There exists 556 anime that, at least to some extent, can be classified as horror. To be fair, ‘horror’ as a genre can be slapped onto many different anime as an addendum, so for the sake of this list, we will mainly be basing ‘best’ on anime that were created specifically with elements of horror in mind—this will include mystery, thriller, and suspense genres to even the playing field. However, this will also mean that I will largely avoid titles such as Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen, so on and so forth.
25. The Flowers of Evil (75/100)
Flowers of Evil Official Trailer
Takao Kasuga is a highschool student in love with his classmate Nanako Saeki—so much so that when he forgets his copy of a book called The Flowers of Evil in the classroom, he also steals Nanako’s sport’s garments. Unbeknownst to him (initially, anyway), his classmate Sawa Nakamura, a social outcast, knows about his theft and is blackmailed into indulging Sawa’s increasingly twisted fantasies at risk of having his theft revealed to everyone. Takao is now faced with the ultimate test; can he recover from these increasingly traumatic experiences, or is he doomed to continue on being caught in Sawa’s thorns?
I’m sure that throughout this article, my bias towards psychological horror will rear its ugly head. What makes this series unique is the fact that Sawa’s character is so twisted, so manipulative that she even gets into the viewer’s head—we, the viewers, are constantly filled by dread of what Sawa will put Takao through next, all for the sake of her need to be acknowledged.
Sawa, as a villainess, is scary because of the power she holds over Takao and her willingness to target him. Without blackmail material, she would be harmless—but the fact that she’s willing to blackmail and manipulate (though force would be a much stronger word) Takao into illicit acts (the library scene made my stomach turn) proves that she’s a dangerous, opportunistic individual.
The sound design and animation style also makes it unsettling—it’s the first anime to use rotoscoping to animate; basically live action footage is traced over to create a live-action adjacent animation.
24) Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror (76/100)
Ayakashi Japanese Classic Horror Trailer
This series, created by Kenji Nakamura (who would go on to create Mononoke, which will appear later on this list), is a collection of three Japanese horror stories based on mythology: the first story being "Yotsuya Kaidan", following a wife betrayed by her husband who seeks vengeance even in death. The second story is "Tenshu Monogatari", following the forbidden love between a goddess and a human. The third story is "Bakeneko", the story of a mysterious cat monster with a vendetta against a certain family.
Nothing can beat classic ghost stories, I’m sorry. Although supernatural horror (at least in my opinion) can be very, very shaky ground to stand on, there is something to be said for the sheer barbarism in the horrors that the people afflicted with these entities experience. Part of what makes this anime so scary is the mythology involved; mythology often reflects both the mindset and circumstances a population faces, as it’s used to explain events that otherwise the population didn’t have the terminology or realistic explanation for.
The scary thing, on a technical level, about Ayakashi is the trippy animation style—it gives off a sense of madness to the viewer, prompting just as much confusion as the characters are experiencing. The disturbing imagery is also a plus—that, alongside solid sound design and an eerie soundtrack choice, makes for an anime that demands constant attention.
23) Shiki (76/100)
Shiki: The Complete Series - Blu-ray & DVD Trailer
Sotoba is a sleepy, peaceful small town—the type of town in which everyone knows everyone, where nothing major ever really happens. Which is why it shakes the entire town when Megumi Shimizu, a bright young girl with high aspirations, suddenly dies—and following her is a string of unexpected deaths, of which Dr. Toshio Ozaki begins to think that something bigger is at play. So, seeking help from Megumi’s friends, as well as an aloof teenager and two siblings, Toshio launches an investigation…which leads to the new family that moved into town just before Megumi’s death.
Ah, yes, the obligatory vampire anime. If we’re being honest, this is probably one of the best depictions of vampires in fiction, for the sole reason that the story does not pretend that vampires are good people with no choice—this anime, in the advent of the vampire popularity boom, brought vampires back to their roots as bloodthirsty (no pun intended) monsters that can be killed by the classic methods (stake through the heart, sunlight, etc).
The story itself is very well paced throughout the episodes; as our main protagonists investigate the apocalyptic inception of vampires in their town, we see countless carnage, our main protagonists’ lives hanging in the balance as they race to uncover the truth. We are left on the edge of our seat during each episode, wondering which character will be next on the list to die. This is not even mentioning character design, especially regarding the Shiki—the vampires—who are designed only with black holes for eyes.
