“They Just Had to Ruin Something” – Fans Express Frustration Over Uzumaki Anime’s Pacing Issues

The Uzumaki anime debuted on September 29, 2024, captivating the audience. Despite the excitement, some fans expressed concerns regarding the anime’s pacing, though it was generally considered mild criticism given that this was only the premiere episode. Additionally, the anime omitted important panels from the original manga, resulting in a somewhat confusing storyline in the first episode.

Fans anticipated a brisk pacing, especially since the production team aims to condense the original 20 chapters into just 4 episodes. Nonetheless, this did not deter viewers from appreciating the artistic brilliance of the inaugural episode, as many remained hopeful that the pacing issues will be rectified in subsequent episodes.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from the Uzumaki anime series and reflects the author’s opinion.

Analyzing the pacing issues in the premiere of Uzumaki

The first episode of Uzumaki began with Kirei picking up her boyfriend from the station but failed to incorporate an essential opening scene from the source material, where she encounters Shuichi’s father staring at a snail. Furthermore, the scene where Kirei experiences a cyclone was merged with a later event, contributing to the rapid pacing of the episode.

As the series progresses, Shuichi’s father requests Kirei’s father to create a sculpture for him, but the anime neglects to explain the motivation behind this request. In the manga, it is revealed that Shuichi’s mother disposed of all of her husband’s spiral collections, necessitating the creation of new ones.

Azami Kurotani as seen in the anime (Image via Drive and Akatsuki) — Azami Kurotani as depicted in the anime (Image via Drive and Akatsuki)

A major omission in the episode was the shocking scene where Shuichi’s mother pierces her ear with scissors after discovering a spiral present in the Eustachian Tube. This moment is crucial to the horror element that Uzumaki is known for.

Finally, in the episode’s conclusion, Kirei encounters Azami, but the anime skips the context of Azami being outside. Earlier in the episode, Azami asked a follower to summon Kirei to eliminate her from Shuichi’s life, though this important detail was absent from the anime adaptation.

Fan Reactions

Fans expressed mild criticism regarding the pacing issues; however, the majority praised the series for its stunning visual presentation. Given the lengthy delays before airing, this response was understandable. While some fans hoped for improved pacing in future episodes, one viewer even considered the situation acceptable and well-executed.

“Yeah condensing 20 30-page chapters into 4 eps is wild, not only do they seem to be skipping tons of chapters, but the ones they don’t they rush through.”a fan commented.

“Although the pacing issue might not be noticed by the fandom now, the series’ future heavily depends on pacing in upcoming episodes”another user added.

“I agree with the episode length but they seem to be doing a PHENOMENAL job at coherently interconnecting every chapter in a cohesive way”another fan stated.

“I actually love that they show off multiple episodic chapters and make them happen at the same time instead of just going completely episodic like the manga; it flows better for me personally”another viewer remarked.

Concluding Thoughts

While it may seem improbable, there are possibilities for the Uzumaki anime to be extended into a sequel. The first episode adapted three chapters, and if this pace continues, several chapters may remain unaddressed. As previously mentioned, having one-hour episodes could have benefitted the series significantly, leaving fans optimistic for future installments.

Source