With a career that stretches across nearly 40 years of game design, Hideo Kojima is one of the most experienced developers in the industry. Kojima’s work isn’t just about gameplay; it’s about provoking thought and reflection. Apart from being the mastermind behind the Metal Gear and Death Stranding franchises, Kojima is well known for sharing his love for the anime and manga industry.
Hideo Kojima is on friendly terms with iconic horror manga artist Junji Ito and has known each other for almost 30 years. Junji Ito’s manga has been adapted to both film and anime television series, with upcoming Uzumaki being the most anticipated series for September.
Interestingly, Kojima recently posted a manga recommendation from none other than horror author Junji Ito, and surprisingly, it wasn’t his famous work Uzumaki.
Uzumaki Creator’s Manga Recommendation That Thrilled Hideo Kojima
In the world of horror manga, few names evoke as much admiration and fear as Junji Ito, widely regarded as the most influential horror manga artist. The multiple award-winning 60-year-old artist is famed for his black-and-white graphic novels and short stories revolving around dark themes. Not to forget, Junji Ito’s upcoming horror anime, Uzumaki, series trailer, has become a hot topic in the community.
After years of delays, the four-episode series from Production I.G. is set to premiere on September 28, bringing Ito’s haunting spiral-themed horror to life. While fans eagerly await the release of Uzumaki‘s adaptation, Junji Ito had a distinct suggestion for his friend’s dark-themed manga venture—one that isn’t his own work.
Hideo Kojima recently shared their latest manga purchase, following Junji Ito’s recommendation. Junji Ito’s recommendation is already winning fans over, sparking their interest to dive in and start reading.
I bought “Saturn Return” by Akane Torikai, the manga that Junji Ito had recommended me. pic.twitter.com/JLJNM3VkCP
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) August 14, 2024
Surprisingly, Ito didn’t spotlight a horror story, but rather a psychological manga: Saturn Return by Akane Torikai. The Saturn Return series by Akane Torikai is indeed one of the most renowned and celebrated psychology manga.
It features the story of Kaji Ritsuko, who is suffering from a creative block after her first successful novel. She later learns about the tragic news of her friend’s suicide, who had been her inspiration. The manga follows themes like loss and depression with a fair share of mystery, captivating many readers to the end.
Junji Ito Reveals His Obsession with the Horror Genre
Adult Swim has finally unveiled the first trailer for its highly anticipated anime adaptation of Junji Ito’s iconic horror manga, Uzumaki. After years of delay, fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming series Uzumaki‘s release and witnessing the legendary horror mangaka’s mastery of dark themes come to life on the big screen.
Besides Uzumaki, Ito has been writing horror manga for over thirty years; naturally making fans question his obsession with exploring horror as a genre. The legendary mangaka once shared that his long-standing fascination with horror stems from his early exposure to the works of Kazuo Umezu and global horror films. He also adds:
Horror tends to stimulate an interest in the extremes of existence, like curiosity, fear, and the grotesque. I think that’s why I’ve been interested in it for so long.
Nevertheless, the news of Uzumaki‘s anime adaptation release has taken the entire internet by storm. As an award-winning manga artist, Junji Ito‘s creation is expected to revolutionize the horror anime spectrum. Interestingly, Uzumaki revolves around a simple concept — the spiral.
The iconic horror manga artist revealed the inspiration behind this unique concept came from Ito’s childhood memories of living in a long-row house.
Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror will be available to watch on Adult Swim’s Toonami from 28th September.
