The long-anticipated horror anime Uzumaki, based on Junji Ito’s iconic late ‘90s manga, recently returned to the small screen with its highly awaited second episode. Fans had high hopes for the series, but the second episode left many disappointed and puzzled due to a noticeable decline in animation quality.
After a strong start with episode one, the animation in the second episode fell short, leaving viewers confused. Clips of awkward, stilted scenes went viral on social media, with fans sharing their frustration. “The quality drop in episode 2 of Uzumaki is actually embarrassing wow,” one fan wrote. Another simply lamented, “My day is ruined.”
The stark drop in quality seemed too drastic to be just a coincidence, sparking speculation about what might have gone wrong behind the scenes.
Cryptic Explanation From an Executive Producer
Jason DeMarco, an executive producer at Adult Swim, offered a vague explanation on the social platform Bluesky, but his comments were quickly deleted. However, the message had already circulated widely across Twitter and Reddit. “I can’t talk about what went down, but we were screwed over,” DeMarco stated. “The options were: A) not finish and air nothing and call it a loss, B) just finish and air episode 1 and leave it incomplete, or C) run all four, warts and all. Out of respect for the hard work, we chose C.”
DeMarco hinted that certain individuals were responsible for the poor production quality but refrained from naming them. He defended the decision to continue airing the series despite the issues, saying, “I didn’t think the actions of just one or two people should be the reason it never saw the light of day.”
Adult Swim has yet to provide an official comment on the matter.
A Horror Manga With High Expectations
Uzumaki, set in a quiet Japanese village plagued by a mysterious curse involving spiral shapes, is a beloved work known for its eerie and intricate artwork. Fans had high expectations for the anime adaptation, given the five-year wait and meticulous planning for the series, which is set to run for four episodes on Toonami.
Initially teased in 2019, the production of Uzumaki suffered significant delays due to the pandemic. “The pandemic completely stopped production on the show for close to a year. It was the single biggest impact,” DeMarco told Vulture in a recent interview. “Our crew was small, so having even a few members and their families getting deathly ill was a huge blow to both the production and our morale. It was very challenging to bring the show back from the dead.”
Despite these setbacks, there had been no indication of major compromises in the production quality leading up to the premiere. Now, fans are left wondering what happened to derail the team’s original vision and whether the show can recover in episode three, or if the struggles will persist.
Larger Industry Issues?
The sudden drop in quality also raises questions about the broader state of the production. Some fans have speculated that the troubled release could be another casualty of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s aggressive cost-cutting measures, which have impacted other areas of the company’s operations, including Cartoon Network.
As viewers await the third episode, many are left wondering if the show will regain its footing or continue to spiral into further disappointment—just like the cursed vortexes in Uzumaki itself.
For now, the mystery surrounding Uzumaki remains unsolved.
Related Topics
Is Detective Conan Longer Than One Piece?
What Is Detective Conan’s Popularity in China?
What Is The Silver Bullet In Detective Conan?