Here’s the thing though; the horror of this anime lies in one question. The question is, who is worse, the humans or the shiki?
The whole point of the show is that humans are worse. The Shiki, while they are monsters, cannot control their desires—they became that way due to an illness, and because of their appearance, are considered dangerous to all of humanity. Thus, they are hunted down violently and brutally.
The real enemy is mob mentality.
22) Blood+ (78/100)
Anime AMV | Blood+ Trailer | HoverStudios | Official Fan Trailer
Saya Otonashi is by all appearances a normal girl, living a normal—maybe somewhat lonely—life, navigating living with anemia, while also grappling with being recently adopted with no memories of her life before her adoption the previous year. Her life as she knows it changes when she is attacked by a monster that feeds on human blood—and while she’s thankfully saved by a man named Haji, she is then forced to drink Haji’s blood, which gives Saya the ability to slay the monster, using her own blood as a catalyst. Saya, after this event, learns of Red Shield, an organization founded to defeat the same monsters that attacked her—and using her powers, under Haji’s guidance, decides to work with Red Shield to fight these creatures and uncover her connection to them.
See, here’s the thing; not only is this anime pretty good for gore lovers, with the way that it can make your stomach turn, but the thing that stands out to me is Saya’s grapple with personal identity and fully understanding who she is—which feels relevant inasmuch that we live in a world where, increasingly, individuality and our sense of identity is difficult to distinguish.
How much of me is me? How much of you are you? How much about ourselves do we really know, and just where is the line drawn between the person I am and the person I need to be to survive?
These are the questions that Blood+ poses; it reflects a scary issue that arises in polarizing, traumatic situations. Given the world’s social climate, this sentiment feels more relevant than ever.
21) Gantz (78/100)
Gantz - Complete Series - Trailer - Available on DVD 1/25/11
Kei Kurono is just a lonely, depressed highschool student who isolates himself—until one day, upon seeing his classmate Masaru Katou jump into the train tracks in the subway to rescue a drunk man, he is inspired by his kindness and leaps in to help. It’s this act of kindness that costs them their lives, but instead of a real afterlife, the pair wake up in an apartment, with other people who’ve died, and with a black sphere called ‘Gantz’ that gives them the task of killing a strange creature, while also equipping the group with gear and guns to get the job done. Once they complete this first task, Kei and the other survivors of the mission are teleported back to the apartment where, despite his death earlier that day, Kei is allowed to return to his daily life with one condition: he can be uprooted from his day at any time to fulfill more assassinations, which gives Kei purpose—while also threatening his life outside of Gantz.
This is also a very good anime for people who love gory horror. But beyond the interesting concepts surrounding this anime, what makes it so good is that it’s a dissection of the human psyche—The concept of dying, paying a debt to return back to life, rinse and repeat is one that's bound to leave the viewer with the desire to think about their own life.
Kei, having lived a lonely, cynical life, struck by the cruelty of humanity, decides to help rescue a man stuck on the train tracks and in the process loses his life. How many of us would do the same? What would we risk for the sake of others? And what would we do when faced with the horrors we faced in b death bleeding into our life?
If I'm being frank, just as an aside, while the anime is good for horror and gore lovers, it may also help to reference the manga as well to get a little more out of it—but it’s still a solid story.
20) Elfen Lied (80/100)
Elfen Lied - Trailer
Lucy is a special breed of human called a "Diclonius," born with a short pair of horns and invisible telekinetic hands that garners scientific interest and earns her incarceration in a science lab run by the government as a test subject. Corrupted by the confinement and torture, Lucy unleashes a torrent of bloodshed as she escapes her captors when she is presented a chance to leave. However, in her attempt for freedom, she receives a severe head injury that leaves her with a split personality, and it’s in this state of instability that two college students take her in—unknowingly involving themselves in a government conspiracy.
Okay, my bias will show here; this was my personal first horror anime and when I say it’s impactful, I mean it. Granted, it isn’t the greatest horror of all time but if you are the kind of horror fan who likes ‘villains’ who do horrible things only because they’re pushed to do so by the actions of others, or if you generally like gore, this anime is for you.
