![27+ DARK Anime Series That Are Creepy [RECOMMENDATIONS] So, you’ve decided to deep dive into the world of creepy anime. I warn you! That’s a bold choice. There’s an excess of weird and creepy anime out there, it will be hard for you to pick one, so I narrowed down the list for your convenience. The anime we picked are great, most of them have this spooky feeling to them, with their dark and gothic art styles, they will surely give you goosebumps. Make sure to watch these shows with someone, you’ll get super creeped out watching them alone. Hence, this is the list of 27+ DARK Anime Series That are Super-Creepy 29. Hell Girl We start our list with Hell Girl! Have you been tormented to the point that you think you can’t take it anymore? The Hell Girl makes a deal with the victims of assault or any other unpleasant action, she gives them a chance to take revenge. The people who tormented you will be killed swiftly, but there’s a catch, the Hell Girl only accepts one form of payment. You will live your afterlife in Hell! What's creepier than this? 28. Memories Memories is not a cohesive anime series, it is a bundle of three different anime grouped into one single title. There are three different stories set in three different settings which have nothing to do with each other plot-wise. The anime is old but still boasts some great artwork for its time. The stories will make you uneasy for sure, they tackle psychological issues mostly making the viewer think about its tortured characters. This is where this show shines the most, it’s an absolute must-watch for weebs. We all know that when psychological torture is involved, it's a game over! 27. From the new world Your expectations of a cyberpunk future world will get shattered by this anime. The story is set in a futuristic world, but there’s a catch, the world changed a bit, in fact, it looks like they have gotten even more traditional than before. The anime is set in a dystopian future, which is the correct description for this show. The story follows a girl who has just recently awakened her psychic powers and is learning to harness them, that’s right, in this world psychics rule with an iron fist, hence those who awaken these abilities are deemed higher class people. But what happens to those who don’t awaken these powers? Well, you’ll have to watch the anime then. 26. When They Cry The first episode of this anime may fool you, but the anime might come off as another cheeky harem where our protagonist gets every girl he wants but this will change soon. The place where our main character moves has this ongoing mystery surrounding murders. In this village, every fourth year a murder takes place and our main character knows the murderer he is close to her. This show doesn’t shy away from showing dirty and gruesome scenes of this crazy lunatic murderer. This anime is not a good watch if you feel uneasy whilst watching disturbing imagery. 25. The Junji Ito Collection Junji Ito is the face of the horror genre in Japan. His mangas have been adapted into countless shows and movies. There’s this quality about Junji Ito’s work that makes it stand out from all the other horror stories. Junji Ito Collection is a collection of various Junji Ito stories, the most famous one has been adapted in the anime. Though many criticize the anime for not having good animation, we still recommend this anime. As the stories are so great, you’d forget that the animation isn’t at the level of Junji Ito. 24. Corpse Party Based on a popular survival game, Corpse Party doesn’t disappoint. This anime is the definition of horror, with its dark backgrounds and gory scenes, Corpse Party manages to deliver a great horror story. The setting is a bit cliche as it is set in a high school, the students who were attending a cultural festival suddenly get trapped into an alternate reality. The school where they’re stuck is haunted and our main character tries to survive it. 23. Gosick This is a show for noir movie lovers. Gosick follows the adventures of two siblings as they try to solve mysteries across their country. The show doesn’t have a lot of jump scares, but the first few arcs of the anime deal with ghosts and supernatural beings. The gothic style of this anime is the main reason why we gave it a spot on this list. 22. Kagewani The recent Godzilla movie has caused many fans to go and rewatch various shows involving monsters and Kaijus. And if you’re hungry for some more monsters and unknown creatures, Kagewani is the anime for you. The plot revolves around a guy whose main goal is to kill these human-eating monsters that roam freely. The show has a spooky feel to it and the scenes with the monsters in it are scary, to say the least. 21. The Garden Of Sinners Up next is a movie from the director of the beloved Fate series. The garden of sinners follows the adventures of Shiki Ryougi, who belongs to the Ryougi clan who are well known for their demon-killing abilities. The anime tackles various aspects of the horror genre, with the first movie being about a girl who is trying to kill herself and the next one following the story of a serial killer. The movies are definitely worth your time as the animation is great and the soundtrack is enough to give you chills. 20. Terra Formars Girls are going to hate this one, what can be more terrifying than a cockroach? A humanoid cockroach who’s on a mission to purge all humans. The characters in this show are so well designed that every time you look at them you’d feel uneasy. The nasty grin the cockroach makes is enough to give you nightmares! As these roaches wreak havoc, our defenders combine with various insect powers to eliminate these pesky little bugs. Pest control at its finest! 19. School Live The world is plagued with zombies and the entire existence of humanity is on the line, but this won’t stop our main characters from going to school. Seriously, this isn’t a joke, one of them is depressed, and knowing that humanity is fighting for its survival will be enough to break them. The show manages to find a balance between cute moments and genuinely horrific gory scenes, where humans get devoured whole. A must-watch for psychological thriller fans. 18. Deadman Wonderland This show is crazy, to say the least, the scenes in this anime are really disturbing. The slaughter in this show is so gory and unpleasant to watch that horror fans love this show with all their heart. A normal high school student gets prison time for murdering his classmates when in reality he didn’t do it. So he’s sent off to a facility where borderline crazy freaks who only have murder on their mind. This anime isn’t for the faint-hearted. 17. Umineko: When they cry Umineko is like a breath of fresh air in this chaos of various horror anime shows. Umineko is a horror show, but it is different, it manages to set a mood with its gothic art style and uncanny music which is more than enough to cause a sense of hysteria amongst the viewers. A bunch of greedy aristocrats and their offsprings are being killed by a spirit, and they try to survive. If the idea of killing greedy people seems good to you then this is the best anime for you. 16. Highschool of the dead Highschool of the dead is set in a world where a zombie apocalypse has just started. The high school classmates have to navigate through this horde of zombies if they want to survive. The show is great at combining fan service with gruesome gory scenes, the combination may seem unlikely but in this case, it just works. In some scenes, the show becomes a total shonen anime but when the people fighting to get brutally devoured we realize this is far from being a typical fighting anime. 15. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust It can’t get any more awesome than this, Vampire Hunter is one of the best classic anime of all time. The main character D is a Vampire hunter and has been killing these things for years, but one Vampire is causing him trouble, watch the anime to find out why. The animation though being old still manages to capture great moments and the fight scenes are filled with gory action scenes. 14. Devilman Crybaby Devilman Crybaby is a remake handled by Netflix, and they have done a great job at animating it. The show has one of the most gruesome and horrifying plots where unknown creatures are killing off humans. After attending a rave party, our main character becomes a devil-human hybrid and from there on it is only violence and murder galore. The use of techno music and psychedelic visuals put this show in a class of its own, though the animation may seem different than usual, when you watch the first couple of episodes, you’ll start loving it. The almost dystopian feel that this show brings to the viewers is spooky, to say the least. 