When Uzumaki anime was announced, it took the internet by storm. Like most readers and viewers, I too was excited to see how it’d play out. However, to my disappointment, the anime was reduced to a comedy and failed the manga tremendously. This is precisely why some series are better left alone.
Yes, I’m talking about Berserk and its possible adaptations. There have been two so far, and while the 1997 is nostalgic and artsy. The recent one, however, rained on everyone’s parade. But that has more to do with Kentaro Miura being a key reason behind it. Why, you ask? Let’s find out.
Kentaro Miura’s opus Berserk should be left alone
Berserk lives up to its title as a Seinen masterpiece and rightly so. The series is imbued with depth and gravity especially when it comes to its psychological themes. It unpacks some of the disturbing and hard-hitting elements in the plot through its characters.
Casca and Guts are a perfect example of that, where fans often consider it trauma bonding. But there is more to their dynamic considering their experiences. The trauma becomes a common thread that binds them, yes. But it also helps them be a pillar for each other and there’s more to it.
Through his story, Kentaro Miura expands the horizons of taboo. Be it abuse, loss or suffering, the series is thought-provoking by the end of the day. It unpacks these elements most disturbingly, which is why it isn’t for the weak heart.
Other than that, its charm and appeal lie in Miura’s art style. There are very few manga that are the embodiment of craftsmanship and his work is one such example. Every panel is laid out in such an intricate manner that one cannot help but remain awestruck, which is why the IP holders clapped back.
Redditors on r/anime responded to a fan animation being shut down by copyright holders. Some fussed about it but in my opinion, the move is valid and necessary considering the authenticity and accuracy of the art style. It doesn’t even have to do anything with budget.
For starters, if you were to carefully look at Miura’s each panel, it is well-detailed and well-put. It is an understatement to call it art considering how surreal it looks. It should be admired and left alone considering how some reduced one of the horror masterpieces into a caricature.
Uzumaki spiralled down to its failure
Uzumaki didn’t make me coil into fear but spiral down into disappointment like many other viewers. Having read the manga, I had my hopes up and kept my faith till the last moment. The pacing and the flattening of details dampened my spirits, but that was not the end of it all.
The anime was a bummer all along, especially with how it treated some of the most blood-curdling and spine-chilling stories in the manga. Jack-in-the-box is one such story that by consensus was done poorly. I’m sure it had most of us facepalming by that time but there’s a reason why it all fell flat.
Junji Ito’s style is something so meticulous that most animators cannot recreate. We’ve seen how Tales of the Macabre made it almost funny with its muted tones and pastel colors. It almost felt like an 80s cartoon per se, which toyed with our emotional investment, but it saddened the mangaka more.
To have your work be stripped of the details and be reduced to a caricature is jarring. But to have it done thrice is a total nightmare which is precisely why I feel Berserk doesn’t need an anime adaptation anytime soon.
Uzumaki is available for streaming on Adult Swim’s Toonami. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media. Berserk is available for streaming on Netflix. The manga is available for reading on the Dark Horse Comics website.
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