What I personally like about this anime is that Lucy is genuinely terrifying. The anime leaves a sense of unease because we cannot see her attack—her method of attacking involves invisible hands, so as viewers, we are constantly waiting for something to happen, for a burst of blood or unimaginable violence towards individuals who have given Lucy a reason to attack, such as those kids that made her watch as they killed her puppy, the only pure thing that she got the chance to have that could have been her own, that could have shown her what love is.
But above that, storywise, it’s the story of a girl who was singled out, treated as a lab experiment, stripped of her humanity—someone who, in the advent of her grasp for freedom, had to adjust to a world she wasn’t prepared for. The reason it’s good is that not only is it scary as a horror anime, but it emphasizes the importance of kindness as a powerful tool to set people—broken people—on the right path.
19) Monster (83/100)
Monster Trailer
Dr. Kenzou Tenma, an elite neurosurgeon recently engaged to his hospital director's daughter, is so over hospital politics—he is so tired of the hierarchy, of the priority list favoring highly ranked individuals, and this is compounded by the hospital director telling him to switch patients as he was about to operate on a critically injured man. He is told, instead, to operate on a famous performer, and it is this event that prompts the critically injured man to die. So, when a similar situation arises and he has to choose between saving a young boy named Johan Liebert or saving the mayor, Dr. Tenma saves the boy, which costs him his social standing, and leads to the deaths of the hospital director and two other doctors, earning Dr. Tenma his position, as well as becoming the new hospital director. Unfortunately, however, after saving the life of a criminal 9 years later, he is faced with his past—but now, he has to make amends for the poor choice he made.
My god. This series is yet another masterpiece—which only lost points due to the simple reason that it slips through the cracks in terms of anime recommendations and thus does not have high ratings that match those of the top 10.
The story is so good because, a theme that I feel doesn’t get explored enough in most anime is our conscience. Perhaps that’s my bias, but I digress—Dr. Kenzou Tenma is fighting an unwinnable war with his conscience, having to fight tooth and nail to make up for the mistakes that led to the deaths of various colleagues. The villain in this story, Johan Liebert, is possibly one of the best written anime villains of all time, one that could, and probably should be, considered an example to follow, which adds a lot to the experience that is Monster.
Keep in mind that Monster is one very long season made up of about 62 episodes, so if you’re binge watching, it might take a little while, but it’s worth it.
18) Death Note (85/100)
Death Note | OFFICIAL TRAILER
17-year-old Light Yagami’s an ingenious student with a bright future and a dream of becoming a police officer. His life is changed when the death god Ryuk drops his Death Note into the human world—which Light proceeds to use, initially to test if the rules listed inside are true (which they are, he finds), only to then decide it should be used to enact justice. As a result, Light assumes the name Kira, writing down felon after felon and thus committing murder after murder—which attracts the attention of brilliant detective L, and it’s this event that leads to an intense battle of wits that can only end when one of them is dead.
Hear me out. Death Note is technically not a horror anime; it’s more accurately described as a mystery and detective anime. That being said, Death Note still deserves, to some degree, to have a place on this list. Why is that? Simple;
The psychological horror involved in Light Yagami’s culmination is top tear. This anime is scary because of the fact that someone who is brilliant, with noble aspirations towards a safer world, could allow power to permanently alter his mind. It’s scary because similar things happen in real life.
Obviously, Death Notes are not real—Shinigami are not real. No one is imbued with the power to simply write down a name and have them killed—but in real life we see people (especially in governments but also sometimes in the regular populace) who decide that they know best, and must rid the world of people who are bad. It’s scary because we could be passing by countless killers and not even know it—which is the case with Kira.
This is not even mentioning the eerie, unsettling feeling that might come from seeing the shinigami, or the feeling that, had Death Note been real, you would never know who has one as it’s a secret—all you would have to do to get yourself killed is make the owner of the death note angry enough with you. It’s the same in real life, with killers—so in short, in an extremely exaggerated way, this anime is scary because of the fact that it reflects life in an uncomfortable way.