13. Paranoia Agent The city Misoshina is thrown into chaos as a mass murderer is on the run and the authorities are having no luck capturing him. This pesky little murderer swiftly moves through crime scenes on his golden roller skates. With his golden bat, he slaughters people most inhumanly. Due to this the town folk are always on high alert. The anime is great at portraying the psycho of this mass murderer, and the art style and music just adds more flavor to the story. 12. Tokyo Ghoul Kaneki suffers a lot in this show, but his suffering managed to make him one of the most loved anime protagonists of all time. In a world plagued with ghouls, who devour humans, Kaneki is a normal kid. But one incident changes his life forever. After that incident, Kaneki has become a ghoul and can’t eat human food, the psychological trauma that Kaneki goes through is really hard to see. Tokyo Ghoul is a classic and should be watched by every weeb regardless of their taste. 11. Mononoke Mononoke is not everyone’s cup of tea. Its art style is experimental and not everyone would enjoy it, but if you’ve decided to get your mind fucked, this show is up for the task. The story follows a medicine seller who travels across Japan in search of Spirits, also known as Mononoke in the anime. He tries to capture these spirits, but before doing that he has to know what's the cause behind the spirits' carnage. This takes the show to another level, as the animation gets good in these parts. The anime has this weird quality to it that can’t be described. Watch the show to get this experience. It is worth your time. 10. Ghost Hound In the world of Ghost Hound, the spirit world collides with our normal world, making a way for many gruesome supernatural creatures to enter our world. The trio of the main characters tries to find links between their childhood trauma and these supernatural events. This anime is far from being about killing demons and spirits, rather than that Ghost hound tries to tell us about how the mind of the spirits work, how they feel about us, and themselves. The anime is great at what it’s trying to achieve and hence makes it into our top 10. 9. Another Misaki, an ordinary high school-going girl, dies in the year 1972, but her classmates and her teacher act as if she was still alive, this leads to a mysterious and spooky plot. The main story starts when a new student, Kouchi, is transferred to the same classroom, but in the year 1992. Soon after his arrival, he notices many of his classmates dying in gruesome ways, so he teams up with a girl to solve this mystery. The mystery starts untangling as Kouichi tries going deeper and deeper into it Koucichi must focus as the secret is just under grasp. Another is a thrilling anime that everyone should watch. 8. Ghost Hunt The name of this anime gives away the plot, it is about hunting ghosts, spirits, and other supernatural beings who threaten the world of the living. The story revolves around a first-year high school student in Japan who goes by the name Mei. She joins the group of psychics in her school and soon finds herself confronting various out-of-this-world spirits. But these spirits aren’t evil, they have their reason for the actions they make, as they were also human once. The story is mysterious and there are a lot of scenes that will make you feel uneasy, which is a good thing in the horror genre. 7. Yami Shibai A strange man with a yellow mask visits a playground every day, where he narrates horror stories to little children. Yami Shibai is a collection of stories narrated by this man in a yellow mask. As the man narrates the story to these children we feel like we’re a part of their group, and the stories seem even more engaging. The stories are some of the best that anime has ever seen! Though the animation may seem a bit odd at first, once you let that slide out of your mind, you’ll truly start enjoying this show. 6. Shiki Shiki is set in a village where a sudden epidemic has derailed the normal life of its citizens. A doctor and our main character team up to bring peace to this wreaked village. There’s a glimpse of horror here but not something that will scare you out of nowhere. Shiki has these unsettling characters that give a spooky vibe, and combine this with intense scenes and you’ll surely get creeped out. 5. Paprika We enter the top ten with this spine-chilling show. In the world of Paprika, scientists have managed to create a device which lets you record your dream, even nightmares! But soon some people realize the downsides of this gadget, as it could also be used to cause psychological harm to people. All hell breaks loose when one of these machines is lost, and coincidently it doesn’t have a new type of barrier that stops outside attacks, inventing a whole new type of terrorism in process. Visually, this anime is breathtaking, to say the least, the art style is great for what it’s trying to achieve. The show takes us into people’s dreams, these dream worlds sometimes are great and happy, but when nightmares plague dreams, get ready because it’s going to get scary. 4. Parasyte Parasyte is a classic anime, most of you weebs might’ve already watched it. The show is known for its crazy animations and intense fight scenes. The anime follows the story of a boy who gets infected by an alien parasite. The main goal of this parasite is to take over a host and control him/her. But he fails to do his task so he starts helping other people. After many loved ones of our MC get slaughtered by this otherworldly parasite, he too becomes a cold-blooded killer. The show isn’t horrifying or scary, but it manages to set an eerie tone which is enough to spook many people. Plus the show manages to pull off some crazy intense fight scenes, so if you’re a shonen fan you will like this one. The different ways in which the parasite is used by our main protagonists are well executed and the fights feel more engaging due to it. 3. The Promised Neverland This anime might look wholesome and nice on the surface, but it gets real dark real fast. The show introduces us to an orphanage where kids live with their mother Isabella, they’re having a great life, but all of this changes when they discover the grim fate that is awaiting them. The main trio tries to get out of this messy situation, but fails many times, the anime follows the struggles of these younglings as they battle to save their lives! Though the anime has started deviating from its original material, season 1 still is one of the best. 2. Monster The monster manages to be in the top tens on various lists. The anime is a classic, many anime fans loved the eerie feeling that this show produced. Dr. Kenzu Tenma is left with this ever-increasing feeling of guilt when he switches from operating on a migrant to a popular celebrity. Due to this, the migrant dies and Dr. Kenzu can’t get his death out of his head. So when a similar situation arises and he has to choose between a poor boy and the Mayor, he lets the mayor die and saves the boy. But after nine long years, the monster comes back to haunt him and his actions of the past. Without spoiling much we leave you here, watch the anime and you won’t be disappointed. 1. Perfect Blue If you’re trying to scare yourself, this show will do it for you, in fact, it will do it so nicely that you’ll think twice before picking up any other horror show. Perfect blue is the perfect mix of horror and psychological thriller, it tackles the story of a widely known member of an idol group who soon realizes her potential and starts acting and modeling. But her life turns upside down when a stalker starts wreaking havoc. The stalker can go to any lengths to make her suffer, the show is frightening with its eerie atmosphere and cold characters. The anime visually is one of the best in the horror genre, it has great character design and backgrounds. And fight scenes are pretty decent too. One thing is sure though, this anime is not for the faint-hearted, think twice before watching this one. Conclusion I bet you're super creeped out by now, right? No? Damn! I'm scared of y'all. Well, these Anime are some of the creepiest ones out there. So, if you have any more recommendations, just let us know in the comments down below.](https://i0.wp.com/quotetheanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Thumbnail-16-1024x1024.jpg)
So, you’ve decided to deep dive into the world of creepy anime. I warn you! That’s a bold choice. There’s an excess of weird and creepy anime out there, it will be hard for you to pick one, so I narrowed down the list for your convenience. The anime we picked are great, most of them have this spooky feeling to them, with their dark and gothic art styles, they will surely give you goosebumps. Make sure to watch these shows with someone, you’ll get super creeped out watching them alone. Hence, this is the list of 51 DARK Anime Series That are Super-Creepy
Table of Contents
From dystopian societies to psychological thrillers to scary horrors, gore, blood and monsters these genres with subtle and twisted elements that will give you the chill down to your spine. Dark Anime is more than that. So here is my list for the top 35 dark anime that will scare you.
