Top 60 Best Horror Anime To Watch In 2025 [Ultimate Scary Anime List]

The next movie on our list is looked upon as a Masterpiece by those who watch it. It is the psychological horror we call, Perfect Blue! The series talks about a girl named Mami who was part of an idol group called CHAM.

However, her acting career makes her leave the group and perform in this new realm instead. Overall, she receives fairly grounded pieces of advice and so, everything goes back to normalcy. However, soon she experiences weird and strange things happening all around her.

From Stalker to Fake websites, a lot of new things are showing up against Mami and it doesn't look like it is in her favour. She slowly starts to lose her grip on reality and becomes mentally unstable. This movie is creepy, messes with your mind and understanding and so, it is worth all your time and money (if you spend on it).

Fated to be a target of demons till the day he dies, Guts is one of the most memorable characters in horror anime. He fights against overwhelming odds to survive, going even against his fate. Scores of supernatural creatures hound him with the single aim of being the first to finish him off.

Through sheer will and courage, Guts stands strong against them in the “Berserk” anime. One man was responsible for putting him in this fatal position. And so, armed with the Dragonslayer blade, Guts seeks him out to exact his vengeance and hopefully end the cycle of horror and death.

It doesn’t help matters that this man in question was once Guts’ friend. During his dark journey, Guts makes allies who include: Isidro, an ambitious swordsman trainee thief, and Puck, a tiny elf. Together, they decide to face demonic dangers and support Guts in his quest to seek a resolute conclusion to this spectral mess.

The popular manga version was adapted into an anime in 2018. It follows the children’s escape attempt from ‘Grace Field House. The second season deviates a bit from the source material but remains true to the spirit of the story.

In the “The Promised Neverland” anime, an orphan named Emma shares a home with thirty-seven other kids in a sizeable edifice turned orphanage named Grace Field House. Their ‘mother’ Isabella sees to their education, leisure, and other needs. The children are allowed to go anywhere except outside the house’s gate/perimeter.

When one of the kids, Conny, is adopted it makes for happy news. Emma and her close friend Norman run after her to deliver a doll that Conny had left behind. The bitter truth reveals itself when Conny is found dead.

Emma soon learns that all the children at the House are being raised like livestock to feed demons. The older children, being in immediate danger, group up and plan an escape. They eventually plan to go back for the other kids and set them free as well.

Plenty of dark and demonic encounters set the pace in this scary series. The man managing these ‘Farms’, Peter Ratri, has to be stopped. And the head of it all, Legravalima the demon queen, needs to be eliminated.

A medicine salesman without any real name attributed to him in the show faces a series of supernatural perils in the “Mononoke” anime, which has held on to its repute and renown over the years. The title refers to ‘Ayakashi’, which are spirits of the deceased living unnaturally in reality.

The medicine seller, during his travels and varied encounters with different characters, often meets such spirits that are not altogether friendly. He promptly starts to dispose of them in his unique way, by relying on knowledge. He uncovers each spirit’s shape (or ‘Katachi’), its truth (or ‘Makoto’), and its reasoning (or ‘Kotowari’).

Only afterwards does he go about unsheathing his sword, which he uses to exorcise each spirit. The series provides a relatively soft yet captivating take on the horror genre.

When the manga version was adapted into an anime in 2014, it became a genre game-changer. The “Parasyte: The Maxim” anime follows the life of high-schooler Shinichi Izumi one of whose hands get inhabited by a parasitic alien entity. Other such aliens have successfully taken control of a host’s entire brain.

This leaves the hand-alien “Migi” in a peculiar yet horrifying conundrum. It has to keep its host, namely Shinichi, safe from other aliens who believe he needs to be killed before people learn of this Achilles’ Heel. The shape-shifting human-eating aliens are out to conquer and want nothing to stand in their way.

Shinichi personally believes that the alien-parasite Migi can help him end the tyranny of the alien race that is intent on ending the human race by taking over their bodies.

It is the 22nd century and Japan has seen some loathsome changes. The ‘Sibyl System’ is in effect, designed to determine the threat level of each citizen. It violates all privacy and ‘reads’ people’s minds to ascertain any criminal intent hidden inside them.

Everyone is given a ‘Psycho-Pass’ which records such details for those in authority to demand at any time to see. Lethal law enforcement and subjugation occur via the ‘Inspectors’. Then there are the ‘Enforcers’, who are essentially latent criminals granted some freedom and exemptions as long as they do some dirty work for the Inspectors.

Akane Tsunemori – honest, justice-driven, and ambitious – learn the darker side of the System when she starts working under Shinya Kougami, a veteran Enforcer. Knowing there may be no way to alter or better the Sibyl System, she starts warring with the morals and principles that she’s held in high esteem all her life.

Plenty of Orwellian horror themes rooted in the foundations of realism are contained in the outstanding “Psycho-Pass” anime.

Let's talk about some psychic stuff, anime fans. The next piece on our list is a terrifying work known as Shinsekai Yori. The series focuses on the life of Saki Watanabe. You see, Saki has psychic powers but she isn't the only one.

Other people have psychic powers as well and those who do, study in the Sage Academy. As Saki makes new friends, she gets exposed to new perspectives. However, soon her friends realize that this world is nowhere near as idealistic as it seems.

