Junji Ito is one of the most iconic horror manga authors of all time, renowned for his mind-bendingly terrifying stories that leave readers with a sense of dread that’s hard to shake. His stories have been adapted into animated episodes in Netflix’s new anthology, Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre. While the adaptation offers a good introduction to Ito’s work, it ultimately fails to capture the full terror of the original stories. 

The anthology is comprised of four stories, “The Enigma of Amigara Fault," “Souichi’s Convenient Curse,” “The Long Dream,” and “Hell Doll Funeral.” Each story is loosely based on Ito’s manga but with a few key differences. The stories are told in a much more rushed and condensed way, which makes it difficult to really sink into the atmosphere and terror created by the original stories. Ito’s work is known for its gradual escalation of horror, which the anthology fails to capture. 

However, the anthology does a good job at recreating some of the key elements of Ito’s work. The stories are still dark and disturbing, with a keen focus on body horror and a creeping sense of dread. The animation is able to capture some of the eerie black and white images that the manga is known for, with the characters’ faces often taking on a grotesque, inhuman look. 

Ultimately, Junji Ito Maniac is an enjoyable watch for horror fans and a good introduction to Ito’s work. It’s a good way to sample some of his stories without having to read through the original manga. However, the anthology fails to capture the full terror of Ito’s work, which is why it’s worth picking up the original manga to experience the full horror. 

Junji Ito Maniac is a chilling introduction to Japanese Tales of the Macabre. Have you watched the anthology yet? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts!