One Piece Animator Explains Sudden Deterioration of Uzumaki's Quality. „Western Producers are Trash”

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of immersion in the anime world, I must say that the Uzumaki debacle has left me quite disheartened and bewildered. It’s not often that we see such a promising series falter so drastically, especially after years of anticipation. The shifting sands of production houses and studios involved have certainly added to the mystery surrounding this tale.


As a devoted anime fan, I’ve been left reeling by the rollercoaster ride that is Uzumaki. After years of anticipation, the series finally dropped, only for its quality to nosedive from episode one to two. It was baffling at first, but upon closer inspection, it became clear that there were some shady goings-on behind the scenes.

Currently, a skilled animator who has contributed to projects like One Piece, Boruto, Tokyo Ghoul, and more, is offering insights on this topic. Henry Thurlow posits that the issue may stem from Western producers who preferred expediting the production process by switching studios mid-work, potentially sacrificing the time needed for a polished final product. It’s important to note that these are just his speculations, as he is not privy to the specific circumstances surrounding Uzumaki.

There’s a lot I’d love to share about the adaptation of Uzumaki, but it’s too much for tweets. In brief, although I can’t claim to know the inner workings of Uzumaki’s production, it was long promoted as an Instagram series. However, right before its release, it was suddenly labeled as “IG & (not even an Instagram subsidiary)”, which came as a surprise given the significant difference in quality between the two companies.

I’m really not sure who to blame.

One Piece‘s animator pointed out that Uzumaki‘s case is not an isolated one.

Absolutely, creators require time and funds to produce remarkable work. Frankly, it’s disheartening to see Instagram, once a platform brimming with innovative ideas, seemingly dragging its feet on project completions these days. It seems like each passing year brings fewer achievements than the one before.

For clarification, let me express my thoughts in a more straightforward manner: It’s important to make things clear. I hold a deep affection for Instagram (IG). I fondly remember the days when IG, Madhouse, and 4C were thriving and frequently engaged in fierce competition. However, it appears that they have struggled to consistently deliver outstanding work as they once did. It seems that even small tasks require considerable time from them. In regards to the creation of “Uzumaki“, I strongly suspect that a Western producer is primarily responsible for the delay. “This process is moving too slowly, so compel another studio to complete it without regard for its appearance.” I am confident that this is how the situation unfolded.

Once more, it appears that anime produced in the West is facing issues due to the fact that Western creators often lack the necessary expertise. For instance, recent productions by Kawajiri, the unfinished Alien vs Predator anime, and now Uzumaki. Over and over again, I find myself frustrated by the disrespect shown towards Japanese anime artists and studios.

Initially planned for animation by Drive studio, “Uzumaki” was ultimately produced by Adult Swim and Production IG. However, subsequent information reveals that both Akatsuki and Drive were intended to handle the animation. Interestingly, upon examining the credits following the series premiere, it appears that the first episode was animated by Fugaku, while the second episode was handled by Akatsuki.

As a gamer, I may not be privy to the backstage drama on Uzumaki, but DeMarco’s latest insights have me leaning towards one of three paths. The first is to walk away from the project altogether, the second is to publish just the polished initial episode, and lastly, to push forward with lower quality episodes for now.

To date, we’ve watched the first two episodes of Uzumaki, with new episodes scheduled for release on October 13th and 20th on Max.

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2024-10-10 17:02