Therefore, they all try to learn the truth of this realm and what they get to know is truly shivering. Watch the series to find out the horror. The anime is great for people who love mystery and school blended into their narrative. Let's just say that this combination works great here.

As ‘experimental anime’ goes, “Serial Experiments Lain” is a captivating peek into style and storytelling. Middle-school Japanese girl Lain Iwakura is the central focus of the show. An Internet-ish platform called ‘Wired’ plays a potent and horrific role in the series going forward.

The girl has her issues, but the school she’s studying at seems suddenly to have received a message from a dead student. Chisa Yomoda seems to be stuck inside a VR game that runs on Wired tech. Events drag Lain into this world that’s filled with equal parts enigma and fear.

It touches on several scary and relevant, topics and themes regarding where we’re headed as a species and society regarding our technological ambitions.

Known by many as one of the greatest anime movies to be ever created, the next entry on our list is Akira. Akira tells us the story of a city ruled by biker gangs. One of the leaders of those gangs, Akira, had his friend lost in the depths of this city.

He was nowhere to be found or seen. However, he soon realizes that his beloved has turned into an absolute monster. With the most dangerous powers in the world in his hands, the person Akira loved so much is not the same now.

And his abilities have gone far beyond human comprehension. Will he be able to stop that monster? Akira is an absolute classic that anyone and everyone should watch. If you haven't done it yet, you have your chance.

Oh My, we will be dealing with Dorohedoro now, ladies and gentlemen! Not gonna lie, I am already disturbed. And so will you once you know what this show is based on. The series talks about a place called "Hole" where brutality, cruelty, and death are as common as Breathing.

This world is where Magic users pick up on normal monsters for their experiments and let's just say that they show no mercy. In this unreal and painful world, Kaiman has summoned up and no one knows how. All he knows is that he is a monster now as is on a search to find out about himself.

And that is what Dorohedoro is all about. This anime blends comedy with gore so well that it might become your favorite, instantly!

Yet another incredible psychological movie, ladies and gentlemen! This time, it is the nerves wrecking Paprika. The story talks about the desire and love that you hold for things. The show tells us about a couple named Atsuko and Kosaku who wish to develop a technology that can read someone's desires.

Being the aspirants that they are, Atsuko and Kosaku succeeded in doing so. However, fate has different plans for them as they soon realize that their technology is stolen. Now with potential wrong hands having the ability to control people's minds, Atsuko and Kosaku have to try their best to find the culprits before it's too late.

Let's see how it goes. This movie is just so well done. Watch it to enjoy some fine Horror.

Back in 2000, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust came in out of nowhere to shock the audience with an incredible movie. The centre of attention is D, a renowned vampire hunter and outcast dhampir. When the daughter of a wealthy family, Charlotte Elbourne, mysteriously disappears, D is called upon to locate her.

With his reputation among humans and exceptional skills, he eagerly accepts the task, even though rival bounty hunters, led by the notorious Markus brothers, are also anticipating the reward. Unbeknownst to them, a hidden malevolent presence manipulates their every move, setting a deadly trap that will test their survival.

As the chase unfolds, shocking secrets are revealed, and the hunters may find themselves becoming the hunted in a chilling confrontation with an insidious evil.

This is one of the more recent anime series out there, but it fast made a name for itself in the horror genre. The story dives into a cluttered apartment where 24-year-old Akira Tendou leads a monotonous life. He finds solace in watching zombie movies.

By enduring an exploitative corporate job in Japan for three years, and counting, Akira's motivation has completely drained. He no longer seems to possess the courage even to express his feelings to Ootori, a coworker. Before long, everything takes a drastic turn for the worse.

It starts when Akira witnesses his landlord literally consuming another tenant. Akira is soon dragged into the realization that the whole city is overrun by zombies. In the face of such imminent and grave danger, Akira's adrenaline surges. It apparently breathes life into his weary soul and he embarks on a desperate struggle to understand his newfound situation.

The chaos following the zombie infestation awakens a sense of vitality in Akira, one that he harnesses to try and complete as many things on his bucket list before he finally gets assaulted by an undead and becomes one of the zombies.

It started back in 2006 but still stands as one of the best Horror anime you can find in the market. Higurashi when they cry talks about a boy named Maebara Keiichi who has recently moved to a remote village in summer.

There, my man instantly makes new friends and gets along with them very well. Soon, the festive season arrives. And in villages, festive seasons bring reasons for people to stand and prepare together. However, for Keiichi, this festive season was something else.

This is because he was soon about to experience a nightmare in real life. A nightmare that both you and I will remember for good. This is going to be fun and horrifying. Prepare yourself for the lore.

This story gets right to the horror point when Akira Fudo is let in on a global conspiracy to keep the actual existence of demons from public knowledge. In the “Devilman Crybaby” anime, Akira’s childhood buddy, Ryo Asuka, makes the revelation based on personal experience and exposure to dark secrets.

Before long, an underground nightclub brawl reveals to Akira that there is indeed more going on than meets the eye. Murders, demons, and state secrets play frightful roles in this show, eventually shrouding Tokyo in demonic chaos. Ryo has their diabolical secret to reveal to his best friend Akira who by this time has slipped into the role of ‘Devilman’ to take on the growing demon threat.

