‘Uzumaki’ English Dub Episode 1 Review: An OCD Nightmare

Review Score – 8.0: ‘Uzumaki’ will have you never looking at spirals the same way again. The upcoming Adult Swim horror anime spotlights a mentally ill father’s Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and how his untreated condition ends up cursing the whole town.

Warning: This Uzumaki Series Premiere Review contains spoilers.

Uzumaki is a twisted, fresh take on the anime horror genre, and an OCD suffer’s worst nightmare. The series is led by protagonist Shuichi Saito, who watches his troubled father deteriorate due to an obsession with seeing & making spirals everywhere. Perhaps, most startling are Mr. Saito’s third party enablers.

Shuichi’s dad making spirals. Art Credit: Based on the original graphic novel “UZUMAKI” by Junji ITO published by Shogakukan Inc. (c) Junji ITO, Shogakukan / Production I.G., LLC

From allowing Shuichi’s father to commission art pieces resembling spirals… To laughing off the whole thing as eccentric like Shuichi’s girlfriend.

Ultimately, Mr. Saito’s family allows him to ‘spiral’ out of control into full blown madness by being complacent. They let Mr. Saito indulge in his condition instead of getting him immediate professional help. There’s endless warning signs like Mr. Saito needing to make whirlpools (spirals) in bathtubs before he bathes.

Art Credit: Based on the original graphic novel “UZUMAKI” by Junji ITO published by Shogakukan Inc. (c) Junji ITO, Shogakukan / Production I.G., LLC

Meanwhile, outsiders don’t want to get personally involved with the situation or are simply unaware by Suichi shielding his father’s dramatic turn. Perhaps, Suichi fears his father being laughed at like girlfriend Kirie Goshima’s instinctive responsive. Or that they would flee in absolute disgust like when Suichi’s father shows he ‘can make spirals’ on his own.

Art Credit: Based on the original graphic novel “UZUMAKI” by Junji ITO published by Shogakukan Inc. (c) Junji ITO, Shogakukan / Production I.G., LLC

But more so Suichi makes no secret that he just wants to escape the whole issue and flee the town. Suichi believes the town is cursed and is convinced further as such when Azami Kurotani’s crescent shape forehead scar begins to turn into a spiral. He warns her to leave the town before it’s too late.

Art Credit: Based on the original graphic novel “UZUMAKI” by Junji ITO published by Shogakukan Inc. (c) Junji ITO, Shogakukan / Production I.G., LLC

Many in the gaming community may have great memories of spirals from the Sega Dreamcast 9/9/99 era. ‘Uzumaki’ is similar to A Clockwork Orange’s take on music in that it takes something people like (Beethoven’s 9th Symphony) and turns spirals into something to fear.

Visually, the dedication to keep this anime looking like a black and white manga is commendable. It also stands out from the plethora of endless Isekai animes as something unique.

Art Credit: Based on the original graphic novel “UZUMAKI” by Junji ITO published by Shogakukan Inc. (c) Junji ITO, Shogakukan / Production I.G., LLC

The ending scene with Azami Kurotani’s entire face becoming a spiral (like the lead image of this article) is a sight you won’t soon forget. Having the spiral suck everything into itself like a vacuum or black hole really intrigues the imagination. One thing to be clear, this is an anime for adults through and through. It’s not a good idea to show this series to youngsters, they might have legit nightmares.

But for adults, the Uzumaki anime adaption is multi-layered and full of depth. From Shuichi’s mom suffering PTSD and seeing spirals (and her husband) everywhere herself from hair buns to fingerprints… To the need to cater & ‘comfort’ her mental state by wearing gloves and hats. Uzumaki’s anime adaption is one to watch. A gateway adaptation of Junji Ito’s (creator) library of work.

Uzumaki Episode 1. Art Credit: Based on the original graphic novel “UZUMAKI” by Junji ITO published by Shogakukan Inc. (c) Junji ITO, Shogakukan / Production I.G., LLC

Uzumaki English Dub Cast – Series Premiere Leads:

Kirie Goshima Voice Actors in ‘Uzumaki’. Art Credit: Based on the original graphic novel “UZUMAKI” by Junji ITO published by Shogakukan Inc. (c) Junji ITO, Shogakukan / Production I.G., LLC

When it come’s to Uzumaki’s dub cast, Abby Trott’s voice was immediatley recognizable. I previously enjoyed her role as Akane Kinoshita in My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999. Mr. Saito’s dub actor Aaron LaPlante is the standout voice here overall with Cristina Vee a close runner up as Yukie Saito and Azami Kurotani in Episode 1.

Azami Kurotani VAs in ‘Uzumaki’. Art Credit: Based on the original graphic novel “UZUMAKI” by Junji ITO published by Shogakukan Inc. (c) Junji ITO, Shogakukan / Production I.G., LLC

The English voice cast does a solid job moving the story forward and doesn’t take precedence over the story or distract from it.

Shuichi Saito VAs (Dub: Robbie Draymond) in ‘Uzumaki’. Art Credit: Based on the original graphic novel “UZUMAKI” by Junji ITO published by Shogakukan Inc. (c) Junji ITO, Shogakukan / Production I.G., LLC

Robby Dramond voices protagonist Suichi Saito and Kirie’s father is voiced by Doug Stone.

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