Read More: AESTHETICALLY Pleasing Anime of All TIme!
53. Red Garden
Information |
|
Title |
Red Garden |
Genre |
Drama |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Gonzo |
Premiered |
2006 |
Episode Count |
22 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
Red Garden introduces us to four students named Rose, Kate, Clare and Rachel who study in the same school but have very different personalities. They don’t really interact with each other nor do they know about each other. However, a mysterious death of their fellow students draws them towards each other. They have also lost their memories which makes another common issue between them. Suddenly, there’s chaos everywhere and they’re thrown into a war. How will they escape these problems without getting hurt?
52. Redo of Healer
Information |
|
Title |
Redo of Healer |
Genre |
Drama |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
TNK |
Premiered |
2021 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
Redo of Healer tells us the story of Keyaru who gained his powers as a healer. The future seemed bright for him. However, he only got bullied and went through a lot of torture in return. He was considered weak and worthless in his world and was subjected to extreme torture. Keyaru had been attaining the powers of those he was healing but when he finally became powerful, he had nothing left within him. Keyaru had turned dark. He decided to go back in time with the powers he had attained and get his revenge on those who did him dirty. He will redo everything and be satisfied.
Also Read: Anime Like Redo of Healer
51. Black Bullet
Information |
|
Title |
Black Bullet |
Genre |
Action |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Kinema Citrus |
Premiered |
2014 |
Episode Count |
13 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
Black Bullet opens in the year 2021 where mankind was pushed to a corner by a virus named Gastrea. The remaining mankind was forced to live within the walls that could stop Gastrea from getting to them. Soon, children with the Gastrea virus were born who had superhuman powers. They were called Initiators. They were paired up with their partners called Promoters. They were tasked with the mission to destroy monsters that were born due to Gastrea. The main characters in this anime are Enju Aihara and Satomi Rentaro who are going on their mission to fight the deadly monsters threatening the whole city of Tokyo.
50. Terra Formars
Information |
|
Title |
Terra Formars |
Genre |
Action, Drama |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
LIDENFILMS |
Premiered |
2014 |
Episode Count |
13 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
Girls are going to hate this one, what can be more terrifying than a cockroach? A humanoid cockroach who’s on a mission to purge all humans.
The characters in this show are so well designed that every time you look at them you’d feel uneasy. The nasty grin the cockroach makes is enough to give you nightmares!
As these roaches wreak havoc, our defenders combine with various insect powers to eliminate these pesky little bugs. Pest control at its finest!
49. The Garden Of Sinners
Information |
|
Title |
The Garden of Sinners |
Genre |
Action, Drama |
Type |
Movie |
Studio |
Ufotable |
Premiered |
2007 |
Episode Count |
1 episode |
Duration |
50 min. per ep. |
Up next is a movie from the director of the beloved Fate series. The garden of sinners follows the adventures of Shiki Ryougi, who belongs to the Ryougi clan who are well known for their demon-killing abilities.
The anime tackles various aspects of the horror genre, with the first movie being about a girl who is trying to kill herself and the next one following the story of a serial killer. The movies are definitely worth your time as the animation is great and the soundtrack is enough to give you chills.
48. Kagewani
Information |
|
Title |
Kagewani |
Genre |
Horror, Mystery |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Unknown |
Premiered |
2015 |
Episode Count |
13 episodes |
Duration |
7 min. per ep. |
The recent Godzilla movie has caused many fans to go and rewatch various shows involving monsters and Kaijus. And if you’re hungry for some more monsters and unknown creatures, Kagewani is the anime for you.
The plot revolves around a guy whose main goal is to kill these human-eating monsters that roam freely. The show has a spooky feel to it and the scenes with the monsters in it are scary, to say the least.
47. Monster
Information |
|
Title |
Monster |
Genre |
Drama, Mystery |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Madhouse |
Premiered |
2004 |
Episode Count |
74 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
The monster manages to be in the top tens on various lists. The anime is a classic, many anime fans loved the eerie feeling that this show produced.
Dr. Kenzu Tenma is left with this ever-increasing feeling of guilt when he switches from operating on a migrant to a popular celebrity. Due to this, the migrant dies and Dr. Kenzu can’t get his death out of his head. So when a similar situation arises and he has to choose between a poor boy and the Mayor, he lets the mayor die and saves the boy.
But after nine long years, the monster comes back to haunt him and his actions of the past. Without spoiling much we leave you here, watch the anime and you won’t be disappointed.
46. Ghost Hunt
Information |
|
Title |
Ghost Hunt |
Genre |
Horror, Mystery |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
J.C Staff |
Premiered |
2006 |
Episode Count |
25 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
The name of this anime gives away the plot, it is about hunting ghosts, spirits, and other supernatural beings who threaten the world of the living. The story revolves around a first-year high school student in Japan who goes by the name Mei.
She joins the group of psychics in her school and soon finds herself confronting various out-of-this-world spirits. But these spirits aren’t evil, they have their reason for the actions they make, as they were also human once. The story is mysterious and there are a lot of scenes that will make you feel uneasy, which is a good thing in the horror genre.
45. Ghost Hound
Information |
|
Title |
Ghost Hounds |
Genre |
Mystery |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Production I.G |
Premiered |
2007 |
Episode Count |
22 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
In the world of Ghost Hound, the spirit world collides with our normal world, making a way for many gruesome supernatural creatures to enter our world. The trio of the main characters tries to find links between their childhood trauma and these supernatural events. This anime is far from being about killing demons and spirits, rather than that Ghost hound tries to tell us about how the mind of the spirits work, how they feel about us, and themselves. The anime is great at what it’s trying to achieve and hence makes it into our top 10.
44. Gosick
Information |
|
Title |
Gosick |
Genre |
Drama, Mystery |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Bones |
Premiered |
2011 |
Episode Count |
24 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
This is a show for noir movie lovers. Gosick follows the adventures of two siblings as they try to solve mysteries across their country. The show doesn’t have a lot of jump scares, but the first few arcs of the anime deal with ghosts and supernatural beings.