17) Parasyte: The Maxim (86/100)
Parasyte -the maxim- Official Trailer
All of a sudden, they arrived: parasitic aliens that descended upon Earth and quickly infiltrated humanity by burrowing into the brains of vulnerable targets—only to then acquire full control of their host, morphing and grotesquely transforming their host into incomprehensible horrors. Sixteen-year-old high school student Shinichi Izumi is one such victim, but it fails to take over his brain, ending up in his right hand instead—and given that relocation is not possible for the parasite (which is now named Migi), the pair are forced to compromise. Because of their unique situation, the pair is forced to defend themselves from other hostile parasites that see their alliance and wish to decimate them before they can decimate the parasites.
Body horror, my beloved. Nothing, I repeat nothing is better than some good old fashioned “how much of me is left?” body horror. Listen, it’s horrifying to know that your body is changing in a way that you can’t control—it’s worse when the type of change can kill you and other people, and in that same vein, it’s horrifying to know that you are the outlier, you are the one who hasn’t turned into an incomprehensible mix of something human and something not. Or, rather, you retain your humanity while others don’t get that luxury.
That’s really what it boils down to for why this is such a good horror anime—we are watching humanity grapple with humanity. We are watching these characters have to kill creatures that once were human, creatures that still have loved ones that advocate for them, not understanding that the person they loved is gone.
It’s a horrifying prospect, and that’s why this anime, as an anime, is so good.
16) Junji Ito Collection (86/100)
The Junji Ito Collection - Trailer
A collection of esteemed horror mangaka, Junji Ito’s work, now animated. These stories include but are not limited to that of a cursed jade carving that opens holes all over its victims' bodies; an attractive spirit at a misty crossroad that grants cursed advice; and a slug that grows inside a girl's mouth.
Okay, a couple of thoughts about this; when I made this entry, it was with all of Junji Ito’s animated work in mind, including Japanese Tales of the Macabre. This is a good horror anime because, for one, you could watch any episode in either series and not have to really catch up—they’re disjointed, just enough that the stories may have common or reused characters, but not so connected that you need to watch them all consecutively. So for casual anime watchers, this is ideal.
The other thing that needs to be said is that, in terms of exercising horror tropes, Junji Ito generally does a good job—each story has a hopeless conclusion, reflects an issue in Japanese society—for example, the inescapable hanging balloons episode in Junji Ito’s Maniac representing the spiked suicide rate after an idol dies. The animated versions of Junji Ito’s works may not have as profound an impact as his manga, but if you love horror and you only watch anime casually, this might be for you.
Junji Ito does very well with body horror, while also keeping the gore minimal (or at least not going overboard) so if you’re someone who doesn’t like a lot of gore, this is for you.
15) Dorohedoro (87/100)
DOROHEDORO - Official English Dub Trailer
Caiman, a man cursed to look reptilian and lacking memories of his life before, is just trying to reestablish the life he led before he was essentially damned to Hole—a dark, decrepit, and disorderly district where the strong prey on the weak and death is an ordinary occurrence—amongst magic users, including his companion Nikaidou, who supplements his insatiable appetite and keeps him on track by allowing him to eat at her restaurant, Hungry Bug. Unfortunately for Caiman, who doesn’t really use magic, his only hope is the magic users around him—who, frankly, aren't much help at all.
I'm gonna be real. This anime is a good horror genre anime because it blends horror and comedy pretty well. Where other horror anime either take themselves too seriously or not seriously enough, Dorohedoro balances out pretty well.
This is another one for the gore horror fans; there is a lot of blood, guts, and fighting—but the sound design really makes it.
14) Another (88/100)
Another Official Trailer anime
There are ominous rumors surrounding class 3-3 of Yomiyama North Junior High that no one wants to divulge the details of to recent transfer Kouichi Sakakibara—but after a series of tragedies plaguing the class, Kouichi comes to realize that this is more than just a rumor. He turns to his friend, Mei Misaki—who is largely ignored by the rest of their class—in an effort to unravel the eerie mystery behind the tragedies that plague them. The question is—will they survive long enough to find the answer?
If you don't know this anime yet, you might know it just by two words: umbrella scene.
Know it now? Good. If not, I'll catch you up to speed; in this anime, there is a curse on the class of 3-3 that prompts the deaths of several students and a teacher, one such scene involving a girl falling down a flight of stairs and getting impaled by the pointed end of her umbrella.
This anime is good for the reason that we are constantly left guessing who's next. We are left watching, waiting for the next inexplicable act of violence, bracing ourselves as we watch these characters struggle to find safety from their fates that the curse imposes—for example, the aforementioned umbrella scene, or the teacher knife scene in which he is fighting with an invisible force not to die—which ends the way you think it does; poorly.
