How Squid Game Was Inspired by the Brutal Manga Kaiji

Discover the striking similarities between the popular Netflix series Squid Game and the gruesome manga Kaiji that served as its inspiration. Explore the brutal world of deadly games and the desperate characters who will go to extreme lengths to escape their dire circumstances. Learn how Squid Game drew inspiration from Kaiji and other manga centered around survival in death games. Dive into the dark side of human desperation and the chilling consequences of pursuing easy money.

The Brutal Inspiration Behind Squid Game: Exploring the Manga Kaiji

The Netflix original series Squid Game has gained immense popularity for its violent and brutal depiction of a fictional world. However, the manga that served as inspiration for the series, Kaiji, is even more gruesome and merciless.

( Credit to: Screenrant )

Squid Game revolves around Seong Gi-hun, a man living in the impoverished slums of South Korea. He is offered a chance to participate in a series of games that could potentially eliminate his massive debt and make him wealthy. Alongside 455 other desperate individuals, he enters the deadly games where most contestants meet their demise. While the show has captivated audiences worldwide, a similar premise has been explored in various forms of media, including the manga that inspired Squid Game.

( Credit to: Screenrant )

Kaiji, created by Nobuyuki Fukumoto, predates the Netflix series by several years but shares striking similarities. The Japanese manga, which debuted in 1996, follows the character Kaiji Ito, who has squandered his education and become entangled in gambling and debt. Facing the threat of loan sharks, Kaiji is presented with an opportunity to earn a vast sum of money. However, the stakes are high, and losing means a violent death. The series features a range of gambles, from simple games like Rock, Paper, Scissors to deadly challenges that push contestants to their limits.

The Influence of Manga on Squid Game

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk acknowledges the influence of manga on his work. He mentions reading comics centered around survival in death games, including Liar Game, Kaiji, and Battle Royale. While Kaiji is just one of the inspirations behind Squid Game, it played a significant role in shaping the final product.

The parallels between Squid Game and Kaiji are evident. Both stories revolve around protagonists who have wasted their lives pursuing easy money and find themselves indebted to violent loan sharks. The most glaring similarity lies in the nature of the games themselves. Winning offers the chance for immense wealth, while losing results in a gruesome death. However, the key difference lies in the level of brutality depicted in the deaths of the losers.

The Brutality of Kaiji: Taking Deadly Games to New Heights

Squid Game’s deaths are straightforward, typically involving gunshots or fatal falls depending on the game. In contrast, Kaiji portrays the demise of its losers in increasingly creative and horrifying ways. The manga features impalement, dismemberment, brutal beatings, and deadly games of chance while falling from great heights. These gruesome methods of execution add an extra layer of dread to each contest, making Kaiji’s games far more brutal than those depicted in Squid Game.

It is clear that Squid Game drew inspiration from Kaiji and other manga exploring the theme of survival in deadly games. While Squid Game captivated audiences with its intense violence, the manga that influenced it takes brutality to even greater heights. Both series offer a chilling look into the dark side of human desperation and the lengths people will go to escape their dire circumstances.