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From its gore to violence,Parasyteis one of the finest shonen series. This is especially true with Hitoshi Iwaaki’s use of body horror. While one may associate this aspect with Junji Ito, Iwaaki isn’t far behind.
His illustrations are capable of invoking repugnance within readers. Furthermore, the series is an underappreciated gem in the horror genre. And like most iconic manga, it borrowed elements from canonical works.
The mangaka revealed the inspirations behind his magnum opus. Surprisingly, it isn’tNarutoorOne Piecethat inspired the series. On the contrary, two iconic mangas influenced Iwaaki’s masterpiece.
What’s even more interesting is that the series borders on the dark and gore aspects through its body horror. It is this aspect that sets it apart from other thriller and horror series.
The Shonen mangas that inspiredParasyte
Parasyteis one of the most underappreciated series in the horror and thriller genre. Written by Hitoshi Iwaaki, it follows Shinichi Izumi’s journey as a hybrid human. Shinichi is among the few humans who are infected by one of the extraterrestrial parasites.
By maintaining a symbiotic relationship with the parasite Migi, he helps the city. In doing so, he incapacitated the parasites that threaten the whole of humanity. And there’s more to it.
The series outlines the conflict between parasites and humans. Amidst the unpalatable and gory violence, hope exists. That too, is in the form of a symbiotic relationship. Iwaaki adds a sprinkle of humaneness to his villains.
This is especially true with Reiko Tamura’s maternal instinct despite her consumption by the parasite. These moments of humanity are what make it an underrated masterpiece. Like most mangaka, however, Iwaaki borrowed influences for his works.
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In aninterview, the mangaka revealed the influences for his work. Surprisingly, it isn’tNarutoorOne Piecebut 2 iconic masterpieces. He quoted:
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki, Berserk by Kentaro Miura. I suppose what they have in common is that they’re all very imaginative and expressive. A pretty uninteresting answer, but anyway.
Interestingly, Iwaaki’s manga is laden with violence and gore. It is no surprise that he statedBerserkas one of his favorites. This is clear with his use of body horror and gore in the series.
Hitoshi Iwaaki redefined gore with his use of body horror
From the very first episode of the series, viewers are introduced to horrifying visuals. It is clear with the shredded and disfigured bodies. Iwaaki redefines gore and grotesque through his use ofbody horror. The visuals get worse with the intensification of horror.
This is especially true with the parasites that consume the human brain. A perfect example of this is Shinichi’s father. We’re instantly reminded of Demogorgon fromStranger Things. However, it is more sinister and menacing. And there’s more to it.
Shinichi’s fusion with Migi is rather palatable compared to other parasite hybrids. The series explores pure carnage and macabre themes through body horror. From disjointed heads to morphed bodies, the series outline grotesque in every possible sense. It doesn’t, however, stop at blood and gore.
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The series is a macabre march in every sense. Especially with its outlining of carnage. The body horror is only one aspect of the series. What makes it remarkable is the visuals and the compelling storyline. Iwaaki underscored the human and parasite conflict brilliantly through his storytelling.
Parasyteis available for streaming on Crunchyroll.Jojo’s Bizarre AdventureandBerserkare available for reading on Viz Media.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
