Adapting horror manga into anime can be difficult, and Junji Ito's works are especially difficult. He's a master of his craft, using the act of turning the page to build up tension. That's something that can't be experienced with an anime. Some fans are apprehensive about the new Uzumaki adaptation Toonami is producing, and they aren't without reason.
The previous attempt at adapting Junji Ito's works into an animated format received mixed reviews, to say the least. The Junji Ito Collection has a score of 6.35 on MyAnimeList as of writing, with many of the commenters saying that Junji Ito and his work "deserved better." The series was underwhelming, and one of its biggest points of contention was the animation.
Many cite the pacing as an issue, as each 22-minute episode featured two stories. The stories felt rushed, and many of the minor moments that helped build up tension were completely left out. The series left some fans wondering if there would ever be an anime adaptation that could do the primal fear Ito's stories conjure justice. The attempts at a live-action adaptation of Uzumaki, GYO, and Tomie also did poorly among fans, with many believing a true live-action adaptation is completely impossible due to the sheer scope of Ito's horror.
In 2019, Toonami announced that they would be adapting one of Ito's most popular works, Uzumaki. Originally, the mini-series was set to be released in September 2020 but was pushed back. It's now scheduled to be released in October 2022. There's been little word on whether the release date still stands. The mini-series will reportedly have four episodes, which will attempt to cover what was originally 20 chapters.
Uzumaki follows high school students Kirie and Shuichi as their town succumbs to a curse, causing the citizens to become obsessed with spirals. It's one of Ito's most famous and popular stories, winning several awards and earning high praise from reviewers. There was an attempt to make a live-action movie adaptation in 2000, but it was received poorly. Because it came out before the manga concluded, the ending was movie-exclusive. There were also two video games produced that same year based on the story.
Fans aren't getting their hopes up for a "true adaptation," be it Toonami's or any future projects. Adapting the tension and horror that Ito puts into every panel is difficult, especially when there are constraints. The Junji Ito Collection felt rushed and cramped, not allowing the stories that were chosen to play out naturally and build up the fear that Ito's works are known for. The announcement of four episodes has fans wondering if this will be a repeat situation. The series shouldn't be completely discounted until release, as the producers have shown they have a deep respect for Ito and his work.
Until the series is released, fans are left speculating and wondering if this series will finally be able to achieve the unachievable. Past attempts to transition the fear the manga produces to an audiovisual medium have been deemed failures, either due to poor execution, bad decisions, or some other production issue. Some believe it's completely impossible to adapt the stories, despite the many attempts. Fans are waiting with bated breath to see if Toonami will fall into the same pitfalls the others have or if they will finally be able to do Ito and his stories justice.