The gothic style of this anime is the main reason why we gave it a spot on this list.
43. Corpse Party
Information |
|
Title |
Corpse, Party |
Genre |
Horror |
Type |
OVA |
Studio |
Asread |
Premiered |
2012 |
Episode Count |
1 episode |
Duration |
11 min. per ep. |
Based on a popular survival game, Corpse Party doesn’t disappoint. This anime is the definition of horror, with its dark backgrounds and gory scenes, Corpse Party manages to deliver a great horror story.
The setting is a bit cliche as it is set in a high school, the students who were attending a cultural festival suddenly get trapped into an alternate reality. The school where they’re stuck is haunted and our main character tries to survive it.
42. The Junji Ito Collection
Information |
|
Title |
Junji Ito Collection |
Genre |
Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Studio Deen |
Premiered |
2018 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
Junji Ito is the face of the horror genre in Japan, his mangas have been adapted into countless shows and movies. There’s this quality about Junji Ito’s work that makes it stand out from all the other horror stories.
Junji Ito Collection is a collection of various Junji Ito stories, the most famous one has been adapted in the anime. Though many criticize the anime for not having good animation, we still recommend this anime. As the stories are so great, you’d forget that the animation isn’t at the level of Junji Ito.
41. Memories
Information |
|
Title |
Memories |
Genre |
Drama, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Madhouse |
Premiered |
1995 |
Episode Count |
3 episodes |
Duration |
37 min. per ep. |
Memories is not a cohesive anime series, it is a bundle of three different anime grouped into one single title. There are three different stories set in three different settings which have nothing to do with each other plot-wise.
The anime is old but still boasts some great artwork for its time. The stories will make you uneasy for sure, they tackle psychological issues mostly making the viewer think about its tortured characters. This is where this show shines the most, it’s an absolute must-watch for weebs.
We all know that when psychological torture is involved, it’s a game over!
40. From the new world
Information |
|
Title |
Terra Formars |
Genre |
Drama, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
A-1 Pictures |
Premiered |
2012 |
Episode Count |
22 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
Your expectations of a cyberpunk future world will get shattered by this anime. The story is set in a futuristic world, but there’s a catch, the world changed a bit, in fact, it looks like they have gotten even more traditional than before. The anime is set in a dystopian future, which is the correct description for this show.
The story follows a girl who has just recently awakened her psychic powers and is learning to harness them, that’s right, in this world psychics rule with an iron fist, hence those who awaken these abilities are deemed higher class people. But what happens to those who don’t awaken these powers? Well, you’ll have to watch the anime then.
39. Paprika
Information |
|
Title |
Paprika |
Genre |
Fantasy |
Type |
Movie |
Studio |
Madhouse |
Premiered |
2006 |
Episode Count |
1 episode |
Duration |
1 hour 30 minutes |
Have you wondered what will happen if your dreams are being controlled. In paprika people invented a technology which lets them get access of their dreams, but it got into the hands of some unknown evil people. Now everyone feels terrorized while sleeping because their dreams are being controlled. The movie has a unique art style to it which makes it visually stunning. You will experience a lot of fast movements and changing scenes while watching the movie.
We enter the top ten with this spine-chilling show. In the world of Paprika, scientists have managed to create a device which lets you record your dream, even nightmares! But soon some people realize the downsides of this gadget, as it could also be used to cause psychological harm to people. All hell breaks loose when one of these machines is lost, and coincidently it doesn’t have a new type of barrier that stops outside attacks, inventing a whole new type of terrorism in process.
Visually this anime is breathtaking, to say the least, the art style is great for what it’s trying to achieve. The show takes us into people’s dreams, these dream worlds sometimes are great and happy, but when nightmares plague dreams, get ready because it’s going to get scary.
38. School Live
Information |
|
Title |
School Live |
Genre |
Horror, Mystery |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Lerche |
Premiered |
2014 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
School live is an anime with mental problems and a zombie outbreak. The main character: Yuki Takeya becomes delusional and can’t tell from reality thus going through emotional distress like having a real conversation with someone who’s already dead like zombies. I’d recommend this show if you want something short and a combination of cute girls plus zombies
The world is plagued with zombies and the entire existence of humanity is on the line, but this won’t stop our main characters from going to school. Seriously, this isn’t a joke, one of them is depressed, and knowing that humanity is fighting for its survival will be enough to break them.
The show manages to find a balance between cute moments and genuinely horrific gory scenes, where humans get devoured whole. A must-watch for psychological thriller fans.
37. School Days
Information |
|
Title |
School Days |
Genre |
Drama |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
TNK |
Premiered |
2007 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
Many of us like romance genre but not this particular series .This show may look like your normal romance anime but it’s not it’s seriously messed up. It is one of the most messed up series you will ever watch. It seems like everything is going smoothly but later it becomes disgustingly dark and uncomfortable. You will definitely hate the main character after watching this particular series.
36. Elfen Lied
Information |
|
Title |
Elfen Lied |
Genre |
Action, Drama |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Arms |
Premiered |
2004 |
Episode Count |
13 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
This show follows Lucy a Diclonius , Diclonius are newly mutated species who looks like human but with 2 horns on their head. Initially Lucy was held in a facility for experimentation but later she somehow managed to escape. The organization which leads the experiments are trying to recapture her with special forces and other diclonius in control of the organization. This makes up for brutal fights between lucy and them and gets really violent and bloody. You will love this anime if you are into some action.
35. Psycho Pass
Information |
|
Title |
Psycho Pass |
Genre |
Action, Sci.Fi |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Production I.G |
Premiered |
2012 |
Episode Count |
22 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
You will experience the dark themes the moment you watch the 1st episode of Psycho Pass. Besides the violence, Psycho Pass does a good job of storytelling, illustrating a futuristic society, and staying on track. This anime is filled with mysteries and psychological thriller.
34. Parasyte
Information |
|
Title |
Parasyte |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Madhouse |
Premiered |
2014 |
Episode Count |
24 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
I am not sure what to talk about Parasyte. When I saw this show for the first time, it felt like I was stepping into someone’s fantasy universe. It does have a good story line but sometimes it makes no sense at all, it gets confusing as you have to decide whom you want to side with . Parasyte is a story of a young man who encounters a parasite. The parasyte tries to take over his brain but fails and ends up taking control of his arm instead. It’s a must watch.
Parasyte is a classic anime, most of you weebs might’ve already watched it. The show is known for its crazy animations and intense fight scenes.
The anime follows the story of a boy who gets infected by an alien parasite. The main goal of this parasite is to take over a host and control him/her. But he fails to do his task so he starts helping other people.
