Ah, anime. There’s no telling just how much we love anime. But every one of us has a particular genre that we absolutely ADORE- whether it be comedy, action, romance, or horror.
Well, in this writing, we’re going to be listing out the Best Horror Anime for our horror fanatics. These sure are worth screaming over!
Another
Total Episodes: 12 + 1 OVA
Season: 1
A Japanese mystifying horror anime, Another is one of the greatest horror anime television series of all time. Under the direction of Tsutomu Mizushima, P. A. Works produced this anime series that publicized twelve episodes from January 10 to March 27, 2012.
The most impressive thing about this series is its atmosphere. It’s way too exceptional. Every part of this anime is way too complicated.
Watching this series, it questions you the whole time what’s going on although you are actually visualizing what’s going on. Confused?
Yes, I am too because of this anime’s complexity.
This anime is embraced with two major things: the sensation of urge and obscurity. This masterpiece is truly a brain-twister. No one knows what’s going to happen and who’s going to die next.
In this anime, people die in various unimaginable ways because of a strange curse. Mostly, in the craziest way possible. But the insanity of the atmosphere around it keeps slipping away.
You never get a clue on who’s going to suffer a ridiculous death. That’s how it is, the whole time. The only way to get rid of that curse is to unravel the mystery in every way possible. Otherwise, there’s no end to the thirst for blood.
It’s only a matter of time whose life is going to be sacrificed next. For those who love horror anime, this series is a treat to their eyes.
Paprika
Running Time: 1hr 30min
Movie: 1
Paprika is one of the greatest anime of all time that relates to a research psychologist who uses a device that provides the therapist to enter into the dream of their patience and help them.
This is one of the best horror anime which has an impression on its audiences because of the ways that they use to draw dreams and imbricate them with reality scary enough to lose some shit.
This anime is directed by Satoshi Kon in 2006 as an animated science fiction psychological thriller film. Based on the 1993 novel of the same name by Japanese author Yasutaka Tsutsui, this film was late Kon’s first and final film before his death.
The proper horrifying concept paired up with heavy themes made this film disgustingly terrifying and made dear to most horror fans.
After watching this anime, you’ll realize that dreams also make people fragile where a person feels safe the most. This is what makes Paprica the most unusual.
Paprika makes a horror anime lover must-watch because of the unsettling nature it carries.
The Junji Ito Collection
Total Episodes: 12 + 2 OVA
Season: 1
As the name says this anime is an enormous collection of creepiness. the whole anime series is a bundle of terrifying stories which holds every minute with weirdness.
Slugs growing in your mouth, people being twisted, never escaping nightmares, deadly curses, and the most unusual weirdness makes this anime the scariest series ever.
The series is based on the works of a manga artist, Junji Ito, directed by Shinobu Tashigara, and premiered on January 5, 2018.
Only 12 episodes of this anime have been released so far including another two OVA. Though it has a very less number of episodes, those 12 episodes are enough to fill you with macabre.
Devilman Crybaby
Total Episodes: 10
Season: 1
Devilman Crybaby is an exceptional anime series that is not suitable for all. However, it is an anime of a fabulous story as it is one of the rare graphic action anime with a fantastic animation as its backup.
This anime series contains shocking violence, usage of drugs swarmed with graphic sex scenes, or a fusion of both which is quite inappropriate for all of the viewers.
Based on Go Nagai’s manga series Devilman, this anime is a 2018 Japanese anime series produced by Aniplex and Dynamic Planning under the direction of Masaaki Yuasa.
Devilman Crybaby was animated by Science Saru and was finally released on Netflix in 2018.
You should watch this anime because it is unpredictably unusual and might freak many of the viewers as this series contains sexual assaults and violence.
Even if this anime is aimed at adults, the level of mature content in this anime goes far beyond. But for those who love thrilling horror anime, this is also one of the best.
From The New World
Total Episodes: 25
Season: 1
Combining the elements of illusion and coming of age of tales into a prophetical frightening incubus, From The New World is one of the most watched series from the 2010s.
This anime has not dealt with the fascinating progression of technology rather than it is more concentrated on the evolution of the human mind. This series is full of frightful consequences and horrible scenes.
People might think of this anime as a masterpiece because of the unpredictable plots it holds. You don’t have any idea when your favorite character is at the stake of death.
This anime was directed by Masashi Ishishima, produced by Aniplex T.V Asahi and Pony Canyon, and was finally released on 2008, January 23.
This anime will shake up the new viewer in three different ways.