13) Deadman Wonderland (88/100)
Deadman Wonderland - Available Now on DVD - Trailer
Ganta Igarashi is a normal teenage boy, who on one fateful day, is getting ready for a field trip to a prison. On this fateful day, Ganta is the sole survivor of a massacre carried out on his class and gets framed, sentenced to death, and incarcerated in the very prison he was going to visit, which shares the name of the anime. Ganta’s only hope of survival is finding the man who killed his class—The man in red—and clearing his name, while also trying to survive the death matches within the prison walls.
There is a lot to unpack here. First thing’s first, and I have to point this out: whoever orchestrated that field trip either was asking for their class to be harmed, given the nature of the prison, or they were stupid. Second: That does not detract from the fact that the situation, in and of itself, is terrifying.
Listen, here's the thing. Many of the anime on this list are so good because the circumstances the characters are in are fascinating, and force the characters to gain introspection, while also forcing the viewer to gain introspection.
The art style is good. The animation is solid. The fight scenes are cool. But all of the circumstances, together, prompt Ganta’s fall from ‘goodness’. Before the inciting incidents, he was a good kid—I have to emphasize kid because that's exactly what he was—who, during the events of his survival struggle, clearly begins to resort to violence, to anger. Watching him devolve is a ride, in and of itself, one that's not too bad! Hell, it’s actually pretty good.
12) Akira (89/100)
Akira (1988) Trailer
In Japan, 1988, an explosion caused by a young boy with psychic powers tears through the city of Tokyo and prompts World War III to start—and now, in the year 2019, Tokyo has been rebuilt, but now it’s an area riddled with gang violence and terrorism. Here, Shotaro Kaneda leads a bike gang that constantly butts heads with another bike gang—which, during one of the battles, Shotaro's best friend Tetsuo Shima gets in an accident involving a psychic boy who escaped a government lab, which gives him his own abilities.
Okay, now this movie is a bonafide cult classic. If I'm being frank, this is also technically a body horror anime, so if you aren't into that, then this isn't for you—but this movie is the movie that got many people into horror anime. It really set up its own category for what successful horror anime can look like.
There are so many things happening in this movie that it forces the viewer to pay attention—it’s exciting, and fast paced, and the trials and tribulations that Shotaro faces when having to decide what he should do to defend not only his city but his friend.
The horror involved in this movie can be classified in many ways—one in the sheer destruction of a city like Tokyo, the magnitude of which would be astronomically difficult to even imagine, another being the transformation that those who walk away from experiences with espers alive deal with (the development of terribly powerful abilities that can and will destroy both you and everything around you), and finally, the horror of watching someone you care about transform, and having to make the choice to end them for the sake of the greater good.
The arc that Shotaro has to deal with is one that, in much, much lesser forms, is one that many of us are familiar with—having to choose between what we love and who we can save is the tragedy of this movie, and one that really makes it a cult classic.
11) Paprika (90/100)
PAPRIKA [2007] - Official Trailer (HD)
There exists a device called the “DC Mini” that has the power to delve into the dreams of others and reveal their secrets, deepest desires, and aspirations—it was created with the hope of helping to treat psychological disorders, but in the wrong hands, it can be used for psychological terrorism and cause mental breakdowns. So when it goes missing, and others start acting strange, Officer Konakawa, who has been receiving this experimental therapy, is asked to help the creators of the DC Mini to search both the real and dream worlds for the mental terrorist responsible.
This is really an unsung movie. Despite its high ratings, it’s hardly talked about in mainstream media. First and foremost; the art style is breathtaking and imaginative in just the right way to contribute to the dreamy feel of the movie—because the movie is made mostly in a dream sequence, that's exactly what's necessary to immerse the viewer in the story.
But above that, the point of this movie is the experience, not the understanding; we are not meant to understand right away just the same as we aren't meant to understand our dreams. The surrealism is meant to add to the confusion and thus the fear of what is to come—it plays on our deepest fears, depicted in a surrealist light, while also confronting the common issues of Japanese culture (such as the extremely high suicide rate).