After many loved ones of our MC get slaughtered by this otherworldly parasite, he too becomes a cold-blooded killer.
The show isn’t horrifying or scary, but it manages to set an eerie tone which is enough to spook many people. Plus the show manages to pull off some crazy intense fight scenes, so if you’re a shonen fan you will like this one. The different ways in which the parasite is used by our main protagonists are well executed and the fights feel more engaging due to it.
33. Mirai Nikki
Information |
|
Title |
Mirai Nikki |
Genre |
Action, Supernatural |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Asread |
Premiered |
2011 |
Episode Count |
26 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
Mirai nikki follows a boy yuuki who is being constantly stalked and controlled by a girl yuno gasai. In this series, the characters become part of a game and are forced to play a deadly battle royale in this game 12 different individuals are the participants who are given a book called “future diary” that can predict different kinds of future. This is one of the dark anime series that you can get really stuck onto. It is best perhaps described as a psychological thriller kinda anime.
32. Hellsing Ultimate
Information |
|
Title |
Hellsing Ultimate |
Genre |
Action, Horoor |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Madhouse |
Premiered |
2006 |
Episode Count |
10 episodes |
Duration |
49 min. per ep. |
Hellsing tells us the story of a vampire named Alucard who was a very important part of an organization named “Hellsing”. He worked with the organisation to keep its leader safe. As a village was under attack by various vampires, Alucard went there and eliminated the threat. However, he came across a dying female police officer and turned her into a vampire in order to save her. The woman decides to join Alucard in his venture and that’s where all the trouble begins.
31. Terror in Resonance
Information |
|
Title |
Terror in Resonance |
Genre |
Mystery |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
MAPPA |
Premiered |
2014 |
Episode Count |
11 episodes |
Duration |
22 min. per ep. |
Zankyou no terror takes place in Tokyo where many terrorist attacks are occurring, with the only hint to the identities of the culprits are a series of strange videos which are being uploaded on the internet. The police have no clues whatsoever and are powerless to stop the paranoia from spreading across the city. There are two teenage boys who upload a video onto the net and threaten to destroy Tokyo unless the mystery riddle can be solved. Their plan is to unravel the activities of the organization.
30. Ghost in the Shell
Information |
|
Title |
Ghost in the Shell |
Genre |
Action, Drama |
Type |
Movie |
Studio |
Production I.G |
Premiered |
1995 |
Episode Count |
1 episode |
Duration |
1 hour 22 minutes |
This anime is set in the year 2029, a world which is surrounded by the net; augmented humans live in virtual environments, who are watched over by law enforcement that is able to download themselves into something cool a crime busting super power mecha. The secret agent who tries to capture a man is not human but a cyborg , has no physical body and can freely travel the information highways of the world, hacking and manipulating whatever required.
29. Deadman Wonderland
Information |
|
Title |
Deadman Wonderland |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Manglobe |
Premiered |
2011 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
Ganta Igarashi the main character of this series he is a normal boy living peacefully but one unfortunate day ,a mysterious person murdered all his classmate and Ganta is accused for the act and thrown into a prison called deadman wonderland. The whole prison is filled with criminals, outlaws and dangerous secret weapon .Prisoners have to perform and play in dangerous games to gain certain necessities like money and food and has a deadly collar placed around their neck so they won’t try to escape. Ganta has to survive in this deadly environment, and also he is trying to get revenge against the mysterious person.
This show is crazy, to say the least, the scenes in this anime are really disturbing. The slaughter in this show is so gory and unpleasant to watch that horror fans love this show with all their heart.
A normal high school student gets prison time for murdering his classmates when in reality he didn’t do it. So he’s sent off to a facility where borderline crazy freaks live who only have murder on their mind. This anime isn’t for the faint-hearted.
28. Devilman Crybaby
Information |
|
Title |
Devilman Crybaby |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
ONA |
Studio |
Science SARU |
Premiered |
2014 |
Episode Count |
10 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
Devilman crybaby, sounds funky right? Devilman crybaby follows two characters, Akira Fudo and Ryo Asuka as they try to save the world where demons invade humanity after being frozen for millions of years. Akira has to save humanity from the demons, Ryo is gave Akira a demon to merge with to fight against them. This particular series has its dark side revealing the true nature of humans and how wicked can they be. This dark anime with a nice story, if a must watch!
Devilman Crybaby is a remake handled by Netflix, and they have done a great job at animating it. The show has one of the most gruesome and horrifying plots where unknown creatures are killing off humans. After attending a rave party, our main character becomes a devil-human hybrid and from there on it is only violence and murder galore.
The use of techno music and psychedelic visuals put this show in a class of its own, though the animation may seem different than usual, when you watch the first couple of episodes, you’ll start loving it.
The almost dystopian feel that this show brings to the viewers is spooky, to say the least.
27. Ergo Proxy
Information |
|
Title |
Ergo Proxy |
Genre |
Mystery |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Manglobe |
Premiered |
2006 |
Episode Count |
23 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
This anime is set in a post-apocalyptic world doomed by a global ecological catastrophe, one of the last human civilization survives in a domed city of Romdo as living outside these domes is virtually impossible. To help the mankind sustain and survive in this harsh environment, humanoid robots called “AutoReivs” are created; disaster occurs and these AutoReivs start contracting a virus that grants them self-awareness, Re-l Mayer is assigned to investigate the cause behind this phenomeon. She forms an unlikely alliance with other people who helps in her investigation which will soon lead them to uncover darkest secrets and the true nature of the mysterious beings called “Proxies”.
26. Akame Ga Kill
Information |
|
Title |
Akame Ga Kill |
Genre |
Action, Fantasy |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
White Fox |
Premiered |
2014 |
Episode Count |
24 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
Akame Ga kill gets darker as you keep watching the show gradually. The show begins with Tatsumi leaving his village to travel to the main Empire in order to join the army and make money. However, he soon learns that the Empire is corrupted and the Prime Minister is taking advantage of the child emperor’s inexperience, which has resulted in the downfall of the kingdom.
He meets up with a group called night raids .Night Raid is a group of assassins working for the Revolutionary Army and their goal is to take down the emperor and save the kingdom. Tatsumi, after facing some sad moments caused by the empire he joins the assassins in order to take down the Empire and faces the powerful enemies in his journey. The world of Akame Ga Kill is brutal. There are so many sad and frustrating moments in this series.
Also Read: Akame Ga Kill Filler List
25. Umineko: When They Cry
Information |
|
Title |
Umineko: When They Cry |
Genre |
Horror, Mystery |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Studio Deen |
Premiered |
2009 |
Episode Count |
26 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
Umineko is like a breath of fresh air in this chaos of various horror anime shows. Umineko is a horror show, but it is different, it manages to set a mood with its gothic art style and uncanny music which is more than enough to cause a sense of hysteria amongst the viewers.
