Horror is one of the most hotly debated genres, and it’s easy to see why. Fear is a very personal emotion that varies dramatically from person to person. Because of this, what terrifies one individual will do nothing for someone else. Because of this, writing horror media can be tricky, as one wrong decision can turn a scary idea into a silly one.
Thankfully, the anime industry has produced some excellent horror series during its long and illustrious history, from tense thrillers about serial killers to creepy ghost stories and gore-soaked monster movies, many of which are now streaming on Crunchyroll. This means that no matter what terrifies you, you can easily find something that will have you sleeping with the lights on.
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10
Mieruko-chan Has A Lot Of Horrors Beneath The Laughs
Despite Being A Comedy, Mieruko-chan Doesn’t Skimp On The Scares
The 2021 anime Mieruko-chan was based on the manga series written and illustrated by Tomoki Izumi. Animated by Passione, the series follows Miko Yotsuya, a high school student who seems to be living a regular life. However, Miko has a secret: she can see the ghosts, spirits, and invisible monsters that exist alongside humans. But, keen to keep living a carefree life, Miko vows to do whatever it takes to ignore and never acknowledge these creatures, no matter how they try to get her attention.
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At its core, Mieruko-chan is a comedy-horror series that focuses more on absurdity than scares. But don’t let the show’s comedy fool you. Despite the gags, the show features numerous fantastic monster designs and several great scares that are guaranteed to leave viewers uncomfortable. However, due to the mix of comedy and horror, the show sits at the back of the pack, as many viewers will find that the humor undercuts the scares.
She can see dead people… she just chooses to ignore them. That’s Miko’s plan anyway, with horrifying (and sometimes hilarious) results.
- Release Date
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October 3, 2021
- Creator(s)
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Tomoki Izumi
- Seasons
-
1
9
Erased Is A Tense Thriller That Will Keep Viewers Guessing
Erased Combines An Exciting Central Mystery With Horrific Implications.
Based on the manga series written and illustrated by Kei Sanbe, 2016’s Erased was animated by A-1 Pictures. The story follows Satoru Fujinuma, a struggling manga artist who realizes he has a unique power that sends his consciousness back in time whenever he encounters a life-threatening situation, allowing him to prevent the incident from happening. However, when Satoru’s mother gets murdered, his power throws him 18 years into the past. Satoru quickly realizes that this will allow him to prevent the kidnapping of several of his childhood friends.
While the Erased anime’s handling of the manga’s story is controversial, it’s hard to deny the anime’s intense and often creepy atmosphere. The anime does a great job of making the lurking villain feel like an oppressive force who could strike at any moment, leaving the audience on the edge of their seat. Because of this, Erased will delight many horror anime fans.
29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma is sent back in time 18 years to prevent the events leading to his mother’s death, which began with a series of kidnappings while he was in 5th grade.
- Release Date
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January 8, 2016
- Seasons
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1
8
Kagewani Is An Excellent Slice Of Cryptid Horror
The Series Captures How Terrifying It Would Be To Encounter A Monster
Produced by Tomovies and making its debut in 2015, Kagewani follows the researcher Sōsuke Banba. When reports of people being attacked by strange monsters and cryptids start to surface, Sōsuke becomes determined to get to the bottom of the situation. However, this investigation hits several massive roadblocks along the way, as Sarugaku, a shady pharmaceutical company, seems oddly keen to shut Sōsuke’s investigation down.
Kagewani stands out because of its excellent monster designs, featuring new takes on famous cryptids alongside totally new creatures. It also makes these creatures feel like genuine threats, capturing how terrifying it would be to encounter a monster in the wild. Combine this with the overarching conspiracy storyline, and you’re left with a monster movie that feels distinctly modern.
7
Junji Ito Collection Is One Of The Best Junji Ito Adaptations
A fitting tribute to one of manga’s greatest storytellers.
Junji Ito is one of the world’s most famous manga creators and likely the most iconic and highly-praised horror writer of the modern age. As the name suggests, Junji Ito Collection is an anime that adapts several of Ito’s most beloved stories. This series, first released in 2018, includes adaptations of The Long Dream, Marionette Mansion, The Circus Comes to Town, Blood-bubble Bushes, and Tomie.
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The series does a fantastic job of capturing what makes Ito’s manga tales work. Each story has a spooky atmosphere, and the well-chosen animation style makes even the most mundane situations feel strange and uncomfortable. Alas, the decision to have each episode adapt two stories harms the series by making several tales feel painfully rushed, reducing their impact.
- Release Date
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January 5, 2018
- Seasons
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1
6
Parasyte -the maxim- Is Packed With Body Horror.
Parastye captures how scary it is to lose control of your body.
Parasyte -the maxim- is based on the manga series written and illustrated by Hitoshi Iwaaki that ran in Morning Open Zōkan and Monthly Afternoon between 1989 and 1994. The anime adaptation was created by Madhouse and debuted in 2014. The series follows Shinichi Izumi, a high school student living a regular life. However, this life is turned upside down when an alien invasion occurs.
These worm-like aliens climb into human noses and ears, and burrow into the brain, allowing them to control the victim’s body. When an alien attempts to do this to Shinichi, he suddenly wakes up, causing the alien to burrow into his arm. Due to this error, the alien can manipulate Shinichi’s body, but the pair retain their separate consciousnesses. When other aliens learn about what happened, they start trying to hunt the pair down, forcing them to work together to survive. Parasyte combines an interesting plot with some uncomfortably memorable body horror, making it easy to see why it has become a modern cult classic.
Original title: Kiseijû: Sei no kakuritsu.
