Junji Ito is a huge name in Japanese horror manga. So, when a faithful adaptation of his biggest work was announced, there was immediate hype. However, the series has since been riddled with delays. Here's the latest on Uzumaki’s release date, studio, where to watch, trailer and everything we know right now.
Related: The Most Horrifying Junji Ito Manga Stories Ranked
What is Uzumaki About?
Uzumaki (which can be translated as Spiral)is based on the bestselling horror manga of the same name by Junji Ito, widely seen as a master of the genre.
The story takes place in the small coastal town of Kurouzu-cho. Kirie Goshima lives a normal life in this quiet town until she notices her boyfriend’s father staring at a snail shell.
Her boyfriend then suggests that they leave Kurouzu-cho, claiming the town has been infected by spirals.
Eventually, the curse of the spirals turns deadly, with everything and everyone slowly descending into madness.
The manga follows Kirie and her boyfriend as they discover the curse taking on a multitude of horrific forms across the town.
Uzumaki Anime Release Date
There has been no announcement confirming when the Uzumaki anime will now be released. However, it's hoped that the series will appear at some time in 2023.
The horror anime was initially supposed to appear in 2020, before being delayed until 2021. Another delay pushed that back to October 2022, but that was revised again in June.
The good news for fans is that the message says "we remain fully committed to pursuing the completion of this work at the highest calibre." So, we can hope that the series won't be cancelled anytime soon.
There are no details yet regarding a specific timeframe for Uzumaki’s release. However, we do know that the series is likely to premiere on Adult Swim before being released in Japan and elsewhere.
Uzumaki COUNTDOWN
No details have been provided regarding the date of Uzumaki’s premiere on Adult Swim. However, when news is announced, we will update this page.
Where to Watch Uzumaki
Uzumaki was supposed to initially air on Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block. It was then expected to be broadcast in Japan and be available on Crunchyroll for international viewers.
Due to previous delays and the amount of time before it premieres, there is little in the way of confirmation regarding the broadcasting of Uzumaki beyond previously announced plans.
The adaptation was initially announced at Crunchyroll Expo in 2019 and the streaming service has been providing updates ever since, so some distribution on the platform outside of Adult Swim’s regions is likely.
What has been announced is that Uzumaki will only be four episodes long. No runtime for these episodes has been confirmed.
What Studio is Producing Uzumaki?
Uzumaki is being produced by Production I.G.
Production I.G is one of the most reputable anime studios in the business, having produced acclaimed anime such as Ghost in the Shell, Psycho-Pass and Haikyuu, while also being involved with Attack on Titan and Neon Genesis Evangelion.
The series will be directed by Hiroshi Nagahama, most known for directing the classic anime Mushishi. The series composition is handled by Aki Itami, who’s worked on scripts for Fruits Basket and, more recently, Teasing Master Takagi-san.
The lead Kirie is set to be voiced by Uki Satake, who recently played loved interest Tsubomi in Mob Psycho 100. Shuuichi Saitou, meanwhile, will be played by Shinichiro Miki, who voiced Roy Mustang in the Fullmetal Alchemist series.
Music, meanwhile, is being composed by Colin Stetson, a North American composer. The song heard in the teaser trailer below – Among the Sef – is available on Spotify and other music platforms.
Uzumaki Trailer
We can’t wait to enjoy this amazing horror series in animated form! Even if it takes a little longer to properly realise, we're hoping it will be well worth the wait.
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