visually on a large or small screen if nothing has been modified or improved?
If you prefer not to have any changes from the original story, you’ll find this anime quite satisfying as it closely follows the source material. In fact, it’s so similar to the manga that I might suggest people forego reading the manga and just watch the show instead, as they are almost indistinguishable.
I’m really glad you find this useful! I’ve been recommending the manga Uzumaki to everyone since I first read it, but I know many people might not give it a try because it’s been a while since they last picked up a book, especially after high school.
However, Uzumaki, being a faithful adaptation, grants individuals who might not have delved into the manga a chance to encounter it at last. This brings me immense joy since they’ll be experiencing the authentic version, and I’m delighted for their experience.
Don’t Love: The Strict Adherence To The Source Material
Indeed, you’ve understood correctly. While I appreciate the faithful rendering of the original material in this adaptation, it’s also a point of contention for me because I have read Uzumaki numerous times. Consequently, nothing thus far has managed to catch me off guard.
This is a big problem. Because even though films like The Martian, or arguably the best Coen Brothers’ movie, No Country For Old Men are pretty close to the books they’re based off of, they still deviate in interesting ways.
Despite being Uzumaki, it wasn’t exactly what I expected. Initially, I was impressed by how closely it followed the book, but eventually, it began to feel repetitive. To be clear, it was still unsettling, but the suspense didn’t quite meet my expectations since I knew the general direction of the plot.
For beginners, this is excellent, but for those deeply invested in the tale, there’s still room for more satisfaction.
Love: The Visual Style
Instead of simply gazing at it, the static images give a remarkably precise depiction of how closely this anime mirrors the manga. Admittedly, they could have merely colored the narrative, as is common with many manga adaptations. However, they chose not to, and I must commend them for their decision because it captures the essence of Junji Ito’s artwork in motion.
This achievement isn’t trivial, and I suspect that the delay in releasing this anime was due to them meticulously working out the perfect art style. Let me tell you, when you combine exceptional music with visually stunning animation, something truly magical happens. Although I expected to appreciate the visual style, I didn’t anticipate enjoying it as much as I do now. It’s simply fantastic!
Don’t Love: The Episodes Are Too Short
To clarify, they managed to cram a great deal into a short span for this adaptation. But compared to the original manga of Uzumaki which spans over 600 pages, this anime is presenting it in small, digestible chunks.
For instance, the initial episode was just slightly more than 30 minutes, and it appears too brief considering the extensive topics they tackled. Frankly, my worry is this brevity, as there are smaller sub-plots within the manga’s storyline that might seem unnecessary on a broader perspective but significantly enrich the world of the narrative with deep meaning.
The stories haven’t been definitively ruled out from the anime yet, given that it’s still ongoing. However, considering the brisk pace of Episode 1, which didn’t seem well-executed, there’s a possibility that if these stories are included, they might be rushed.
Here’s another way to phrase it: Haven’t you seen the anime ‘Uzumaki’ yet? Don’t forget to check out TopMob regularly for updates on everything eerie!
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2024-10-14 03:07