Uzumaki Episode 2: A Major Disappointment for the Anime Community with No Turning Back

The second episode of Uzumaki premiered on October 6, 2024, evoking memories among anime enthusiasts of previous failures where studios mishandled anime adaptations. This latest installment faced similar challenges, displaying subpar animation quality and disclosing troubling insights from the show’s production team about its troubled development.

The anime’s executive producer indicated that the adaptation was on a downward trajectory from the very beginning, without placing blame on any specific party. This predicament became apparent when a lesser-known animation studio took over the project after the initial studio either departed or was dismissed, resulting in a lack of fulfillment after a lengthy five-year wait.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Uzumaki Episode 2: A Disappointment Fueled by Substandard Animation

Uzumaki’s inaugural episode was crucial for setting the stage, as fans had high hopes that it would elevate the reputation of the horror genre. While it did set some positive tones initially, the anticipation for the second episode aimed for it to solidify its status as an exemplary anime adaptation. Unfortunately, the opposite transpired, and for all the negative reasons.

Following the debut of the first episode, the production team unveiled the staff behind the first two episodes, leaving fans astonished. It turned out that while the premiere was animated by a less familiar studio, Fugaku, the second episode was entrusted to Studio Akatsuki, overshadowing the studio that originally announced the adaptation five years earlier, Studio Drive.

A scene from the second episode (Image via Adult Swim)

Studio Drive was recently involved with animating Konosuba’s third season, which built the fans’ hope for Uzumaki being undertaken by them. However, despite Studio Fugaku delivering a ‘decent’ animation quality in the first episode, expectations for the follow-up episode, created by Studio Akatsuki, were high, too.

Regrettably, Uzumaki Episode 2 became a significant disappointment, curtailing any expectations fans had for the series to revolutionize the anime landscape. The animation itself appeared glitchy, which is somewhat anticipated for 3D productions, but not for Uzumaki, especially after the first episode had established certain standards.

Critics pointed to subpar choreography and direction, labeling them as a letdown, though some fans still held hope for improvements. Those hopes quickly evaporated when it was revealed that the same team would animate the upcoming third episode, leading many to categorize the series as a failure with little chance of redemption.

Concluding Thoughts

Even though episode 3 was animated by the same studio responsible for episode 2, it received a markedly better reception. That said, it doesn’t imply that the anime adaptation has been salvaged, particularly after fans had invested over five years in anticipation.

Jason DeMarco, one of the executive producers of the series, expressed uncertainty about whom to hold accountable for Uzumaki’s current plight, yet he did disclose that external forces played a role in the series getting “screwed over.” This situation runs contrary to the expectations of fans hoping for a faithful adaptation of one of Junji Ito’s celebrated manga.

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