I will say that the movie itself isn't exactly ‘scary’, despite being classified as a horror, at least in my opinion—but regardless, it's still worth watching for the thrill of the search for the mental terrorist.
10) Higurashi (93/100)
When They Cry Official Trailer
Keiichi Maebara is new to Hinamizawa, a sleepy, idyllic town with a simple lifestyle, in the summer of 1983. Immediately, he befriends schoolmates Rena Ryuuguu, Mion & Shion Sonozaki, Satoko Houjou, and Rika Furude—and initially, everything seems fine, normal even, until he learns that there have been several murders and disappearances over the years, and they all seem connected to the annual festival and the patron god, Oyashiro. Naturally, he tries to ask his new friends about it, who refuse to tell him anything and begin to act suspiciously, including multiple attempts on his life—which always end with him waking up on that fateful day he met his new friends.
Oh baby, it’s time loop time!
I am gonna be so honest right now; I absolutely love the trippy timeloop, uncertain-of-reality trope in horror anime. You know it's a popular anime when there are several iterations of it, the most recent of which for Higurashi being in 2022.
Higurashi, in my opinion, is so good because the art style betrays the content. Okay, yes, it doesn't look that scary. You won't be saying that when you see the nail ripping scene.
On that same note, Higurashi is really, really good for gory scenes. The curse upon Hinamizawa is one that forces friends to turn on each other—it’s scary because of the fact that it's an unseen force, and no one has an explanation for the murders and the violence.
And on that note, the terror lies in trying to figure out what to do to avoid the horror when everything resets. How can Keiichi avoid dying again? How can he avoid killing his friends? How can he avoid the madness? No one really knows, for sure.
That's the scary part.
9) Hell Girl (94/100)
Jigoku Shoujo: Hell Girl Trailer
Ai Enma is the guardian of Hell, in charge of enacting the will of karma—reachable by the Hell Correspondence website at the stroke of midnight. All you have to do is type in the name of your grudge, and Hell Girl will come to you, explain the conditions behind asking for this revenge—that being that you, too, shall go to hell when you die should you follow through—and she will give you a straw doll with a red string to pull and seal the fate of your grudge. Once the string is pulled, the target will be taken to hell immediately—and for some that is enough, even at the cost of their soul.
What I like about this anime is the fact that the stories are largely not connected. You can start from virtually any point in the series and not need to catch up.
Ai Enma is easily the scariest part of the anime. From the blank look on her face, the monotone speaking voice, to the way she approaches the damned grudges, Ai Enma is an all encompassing force. You cannot escape her once someone has submitted your name—and the fact that you will not know when it's your time to go to hell is the scariest part.
It’s the uncertainty surrounding Ai Enma’s supernatural influence. But above that, momentarily disregarding the horror aspect, it’s also satisfying to watch the grudge go to hell because typically, they deserve it (though not always.)
8) Tokyo Ghoul (94/100)
Tokyo Ghoul Trailer English Sub
Kaneki Ken is kind of shutting out the growing ghoul problem in Tokyo—ghouls being human-like beings that blend into the population and feed on human flesh to survive. But it isn't a problem, really, not at first, since citizens are being urged to treat them as equals, so when Kaneki meets Rize, a beautiful young woman who asks him on a date, he doesn't think anything of it—until when the date comes and Rize reveals herself to be a ghoul and tries to kill Kaneki. Thankfully, he survives, only to find out that the only way to save his life was to transplant the now deceased Rize’s organs into his body, which slowly turns him into a ghoul, and he finds himself struggling to hang onto his humanity in the rapidly evolving war between ghouls and the government agents.
This anime is a good example of body horror, too—the slow change from human to half human to ghoul is horrifying to watch as Kaneki tries to control his urge to attack and eat humans by instead binge eating food regular humans can eat—only to throw it right back up. Not only that but the art and animation style does an incredible job showing the barbarism behind the reality of being a ghoul, or otherwise going through the ghoul transformation.
It’s heartbreaking and enthralling to watch the transformation as Kaneki slowly loses his humanity—but the fascinating thing, too, is that Kaneki is proof by himself that ghouls are not just killing machines; although his case is unique, they can still have depth and desires just the same as the human version of Kaneki had.
I will say that this anime really veered away from the manga and fell out of favor with fans, but up until season 2, it’s pretty good.
