Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (Japanese: 伊藤潤二『マニアック』, Hepburn: Itō Junji Maniakku) is a Japanese anthologyhorrororiginal net animation (ONA) series produced by Studio Deen and directed by Shinobu Tagashira. It adapts various stories from Junji Ito, including The Hanging Balloons, Sōichi, and Tomie. It was released on Netflix in January 2023.
The series was originally announced on June 8, 2022; the series was announced to adapt stories from Junji Ito's The Hanging Balloons, Sōichi, and Tomie manga.[6] The series is directed by Shinobu Tagashira and produced by Studio Deen, with Kaoru Sawada writing the scripts and Yuki Hayashi composing the music, all of whom worked on the previous anthology series adapting Ito's works, Junji Ito Collection.[7] The series premiered on Netflix on January 19, 2023.[3] The opening theme song is "Paranoid" by MADKID, while the ending theme song is "Iu Toori" (云う透り) by Jyocho.[8]
Episodes
No.
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
1
"The Strange Hikizuri Siblings: The Seance"(The Strange Hikizuri Siblings: The Seance) Transliteration: "Kaiki hikizuri kyōdai: Kōreikai" (Japanese: 怪奇ひきずり兄弟・降霊会)
A photographer with an interest in spirits and ghosts pays a visit to the very strange and creepy home where the six Hikizuri siblings live.
2
"Story of the Mysterious Tunnel/Ice Cream Bus"(The Story of the Mysterious Tunnel/Ice Cream Truck) Transliteration: "Tonneru kitan/Aisu kurīmu basu" (Japanese: トンネル奇譚/アイスクリームバス)
Shinobu Tagashira
Junji Ito & Kaoru Sawada
January 19, 2023 (2023-01-19)
Goro returns to the tunnel he saw his mother once walk into. An ice cream truck arrives in the neighborhood, driven by a bewitching young man.
After a popular idol dies by what appears to be suicide, there are multiple sightings of her giant, grotesque head floating in the sky.
4
"Four x Four Walls/The Sandman’s Lair"(Four x Four Walls/The Sandman’s Lair) Transliteration: "Yonjū kabe no heya/Suima no heya" (Japanese: 四重壁の部屋/睡魔の部屋)
Shinobu Tagashira
Junji Ito & Kaoru Sawada
January 19, 2023 (2023-01-19)
Koichi can’t study because his younger brother Soichi is constantly making noise. Tormented by his dreams, Yuji asks his friend Mari to keep him awake.
5
"Intruder/Long Hair in the Attic"(Intruder/The Long Hair in the Attic) Transliteration: "Shinnyūsha/Yaneura no nagai kami" (Japanese: 侵入者/屋根裏の長い髪)
Shinobu Tagashira
Junji Ito & Kaoru Sawada
January 19, 2023 (2023-01-19)
Oshikiri has been hearing strange footsteps in the house he lives in alone. Chiemi wakes up to find a rat stuck in her long, black hair.
A year after renting his house to Mr. Rogi, Akasaka finds mold growing everywhere. Koko's husband Goro is obsessed with maintaining his library.
7
"Tomb Town"(Tomb Town) Transliteration: "Bohyō no machi" (Japanese: 墓標の町)
Shinobu Tagashira
Junji Ito & Kaoru Sawada
January 19, 2023 (2023-01-19)
After hitting a girl with his car, Tsuyoshi and his sister Kaoru find that the road they're driving on is blocked by countless tombstones.
8
"Layers of Terror/The Thing that Drifted Ashore"(Layers of Fear/The Thing that Drifted Ashore) Transliteration: "Kyōfu no jūsō/Hyōchaku-butsu" (Japanese: 恐怖の重層/漂着物)
Shinobu Tagashira
Junji Ito & Kaoru Sawada
January 19, 2023 (2023-01-19)
When an accident causes her to lose half her face, Reimi discovers that her younger selves still exist inside her. An eerie sea creature drifts ashore.
