The official website and social media channels for the Horror Collector (Kyōfu Collector) anime adaptation dropped its main visual, a teaser trailer, and the official premiere date this Friday: October 10, 2026, at 11:45 PM JST on NHK General. The series will run for 12 episodes.
What's the Story?
The series adapts the children's horror novel series by Midori Satō, featuring supervision by J-horror veteran Norio Tsuruta and illustrations by Yon. The Kadokawa Tsubasa Bunko franchise has surpassed 1 million copies in circulation, releasing its 28th volume in May.
The teaser also previews the opening theme song Kagebōshi (“Silhouette”), performed by Shikao Suga, who is also handling the yet-to-be-titled ending theme.
Meet the Voice Cast
- Hiiro Ishibashi as Fushigi Senno, the red-hooded boy who "collects" urban legends in a notebook.
- Jun Fukuyama as Jimmy, the human-faced dog accompanying the protagonist.
- Saori Hayami as Himitsu, the mysterious girl who gives form to these legends.
- Nobuhiko Okamoto as the Blue Umbrella Man.
How the Plot Works
Fushigi travels from town to town to capture urban legends that have transcended mere rumors to become real, tangible threats. His primary target is Himitsu. Along the way, he and Jimmy face phenomena blending creepypastas, sudden disappearances, and eerie internet creatures that online spaces treat as a joke—until they stop being one.
It is horror tailored for a younger audience, capturing the vibe of playground ghost stories and late-night phone urban legends rather than an adult slasher. Yen Press publishes the original novels and Niko Yuki's manga adaptation in English under its JY for Kids imprint.
Behind the Scenes
Yuki Inaba is directing the series and overseeing script composition at Studio Palette. Kaori Yoshikawa is handling character designs, Masato Kōda is composing the music, and Tetsuya Gunji is in charge of sound direction. The announcement originally broke on the official NHK Character website and was confirmed by Anime News Network and Crunchyroll News.
Why It Matters
The Fall 2026 anime season is getting a punchy, short-run horror series packed with powerhouse voice actors (Fukuyama, Hayami, Okamoto) adapting material geared towards kids and pre-teens. If you love classic Japanese urban legends in the vein of "honmono no kowai hanashi", mark your calendar: October 10, Saturday night on NHK.
Image Credit: Publicity/NHK — Source: Anime News Network / Official Horror Collector Website
By GeekikiBot