Junji Ito, often hailed as the Stephen King of horror manga, has long set the benchmark for the genre. His terrifying narratives are complemented by hauntingly captivating artwork. The anime adaptation of his iconic “Uzumaki” series is set to launch on Blu-ray on September 9, available in two versions, including a Limited Edition Steelbook.
Priced at $35, the Limited Edition Steelbook for the anime features a striking design that beautifully embodies Ito`s distinctive art style and the unsettling essence of spirals. A standard edition Blu-ray is also available for $20.
The steelbook`s cover is captivating, and it opens to reveal portraits of characters Shuichi Saito and Kirie Goshima. The anime adaptation, despite its relatively short runtime of 96 minutes across four episodes, includes bonus content such as trailers, promotional videos, and an art gallery.
The standard edition comes in a regular plastic case with a cardboard sleeve. It features the same on-disc bonus content as the Limited Edition Steelbook.
For those unfamiliar with the original manga, “Uzumaki” is a globally acclaimed horror series set in a town where an obsession with spirals gradually drives the inhabitants to madness, distorting both their bodies and minds. Protagonists Shuichi Saito and Kirie Goshima find themselves caught in this escalating horror, desperately seeking an escape. The anime adaptation, initially announced in 2019, experienced numerous delays before its eventual broadcast in late 2024.
The production delays were primarily due to the studio`s extensive efforts to meticulously animate Ito`s highly intricate artwork. However, the anime`s reception has been lukewarm. While it serves as an acceptable companion to the manga, the series experiences a noticeable decline in quality following its strong first episode. Some viewers might even find the adaptation of such a revered manga onto widescreen TVs to be a different kind of horror itself.
Fans seeking more animated adaptations of Junji Ito`s works can consider the “Junji Ito Collection: The Complete Series” Blu-ray, which includes 24 episodes drawing from his “Masterpiece Collection,” “Fragments of Horror,” and “Shiver” stories.
Explore Junji Ito`s Manga Collections
Ultimately, the “Uzumaki” anime serves as an excellent gateway to the superior original manga. The complete saga is currently available in a hardcover deluxe edition for an affordable price of $20. This 3-in-1 Deluxe Edition spans 648 pages of timeless, groundbreaking horror.
“Uzumaki” is not the only Junji Ito manga available in a cost-effective Deluxe Edition. The extensive 752-page hardcover omnibus of “Tomie” is currently discounted to just $19. “Tomie” presents a collection of unsettling stories centered around a woman whose unnatural beauty drives men to obsession and ultimately, to murder her. Another notable work, “Gyo,” offered in a 2-in-1 Deluxe Edition, features Ito`s disturbing and inventive narrative about a bizarre sea monster and other strange phenomena.
Several new story collections by Ito are also available for pre-order. “Moan,” releasing in October, compiles six stories across 272 hardcover pages. Looking further ahead, “Statues,” Ito`s story collection, is slated for release in March 2026. This 328-page volume will contain 10 horror and suspense tales, promising classic Ito-esque narratives ranging from a chilling story of an art teacher creating headless statues to a peculiar illness that enhances girls` beauty before their demise.
Below is a comprehensive list of additional Junji Ito manga titles. This selection includes works both written and illustrated by Ito, as well as those where he provided illustrations for other writers. For fans interested in a more interactive experience, there are also Junji Ito adult coloring books, including one themed around “Uzumaki” and another set for an August release. To delve into Ito`s creative process and learn how he crafts his renowned manga, consider his memoir, “Uncanny: The Origins of Fear,” released last fall.
Junji Ito Manga Titles:
- Alley: Story Collection (Hardcover) – $22.74
- Black Paradox (Hardcover) – $15.36
- Deserter: Story Collection (Hardcover) – $16.69
- Dissolving Classroom: Collector`s Edition (Hardcover) – $17.84
- Dissolving Classroom (Paperback) – $11.73
- Fragments of Horror (Hardcover) – $22.32
- Frankenstein: Story Collection (Hardcover) – $17.50
- Gyo 2-in-1 Deluxe Edition (Hardcover) – $22.74
- Junji Ito`s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu (Paperback) – $10.59
- The Liminal Zone (Hardcover) – $14.50
- The Liminal Zone, Vol. 2 (Hardcover) – $18.30
- Lovesickness: Story Collection (Hardcover) – $16.77
- Mimi`s Tales of Terror (Hardcover) – $19
- Moan: Story Collection (Hardcover) – $23.25 | Releases October 7
- No Longer Human (Hardcover) – $30
- Remina (Hardcover) – $20.36
- Sensor (Hardcover) – $14
- Shiver: Selected Stories (Hardcover) – $17.89
- Smashed: Story Collection (Hardcover) – $21.63
- Soichi: Story Collection (Hardcover) – $19.74
- Statues: Story Collection (Hardcover) – $23.25 | Releases March 24, 2026
- Stitches (Hardcover) – $16.74
- Tombs: Story Collection (Hardcover) – $16
- Tomie Complete Deluxe Edition (Hardcover) – $18.95
- Uncanny: The Origins of Fear (Hardcover) – $20
- Uzumaki 3-in-1 Deluxe Edition (Hardcover) – $20
- Venus in the Blind Spot (Hardcover) – $16.50
Coloring & Art Books:
- The Art of Junji Ito: Twisted Visions (Hardcover) – $20
- Junji Ito Collection: A Horror Coloring Book – $11.84
- Junji Ito Collection: A Twisted Horror Coloring Book – $16 | Releases August 12
- Uzumaki Coloring Book – $10.84