This show is all kinds of thrilling, with plenty of grand Heaven-Hell-related themes worth watching, to say nothing of its wonderful character arcs.

When Teiichi Niiya enrolled at the Seikyou Private Academy, little did the high-schooler bank on the fact that he was going to become part of a dark and dangerous series of events. In the “Dusk Maiden of Amnesia” anime, the boy finds himself lost in the academy’s maze-like halls.

Before long, he encounters Yuuko Kanoe, a girl who reveals that she’s in truth a ghost who has lost her memories. Seven peculiar mysteries at the new school make Teiichi don the hat of the investigator, all so he can help Yuuko move on from the Earth plane.

Other ‘troubled’ characters come to the fore, adding to the subtle horror and progressive ambience of this amazing anime series.

When the anime version of this manga adaptation aired in 2014, it became an instant hit among horror anime fans. It begins with Ken Kaneki living a normal life and seeking a romance with a girl called Rize Kamishiro. As time goes by he learns that Rize’s a ghoul, one of the thousands who have made a silent and secret home in his city.

He barely survives an encounter with the femme fatale. Worse, upon recovery, Ken discovers that he has become a half-ghoul himself thanks to one of Rize’s organs being ‘donated’ to save his life. Ken now has to learn to balance his dual life in the “Tokyo Ghoul” anime.

At a café called ‘Anteiku’, other ghouls teach him their bloody ways. Ken finds himself a poor fit not just among other ghouls but also among normal people. Guilt at keeping his new self a secret from his bestie, Hideyoshi Nagachika, tortures him. The show also has a prequel series and a sequel, each with its memorable characters and plotlines.

What started as a remarkable Japanese novel saw itself being adapted into an anime series that enjoyed twenty-two episodes and two OVAs. The story takes place in 1994, in Sotoba village. Unexplainable deaths haunt the villagers ‘coincidentally’ around the time a new family moves into the Kanemasa mansion.

The bizarre disappearances begin with Megumi Shimizu who pays the family a visit to their hilltop home. She is later found dead in the forest, and gruesomely so. The village’s only doctor Toshio Ozaki attributes hers, and other similar deaths, to a potential epidemic.

The truth is out and everyone soon learns that ‘Shiki’ or vampires are the source of all these murders. Natsuno Yuuki (part of the new family who moved to Sotoba) is targeted with accusations, thus sparking the dark and sinister narrative that prevails in the “Shiki” anime.

Taniyama Mai and her buddies are passionate about ghost stories. They indulge this habit every time they're together at school. Soon, their focus shifts to the abandoned building inside their campus that has long been the source of haunted tales and paranormal rumours.

The moment they start talking about the place, a teenage boy named Shibuya Kazuya abruptly interrupts them. In the “Ghost Hunt” anime, this boy is president of the Shibuya Psychic Research Company. The school principal himself called him in to debunk the strange stories surrounding that one abandoned edifice.

Later, when Taniyama passes by that very building, she spots a camera inside and feels compelled to investigate. Shibuya’s assistant was apparently recording footage. In the resulting confusion, the camera gets broken and the assistant gets injured. Shibuya has little choice but to make Mai pay for her error in judgment, so he insists she take the assistant’s place.

Taniyama is soon dragged into a world of ghost hunts and occult truths that are far scarier than anything she exchanged in the form of stories.

This anime might not seem horrifying at first but the moment you start watching it, you will realize why this piece has made it to our list. The series talks about the life of a girl named Yuki Takeya who loves her school to some of the most insane levels.

She doesn't wish to leave her school at all and just wants to spend time with her friends here. However, things start to become interesting when you realize that this all-amazing school Yuki is so happy about, might not even exist.

All the fun that she is expressing in her school life might be superficial and all a nightmare. Is it the case? Well, there's only 1 way to find out!

The best adaptations come from the manga. The original manga source for the “Monster” anime gave fans plenty to look forward to in the series. The anime also shines the spotlight on Dr. Kenzo Tenma and his insistence on treating all patients at Eisler Memorial Hospital without any political bias.

When fraternal twins Johan and Anna Liebert come in, following a grisly scenario, Kenzo pounces on the chance to make change happen. He refuses to treat the injured mayor and addresses the children instead. One thing leads to another, and the good doctor finds himself in the middle of an investigation.

The children have gone missing from the hospital, leaving a trail of death behind. A decade later, the doctor finds himself once again on the trail of mystery and horror via a man named Adolf Junkers. It leads him to the realization that the kids were part of a secret government soldier program that used psychological re-programming and bio-sciences to create ‘monsters’. Eugenics, atrocious experimentation, and frightful conspiracies abound in this anime.

The show may be set in the year 2005, but the chills and creeps are still relevant today. It uses an American airbase called Kadena on Okinawa Island to set the foundation for a series of unnerving events. Saya Otonashi is an adopted girl.

She experiences several amnesiac moments that are not beneficial to her. When a hematophagous bat monster, a ‘Chiropteran’, attacks her Saya soon learns that her blood has a ‘certain something’ that annihilates the creatures. Along with Haji and her trusty katana, Saya grows into a formidable force for good in the “Blood+” anime.

