Best Horror Anime

Despite the popularity of the genre in Western media, horror anime is somewhat rare to come by. Horror as a theme is so often interpolated into other genres within anime, it’s seldom to see an anime that takes horror, and places it at the forefront of the show. For example, if a show like Jujutsu Kaisen were to be made in the West, horror would undoubtedly be one of its most prominent named genres. In the anime scene it’s simply a shonen, albeit one that often draws on horror tropes.

There are, however, some horror anime shows that lean into the genre more heavily than others, making them the perfect choice for a binge-watch this Halloween season. Though anime and horror often go hand in hand, it can be difficult to narrow down exactly which shows are just scary and bloody enough to be suitable choices for the spooky season. Well, fear not! We’ve compiled a list of some of the best horror anime shows to watch, whether you’re looking to celebrate October the right way, or whether you’re a year-round horror fan looking for a frightful anime fix. You won’t find any horror anime movies on this list though – that’s a list for another day…

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Another (2012)

Image by P.A. Works

In many ways, 2012’s Another is somewhat of a poster-child for horror anime. If you’re in any way involved in online anime culture, you’ve likely seen endless accounts using Mei Misaki as their profile picture. However, despite the popularity of the series’ iconography, a lot of anime fans have never actually seen Another from start to finish, hearing about its major characters and moments instead through the grapevine.

For any horror fan, Another is a worthwhile watch. The story focuses on a young boy who transfers to a new school, and finds himself drawn into a mystery surrounding his fellow students succumbing to grisly deaths. Another is a rare case of a horror anime that leans fully into the horror genre. It’s packed full of ghostly imagery, jumpscares (which are extremely rare in anime), and gory death scenes. Those of us who have seen Another will never look at an umbrella the same way again – if you know, you know.

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Uzumaki (2024)

Image by Drive

Uzumaki is the new kid on the block when it comes to horror anime shows, making its debut in Fall 2024. The story of Uzumaki, on the other hand, has been long established as one of the greatest of all time for the genre, noted as one of Junji Ito’s finest works, and an essential read for horror fans. Now that we’ve finally seen a successful screen adaptation of an Ito story, 2024’s Uzumaki now joins its manga source material as an essential watch. There’s no other horror anime quite like Uzumaki.

The story is simple, if incredibly cosmic. Viewers will watch as Kirie, a young girl who lives in Koruzu Town, observes the townsfolk around her become increasingly obsessed with spiral imagery, the plot playing out in a series of short stories focused on each individual’s experience with the town’s cosmic curse. It’s unsurprising that any anime adaptation of Junji Ito that does the author justice would become a horror anime essential. We can only hope similar treatment is awarded to some of Ito’s other works, the best of which we’ve listed here.

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Berserk (1997)

Image by OLM Team Iguchi

Berserk is a complicated beast in the horror anime/manga scene. Kentaro Miura’s manga, debuting in 1989, is one of the most well-received and best-selling manga series of all time, and has achieved legendary status in the industry. Anime adaptations of the material, on the other hand, have been notoriously slated upon release, never quite doing justice to Miura’s vision. Almost every anime version of Berserk (of which there have been a few) have been lambasted – that is, all except 1997’s take on the tale.

1997’s Berserk, though it only covers the manga’s Golden Age arc, is one of the most horrifying horror anime of all time, mainly due to how faithfully it adapts the manga it’s based on, albeit with some censorship. Berserk is one of the greatest dark fantasy stories ever told, but it’s important to note just how dark it can get. This one is not for the faint of heart. Unfortunately, the anime abruptly ends after 25 episodes, and after Miura’s sudden death in 2021, the publishing of the manga also came to a grinding halt. Though production of the manga has resumed posthumously, Berserk will always go down, in both the worlds of anime and manga, as one of the greatest unfinished stories of all time. However, I still recommend you give Berserk a watch. It’s lack of ending does nothing to hinder just how incredible Miura’s work was.

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Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023)

Image by Bug Films

In taking a break from all the doom and gloom of our previous entries, we turn to Zom 100, a delightful anime take on the horror comedy genre. Zom 100 tells the story of Akira Tendo, an office worker who has hit a dead-end in his life. His misery has reached such an extent that when the world succumbs to a zombie apocalypse, Akira sees it as a positive, and decides to use his newfound freedom to check goals off of his bucket list.

Zom 100 is a real triumph, in many ways. Bug Films is somewhat of an underdog in the animation industry, and with this series being plagued with scheduling delays as it released, its success feels earned. The visuals are stunning, with blood being represented in rainbow colours, and the story perfectly combines the horror of a zombie apocalypse with the heartfelt shenanigans of its main cast, with some poignant moments thrown in to ground the story. For any fan of horror comedies, Zom 100 is a must-see – there’s also a live-action version of the series, but I recommend watching the anime. It’s a far better time.

