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A Daily Dead interview brings together Junji Ito, director Yûta Shimotsu and TV Tokyo producer Mayu Nobe to discuss the live-action series Strange: Junji Ito’s Tales for Sleepless Nights. The 13-story adaptation has aired in Japan and is streaming on HBO Max, with weekly episodes; the interview focuses on story selection and changes made to “The Bully” and “The Face Thief.”
Junji Ito, director Yûta Shimotsu and TV Tokyo producer Mayu Nobe discussed how they selected and adapted the manga creator’s stories for Strange: Junji Ito’s Tales for Sleepless Nights in a Daily Dead interview published alongside the series’ streaming run. The live-action series adapts 13 Ito stories, has aired in Japan and is available on HBO Max, with new episodes releasing weekly, according to the report.
The interview describes the program as TV Tokyo’s first live-action adaptation effort based on Ito’s work. Nobe said TV Tokyo selected the stories from a large body of short fiction, weighing whether each could be realized in live action as well as its appeal on screen. The lineup is anchored by “Lovesickness”, which Nobe said had to be included, alongside stories such as “The Bully” and “Used Records.”
Shimotsu said three directors worked on the series and were able to submit preferred stories without overlapping choices. Among his own selections were “The Face Thief” and “The Bully.” He described the latter as a personal favorite from the stories TV Tokyo chose. The interview’s discussion focuses less on production logistics than on how the filmmakers translated specific images and relationships from the manga to the screen.
For “The Bully,” Ito praised the casting of Yôko Maki and her portrayal of a character seen across a long span of life, from young adulthood to motherhood. He said the episode’s measured pacing and recreation of the manga’s final image conveyed the character’s enduring guilt. Shimotsu said the production kept the original manga beside the camera monitors while composing the final scene, aiming to match its framing.
How Ito’s Manga Reaches Live Action
The interview offers a direct account from the creator and two members of the production team about what adaptation required: choosing stories that could work on screen, preserving recognizable images, and deciding when to alter the source material. For viewers familiar with Ito’s manga, those choices help explain which elements the series sought to retain and where it took a different approach.
The discussion also shows that the adaptation is not presented as a panel-by-panel transfer. Shimotsu said “The Face Thief” changes the ending and gives more weight to the friendship between two characters. Ito recognized that difference, saying his original version still felt “as cold as ice” while the live-action version gave the story more depth through the friendship. That exchange makes the series’ interpretation—not only its use of familiar titles—part of the news for readers and viewers.
With the series streaming during the Halloween season in the United States, the interview provides timely context for audiences deciding whether to watch. It also distinguishes the adaptation’s creative decisions from the manga’s original form: Ito approved specific choices discussed in the interview, but that does not establish that every episode follows the same method or that all alterations received the same response.
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From Short Stories to Screen
Strange: Junji Ito’s Tales for Sleepless Nights is described in the source as a live-action anthology adapting 13 of Ito’s stories. Its selection draws on works from across his catalogue, with “Lovesickness” serving as the series’ anchor. The other titles named in the report include “The Bully,” “The Face Thief” and “Used Records.”
The interview places the series in the context of TV Tokyo’s first effort to adapt Ito’s work in live action. Nobe said feasibility was one factor in choosing stories, alongside her own view of which ones would translate effectively to film. Shimotsu noted that three directors chose episodes from the selected material, with no overlap among their preferred episodes.
The source says the series had already aired in Japan and had begun streaming on HBO Max in the United States, with weekly episode releases. It does not provide a full episode schedule, the total length of the run, or a detailed account of the production process beyond the interview’s remarks about selection and individual adaptations.
“First of all, we have to consider feasibility, whether it’s possible to make a live-action adaptation.”
— Mayu Nobe, TV Tokyo producer
Episode Schedule and Adaptation Scope
The interview report does not give the complete episode release schedule, exact streaming dates, or details about how long the series will remain available on HBO Max. It also does not spell out the adaptation changes across all 13 stories; the conversation covers “The Bully” and “The Face Thief” in particular.
The source says the series has aired in Japan and is streaming on HBO Max, but it does not provide audience figures, critical reception data or a broader response from viewers. Ito’s comments in the interview address particular performances and creative choices, not a comprehensive assessment of the entire series.
Weekly Episodes Continue Streaming
According to Daily Dead’s report, new episodes are releasing weekly on HBO Max. The interview does not specify the dates of upcoming episodes, so viewers should check the service’s listing for the current schedule. The source also offers no announcement about a second season or further live-action adaptations; neither should be assumed from the series’ current release.
As the remaining episodes become available, viewers can compare the screen versions with Ito’s original stories and see how the production handles other titles in the 13-story lineup. The interview confirms that adaptation choices varied at least in the examples discussed, but further details about the rest of the series are not included in the report.
Key Questions
What is Strange: Junji Ito’s Tales for Sleepless Nights?
It is a live-action series adapting 13 stories by manga creator Junji Ito. The source identifies “Lovesickness” as its anchor and also names stories including “The Bully,” “The Face Thief” and “Used Records.”
Where is the series streaming?
Daily Dead reported that the series is streaming on HBO Max in the United States, with new episodes released weekly. The report does not list the full schedule.
What did Ito say about the adaptation of “The Bully”?
Ito praised Yôko Maki’s casting and performance, the episode’s quiet pacing and the recreation of its final image. Director Yûta Shimotsu said the team used the manga as a visual reference while framing that scene.
Does “The Face Thief” follow the manga exactly?
No. Shimotsu said the adaptation changes the ending and adds emphasis to the friendship between two characters. Ito said he could see the difference between that version and his colder original story.
Source: dailydead.com
