Junji Ito’s new live-action TV series finally gets his horror comics right
Adapting manga artist Junji Ito’s horror works has consistently challenged creators, as his stories derive terror not merely from grotesque imagery but from psychological unraveling driven by obsession, love, vanity, and compulsion. Previous attempts, particularly Adult Swim’s anime adaptation of Uzumaki, failed to capture this essence, leaving room for a genuine reckoning with Ito’s creative vision.
Junji Ito: Strange, a new live-action anthology series, may have cracked the code. The show premiered its opening episode at Anime Expo 2026 before its official launch on TV Tokyo’s Drama 24 programming block. The 13-episode series draws from Ito’s most celebrated short stories, suggesting a careful curation of his strongest material.
The shift from animation to live-action appears significant—live-action’s inherent realism may better serve Ito’s approach of grounding supernatural horror in mundane settings and psychological deterioration. Rather than relying on stylized visuals, the format allows for the sustained discomfort and character study that defines his work.