7) The Promised Neverland (95/100)
The Promised Neverland Trailer (English Sub)
The Grace Field House is an orphanage run in an idyllic countryside, where the children are cared for by their “Mama”, Isabella. The children are marked by numbers, and have to take tests daily, but they are happy, regarding one another as one big family—and besides, it isn’t as though the children don’t get to play, or anything, all they have to do is not venture too far into the woods surrounding the property. Every few months, a child gets adopted, but is never heard from again—which, to the oldest three children, is suspicious, prompting them to discover the gruesome truth and hatch a plan for escape.
I'm gonna be real and tell you right now; the first episode will give you whiplash from how crazy and horrifying the ending is.
The thing that makes this such a great horror anime is the fact that there is no over-the-top gore, no real monster or boogeyman to fear—well, technically there's that too, but they don't make that many appearances in the anime. What makes it so good is that the horror lies in the implied.
While at the end of the first episode, it’s somewhat graphic, it isn't all blood and guts. But we are taken to the revelation of where the “adopted” children go via the point of view of the three main characters. Through watching one of their younger siblings suffer the horrid fate she does, they are then exposed to the reality of who their Mama is, the reality of where they stand in this world that they haven't had even the slightest chance to be prepared for, and the reality that comes with death.
The depth of the bond between the three main characters is also very moving in a way that draws viewers in, that establishes stakes immediately, especially if you're someone who has a very strong bond with your siblings.
I will say that the second season isn't very popular, and that's where many viewers fall off—but if you watch the first season, you're in for a treat.
6) Mononoke (95/100)
Mononoke Movie - Official Trailer
The “Medicine Seller” is a deadly master of the occult, who travels in search of malevolent spirits called “Mononoke” to slay—the problem being that he can only slay them once he understands it on a psychological level. He winds up meeting a pregnant woman who is in grave danger, staying in a room in an old fashioned inn infested with a band of these Mononoke called the Zashiki Warashi. It’s The Medicine Seller’s job to eradicate the Zashiki Warashi before it can kill again.
The trippy animation and art style, just the same as in Ayakashi, makes for a very nice horror experience. The other interesting thing is that the protagonist, who appeared in the Ayakashi series earlier in this list, is more fleshed out here.
I will say that this anime is good, but it would greatly help to watch Ayakashi: Japanese Tales of Horror first. I say this mainly because that will help you kind of prepare yourself for this anime—it sets the tone, so to speak.
What I love about this anime is that the characters feel real. Most stories and anime write characters in a way that don’t make them feel very relatable, or their responses to situations doesn’t feel very ‘human’ for lack of a better word. But in Mononoke, every character, struggle and all, feels very realistic.
Above that, Mononoke, despite being a beautifully creepy experience, isn’t that scary to watch by yourself. If you aren’t into yokai anime, this probably isn’t for you, but this is a good watch if you want to walk away feeling somewhat unsettled but not totally shaken.
5) Zom-100 (96/100)
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead | OFFICIAL TRAILER
Akira Tendou, a young man with so much promise, screws himself over by getting a job at an exploitative company. He spends 3 years at this company, on the fast track to losing all passion in life, before finally, he gets a break…when a zombie apocalypse breaks out. Seeing that now he suddenly has free time and realizing that the outlook is bleak, he decides to start a bucket list.
This is another example of an anime that mixes both horror and comedy very well—a zombie apocalypse breaks out, and our protagonist is so happy he doesn't have to work a grueling office job anymore that he doesn't even care. He just makes a bucket list and devotes all his time to a) surviving, and b) crossing off items on his list. He just accepts his fate instead of fighting against it, which is a refreshing change from the angst involved in zombie anime.
The animation and art style are also beautiful, the sound design doing so much to keep the viewer immersed in the world that is Zom-100. It’s terrifying, yes, because the prospect of an apocalypse is scary—but Zom-100 does a really good job mixing the beauty of life with the horror of death.
4) Hellsing Ultimate (97/100)
Hellsing Ultimate - Vol 5 - 8 - Available on BD/DVD Combo 11.13.12 - Trailer
Hellsing, an organization dedicated to destroying supernatural forces that threaten the very existence of humanity, is the only barrier between vampires and humans in England. At its head is Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, who commands a powerful military and spends her life fighting the undead—her army of which pales in comparison to the vampire Alucard, who works as an exterminator. Utilizing his new vampire servant, Seras Victoria, Alucard must battle all those who stand to oppose Hellsing, be they in the guise of good or evil.
