The newest Netflix anime that will adapt the works of manga legend Junji Ito has officially gotten a poster and release date. There are a plethora of famous horror creators in Japan. No matter the medium, some of the most iconic works to scare the living daylights out of people come from the mind of many notable Japanese artists. Whether it be on the big screen with films like Ju-On: The Grudge by Takashi Shimizu or in the pages of the novel Ring by Koji Suzuki, there are so many iconic works from the country that have found love from fans worldwide.
When it comes to manga though, the very first name to come to mind is Junji Ito. Ito's stories are some of the most creative and terrifying to ever exist as they continue to haunt the dreams of readers that constantly beg for more. He's so popular, in fact, that his stories were adapted into an anime called Junji Ito Collection in 2018. Unfortunately, some fans found the short-lived adaptation to be a disappointment when considering the source material based on the strange decision to omit key parts of the stories. Ito's works are getting a new chance to come to the world of anime soon though, and the adapted tales of terror have found a home at Netflix. Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre is an upcoming anime anthology containing countless stories by Junji Ito. The series is expected to have a wide range of talent and bring the delightfully dark world of Junji Ito to Netflix subscribers.
Now, to get fans excited, Collider recently shared a new poster, revealing not just Juji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre's January 19th, 2023 release date but also a terrifying glimpse at what's to come. The poster features a girl standing and looking at a horrific monster in the background. What's even creepier is that the girl's head is no longer on her body, but rather on the floor and smiling at the audience. This imagery is completely in-line with Ito's work that redefines nightmare fuel because of how well it showcases the uncanny and surreal.
Tales of the Macabre Will Feature a Variety of Classic Junji Ito Stories
Back in September, Netflix gave fans a first look at just a few of the horrific stories that will be adapted in Maniac. These stories have been confirmed to include tales from countless Ito collections including Shiver and Tomie with some that haven't even been translated to English yet. In fact, Collider also announced a few more tales that will be a part of the anime including "Ice Cream Truck," "Tomb Town," "Library Vision," and "Headless Sculpture." If the tales that will be featured in this anime are any bit as good as the poster which perfectly recreates Ito's style, this will be a terrific new series that could see a reliable home for future seasons at the streaming service.
Junji Ito Maniac is set to be the first of two anime adaptations of the manga artist's work in 2023 with Adult Swim's Uzumaki expected to release next year as well unless it encounters another delay. Until news breaks on that show though, fans can expect to be satisfied with this wide arrange of stories set to hit Netflix on January 19th. This new poster for the anime is already starting out on the right foot, and if the execution of the series is just as great, Junji Ito fans are sure to rejoice.
Source: Collider
Watch Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre on Netflix January 19th, 2023!