Horror Collector is a new anime that turns everyday urban legends into real, terrifying events. The story follows a boy in a red hood who travels across Japan to capture these legends before they can hurt more people. Episode 1, titled “Red Notebook,” will premiere on Saturday, October 10, 2026, and will be available worldwide on Crunchyroll at the same time it airs in Japan. Here is everything you need to know about the release schedule, the story, and why this show is worth your time.
Episode 1 Release Date and Exact Streaming Times for Global Audiences
Horror Collector episode 1 will debut on NHK General in Japan on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 11:45 PM Japan Standard Time (JST) . The episode will run for about 25 minutes and will end around 12:10 AM JST .
International viewers can watch the episode on Crunchyroll at the following local times on October 10, 2026:
- Pacific Daylight Time (PDT): 7:45 a.m.
- Mountain Daylight Time (MDT): 8:45 a.m.
- Central Daylight Time (CDT): 9:45 a.m.
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): 10:45 a.m.
- Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): 2:45 p.m.
- British Summer Time (BST): 3:45 p.m.
- Central European Summer Time (CEST): 4:45 p.m.
- India Standard Time (IST): 8:15 p.m.
- Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST): 12:45 a.m. (October 11)
- Japan Standard Time (JST): 11:45 p.m.
These times reflect the simulcast window on Crunchyroll, which streams the anime as it airs in Japan .
Where to Watch Horror Collector Episode 1 Online
Crunchyroll is the main platform for streaming Horror Collector outside Japan. The anime is a Crunchyroll exclusive, so there is no other streaming service competing for viewers in most regions . The series will be available with English subtitles.
Japanese viewers can also stream the episode on NHK ONE, the network’s official streaming service, which offers both simulcast and catch-up viewing . The anime will air on NHK General every Saturday at 11:45 PM JST for a total of 12 episodes .
What Happens in Horror Collector Episode 1
Episode 1, “Red Notebook,” introduces the main character, Fushigi Senno, a boy who wears a red hood and carries a red notebook . Urban legends are said to be just stories, but lately, they are coming true. People who encounter a mysterious hooded child experience strange and dangerous events.
The episode follows a high school student named Yumi Kagawa, who has just transferred to a new school. She hears a rumor from a friend about an urban legend: on a day when it snows in the evening, if you look out your window at midnight, you will be cursed by a woman’s ghost. Yumi is scared by the story, and she does not notice a boy watching her from a distance. On a night with unseasonal snow, Yumi wakes up and reaches for her curtain, unable to resist the rumor .
Fushigi appears when the legend takes physical form. He uses his red notebook to capture the manifested urban legend and seal it away . His goal is to find Himitsu, a girl with the power to bring these legends to life .
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The Story of Horror Collector
Horror Collector is based on a children’s horror novel series written by Midori Sato and supervised by Norio Tsuruta, a film director known as the “father of J-horror” for his work on Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi and Ring 0: Birthday . The novels have been published by Kadokawa under the Kadokawa Tsubasa Bunko label since June 2015 and currently have 28 volumes . Yen Press publishes the official English version of the novels .
The anime is produced at Studio Palette, with Yuki Inaba serving as both director and series composition writer. Kaori Yoshikawa is handling character design, Masato Koda is composing the music, and Tetsuya Gunji is the audio director .
The main cast includes Hiiro Ishibashi as Fushigi Senno, Jun Fukuyama as Jimmy, Saori Hayami as Himitsu, and Nobuhiko Okamoto as Blue Umbrella Man . Yōko Hikasa voices the Urban Legend Woman in episode 1 .
The opening theme, “Kageboushi,” is written and performed by Shikao Suga, who also created the ending theme .
Why You Should Watch Horror Collector
Horror Collector offers a different take on the horror genre. The series is aimed at a younger audience, but it does not shy away from creating a creepy atmosphere. The urban legends featured in the show are based on familiar scary stories that many viewers may have heard before, which makes the horror feel more personal.
The protagonist, Fushigi, is not a typical hero. He is quiet and distant, and he does not seem interested in making friends. His only companion is Jimmy, a human-faced dog who speaks in a Kansai dialect and provides some light moments in the middle of the scares . The show’s producer, Jun Sakata, has said that Horror Collector may be NHK’s first horror anime, and he hopes it will bring fear and imagination to viewers of all ages .
The series balances scary moments with a sense of adventure. Each episode introduces a new urban legend, so viewers can enjoy self-contained stories while also following the larger mystery of Himitsu and Fushigi’s connection to her.
Horror Collector is a 12-episode series that will air weekly on NHK General and stream on Crunchyroll. Episode 1, “Red Notebook,” will be available worldwide on October 10, 2026.
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