Firstly, in a psychological way, each and every thought and moral that one knew is under vision. It becomes an illusion.
Secondly in a paranormal way, being different from the human beings surrounding this earth put me in a state of absolute anxiety and fear.
Thirdly, in a totally unprecedented way.
You must give it a try as a horror anime viewer, as the series contains so many many plot twists that one never feels safe. Anyone might end up being dead meat.
Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories
Total Episodes: 118
Seasons: 10
This ongoing series is a quick dose of horror which is also known as Yama Shibai and Theater of Darkness in Japanese. It can be also be called as short but creepy as a single episode is only about three minutes however insanely creepy.
This series was produced by ILCA, and directed by Tomoya Takishima with the scrips narrated by Himoru Kumamoto was originally released July 14, 2013. It has altogether ten seasons with each episode 4 min maximum till now.
As the world advised it as a collection of Japanese Ghost stories, it is very short, horrible, and convincing.
Yamishibai is an anime about the story of Japanese myths and urban legends where a character tells stories to some children. Give it a try if you like horror story anime.
The Promised Neverland
Total Episodes: 23
Season: 2
A marvelous anime with an enthralling plot, the finest villains, and likable characters, The promised Neverland is one of the greatest horror anime of all time.
If you haven’t seen this anime, don’t just waste your time by reading this portion. You’ll get a whole worth of this anime if you determine to watch this anime immediately.
In this anime, there are the three smartest kids who unravel the scary truth of the halcyon orphanage where they were raised.
After knowing about the dark side of the orphanage, those three kids seek a way to flee away from the wicked caretaker and lead the other trapped kids in a precarious escape plan.
It is certainly not ending the murky game between the three smartest children and the woman who’s missioned to make sure that none of the merchandise goes vanishing.
Written by Kaiu Shirai and illustrated by Posuka Demizu, The Promised Neverland is a manga series that was serialized from August 2016 to June 2022 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump with its chapters assembled in 20 Tankobon volumes.
This anime was directed by Mamoru Kanbe and was produced by CloverWorks originally released in January 2019 and ended on March 2021 with a list of 23 episodes.
Parasyte
Total Episodes: 24
Season: 1
Parasyte is one of the best horror anime because of its horrifying scenes where lethal monstrous creatures take over humans.
This anime series is about a 17-year-old character who is infected by a parasyte, a monster that massacres and devours humans.
This anime was directed by Kenichi Shimizu, Yang Byeyong, Hitoshi Haga, Yoshihiro Kanno, and Mayasuki Mizutani.
Likewise the number of directors there are also many producers of this anime such as Yoshio Nakatani, Hiroyuki Inage, Atsushi Kirimoto, Yuta Oshima, Sota Shioiri, and Daisuke Fukada.
In order to survive the life of both part as a human and part as a monster, Shinichi Izumi must be able to co-exist with the creature that is within him after he got infected.
It is one of the best horror anime in my opinion as it is a fabulous one of its own kind. The proper engagement of the story, heart-wrenching scenes with the great characters, and grotesque animation makes this one a masterpiece without any question.
While watching this anime, time passes by in a flash.
Hell Girl
Total Episodes: 78
Season: 3
Hell Girl is the series that concentrates on the presence of a supernatural system that enables people to take vengeance by sending other people to hell with the help of the services of the cryptic title character and her subordinates who execute the system.
This is a horror mystifying anime with an unexpected dark plot, interesting characters with great animation. The most fascinating thing about this anime is its main character, Enma Ai.
She is the “Girl From Hell” who draws the string. If someone wishes for revenge, then the Hell Girl will give you a doll made up of a straw with a red thread around it. With that doll, if someone wishes to send hell to other people, then just by simply pulling the string you will have a contract and they will be sent to hell.
This anime series was written and directed by Koji Shiraishi, produced by Shoji Doyama, Tomohito Matsushita, Satomi Kotake, Masahiro Miyata and was finally released on November 15, 2019.
Watching this anime, you will not regret it. It’s worth a watch so give it a chance.
Elfen Lied
Total Episode: 13
Season: 1
Elfen lied is a Dark Fantasy science fiction anime that involves themes of vengeance, social exclusion, resentment, discrimination, and abuse. There is a great deal of bloodshed, featuring nudity and descriptive violence as well as mental violence.
This anime is a distorted and advanced take on a demon girl figure in horror. Rather than being a vampire, the main monster is a powerful bring that became the subject of test in the series until the time the girl decides that she can’t handle it anymore and become free in the most blood-lusty way possible.
