Gyo: Tokyo Fish Attack

During a seaside graduation trip, Kaori and two friends head to a vacation house in Okinawa. A foul odor leads them to a strange, legged fish that Kaori kills. Gradually more of these mechanized creatures surface, signaling a widening crisis for local wildlife and perhaps the entire ecosystem. Back in Tokyo, Tadashi is also attacked by the same kind of creature, revealing that the problem reaches far beyond the islands. Worried for Tadashi, Kaori teams with Shirakawa, a determined videographer chasing answers. Their search spirals into a perilous investigation as the two race to understand the source of the outbreak before it swallows others. They follow clues across coastal towns, hoping to halt the spread before it reaches the mainland.

Produced and directed by Takayuki Hirao, this 2012 animated horror adapts Junji Ito's manga Gyo with Akihiro Yoshida contributing to the project. It features the voices of Mirai Kataoka, Takuma Negishi, Ami Taniguchi, Masami Saeki and Hiroshi Okazaki, among others.

Box office data for this limited release isn't widely reported, reflecting its niche appeal. It did not emerge as a mainstream blockbuster, instead attracting fans of anime horror and Junji Ito's work, often via festival showings and specialized screenings worldwide.

Gyo occupies a distinctive place among Ito adaptations thanks to its offbeat premise blending gross-out biology with machine-like predators. It's discussed in horror circles for its striking visual concepts and the way it riffs on ecological dread and urban myths.

Critics have noted the film's bold visuals and unsettling ideas, though pacing and coherence show uneven moments. The film also probes the cost of human meddling with nature and order. Some viewers praise the creativity of its aquatic monsters while others call the pacing uneven yet acknowledge its memorable atmosphere.