Junji Ito, author of beloved works such asUzumakiand theTomiesaga, is arguably the most popular and successful horror manga creator of recent years. His stories have terrified and fascinated entire generations of fans, allowing them to experience what true fear feels like. Lamentably, despite how amazing his tales tend to be, their anime adaptations are not.
The latest show based on the author’s works,Uzumaki, quickly became a disappointmentfor audiences, with uneven pacing, questionable cuts to the story, and animation that left much to be desired. However, a new anime is currently being produced, one that hopes to redeem the previous attempts at capturing Ito’s horror.
Junji Ito’s Crimson Could Be What Horror Fans Await
The Series Will Adapt Some of the Most Popular Tales From the Author
Throughout the years, many anime adaptations of Junji Ito’s beloved horror tales have been created, but have been unable to transmit the same level of terror that the author’s stories do. Shows based onIto’s best-written manga, such as 2024’sUzumaki, were admirable efforts that ultimately failed to be as impactful as the source material.
Nonetheless, not all hope is lost for the author’s fans, as a new anime adaptation has recently been announced. This latest entry, known asJunji Ito Crimson, was revealed to the world during Japan Expo 2025, being held in Paris, France. While no reports were made about the stories being adapted, hype has already begun to rise among the fandom.
The series will be distributed outside of Japan via Crunchyroll, although no release date was given during the initial announcement. Theopening song, “Karasu Ageha”, will be performed by the famous Japanese artist Yumi Matsutoya. Further details concerning the content and release date of the show are expected to be released in the coming months.
Could Crimson Redeem Junji Ito Adaptations?
The Series Must Not Commit the Same Mistakes as Its Predecessors
Despite the initial excitement that the announcement ofJunji Ito Crimssoncaused among fans, concerns have been raised about the performance of the upcoming show. Past attempts at adapting the author’s manga have proven how hard it is to transmit fear effectively in stories likeUzumaki. The anime began strong, withits first episode becoming an instant hit.
Still, from there on, the quality began rapidly declining, with static animation and changes to the story that made little to no sense.Crimsonwill have a unique opportunity to learn from its predecessors and create what could become one of the best horror anime of all time, even though it will be no easy task.
Junji Ito’s works are heavily reliant on their bizarre and unnerving drawing style, which causes fear in the reader with a single glance. Adapting these panels into anime is hard, as it requires patience and hard work. Yet, the first episode of theUzumakianime proves it can be done, making it easier for Crimson to impress fans in the near future.