Although the girl monster girl escapes from the enslavement and tries to live normally like other humans, certain situation compels her to liberate her true demonic nature. I’m warning you, the amount of bloodshed and brutality in this series is enough to make anyone avoid red drinks and cranberry juice for a week.
This anime series is adapted from the Japanese manga series which was illustrated and written by Lynn Okamoto. The director of this anime is Mamoru Kanbe and the producer of this anime series is Kazuki Morijiri, Manabu Tamura, and Osamu Koshinaka.
Elfen Lied was originally released from July 25, 2004, to October 17, 2004.
This anime was so brutal that the Parents Organization of the Ural Federal District of Russia sent a letter as a request to President Vladimir Putin to ban its manga due to its conceived adverse influence on underage children.
It would be the wisest decision to watch this anime series if you’re more into horror animes.
Tokyo Ghoul
Total Episode: 48
Seasons: 4
Tokyo Ghoul is the most popular modernized thriller and horror anime. This anime is so wholesome and underrated. According to the majority of viewers, this anime series is extremely violent as the scenes of mass murder, bloodshed, and torture are displayed.
This anime is adapted from the manga and reflects the alternate reality where creatures known as ghouls who look normal in appearance devour the flesh of humans.
Tokyo Ghoul is a story that follows a character named Kaneki Ken. He is a college student who narrowly escaped a lethal encounter with his date, Rize Kamishiro who unleashes her true identity as a ghoul.
Later on, the main protagonist explores that he turned into a half-ghoul after he underwent a certain surgery. It is purely a great horror anime.
The perfect deployment of every badass character in every scene, the gore animation, and the opening song with absolute chills help this anime rank a good place in the list of horror anime.
This is the series of Japanese Dark Fantasy manga which was directed by Tadahito Matshubayashi and produced by Ken Hagino, Hajime Maruyama, Yoshito Danno, and Hidetata Soga. This anime was finally released on July 4, 2014, with 48 episodes continuously divided into 4 seasons.
It’s up to you whether you watch this anime or not, but I personally recommend you to watch the opening song of this anime once. You’ll be fascinated for sure!!
Demon Slayer
Total Episode: 44
Season: 3
Movies: 4
Many of the viewers might argue that Demon Slayer is not a horror anime. But in fact, it is. Despite having comedy and adventure throughout the series, horror scenes are displayed as the demons arrive.
The scenes in this anime are very freakish and terrifying. The mass destruction, bloodshed, extreme violence, and creepy appearance of demons made this series more horrifying.
This anime is a story about a boy who aims to be one of the strongest Hashira and eliminate all the demons. He seeks to assassinate the Lord of Demons, Muzan Kibutsuji who is the murderer of Tanjiro’s family and turned his sister into a demon.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Total Episode: 24
Season: 1
Similar to Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen is also a horror anime. This anime series contains mass murder, gore, and dread elements. It is very suitable for horror anime watchers because it has a disturbing atmosphere.
The curses and their powers capable of causing immense destruction are shown in this anime. You’ll surely find this anime interesting if you like to watch complex and frightening series.
The anime series shows a story about a high schooler Itadori Yuji. He consumes a cursed finger and gets possessed by the demon called Sukuna which is capable of mass devastation and murder.
Jujutsu Kaisen is based on a manga series written and portrayed by Gege Akutami. This anime was directed by Sunghoo Park and produced by Hiroaki Mastutani, Makoto Kimura, Toshihiro Maeda, Yoshiaki Takagi, and Yuriha Murai.
Finally, the anime series was released on October 3, 2020, with a total number of 24 episodes.
Berserk
Total Episode: 25
Season: 1
Berserk is also a horror anime as it is full of freakish elements. Although, it is questionably a horror anime. The horrible scenes in this anime make viewers not witness what is displayed in front of them.
This anime will haunt any audience because of its terrifying story. I bet you’ll feel how intense is this anime after you’ll actually visualize and understand this anime.
Berserk turns a perfectly told story of horrors of battles into a dark fantasy swamped by demonic forces. This anime is so dreadful that I recommend you not to watch it if you have a weak heart.
The animation series is full of violence and blood. What’s more, a disgusting and fearsome scene is where Guts’ girlfriend gets raped in front of him and he can’t do anything. The scene is horrible and cruel enough to make some of the audience cry!!!
Berserk is the adaptation of a Japanese manga series sketched and scripted by Kentaro Miura. This series is directed by Shin Itagaki and produced by Linden Films Gemba. It was originally released on July 1, 2016.
However, it is known as horror for its scary scenes, it actually is not completely a horror anime.