A bunch of greedy aristocrats and their offsprings are being killed by a spirit, and they try to survive. If the idea of killing greedy people seems good to you then this is the best anime for you.
24. Tokyo Ghoul
Information |
|
Title |
Tokyo Ghoul |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Pierrot |
Premiered |
2014 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
Kaneki who lives in a world of constant battle of survival between ghouls and humans, ghouls are beings who has human form but feeds on human for survivability. One day Kaneki get lured by a ghoul and gets attacked not knowing what happened and gets hospitalized; he tried eat some food but couldn’t eat it as it tasted like trash. Confused kaneki tries to find answers later finding out he’s a Ghoul. Kaneki is confused as he is both human and a ghoul. Kaneki tries to control himself so he won’t harm any humans .Unfortunately; Kaneki can’t control his hunger and has to eat something what will he do? Will he be human or will he side with ghouls?
Kaneki suffers a lot in this show, but his suffering managed to make him one of the most loved anime protagonists of all time.
In a world plagued with ghouls, who devour humans, Kaneki is a normal kid. But one incident changes his life forever. After that incident, Kaneki has become a ghoul and can’t eat human food, the psychological trauma that Kaneki goes through is really hard to see.
Tokyo Ghoul is a classic and should be watched by every weeb regardless of their taste.
23. Death Note
Information |
|
Title |
Death Note |
Genre |
Action, Supernatural |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Madhouse |
Premiered |
2006 |
Episode Count |
37 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
One of the most well known, popular in the world and a mystery franchise is Death Note. Death Note is a series of battle between light and L .Light has a contract with ryuk which allows him to kill anyone with the death note, only if he has seen their face and knows their name. He uses his Death Note to get rid of evil people in this world. Light’s main goal is to create a new world with no evil and only with people who are honest and kind. Death Note is a must watch for anyone who is interested in the dark psychological genre. It is widely considered to be one of the best anime series in this genre.
Also Read: Death Note Watch Order
22. Death Parade
Information |
|
Title |
Death Parade |
Genre |
Drama |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Madhouse |
Premiered |
2015 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
When a person dies, they go to a mysterious bar and it’s the bartender who will determine whether that person goes to Heaven or Hell. Recently, this black haired woman died but he doesn’t know where to send her. People must participate in death games and the games determine whether you go to hell or heaven .this is a game/psychological series with seriously dark, mature and attention grabbing themes.
21. Vampire Hunter D
Information |
|
Title |
Vampire Hunter D |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Movie |
Studio |
Production Reed |
Premiered |
1985 |
Episode Count |
1 episode |
Duration |
1 hour 20 minutes |
It can’t get any more awesome than this, Vampire Hunter is one of the best classic anime of all time. The main character D is a Vampire hunter and has been killing these things for years, but one Vampire is causing him trouble, watch the anime to find out why.
The animation though being old still manages to capture great moments and the fight scenes are filled with gory action scenes.
20. Shiki
Information |
|
Title |
Shiki |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Daume |
Premiered |
2010 |
Episode Count |
22 episodes |
Duration |
22 min. per ep. |
This show is really darker than you could imagine! Shiki is a story set in a quiet village of Sotoba where all things begin; they suddenly experience many mysterious deaths. At the start people think it’s a pandemic but then vampires suddenly appears. But, it is not an average vampire anime as it shows how humans and monsters interact with each other and how anyone will betray one another for their own. Shiki is a really sad and dark anime.
Shiki is set in a village where a sudden epidemic has derailed the normal life of its citizens. A doctor and our main character team up to bring peace to this wreaked village. There’s a glimpse of horror here but not something that will scare you out of nowhere. Shiki has these unsettling characters that give a spooky vibe, and combine this with intense scenes and you’ll surely get creeped out.
19. Kino’s Journey: The Beautiful World
Information |
|
Title |
Kino’s Journey |
Genre |
Action, Adventure |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
A.C.G.T |
Premiered |
2003 |
Episode Count |
13 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
This is the story of adventures of Kino and Hermes (talking motorbike). Kino and Hermes travel to different countries for example one country is trying to find equality while other is trying coexisting with development there are ripples formed in the people in these specific countries due to Kino.
These ripples start to become a major influence making their lives harder .Composed in the form of a series of short stories, If you like philosophy, mystery, violence and storytelling, Kino no tabi does it better than any other.
18. Happy Sugar Life
Information |
|
Title |
Happy Sugar Life |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Ezola |
Premiered |
2018 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
The series starts with Satou Matsuzaka who sleeps with men and has a habit of it, but doesn’t have feelings for them. But when she meets a young child named Shio, she experienced the feeling of love for the first time. After finding that Shio was abandoned by her mother, they both decide to live together in Satou’s place.
Despite the fact that satou may look innocent but she’s not, she will do anything to protect Shio, including murdering anyone who tries to harm their relationship. Happy Sugar Life is a psychological horror anime about a girl who has disturbing secrets if you’re into messed up stuff this series is the way to go.
17. Goblin Slayer
Information |
|
Title |
Goblin Slayers |
Genre |
Action, Adventure |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
White Fox |
Premiered |
2018 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
The story revolves around a warrior with a nickname Goblin Slayer in an alternative medieval fantasy world where people become heroes (adventurer) to fight different kind of monsters and demons. The main character Goblin Slayer who only cares about killing goblins and not other monsters. His obsession with killing goblins began when he saw his village and his family destroyed by the attack of goblin troupes during his childhood. The anime has a dark start but as the series goes on it gets pretty interesting to watch. Goblin Slayer has a dark perspective to it.
Also Read: Goblin Slayer Filler List
16. The Promised Neverland
Information |
|
Title |
The Promised Neverland |
Genre |
Mystery |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
CloverWorks |
Premiered |
2019 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
22 min. per ep. |
The show starts in an orphanage where there are many children’s living there and has caretaker. The children’s get everything they want and are free to do most of the things, but they are restricted from crossing the line outside the house. All the children are aware that before they turn 12 they will get adopted, so that’s everyone’s aware of and excited.
However, some of the smartest children’s in the orphanage discover that it’s not what they think it, but a place being fed to the demons outside the house after they graduate. After learning this, they become frightened and they try to find a way to escape. The story revolves around the children who are trying to escape without alerting the Mom. This is a dark fantasy and thriller kind of anime.
This anime might look wholesome and nice on the surface, but it gets real dark real fast. The show introduces us to an orphanage where kids live with their mother Isabella, they’re having a great life, but all of this changes when they discover the grim fate that is awaiting them.
The main trio tries to get out of this messy situation, but fails many times, the anime follows the struggles of these younglings as they battle to save their lives!
