Ah, now let’s talk ’bout this “Japanese Tales of the Macabre” show. Some folks got real excited, reckonin’ it would be all scary and chillin’ cause of that famous artist Junji Ito. This fella, Junji, he’s known far and wide in Japan for his creepy, black-and-white drawings that give folks the shivers right down to their bones. They say his manga work, well, it’s somethin’ else — strange tales where things ain’t always tied up nice and tidy, leavin’ folks wonderin’ what they just saw. So naturally, folks were hoppin’ when Netflix said they’d turn them tales into a TV series.
Now, the show’s called “Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre”, and it sure had folks chattin’. They made a whole season, which came out on January 19, 2023, so the fans could jump right into them weird, spooky stories. But what happened? Well, some people loved it, thought it was right creepy, but others — now they was real disappointed. They said the show just didn’t do justice to Junji’s eerie style, reckonin’ it felt flat and didn’t quite capture that bone-chillin’ fear his manga gives you.
Now, don’t go thinkin’ it’s all bad, though. Let’s break it down a bit:
- Strange Stories, Slow Like Molasses: Ito’s tales ain’t no quick thrillers. Nope, they’re slow-burners, takin’ their sweet time to get under your skin. Folks watchin’ who expected jump-scares every other minute, well, they might be left scratchin’ their heads.
- No Happy Endin’s: These tales are strange, all right, and they don’t always make much sense. If you’re hopin’ for answers, you might be in for a surprise — and not the good kind. Some folks said the show didn’t give ‘em that satisfaction they was hopin’ for, makin’ it feel a bit strange and unfinished.
- The Artwork’s a Bit Off: Now, here’s the thing. Junji Ito’s manga is famous ’cause it’s all in black and white, real spooky-like. But when they turned it into a show, they had to mess with the style a bit, and some folks thought it didn’t do the art justice. They said it lost some of that unique charm his drawings have.
One fella even said that if you’re thinkin’ about watchin’, maybe skip the first episode, ’cause he reckoned it was the weakest of the bunch. Now, ain’t that somethin’? Startin’ a show but skippin’ the start — but that’s just what some people feel!
Now, not everyone was turnin’ their backs on it. There’s a crowd that loves anything horror-related, and they enjoyed the spooky vibe, even if it weren’t exactly like the original manga. They reckon Junji Ito’s got a unique way with horror, givin’ life to things that’s downright strange and unsettling. So, they still think it’s worth a watch, if only to see how them stories look brought to life on screen.
But here’s the big question: Is it worth your time? Well, that depends. If you’re a big fan of Junji Ito’s original manga, you might find yourself wishin’ they’d done things a bit different. But if you just want somethin’ spooky to watch on a dark, stormy night, it might just be what you’re lookin’ for — as long as you don’t mind things that don’t always make a lick of sense.
At the end of the day, this “Japanese Tales of the Macabre” series is kinda like that weird book you find in an old, dusty attic. It’s strange, full of odd tales that don’t fit together right, but there’s somethin’ about it that makes you keep readin’. Maybe it ain’t perfect, but it’s got its own charm, in a creepy kinda way.
Tags:Japanese Tales of the Macabre, Junji Ito Maniac, Junji Ito Anime Review, Japanese Horror Anime, Netflix Horror Series