While fighting Chiropterans on one side, she also harbours plans to learn of her true identity, which places her roots squarely in the mid-19th century. The series sees Saya going to various world locations: Japan, Vietnam, Russia, France, and the United States.

‘Hell Correspondence’ happens to be a strange website only accessible by night, and open only to select pre-chosen individuals. The criteria are simple: you need only harbour a grudge strong enough to grant you access. Upon gaining entry, you merely enter the name of the person on whom you have a burning grudge and rest assured they’ll promptly be dragged to Hell.

To Ai Enma, whoever reaches Hell in this manner may or may not be guilty of what someone thinks of them. She doesn’t care. Hell Girl must deliver punishment to everyone she encounters. Accompanying this enigmatic figure in her gruesome goals are three straw dolls.

One glaring caveat stands strong in the “Jigoku Shoujo” anime. Whoever typed the name that sent someone down to Hell will spend an eternity in the fiery pits once they die.

Although this one is new in the market, it managed to grab a lot of attention from fans all around the globe. This is Mieruko-chan. The show tells us about a girl named Miko Yotsuya who has been cursed with the ability to see Ghosts.

And these disturbing Ghosts are not going to leave her at any cost. She can see all of them and trust me when I say this, they are all horrible. However, she decides to ignore their existence and continue living her school life.

But being able to ignore actual ghosts requires a lot of courage. And so, this journey of Miko is going to be a very painful one. This anime blends comedy and horror so well. And that's the reason why it got so much attention so quickly.

Originally a manga, the super-popular anime “Hellsing” aired in 2001 and remains one of the most reputed horror anime series of all time. Its title refers to an organization, which happens to be an offshoot of the Royal Order of Protestant Knights.

This Order was initially captained by the legendary Abraham Van Helsing. The anti-vampire plotline in this anime is as bloody as it is deep. The story veritably pits the Hellsing organization’s heirs, members, and allies against hordes of undead who want nothing better than to take over yesteryear England.

Alucard, a powerful vampire, and an ally join the fight. Teaming up with them is Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing. This young woman has seen too much darkness in her life to quit the melee now. Nazi Germany's machinations and war crimes (dramatized to an extent) are given good focus in the story.

This twist adds to the vampiric perils prevalent in the show. Betrayals, horrors, and action-driven thrills define the "Hellsing" anime series.

The anime version of this super-creepy manga aired as recently as 2016 and lives up to the source material’s paranormal overtones. The “Ajin: Demi-Human” anime has Nagai Kei experiencing a near-fatal accident, but one that lets him discover that he is in truth an ‘Ajin’.

Learning about his super-regenerative powers and near-immortal genes is only the tip of the horror berg. Nagai also discovers a dark skill, he can manifest ‘Black ghosts’. These combat-crazed entities and other Ajin serve to enhance the show’s plotline and take it into dark storytelling depths.

Governments and normal people are ever defending against the growing Ajin threat. Neither side is completely innocent, adding to the complex emotions and reactions that pervade this scary series. Experimentation, ruthless abuse of Ajin, and bloody murders are just some of the things fans have come to expect from this excellent show.

Japanese supernaturalism reigns supreme in the “Another” anime. Middle-schooler Koichi Sakakibara is dragged into a horrifying series of events. A strange girl, Mei Misaki, is responsible for pulling him into circumstances that ensure the meaningless deaths of his classmates. Random people and students alike are connected to the dark events that unravel in this intense anime that comprises twelve episodes and an OVA.

The title says it well, it is a classic indeed, and one worth mentioning on this list of horror anime. This series covers three vintage Japanese horror stories. The tale of “Yotsuya Kaidan” sees a woman betrayed by her husband, setting her on a vengeful path, and death is no deterrent to her rage.

The story “Tenshu Monogatari” portrays a forbidden love affair between a man and a goddess. And ‘Pet Cemetery’ fans take note, the last tale in this lineup is “Bakeneko”, which features a cat-monster whore ire against a certain family going to extreme lengths.

This series begins in earnest when a virus (not the one that caused the ongoing never-ending pandemic J) transforms people into un-dead corpses or ‘Kabane’. The “Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress” anime takes viewers into a fictional ‘Industrial Revolution’ setting.

The only way for the survivors of the affliction to outlive those who didn’t is to rid their targets of an iron-layered golden heart that glows within their corpse bodies. Even decapitation works if successfully performed. Steam-pressure guns and melee weapons seem of little use in this fight to survive.

People seek safety within fortress cities as they sustain supernatural battles. Fortified steam-driven locomotives are responsible for supply distribution. Ikoma and his ‘piercing gun’ invention are soon tested when an accident pits people in one of these fortresses against a serious kabana threat.

Ikoma, though coming out a survivor, gradually becomes a kabana-human hybrid following his infection during the melee. He is what they call a ‘Kabaneri’, and he joins forces with sundry characters to fight the mindless monsters on their turf in this remarkable Steampunk-ish horror series.

The story of Sankarea is for those who love to enjoy a blend of nature. And you will see why I am saying this in a minute. So yeah, Sankarea talks about Chihiro who wishes to have a Zombie girlfriend.