Though the anime has started deviating from its original material, season 1 still is one of the best.
15. Attack On Titan
Information |
|
Title |
Attack on Titan |
Genre |
Action, Drama |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Wit Studio |
Premiered |
2013 |
Episode Count |
25 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
One of the most famous anime series on this list is Attack on Titan. It is set in a dystopic world where all humans are forced to live within enormous walls, meant to defend against Titans. These Titans are creatures that eat human flesh for no unknown reason. Eren who watched a Titan eat his mother alive which made him want to eradicate every single titan. The plot twists in this show are surreal and you will love it. The horror of the titans, unnecessary deaths and some action is perfect for anyone looking for some combination of a good scare and existential dread.
Also Read: Attack on Titan Watch Order
14. Made In Abyss
Information |
|
Title |
Made in Abyss |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Kinema Citrus |
Premiered |
2017 |
Episode Count |
13 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
Made in Abyss is a series that makes its viewers feel that this is a normal happy dippy anime with adorable child characters and gorgeous environments. Riko an orphaned trying to find her lost mother who ventured in the bottom of the abyss. The abyss is a cursed place and whoever descends the abyss witnesses and faces a lot of messed up stuff. This series will indulge you in the darkest possible interpretations and will have you squirming at the end of the series.
13. Fate/Zero
Information |
|
Title |
Fate/Zero |
Genre |
Action, Fantasy |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
ufotable |
Premiered |
2011 |
Episode Count |
13 episodes |
Duration |
28 min. per ep. |
Takes place 10 years before the events of Fate/stay night, this series tells about the events of the Fourth Holy Grail War. Fate Zero’s a classic fantasy series with alternate universes which takes place in different routes. Every generation, something called the Holy Grail will choose a master and a servant. Whoever is chosen gets forced to fight in the Holy Grail war, with the winner having whatever the person wishes. Compared to Fate Stay Night, Fate Zero is obscene and disgustingly viler in almost every way. The Viewer will encounter horrifying murders, brutal fights and a whole lot of injustice.
12. Hell Girl
Information |
|
Title |
Hell Girl |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Studio Deen |
Premiered |
2005 |
Episode Count |
26 episodes |
Duration |
25 min. per ep. |
Have you been tormented to the point that you think you can’t take it anymore, then visit the hell correspondence website and order the hell girl, Ai.
The Hell Girl makes a deal with the victims of assault or any other unpleasant action, she gives them a chance. The people who tormented you will be killed swiftly, but there’s a catch, the Hell Girl only accepts one form of payment. You will live your afterlife in Hell! What’s creepier than this?
This is one of my personal favorite on the list Jigoku shoujo: Hell girl is an original series created by Studio Deen and Aniplex. The series follows a girl called Ai Enma. People think that Hell Girl is scam and fake. But she’s very real. If you hold a grudge and want revenge against someone there’s a simple website you can go on to. It’s accessible only at midnight and people with strong grudges against someone only can see it, she will drag the person into hell you want revenge against in exchange of your soul. This anime illustrate how negative and evil humans can be. This anime really shows the true and brutal side of humans in reality and how messed up their minds can be.
11. Berserk
Information |
|
Title |
Berserk |
Genre |
Action, Adventure |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Millepensee |
Premiered |
2016 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
This list is not complete without Berserk as this awesome and dark anime features all the traits of blood, magic, gore, bloody battles and more.The main characters are Guts and Griffith are mercenaries who are trying to save humanity from demonic beings. This series is really violent and has some intense gore. You can feel that Guts is suffering as so many things keeps on occurring. This show takes place in a fantasy medieval Europe era. It’s cold, dark, and gritty. If you haven’t watched this show, you’ve not truly witnessed a dark anime. I think the 90s style gives an increased feeling of the darkness in anime. I wouldn’t recommend the new one.
10. Blood C
Information |
|
Title |
Blood C |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Production I.G |
Premiered |
2011 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
Blood-C is a sequel series of Blood+ of the blood series It is definitely fatal and deadly than the other Blood shows. This series is another one that was not based on a manga or novel but was rather an original creation as an anime.
The story follows a girl Saya Kisaragi who has a mission to kill the monsters and demons called Elder Bairns who feed on human blood .Disturbing visuals, the large AMOUNT of blood in each episode, monsters etc. This series particularly has a really bad storyline but if you are into gore and all that stuff I would definitely recommend this anime. It probably will entertain you well enough.
9. Another
Information |
|
Title |
Another |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
P.A. Works |
Premiered |
2012 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
24 min. per ep. |
Another is a series which starts out with death of Misaki which begins the mysterious chains of events. Her death in 1972 is the point where the series actually starts as the curse starts to manifest onto others’ lives. 26 years later, a 15-year-old boy transfers as a 3rd year student in Yomiyama North named Kouichi Sakakibara and soon realizes there’s something wrong with this students. They keep ignoring a girl named Mei Misaki like she doesn’t exist at all soon later His classmates are affected by the curse and are being met with the most brutal deaths ever. It’s a mystery series with gory stuff. Another is a great anime that has an awesome storyline.
Misaki, an ordinary high school-going girl, dies in the year 1972, but her classmates and her teacher act as if she was still alive, this leads to a mysterious and spooky plot.
The main story starts when a new student, Kouchi, is transferred to the same classroom, but in the year 1992. Soon after his arrival, he notices many of his classmates dying in gruesome ways, so he teams up with a girl to solve this mystery. The mystery starts untangling as Kouichi tries going deeper and deeper into it Koucichi must focus as the secret is just under grasp. Another is a thrilling anime that everyone should watch.
8. Paranoia Agent
Information |
|
Title |
Paranoia Agent |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Madhouse |
Premiered |
2004 |
Episode Count |
13 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
Paranoia agent is definitely not based on a manga or even a novel but was rather an original creation and has unexplored themes which are very interesting to see. This anime starts with a serial killer called Lil’ Slugger, a boy who keeps moving around around the city and beating people with a bent baseball bat. The detective can’t find a clue as the kid randomly appears and disappears. This series has some real life themes and it stands out in the horror/ psychological genre. Particularly those who are interested in psychological thrillers you will like this series. It is boring in the start but eventually becomes very disturbing and dark. This anime is a good watch if you want to experience some suspense.
The city Misoshina is thrown into chaos as a mass murderer is on the run and the authorities are having no luck capturing him. This pesky little murderer swiftly moves through crime scenes on his golden roller skates. With his golden bat, he slaughters people most inhumanly.
Due to this the town folk are always on high alert. The anime is great at portraying the psycho of this mass murderer, and the art style and music just adds more flavor to the story.
