Global Stage Hollywood and TV Tokyo announce HBO Max to release "Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights" Internationally this fall.

HBO Max announcement, live from the GSH panel at Anime Expo 2026

Global Stage Hollywood Hosts World Premiere of "Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights" at Anime Expo 2026

HBO Max international announcement made live on the GSH stage — coverage from Anime News Network and io9

Los Angeles, July 2026 — Global Stage Hollywood, in partnership with TV Tokyo, presented the world premiere screening of the first two episodes of Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights at Anime Expo 2026 on Friday, July 3.

The live-action omnibus series adapts 13 stories from Junji Ito's celebrated Masterpiece Collection, with stories including "Lovesickness," "The Mansion of Phantom Pain," "Tomio: Red Turtleneck," and "Face Thief." The series premiered the same weekend on TV Tokyo's "Drama 24" block in Japan.

The panel closed with a major announcement: Strange will stream internationally on HBO Max this fall — news broken live on the GSH stage and reported by Anime News Network and io9/Gizmodo.

The panel, moderated by GSH Executive Producer Douglas Montgomery, featured Mayu Nobe (TV Tokyo), series director Réi, and Kwok-Wai Hanson (Anime Trending.

The official trailer, shared through GSH channels, has reached more than 680,000 views on Instagram.

Strange: Junji Ito's Tales for Sleepless Nights arrives on HBO Max internationally this fall.