Weird, I know but he wished to have her. Now one day, Chihiro's cat ends up in an accident and is found to be dead. Intending to revive it, Chihiro makes a reviving potion. And in the process, he comes across a girl who wanted to end her life because of all the troubles she was facing named Rae.

Now, this is where the fun begins, Rae accidentally drinks the potion that was made to revive Chihiro's cat. However, instead of dying from it, she turned into a Zombie. And let's just say that things take some interesting turns after that.

Fantasy and Horror both merge beautifully in this series that features ‘Diclonius’, a new type of mutated human being. Their dark gifts include invisible telekinetic arms called ‘Vectors’ and horns to distinguish them from normal people, with whom they share several physical similarities.

Lucy is one such mutant who manages to escape the locked-down facility where she was held and studied. During her dash to freedom, she receives a head injury that leads to the creation of a split personality. One part of Lucy remains a killer while the other becomes a child-like person called ‘Nyu’.

Kouta and his cousin Yuka are average people who discover Lucy and take her in. The ‘Special Assault Team’ who think Lucy is their property, in more ways than one, attempts to reclaim her from the boys. Other Diclonius entities are sent along with them to ensure a successful retrieval. Brutal and captivating moments soon unfold in the “Elfen Lied” anime.

When grisly killings haunt a city, things can get justifiably panicky. After a long time, rumours of one such event arise again, causing the people in the “Boogiepop Phantom” anime to grow fearful and distrustful. The killer in question is Boogiepop – Meet her one night and you are taken, or so goes the rumour.

In the modern world, there seems to be no room for urban legends like Boogiepop. People use her stories in jokes. But growing evidence comes to the fore that something is not right in the city, and it has all the makings of Boogiepop preternaturalism.

A super-hit manga, the anime version of “Corpse Princess” aired in 2008 and followed in its originator’s successful footsteps. Makina Hoshimura is the titular ‘Corpse Princess. To earn her entry into heaven, this undead girl seeks out 108 other undead and hunts them down – specifically, the Shikabane (plural) called ‘Seven Stars.

A secret sect (Kōgon Sect) of Buddhist monks (Keisei Tagami, in particular) aid her in what they consider a noble endeavor. Makina and her family were victims of murder, adding to her motivation to get rid of the undead and save others from meeting a similar fate.

The way she wields dual MAC-11 submachine guns adds to her appeal as a character in a horror series.

What started as mystery novels were adapted into manga, which in turn inspired an anime adaptation in 2010. Key characters like Haruka Ozawa and Yakumo Saito take centre focus in the “Psychic Detective Yakumo” show, along with several other notable characters.

Born with a red-hued left eye that lets him see spirits and ghosts, the aloof Yakumo Saitou makes for an interesting character indeed. His intentions are good, meaning Yakumo only uses his powers to help spirits find peace and move on.

Another student from the same college he attends entails Yakumo’s aid. Haruka Ozawa and he face a demon possession scenario that inspires the two of them to seek out more such cases and incidents, and go about resolving them with due diligence.

At Hope’s Peak Academy, only the cream of the crop is allowed to enrol. Based on their skills and talents, each student is granted their title. Fifteen new students have joined the alumni this year, one of whom is Makoto Naegi. Having entered on pure chance, he is given the title ‘Super High School-Level Luck.

What starts as excitement and gladness at being part of this reputed academy fades into sentiments of horror. Principal Monokuma confronts the new students, traps them inside the school, and demands that they kill one of their own without anyone else knowing.

That’s the only way they will all get to escape let alone graduate. If the crime is discovered, the sloppy killer is promised a death sentence. The idea of this macabre match is to leave just one graduate standing.

A pet shop in Chinatown owned by a ‘Count D’… It sounds creepy already. He caters to potential pet owners who are in the market for something rare and difficult to obtain. Count D’s services are satisfying enough to make these people enter into a strange contract with him.

He stipulates a set of rules to go with each contract. All those who obey said rules don’t see anything uneventful happen. But those who break them, either intentionally or accidentally, end up discovering that they weren’t as lucky as they assumed they were.

As unexplained deaths swell, homicide detective Leon Orcot rises to resolve the growing caseload. Before long, he connects all the victims to Count D’s pet shop. That’s when things get truly horrifying in the “Petshop of Horrors” anime.

This anime can send shivers through your spine. This is because it counters the most sought-after power in the world, immortality! The series talks about Rin Asougi, an immortal detective who has a long list of haters. And these haters don't want to see her in pain only.

They want to see her die, nothing less than that is acceptable to them. Rin has faced multiple occurrences of death throughout her life. However, every time she gets back as if nothing happened. But things start to change when Rin meets a guy named Kouki.

And Kouki will allow Rin to get closer to her real enemy. The enemy that was always the cause of her suffering. Mnemosyne is a short and sweet horror anime that anyone and everyone should give at least 1 watch. Especially if you are into Girls' Love!

A prison used for entertainment where the ‘performers’ are the prisoners in it… So far so insane. This manga-adapted anime is a thrill-fest for horror fans. In the “Deadman Wonderland” anime, plenty of perfectly placed backstories progress the narrative. The character focus is on Ganta Igarashi, a student who goes with his class to see the prison only to witness the ‘Red Man’ massacring them all, except for him.

