Is Parasyte: The Grey Canon to Parasyte The Maxim Anime? Explained

Parasyte: The Grey, adapted from Hitoshi Iwaki’s highly praised manga, has successfully reignited the passion of dedicated Parasyte fans and attracted new viewers through its chilling body horror and gripping storytelling. Originally known as The Grey, the six-episode series provided little insight into its plot.

Ultimately, the show was given its ultimate name, prompting a surge of enthusiasm, particularly amongst devoted followers of the Parasyte manga.

Despite being a South Korean live-action adaptation of Hitoshi Iwaki’s renowned work, the series introduces new characters and a fresh storyline, leaving fans of the manga and anime confused about its canonicity. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Parasyte: The Grey offers more than initially meets the eye. In this article, we will explore whether this adaptation can be considered canon to the Parasyte The Maxim anime.

Important Note: This article includes major spoilers for both Parasyte: The Grey and Parasyte: The Maxim. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

Parasyte: The Grey and Parasyte: The Maxim are in the same universe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maIGHqJB6aQ

Prior to the debut of the series, Netflix had already announced that Parasyte: The Grey is the official live-action spin-off of the manga. This indicates that the storyline does not adhere to the same plot. In summary, the Netflix series features an original storyline that deviates from the manga and is not considered a direct adaptation of the Parasyte: The Maxim anime, which remains faithful to the manga.

Set in South Korea, the plot centers around a fresh iteration of the extraterrestrial parasite epidemic that has swept through the nation. The show chronicles the journey of Jeong Su-in (Jeon So-nee), a woman haunted by a distressing past, who becomes a victim of the parasite. Despite her injuries, her parasite chooses to heal her body in order to survive, rather than assuming control and facing its own demise.

In contrast to others, Su-in’s parasite, Heidi, chooses to safeguard her host when they face an impending threat due to their unique circumstance. The show also tracks the story of Seol Kang-woo (Koo Kyo-hwan), a gangster who crosses paths with Su-in while searching for his sister and eventually joins forces with her upon discovering her situation.

Shinichi Izumi, as seen in Parasyte: The Grey episode 6 (Image via Netflix)

Despite having a different storyline from Parasyte: The Maxim and its manga counterpart, the conclusion of Parasyte: The Grey solidifies its connection to the same universe. In the climax of the finale, a mysterious journalist who claimed to have vast knowledge about the alien parasitic beings sought to meet with Choi Jun-kyung, the leader of the Grey Team.

The journalist was identified as Shinichi Izumi (Masaki Suda), the protagonist of both the Parasyte: The Maxim anime and manga series.

Nevertheless, Shinichi, claiming to be well-versed in dealing with invasive parasites, provides evidence that Parasyte: The Grey takes place several years after the events of Parasyte the Maxim. This suggests that Shinichi becomes aware of a significant increase in parasite activity in South Korea and chooses to offer assistance alongside Migi.

The official explanation of how the original story ties in with the spin-off and what lies ahead for Jun-Kyung, So-nee, and Kang-woo is still pending.

Furthermore, the revelation of how Shinichi will be able to assist will also be disclosed. While waiting for Parasyte: The Grey to be renewed for another season, both existing fans and new viewers can enjoy the exhilarating universe of Parasyte once more by streaming Parasyte: The Maxim on various platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and others.

If you enjoy Parasyte: The Maxim, here are 10 other anime shows to consider watching.

Despite fans’ hopes, a second season of Parasyte: The Maxim is not likely to be in the works.

The only difference between Parasyte: The Grey and Parasyte The Maxim is the title.

There are several reasons why a sequel to Parasyte: The Maxim is well-deserved.