17-year-old Shinichi Izumi is partially infected by a Parasyte, monsters that butcher and consume humans. He must learn to co-exist with the creature if he is to survive both the life of a Parasyte and a human as part monster, part person.
- Release Date
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October 8, 2014
- Main Genre
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Action
- Seasons
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1
5
Another Is Final Destination As An Anime
Another Is A Horrific Fight Against Fate
Animated by P.A. Works and released in 2012, Another is based on the novel written by Yukito Ayatsuji. Kouichi Sakakibara is a young man who has transferred to Yomiyama North Junior High’s class 3-3. While trying to adapt to his new life, Kouichi becomes fixated on Mei Misaki, an eyepatch-wearing student who is ignored by the rest of the class. It is soon revealed that the class is affected by a mysterious curse, one that causes the students to die in various horrific accidents if one person is not shunned.
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Alas, Kouichi accidentally triggers the curse, forcing Mei, Kouichi, and the others to find a way to break the curse before it kills them all. While Another has an interesting plot and a great atmosphere, it’s most known for its violent and gory death sequences that will make even hardcore horror fans flinch. Unfortunately, these sequences can also be the show’s undoing, as some viewers may find them funny due to how over-the-top they are. Because of this, the anime sits in the middle of the pack, as the show’s scare factor heavily depends on how the viewer reacts to intense gore.
Another
- Release Date
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January 10, 2012
4
Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai Is A Classic Ghost Story Collection
Yamishibai features many creepy tales that touch on many topics.
Also known as Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories, this series was animated by ILCA and debuted in 2013. The series is inspired by traditional Kamishibai storytelling, where a narrator uses illustrated paper cards to tell folk tales in parks and on street corners. Each series of Yamishibai follows a Kamishibai narrator as he travels from place to place, telling his stories to various onlookers. However, Kamishibai isn’t just a framing device, as the show’s animation is designed to emulate Kamishibai art, giving the whole show a unique atmosphere.
At its core, Yamishibai is an anthology series, with each episode telling a different spooky story. What makes the series stand out is the sheer variety of horrors the show offers, with the stories featuring everything from classical myths and legends to modern slices of tech horror. Because of this, every viewer is sure to find at least one episode that will stick with them long after the credits roll.
Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai
- Release Date
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July 15, 2013
- Seasons
-
14
3
Boogiepop Phantom Is A Gripping Mystery That Keeps You On Edge
Boogiepop Phantom Captures How Random Suffering Can Be
Animated by Madhouse and released in 2000, Boogiepop Phantom is based on the light novels written by Kouhei Kadono. The story is set in an unnamed city five years after it was rocked by a series of brutal murders and a month after a mysterious pillar of light appeared in the night sky. The old killings, as well as a series of recent disappearances, have been blamed on the Boogiepop, a mysterious figure that some people believe to be the personification of death itself.
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What makes Boogiepop Phantom so fascinating is its structure. Every episode follows a different character who gets entangled in this developing situation. However, not every character is involved in the same way, as while some get directly involved in the unfolding crisis, others only witness certain events. This imbues the series with an immense feeling of creeping dread, as the audience knows that the character’s life is about to go wrong but doesn’t know how or when.
Paranoia Agent
Seemingly unconnected citizens of Tokyo are targeted for bludgeoning by a boy with a golden baseball bat. As detectives try to link the victims, they discover that following the assaults, the victims’ lives have improved in some way.
- Release Date
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April 14, 2011
- Seasons
-
1
2
Paranoia Agent Is A Twisting Tale By An Anime Legend
Paranoia Agent Is Dripping With Suspense And Relatable Fear.
Created and directed by the legendary Satoshi Kon, the man behind classics like Perfect Blue and Paprika, and animated by Madhouse, Paranoia Agent was released in 2004. The series follows Tsukiko Sagi, a character designer going through a massive crisis as she feels unable to live up to her previous work. However, while she is walking home one night, a young boy on rollerskates attacks her with a golden baseball bat.
Soon, more people report that they’ve been jumped by the same boy, leading to paranoia and mistrust consuming the city. Paranoia Agent is a masterclass in anime writing, as it has a fantastic atmosphere and an amazing story packed with gripping twists and turns. Plus, its underlying narrative about how hysteria spreads and the power of rumors is even more relevant today than in 2004.
Paranoia Agent
Seemingly unconnected citizens of Tokyo are targeted for bludgeoning by a boy with a golden baseball bat. As detectives try to link the victims, they discover that following the assaults, the victims’ lives have improved in some way.
- Release Date
-
April 14, 2011
- Seasons
-
1
1
Mononoke Captures The Horror Of The Supernatural
Mononoke Combines Creative Visuals With Terrifying Implications.
Released in 2007, Mononoke was produced by Toei Animation. The series follows the Medicine Seller, a man who travels the world hunting Mononoke, evil spirits that linger in the human world by binding themselves to negative human emotions. When the Medicine Seller encounters a Mononoke, he has to resist and suppress its influence while trying to figure out the creature’s shape, truth, and reasoning. Once he knows these things, the Medicine Seller can draw his sword and banish the Mononoke from the human world, freeing those it has tormented.
What makes Mononoke so memorable is its excellent visuals. The show’s visual aesthetic and color palette are heavily inspired by classic Japanese art, making it stand out against all other anime series. Plus, the show uses these unique visuals to give every Mononoke an otherworldly vibe that captures how beyond the realms of human perception and understanding they are. Because of this, Mononoke is one of the most gripping and terrifying anime ever created and a must-watch show for all anime fans.
- Release Date
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July 12, 2007
- Seasons
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1
