We previously made a list talking about some of the best obscure psychological horror anime out there. Now its time to expand the horizons with more anime recommendations while also mentioning some which we have already talked about.
In the list below, we talk about some of the best horror anime that have been released over the years.
Horror anime that are considered the best of all time
Parasyte: The Maxim
Not to be mixed up with the Oscar-winning Korean film, Parasite, by Bong Joon Ho, this anime spells the word with a ‘y’ instead of ‘i’. Created by Hitoshi Iwaaki, Parasyte tells the tale of an unnoticed threat that invades our world in order to eliminate humanity.
Parasyte: The Maxim follows the story of Shinichi Izumi. When a parasite ends up being unsuccessful at invading Izumi’s body, things get interesting. Now both of them have to share this body with new found abilities that allow for shapeshifting and combat.
The anime has become very popular among fans of horror media, and it even got a live-action sequel from Netflix studios, which set up a new story and characters in Korea.
Vampiter Hunter D
If you were watching YouTube a decade ago when anime AMVs were dropping almost every day or otherwise, then you definitely have seen clips of Vampire Hunter D, even if you never knew what the clips were from.
Vampire Hunter D was an anime movie from the early 2000s, the origins of which can be found in the novels with the same name written by Hideyuki Kikuchi, with illustrations made by the famous Yoshitaka Amano of Final Fantasy fame.
The series follows D, a vampire hunter in a post-apocalyptic world that is run by noble vampires. The movie boasts some of the best on-screen animations from the bygone era, perfectly blending themes of gothic horror with science fiction.
Elfen Lied
We have mentioned this anime in one of our previous lists. The horror in Elfen Lied is of a gory nature, with spontaneous death by mutilations, other forms of body horror, so viewer discretion is advised for anyone wanting to check it out.
The show is centered around a superior lifeform named Nyu or Lucy, who has access to all sorts of supernatural powers and is threatening humanity. The same character is also the main protagonist of the show.
Beyond the horror, Elfen Lied is also a very depressing show as it tells to story of Lucy developing hatred towards life, because she was subjected to severe experimentation that almost broke her mentally.
Devilman: Crybaby
One of the more recent horror shows that was produced by Netflix and received very well by fans of anime. But not many know that the origins of Devilman media go back to the early 70s.
Devilman manga was created by the legendary mangaka Go Nagai, who is well known for influencing mature and violent themes that we see today in modern anime. Devilman: Crybaby is the modern abridged adaptation of his original Devilman manga.
The story of Devilman: Crybaby follows a frail young man named Akira Fuudo whose body merges with the ancient demon Amon, and now he must use his newfound powers to protect his close ones.
Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul is probably one of the most popular shounen anime franchises released in recent years, but let’s not forget it is also a pretty good horror-themed show.
Adapted from the manga originally written and illustrated by Sui Ishida, Tokyo Ghoul follows the story of Kaneki Ken, who goes on a date that turns into a disaster as the person turns out to be a Ghoul. This encounter changes his life forever, thrusting him into the violent life of Ghouls.
The anime has since received several other adaptations, including spinoff OVAs and light novels. A live-action Tokyo Ghoul film was also released in 2017, directed by Kentaro Hagiwara.
Hellsing Ultimate
Hellsing Ultimate is the last anime iteration of the action-horror manga created by Kouta Hirano. The previous Hellsing anime was created by Gonzo Studio and ran for thirteen episodes. Hellsing Ultimate was animated by various studios and directors.
The story follows the Hellsing organisation fighting off threats beyond human interpretation and an organization that seeks to unleash Vampires into the world. At the center of all of this is a powerful ancient vampire himself, Alucard.
Over the years, Hellsing as a franchise has amassed a massive fan following, influencing animation styles in other anime and media such as Devil May Cry and Castlevania.
Another
Another is a horror anime based on a novel by the famous author Yukito Ayatsuji, he was one of the main motivators behind the new traditionalist movement in Japanese mystery writing. The anime for produced by P.A. Works studio and directed by Tsutomu Mizushima.
The anime’s plot revolves around some mysterious and brutal deaths in a school setting. The start happening when Koichi Sakakibara transfers into his new school and meets a mysterious girl named Mei Misaki.
The atmosphere in every episode of Another is riddled with dread, alluding to something terrible that might happen anytime, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats at all times.
Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories
Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories is also known as Theater of Darkness. A horror anthology anime that was produced by ILCA Studios. The anime is still getting new releases with the fourteenth season just releasing this year.
Themes presented in most of the episodes of Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories center around Japanese folklore and tradition.
The general premise of how the stories are set up is through an overarching plot. The first season has an old man with a mask narrating the supernatural stories to children in a playground. This setting keeps switching up every season.
Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales
What can be a better segue than going from one horror anime anthology into following it up with another horror anthology? Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales is produced by Toei Animation and was released back in 2006.
Unlike the previous one, Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales doesn’t have a long run. It is a show that comprises of only eleven episodes. But the stories are segmented into multiple episodes.
Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales comprises of three stories. Yotsuya Ghost Story, Goddess of the Dark Tower, and Goblin Cat. The third story even got a spin-off series of its own titled ‘Mononoke’.
Demon City Shinjuku
Demon City Shinjuku is a classic horror anime OVA from the late 90s. If you have seen videos on the internet reminiscing about classic anime from the bygone era, then clips of Demon City Shinjuku have definitely come up.
Originally based on a novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi, the plot of the show is very over the top as it follows a martial artist who travels to demon-infested Shinjuku in order to stop the evil sorcerer named Rebi Ra.
One interesting trivia about the OVA is that it took almost two years to produce and was screened in Hong Kong.