Blame is placed on the boy thanks to a red crystal that the killer placed on his chest. Ganta is incarcerated in the same prison where he has to find a way to play the ‘games’ and survive. Meanwhile, he also has to root out the Red Man, get his questions answered, and hopefully find a way to use the killer to prove his innocence. Deadly challenges, a fatalistic prisoner collar, supernaturalism, gladiatorial gang wars, and bloody horrors abound in this morbidly spectacular show.

Yamaoka Momosuke grows bored of writing riddles for kids. He decides to gather terrifying tales into an anthology worth reading. The title of his new book is Hyakumonogatari, or ‘One Hundred Tales’. During his research, he encounters a strange trio called ‘Ongyou’.

Essentially, detectives, these three individuals are busy trying to root out the truths behind various myths. In doing so, they hope to impart justice to those in the wrong. Every time Yamaoka encounters the Ongyou, he is left fighting an inner battle where his morality is tested by the sharp blades of Truth.

He is, after all, seeing things that are forbidden.

Another manga favourite, the “Highschool of the Dead” anime witnesses a pandemic (not the one that originated in Wuhan J) that transforms everyone (by that we mean everyone in Japan J) into zombies. The core characters in the series often call the un-dead ‘Them’.

Several high schoolers and the school nurse attempt to survive the aftermath of the ‘Outbreak’. Society is collapsing around them, adding to the horrors (real as well as fictional) that abound in this series. Morality itself is tested or rather exposed for the lie it always was in human society.

The true horror in this series seems to be its pregnant sub-text, which hints that people are worse than mindless murderous zombies. But Humanity is redeemed through the show’s main characters, who shed ample light on the power of unity and hope.

When Tatsuma Hiyuu transfers to Magami Academy, he feels like a fish out of water. His martial arts prowess and ‘outside’ status only land him one friend: Kyouichi Houraiji, the one delinquent in class. Circumstances gradually bloom for Tatsuma when he befriends: wrestling club member Yuuya Daigo Student Council President Aoi Misato and the Girls’ Archery Club Captain Komaki Sakurai.

When the five of them encounter Hisui Kisaragi (who maintains his family’s antique store and is the young heir to the Kisaragi Clan), they learn that a great disruption took place in the ‘Ryumyaku’ (Dragon Pulse / Dragon Stream / Dragon Vein).

It awakened a supernatural force inside each of the five characters. They decide to use their newfound powers to defeat Oni (demons) that have been ravaging Tokyo. The Ryumyaku was awoken by force, meaning Dark Arts were involved in the five characters gaining their powers at all.

The main characters in the “Tokyo Majin” anime need to get to the truth of things before whoever is working from the shadows fulfils their goals. Along the way, all five also have the ‘Stars of Fate’ to contend with, which could reveal their true destinies.

Also called ‘Satsuriku no Tenshi’, this popular manga-adapted anime contains key horror and paranormal tropes in its rich narrative. When a teenage girl named Rachel wakes up not realizing where or who she is, the story picks up the pace with her trying to escape the strange building in which she finds herself.

Before long, she understands that several different people and entities are out to kill her before she can make good her escape. She encounters one such murderous soul in Zack who at first attempts to end her life but then joins her in planning a joint escape.

Horror and Action merge beautifully in the well-paced “Angels of Death” anime.

The “Terra Formars” anime contains 21st-century characters who aim to colonize the planet Mars. Strangely, though not too far-fetched, some of the show’s core characters had previously sent algae and cockroaches to the Red Planet, mainly to check if such tough survivor species could establish a life there.

The narrative gradually flows into the 26th century, and the roaches have long since shown an incredible ability to survive the surface conditions of Mars. Having adapted and evolved into bizarre creatures called Terra Formars, the new humanoid roach species prove to be impressively intelligent.

Also around this time, Earth is beset with the Alien Engine Virus. The cure, according to some characters in the series, is most probably on Mars. That's also where the contagion was said to have originated in the first place.

Annex I Team is dispatched to the Red Planet. The team comprises genetically enhanced (with the help of powerful animal genes) human beings. As anime series go, “Terra Formars” is an exceptional blend of fantasy, adventure, and horror. It also doesn't shy to venture into some dark storytelling corners.

You die, go into the afterlife, find yourself in a strange setting, and with an even stranger black sphere sharing space with you. The original manga was suffused with futurism, aliens, and weapons galore. Its anime adaptation is not that different.

In the “Gantz” anime, the core characters are left fighting robot monsters and green aliens in an after-death campaign to survive. High schoolers Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato save a homeless drunk man from a potentially bloody train accident. The two of them die in the process and are promptly ferried into an afterlife filled with spine-tingling challenges.

A character named Joichiro Nishi encounters and educates Masaru and Kei on their new state of being. In the room they find themselves in is a large sphere called ‘Gantz’, from where the show gets its name. One thing leads to another and the two of them are plunged into a world of points-based alien-killing game-like scenarios that are as deadly as they are mysterious.

Horrific and violent themes pervade this series, which is not for the faint-hearted. Dark scenarios and even darker life concepts play their crucial roles in this amazing anime known for its supremely bold narrative.

From the very popular "When they cry" series comes this next anime, Umineko When They Cry. This anime focuses on a royal family who is going to have a discussion about their wealth on an island. However, on this island, things won't go as they are planning them to.

