For many in the horror community, Junji Ito, a master of horror from Japan, is a creative genius. Anime adaptations of some of his most suspenseful manga have been released on Netflix in an anthology series.
Those familiar with Ito’s work will likely find the animation to be disappointingly tame in compared to the magnificently filthy mangas, but for those curious about Ito’s work who may be afraid to explore the weird nature of his works, this may be a good starting point. The first episode, titled “The Circus,” is heavily influenced by Ito’s work.
The family drama “The Bizarre Hikizuri Siblings,” also known as “The Strange Hikizuri Siblings,” is laced with a sinister undercurrent, with paranormal activity and seances added to a standard tale of sibling rivalry.
Released on the OTT Platform on January 19, 2023, Season 1 of the web series Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre consists of 12 episodes.
Junji Ito Maniac Plot
Horror manga author Junji Ito is famous for his unorthodox and original take on the genre. His works have sold millions of copies throughout the world, and they are always accompanied by captivating artwork, whether it is a simple spiral or a deadly lady bent on revenge.
Netflix, never one to pass up a good opportunity, has picked up Junji Ito’s newest collection, Maniac: Tales of the Japanese Macabre. Twenty of Ito’s stories are adapted throughout the show’s 12 episodes. Of course, it’s perhaps not strange to discover the same here considering that several of the original stories finish abruptly or in a disappointing fashion.
This is one area where Maniac is inconsistent. Some episodes combine two stories into one, which muddles the show’s overall feel and pace. The score itself is partly to blame. It often takes on a lighthearted or slice-of-life vibe that belies the true horror on screen. The more the series goes on, the more obvious this minor flaw becomes. The significance of music in this medium is once again demonstrated.
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Features of Junji Ito Maniac
However, Junji Ito’s Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre offers a lot of what makes a good horror story. The animation has a timeless style, with thick lines and muted colours that call to mind the original black and white drawings by Ito.
There is an ominous soundtrack overlaid with creepy sound effects. This is bolstered by excellent voice acting, which aids in selling the horror. The diverse ensemble is credible even when their characters make the most improbable choices. Almost every single short features an outlandish occurrence that results in a brutal murder or a wild show of body horror.
However, disturbing rather than frightening is the desired effect. There are parts that will give the inexperienced nightmares, but nothing that will make them actually jump.
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Review of Junji Ito Maniac
The second half of The Bully is fascinating because of its exploration of psychotic tendencies and the possibility that psychos live among us without our knowing it. Even if they strive to suppress their more animalistic impulses as youngsters. They eventually give in to the pressure and reveal their actual nature.
It’s shocking, and that’s carried over into the first story. Which shows a small group venturing out to learn the truth about a cult. What a horrible end, finding all those mummified bodies. To contemplate being trapped in there with all those people gives me the chills.
Recap of Junji Ito Maniac
Similarly, “Unendurable Labyrinth” is a reworking of “Unbearable Maze,” the second story in Blood Bubble Bushes. During a hike in the mountains, Noriko and Sayoko, two friends, stumble into a group of ascetic monks who have chosen to live in seclusion.
Obviously, the monks are into some strange practises, the most bizarre of which is starvation in advance of self-mummification. The ultimate rite in their self-restraining philosophy. The girls also encounter Kuramoto, who is looking for her missing brother. So this element is integrated with a missing-person plot.
Putting aside the novel elements, the plot isn’t very good, and the monks didn’t make much of an impression on me. Even when they were mummified. However, I did appreciate how the concept tied in the girls’ individual concerns and worries. Such as Sayoko’s paranoia that everyone is watching her, to create a scary final image.
On the other hand, “The Bully” struck a chord with me. This is a story from the same-titled 12th volume of Junji Ito’s Horror World. And there is nothing supernatural about it. Kuriko tells her partner about the time she spent tormenting Nao, a younger boy, in the park. She gradually becomes more cruel to him until he and his family are forced to leave.
Conclusion
Wrapping off Season 10’s “The Bully,” we learn that Kuriko visits the park in an effort to forge friendships with Yutaro. Naoya, who is younger than her, bothers Kuriko, and she eventually becomes unkind to him. The tension continues to rise.
The tenth episode of Season One of Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre may be viewed on Netflix with a Netflix Basic membership.