7. Theatre of Darkness: Yami Shibai
Information |
|
Title |
Blood C |
Genre |
Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
ILCA |
Premiered |
2013 |
Episode Count |
13 episodes |
Duration |
4 min. per ep. |
Ghost stories have always been interesting to those who love all things scary, as there are many blogs and websites solely dedicated to retelling stories that have been passed around for years and years. Yami shibai is a series of 13 episodes .The episodes consist of really short ghost story that takes place in modern Japan based on ghosts from Japanese folklore.
The anime is based on a Japanese folktale called Kamishibai. Many of these stories have a historical basis. Yamishibai retells many stories that have been circulating around Japan for many years .Not only is this series great for a quick scary story, but some of the episodes are also genuinely terrifying. From stagecraft to suspense, Yamishibai has a spooky story for anyone wanting a horror related deeply to Japanese culture.
A strange man with a yellow mask visits a playground every day, where he narrates horror stories to little children. Yami Shibai is a collection of stories narrated by this man in a yellow mask.
As the man narrates the story to these children we feel like we’re a part of their group, and the stories seem even more engaging. The stories are some of the best that anime has ever seen!
Though the animation may seem a bit odd at first, once you let that slide out of your mind, you’ll truly start enjoying this show.
6. No.6
Information |
|
Title |
No. 6 |
Genre |
Action, Drama |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Bones |
Premiered |
2011 |
Episode Count |
11 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
The story takes place in a dystopian city known as “No.6”. Shion, a privileged boy Raised as a elite since the age of 2. One day Shion gives shelter to a boy who changes his life forever. On his 12th birthday he stumbles upon and rescues a boy who calls himself “Nezumi”. He ran away from the city’s Special Security Area without any trace.
From that moment on Shion discovers that something horrific is going on with this city and Shion begins to find out the hidden truth behind the Ideal City No.6 .This anime can be considered as a mystery horror genre. This show has a really dark theme attached to it.
5. Perfect Blue
Information |
|
Title |
Perfect Blue |
Genre |
Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Madhouse |
Premiered |
1999 |
Episode Count |
1 episode |
Duration |
1 hour 21 minutes |
Rising pop star Mima quits as a idol so she can pursue a career as an actress and model, but her fans aren’t ready to see her go and are disappointed but Encouraged by her managers. Moreover, she finds out she is getting stalked which send her psychologically over the edge, and she increasingly can’t tell what’s real what’s not. When suddenly the events starts occurring, her staff and collaborators getting murdered. Harboring feelings of guilt and haunted by visions of her former self, Mima’s whole world shatters. Her stalker threatens and closes in as she reveals the truth behind her hallucinations; this psychological thriller is one which will make you go wtf.
If you’re trying to scare yourself, this show will do it for you, in fact, it will do it so nicely that you’ll think twice before picking up any other horror show.
Perfect blue is the perfect mix of horror and psychological thriller, it tackles the story of a widely known member of an idol group who soon realizes her potential and starts acting and modeling. But her life turns upside down when a stalker starts wreaking havoc. The stalker can go to any lengths to make her suffer, the show is frightening with its eerie atmosphere and cold characters.
The anime visually is one of the best in the horror genre, it has great character design and backgrounds. And fight scenes are pretty decent too. One thing is sure though, this anime is not for the faint-hearted, think twice before watching this one.
4. Serial Experiments Lain
Information |
|
Title |
Serial Experiments Lain |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Triangle Staff |
Premiered |
1998 |
Episode Count |
13 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
This series follows a School girl Lain Iwakura, normally disinterested in “The Wire”(an advance form of internet), suddenly receives an e-mail from a schoolmate after they had committed suicide, stating that she’s left her body behind and became a part of The Wire(the internet)as digital being , and everything is great.
This event leads Lain to get a new and more powerful computer, and slowly she begins to like the virtual reality and the internet, losing touch with what is real and what isn’t, and even who she actually really is and what it feels like to be human. Serial Experiments Lain, an unusual anime made in 1998 based around the idea of what our dark future where the internet is easily accessible (which it is) would be like same as the now getting cut off from the reality.
3. Highschool of the Dead
Information |
|
Title |
HighSchool of the Dead |
Genre |
Action, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Madhouse |
Premiered |
2010 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
Highschool of the dead is set in a world where a zombie apocalypse has just started. The high school classmates should navigate through this horde of zombies if they want to survive.
The show is great at combining fan service with gruesome gory scenes, the combination may seem unlikely but in this case, it just works. In some scenes, the show becomes a total shonen anime but when the people fighting to get brutally devoured we realize this is far from being a typical fighting anime.
2. Mononoke
Information |
|
Title |
Mononoke |
Genre |
Fantasy, Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Toei Animation |
Premiered |
2007 |
Episode Count |
12 episodes |
Duration |
22 min. per ep. |
Mononoke is not everyone’s cup of tea, its art style is experimental and not everyone would enjoy it, but if you’ve decided to get your mind messed up, this show is up for the task.
The story follows a medicine seller who travels across Japan in search of Spirits, also known as Mononoke in the anime. He tries to capture these spirits, but before doing that he has to know what’s the cause behind the spirits’ carnage. This takes the show to another level, as the animation gets good in these parts. The anime has this weird quality to it that can’t be described. Watch the show to get this experience. It is worth your time.
1. Higurashi When They Cry
Information |
|
Title |
Higurashi When They Cry |
Genre |
Horror |
Type |
Series |
Studio |
Passione |
Premiered |
2020 |
Episode Count |
24 episodes |
Duration |
23 min. per ep. |
The first episode of this anime may fool you, but the anime might come off as another cheeky harem where our protagonist gets every girl he wants but this will change soon.
The place where our main character moves has this ongoing mystery surrounding murders. In this village, every fourth year a murder takes place and our main character knows the murderer he is close to her. This show doesn’t shy away from showing dirty and gruesome scenes of this crazy lunatic murderer. This anime is not a good watch if you feel uneasy whilst watching disturbing imagery.
And the no. 1 spot goes to when they cry or Higurashi no naku koro ni. Higurashi’s plot starts out in the cursed village of: Hinamizawa or is it? Maebara Keiichi moves into this seemingly peaceful town of Hinamizawa moving from the city to a village he tries to adapt his new lifestyle, he has made some new friends and he often play games or have fun with them. One day, Keiichi stumbles upon a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa.
From this point on, horrific occurrences occur in front of Keiichi, he soon realizes something is wrong. as he soon distrusts the close friends around him. All I’ll say is if you want something unpredictable, intense psychological, mystery and gore, try Higurashi. You won’t know what’s gonna happen, because the plot is so brilliant, unexpected and unpredictable. Will give you the Goosebumps you need.
Final Verdict
I bet you’re super creeped out by now, right? No? Damn! I’m scared of y’all. Well, these Anime are some of the creepiest ones out there. So, if you have any more recommendations, just let us know in the comments down below.