First up, the head is unhealthy so his inheritance is a subject of discussion. Secondly, the family is about to face a violent typhoon that will hit the island and begin a brawl between all members of the family. And therefore, they are going to experience some of the most horrifying scenes of their life.

And luckily, you are going to do so as well. So if you are planning to watch Umineko, make sure that you do so with courage. Or else, things won't be looking great for you.

Originally titled Tenkuu Shinpan, this anime boasts some of the craziest horror-worthy elements in the genre. It begins with the main character Yuri Honjou encountering an assailant who just finished killing a man by cracking his head open with an axe. She is presently in an abandoned building when the chiling incident takes place.

Her attempts to escape are soon foiled when she realizes that every door in the building is locked, and bizarrely so. The teenager finally makes it to the roof, but all she sees for miles around is a lifeless world.

Terrified and surrounded by endless sights of forlorn high-rises, Yuri gives in to despair. She soon learns that her brother is also entangled in this paranormal mess. This stokes a fire of determination inside her to find him no matter what it takes.

Unfortunately, several masked killers oppose her in the “High-Rise Invasion” anime plotline. Each one of them is looking for ways to satisfy their sick and twisted desires, leaving Yuri in quite the horrifying predicament.

Okay, so after reading the title, you might think that THIS can't be a horror anime. I mean, it says "Happy Sugar Life"! How can something like THAT be horrifying? Well, allow me to tell you the synopsis. The series talks about a girl named Satou who falls in love with another girl named Shio.

Now on the surface, this might seem like a simple Girls' Love premise. Which it is. However, what adds the horror element to this narrative is its execution. Just wait and see the limits to which Satou goes to protect her loved one.

I will warn you, it's not as pleasant as you are expecting it to be.

A supernatural romance novel, a manga, and finally an anime, “Kurozuka” tracks the life and times of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, aka ‘Kurou’. This man lives in the 12th century and has recently lost a fight with Japan’s first Shogun ruler, who also happens to be his brother Minamoto no Yoritomo.

Whereas history says the man took his own life, the truth is he found a woman as mysterious as she is beautiful. Kuromitsu resides in her mountain home and she eventually wins Kurou’s love. The woman, however, harbours a dark secret.

She has somehow made Kurou immortal, leaving him to witness more than a thousand years as Japan steadily evolves into its modern destiny. The show is equal parts adventure, action, fantasy, and horror, and makes for fine viewing.

A bestselling manga series, it justifiably earned its place in the realm of anime in 2007. In the narrative that pervades the “Zombie-Loan” anime, it is not uncommon to find philosophical connections to death and un-death. In possession of ‘Shinigami Eyes’, the main character Michiru Kita serves as a signifier for how close someone is to dying.

A color-changing ring adds to the unique animation concept that prevails in this series. When the girl sees two of her classmates – the boys Chika Akatsuki and Shito Tachibana – defying death, she soon learns that they forged a ‘Zombie Loan’.

This obligates the boys to hunt down any undead and thus repay their debt. Plenty of action, deal-making, negotiations, and morality counters abound in this interesting yet scary anime. The portions that detail Akashic Records are truly captivating. Those scenes that involve the ‘Ferryman’ are frightfully fantastic.

Season one of the “Gregory Horror Show” anime comprises 25 tales that revolve around a businessman who takes a train from work and arrives at a hotel at the end of his trip. The owner of this hotel is quite strange.

It is an old mouse who goes by the name of Gregory. Some of the weirdest circumstances unfold as the man accepts the mouse’s invitation to stay only to end up desperately trying to escape the hotel, which has become a prison of horrors.

There are various instalments under the broad banner of this anime, all of them worth watching.

Monsters promise a fatal death no matter if it is day or night. The reason why nobody can stop these creatures is that nobody knows anything about them. The only thing the characters of the “Ito Junji Collection” anime can do is their best to stay alive.

The show lives up to its name and contains a collection of varied tales that expose the viewer to some truly horrific stories. These tales include a slug that grows inside the mouth of a girl a spirit at a mist-filled crossroads offering advice of cursed nature nightmares that span decades and take the victim quite deep a jade carving whose curse tears holes in the bodies of its victims… You’re probably starting to see just how insanely horror-centric this show is.

Saya Kisaragi holds the lofty position of being a ‘shrine maiden’. In the “Blood C” anime, this skilled swordswoman roves about eliminating ‘Elder Bairns’ with the blessing of her father. These Bairns are creatures unrelentingly searching for human blood, and they can ‘inhabit’ objects while they hunt people.

When nearly everyone she loves falls victim to these creatures, the narrative twists Saya’s arc into one of desperate intensity. She learns a frightful truth about herself that further upsets her aims to rid the world of Bairns. The creatures have their reasons why they hunt people and are not as mindless as they seem.

A certain ‘Shrovetide Covenant’ is involved. Dark and horrific truths blend seamlessly with an unforgettable plotline in this remarkable series.

Prepare yourself for battle! Because this anime is going to offer you the fights that you want. The series talks about Aya Asagiri, a girl who was bullied by her classmates and abused by her brother. Her life was nothing but hell on Earth.

