Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Uzumaki Episode 3!Legendary mangaka Junji Ito has officially made his cameo in the Uzumaki anime, and his role is a perfect fit. Early into the production of Uzumaki, it was announced that Junji Ito would take his first voice-acting role in the long-awaited miniseries. However, details on who he would play were kept top secret to avoid spoilers. Now, the episode featuring his voice has finally premiered, and his role is absolutely perfect.

In Uzumaki‘s third episode, various terrifying chapters from the original Uzumaki manga are adapted at breakneck speed as the town’s spiral curse continues to grow out of control. However, the most intense sequence comes from the anime’s take on “The Storm,” which sees a brutal typhoon tear through Kurouzu-cho. When the eye of the storm spots Kirie, it refuses to leave the town as it calls out to her. It’s an incredibly creepy sequence, but what’s notable about it is that the typhoon’s whispers are voiced by Junji Ito himself.

Junji Ito’s Role as the Typhoon is the Perfect Choice for the Story’s Creator

He’s the Reason for Kurouzu-cho’s Chaos

The decision to give Ito the role of Typhoon #1 is actually pretty inspired. Ito is the creator of Uzumaki‘s story, which means he’s the sole reason behind Kurouzu-cho’s curse. His nightmare-inducing ideas breathe life into the Spiral Curse, especially with Ito’s signature disturbing artwork to accompany it. It only makes sense that his role in the anime adaptation would come in the form of a force of nature that sows chaos in Kurouzu-cho that the story’s characters can’t control. They’re at the storm’s mercy, and there’s nothing they can do to avoid the horrors of what’s coming.

Plus, it’s cool to see that Ito’s cameo in the anime serves as the kicking-off point for what’s to come in Uzumaki‘s upcoming final episode. The manga shows the typhoon as the end of order in Kurouzu-cho leading chaos to take over. Giving Junji Ito this role as the harbinger of destruction is a perfect tribute to the horror author’s legacy. He will forever be known as a mangaka with a unique voice that brings untold horrors to his characters, and in the Uzumaki anime, his role perfectly takes shape as a relentless storm that seeks to turn Kurouzu-cho into an unregulated town of terror.

Junji Ito’s Role as the Typhoon Is Effectively Creepy

He Knocks It Out of the Park Bringing This Evil Force to Life

What’s impressive about Junji Ito’s cameo in Uzumaki is that he nails the creepiness of the typhoon in his original story. He only speaks one word throughout the adaptation, but it matches the sound of the wind blowing through Kurouzu-cho so well. It’s an incredibly haunting whisper, and given that this is his first time lending his voice for a role, it’s a pretty impressive debut. In fact, it’s sure to make fans question what other roles he could have in future adaptations of his work to effectively mirror how scary his stories can be.

It was well worth the wait to finally hear Junji Ito’s voice after years of being hinted to cameo in Uzumaki. The reveal of who he played is remarkably effective, and it serves as a perfect juxtaposition to who he is as the creator of these stories of untold horrors for his characters. The typhoon is a perfect fit for Junji Ito‘s big Uzumaki cameo, and here’s hoping he’ll appear in future projects later down the line.