First thing’s first; the original Hellsing was good. But many viewers agree that Hellsing Ultimate is, at least to some degree or another, superior. This is for a few reasons:
For one, many who read the manga were pleasantly surprised to see that Hellsing Ultimate was, essentially, a frame by frame animation of the manga consolidated into about 12 episodes.
For another, Alucard, as a character, is naturally a very well written protagonist, if a bit overpowered—despite being the protagonist, he's somehow more scary than the villain himself, especially because some of the lengths he will go to for his goals are almost enough to make you feel bad for the villains he comes across. This goes without mentioning just his character design; personally, I find it scary when all we can see is his dark silhouette, the only splash of color being his clothes and his glasses.
3) Berserk (98/100)
Berserk Original 1997 TV Trailer
Berserk follows the story of Guts, a lone mercenary driven by his need for revenge and survival. Tragedy after tragedy, we are witness to Guts’s unending search for closure.
This anime. This anime is really not for the faint of heart, fullstop. There are many iterations of Berserk—which emphasizes its impact as a horror anime, given that the most recent installment of Guts’ torment was in 2022, when the first version of the anime came out in 1997 (which in my opinion is the best version strictly because that’s the version that started it all, but the 2016 version is also very good).
The lore behind the characters is gripping. From a horror perspective, it’s horrifying to consider the things Guts has to see—the constant betrayals and losses are so distressing for the viewer that we are left wondering if the pieces can ever be picked back up, and whether Guts will ever be able to catch a break long enough to have and keep only for himself. The gore, too, is necessary to mention for those who enjoy it—the gore is intense, and extremely detailed, and realistically animated, for the most part.
The stages of grief and torment that Guts goes through are so cathartic—and while I don't want to spoil too much about the anime, I will say that the amount of horror that you see Guts go through may turn your stomach so much that it will make you stop watching—which I say especially because of Griffith, who Guts originally considered a friend. You'll see what I mean.
Word to the wise, you might not want to eat while watching this anime. Or do so, don’t let me tell you what to do.
2) Devilman Crybaby (2018) (98/100)
DEVILMAN crybaby | Trailer [HD] | Netflix
In a world where devils can possess and bestow power to individuals with strong wills (thus making them something called ‘Devilmen’), Akira Fudou agrees to help his friend Ryou Asuka in uncovering devils before they can turn more people into grotesque monsters. In an effort to protect his friend, Akira makes a deal with the devil Amon and becomes a Devilman. However, despite the new primeval component to his being, Akira still possesses a soft heart—and he must constantly battle with himself to remain in control.
Devilman Crybaby is essentially an offshoot of the original 1987 Devilman series, a tribute to Gō Nagai. To begin with, this anime has an incredible art style, which is what first drew me in, personally—but what struck me about this anime was the twist at the end, which I won’t reveal because it’s better when you aren’t expecting it, but the twist at the end is what really makes this anime. It establishes that love is our greatest weapon and our greatest weakness—and it’s because of that fact that this anime has earned a high place on this list.
1) Perfect Blue (99/100)
Perfect Blue Official Trailer
Kirigoe Mima is a J-Pop Idol who made the decision to leave her idol group, CHAM! and instead pursue a career in acting. After her last concert, though, Mima realizes that she is being stalked and slowly begins to lose touch with reality.
This movie is a masterpiece. Mainly utilizing elements of psychological horror, Perfect Blue lures the viewer into the twisted web of Mima’s descent into madness spurred by the pressures of her career choice, the dangers of her career, the ramifications of being stalked, and loss of identity. The horror doesn't come from cheap jump-scares or excessive gore—rather, the gory and violent scenes don't really happen until the middle and towards the end, which is good if you are someone who doesn't like a lot of gore.
This is the kind of movie that, each time you watch it, you notice new things, or hints to the big twist at the end, that you didn't notice before. It’s so good because the twists and turns of the story epitomizing Mima’s blurred lines between reality and non-reality can make even the viewer question reality—how much of our own lives are a delusion? How much of our life is filled with monotony? And how much of our life is occupied by escapism?