However, once she got engaged with a Magical Girl Site, she experienced something very strange. She realizes that this website lets people have magical powers and she has become one of those who do. Plus, the worst part is that a competition called The Tempest has begun and now she must survive this competition with her magical powers.

Just like Madoka Magica, this anime is another work that you shouldn't dismiss just because it's a magical girl's show. In reality, it has so much more to offer.

A manga-made anime, the “Tokko” series that aired in 2006 sheds a fresh perspective on the horror anime genre. An investigative organization called ‘Tokko’ sees the character Ranmaru Shindo joining it, specifically its ‘Special Mobile Investigation Force. When a girl who appears often in his dreams comes into his view in real life, Ranmaru certainly wishes to know more.

He discovers that she too is part of Tokko, only she works in the ‘Special Public Safety Task Force. The boy’s parents were brutally murdered, a personal matter that he aims to resolve – the reason Ranmaru even joined the Tokko in the first place.

With the girl Sakura Rokujo’s help, he uncovers some dark truths that don’t sit well with his soul. Plenty of emotional and shocking moments pervade this series, which contains a flair for horror drama like few other anime can boast.

When it first aired in 2013, "Corpse Party" was the talk of Anime-town. People started looking at the series like it were the "Elfen Lied" of that generation. However, soon enough, fans realized the difference between the two shows. This series portrays nine students who perform a ritual, by way of a prayer, to honour their late friend.

However, in the process, they end up being trapped in another dimension. The new location looks like it might have been the foundation of their school. In this realm, filled with pain and suffering, all nine students strive to find ways to survive and make it out in one piece.

However, that's easier said than done, because of how routine deaths and gruesome murders are in this dimension. Their journey thus transforms into a terrifying ordeal, one that can leave deep scars in the hearts of viewers.

This title translates into ‘Horror News’, and certainly lives up to that meaning. A first-year student at Ishido Middle School, Rei Kigata cannot remember a single instance when he believed in the paranormal. All that changes when an enigmatic newspaper by the name of ‘Horror News’ is delivered to his room in an equally mysterious fashion.

It is midnight and the boy’s sleeping, adding to his anxiety. Curious and nerve-racked, Rei reads the paper only to discover an entry that details one of his teachers dying from a car accident. It also mentions the boy being a witness to the whole thing.

The next day, events unfold precisely as the paper ‘foretold’ in the “Kyoufu Shinbun” anime. From that day onwards, a new edition of Horror News is delivered to Rei’s room, leaving the boy in the terrifying position of knowing bad news that he cannot possibly evade or prevent.

Oh and every time Rei opens the paper, his total lifespan is reduced by a hundred days (!).

Kirie Goshima is a normal person residing in Kurouzu-Cho town. She’s expecting her boyfriend (Shuuichi Saito) and goes to meet him at the train station. Along the way, Kirie spots the boy’s father in an alley staring at a snail shell.

When she brings it up with Shuuichi, the boy informs her that his dad has indeed been acting rather strange lately. He goes on to share that Kurouzu-Cho is ‘infected with spirals’, and he wants nothing better than to leave town with Kirie.

The spiral-shell-snail moment gradually twists the narrative in the “Uzumaki” anime. Inexplicable events unfold that seem to drive the town’s residents into a spiral of madness. This is just the tip of the horror berg that unravels in this show.

‘Nanaki Village’ is an urban legend, but that does not stop a bunch of people from getting into a bus together to go find it. This place is said to be a utopia, and each of the eccentric characters who have chosen to go there is desirous to claim a slice of that life.

The “Mayoiga” anime starts along such simple lines but the narrative is soon propelled into metaphysical depths. Talk ensues among the travellers as to why the police have failed to pin down the exact location of Nanaki Village, let alone how it doesn’t exist on any map.

Multiple mishaps later, the group arrives at the ‘enchanted’ location only to observe that it has been subjected to terrible disrepair and consequent abandonment. Secrets come to light, and some members of the group go missing. Bloody marks in the forest made from what appears to claw are also discovered.

The people give in to mistrust and fear as they gradually realize that Nanaki Village might be the exact opposite of what its legend promised.

When Kanazawa Nobuaki is transferred to an unfamiliar far-away school, all he can think about is trying to keep the incident that happened in his previous school from getting out at his new one. In the “King’s Game” anime, suspense and supernaturalism go hand in hand.

A sports day inter-class relay event sees Kanazawa having little choice but to get closer to his classmates, and others. Around this time, a mysterious person calling himself ‘King’ sends simultaneous text messages to everyone at the new school. While everyone is busy assuming a prank is unfolding, only Kanazawa realizes that history is repeating itself.

He prepares to be dragged into another ‘death game’, but not before trying his best to stop it from happening at all. Plenty of creeps and thrills in this show.

The series talks about siblings named Utsutsu and Yume who were abandoned by their parents and left all alone. In their suffering, they come across red butterflies which give them a completely new life. The life that will start with Cannibalism.

A virus named Pupa is emerging and it causes people to turn into flesh-eating monsters. Yume has turned into one while Utsutsu is only partially turned into a Monster. Now Utsutsu has to try his level best to make sure that Yume doesn't go on a rampage and seek to kill everyone she witnesses. And that is what this anime is all about.