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Devilman: Crybaby (2018)

Image by Science SARU

Well, Zom 100 was enough of a break – back to the doom and gloom. Science SARU have been making a name for themselves this year in the form of DAN DA DAN, but before that anime hit the scene, they were known for their 2018 take on Go Nagai’s Devilman, Devilman: Crybaby. Nagai’s manga is somewhat of a classic, debuting in 1972, and has spawned numerous spin-offs and adaptations of the work over the years. However, none have hit the anime scene quite like Crybaby, which is undoubtedly one of the most graphic horror anime series of all time.

It’s rare that shows, much less anime shows, truly disturb me on a deep level, but Devilman: Crybaby pulls it off. Telling the story of Akira Fudo, a young man who is transformed into a demon, Crybaby must be applauded for how it handles the story’s mature themes. Behind all of the incredibly graphic violence and sex lies meaningful discussions around war, bigotry, and sexuality. It must be noted though, these themes do take a back seat to just how graphic the show gets. Combining all of this with some of the most viscerally upsetting and nihilistic moments in anime history, you get a horror anime that is not for the faint of heart, but is a perfect choice for the more hardcore horror fans out there, looking for something to truly unsettle them.

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Chainsaw Man (2022)

Image by MAPPA

Plenty of shonen anime have drawn on the horror genre in their themes and stories without being dubbed horror anime. However, there’s no shonen that walks this line quite like Chainsaw Man, making it a perfect choice for horror fans looking for a show that’s more action-oriented than the other entries on this list. With a movie adaptation of the series’ next arc around the corner, there’s no better time to catch up on the few Chainsaw Man episodes that we have available to us – they’re a worthwhile watch for sure.

Chainsaw Man tells the story of Denji, a teenager who makes a contract with a Devil to become, you guessed it, Chainsaw Man. Despite drawing on many typical shonen themes and storytelling tropes, Chainsaw Man stands out from the crowd through its unique plot, gore, and loveable cast of characters, all of whom are incredibly peculiar people. When compared especially with its Dark Trio companions, Hell’s Paradise and Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man takes its horror inspirations to new heights for the shonen genre, making it a perfect choice for anime and horror fans alike.

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Parasyte: The Maxim (2014)

Image by Madhouse

Body horror fans need look no further for a horror anime that tells an incredible story with the body horror subgenre as its main focal point than Parasyte: The Maxim. Much like Zom 100, Parasyte has received live-action adaptations, but none of them have hit quite as hard as the anime’s take on Hitoshi Iwaaki’s original manga. Beyond the freakish physical mutations that take centre stage in Parasyte, there’s an incredibly poignant commentary on humanity and its ability to evolve.

Parasyte: The Maxim tells the story of a teenager named Shinichi who, when it fails to take over his brain, fuses with an alien parasite that takes over his arm. This plot may sound a little silly, but the greater story revolving around the parasites taking over human civilization slowly, while humans fight to maintain their supremacy despite their physical weaknesses is one of the most effective horror stories told in the anime medium. With some truly horrifying visuals, combined with a world-threatening storyline, Parasyte is the perfect choice for a horror anime binge this season.

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Heavenly Delusion (2023)

Image by Production I.G.

Heavenly Delusion is an interesting choice to conclude this list with because it’s less blatantly horrific than any of the other entries on this list. With only one season to its name, the series feels like more of a setup to something horrifying to come, rather than being horrific itself. However, what hints the show does give us at future events are more than effective enough to earn Heavenly Delusion a spot here, and a recommendation to horror fans. It helps that the show is incredibly strong, and a truly enjoyable watch.

Heavenly Delusion is set in a post-apocalyptic world, and focuses on two teenagers as they travel across the ruined landscape. Cutaway scenes also focus on a side-plot about children who live in a sort of school/facility hybrid, which is where most of the horror implications go down. Fear not though – there’s plenty of action and horror in what we do have so far, particularly creature horror. Unfortunately, fans have wagered whether or not a second season will ever happen. There’s not a huge amount of unadapted chapters in the manga, meaning if we even do get a second season, it’s a long way away. Still, the content we do have is more than worth a watch. A definite recommendation for any horror anime fan with a strong stomach.

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Conclusion

There are lots of great anime that draw on the horror genre out there, but this list features our choices for the most horrifying, stomach-churning, and most importantly of all, enjoyable horror anime shows out there. Have you seen any of these shows, and if so, which are your favourites? Did we miss any great recommendations? Be sure to let us know in the comment section!

See also: Best Underrated Horror Movies

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