Anime in the modern day is one of the most popular media, with fantasy at the forefront, but seldom do we get quality dark stories out of them, which can completely destroy us. Most of the dark fantasy anime these days try to capitalize on set pieces for audiences to get hyped.
In the list below, we have picked some shows for you that go far beyond breaking that norm and actually display works of art that can emotionally move you.
Best Dark Fantasy Anime of All Time
Berserk
We couldn’t have kick-started this list without one of the forerunners of dark fantasy anime, Berserk. Created by the late manga artist Kentaro Miura, this is a franchise that introduced a lot of fans of this medium to how bleak art and storytelling can get.
Berserk follows the story of Guts, who wasn’t born under the most favorable circumstances, which led him to live a harsh childhood, but this experience also molded him into the strongest human around.
Unfortunately, fate was not kind to him ever, and he went through some horrifying experiences, which included being pinned down while watching his friends get ripped into pieces. Berserk is the ultimate dark fantasy that will destroy you for days.
Devilman Crybaby
Devilman was originally a manga created by the artist Go Nagai, who was known in the industry for using the medium to create stories that were in no shape or form made for younger audiences. The IP has had several adaptations and spinoffs, and Devilman Crybaby just so happens to be the most popular one in the last few decades.
The show follows a timid high schooler named Akira whose life and even character design change completely after his body is possessed by the demon Amon. He fights to protect his close ones from other such demons throughout the anime, but things end up in a gory mess.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
The magical girl genre in anime was first introduced globally through the show, Sailor Moon, which was around the same time as Dragon Ball Z’s height of popularity. Ever since then, this interesting tokusatsu spin-off sub-genre has spawned several franchises that have been successful over the years.
We are here to talk about a dark fantasy anime that takes the magical girl genre and completely deconstructs it as a tragedy. Puella Magi Madoka Magica goes to extreme opposites of what the genre usually explores, which is love and friendship.
This anime goes to extreme ends through visual representations of pain and suffering, in order to hit home the point on the backdrop of a horror of cosmic proportions.
Made in Abyss
You probably have guessed by now that when we say ‘dark fantasy’, it doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be medieval fantasy. post apocalyptic and science fiction are also fantasies that can be the basis of some deeply disturbing storytelling.
Some anime can accentuate this really well by using visuals and characters that look cute but are juxtaposed with their present environment. Made in Abyss is an anime that fills those shoes perfectly by introducing us to some cute characters who are on an adventure.
But in the backdrop of their travels lies some very dark and mature themes. As our characters travel further into the ‘abyss,’ more depressing revelations come into light.
Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is one of the most popular dark fantasy anime from recent decades. So most reading this list probably expected it to show up here. This is a show that destroys the viewers emotionally right from the very first episode, no matter if the person is a fan of anime or not.
The story is set in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction due to large humanoid giants that prey on them. In order to protect themselves, humans have walled themselves inside enclosed settlements.
But everything changes when one day, one of the walls fails to defend, and titans break through. If you haven’t bought into the hype around this series yet, then now is the right time to give it a try.
Claymore
There was a point in time when Claymore was a media franchise that was frequently compared with Kentaro Miura’s Berserk. This is because thematically and visually, both series are pretty similar.
But don’t get the wrong idea, Claymore is not a ripoff. The creator, Norihiro Yagi, was previously known for his high school comedy manga Angel Densetsu. He made an attempt at a darker fantasy story with Claymore and knocked it out of the park.
The anime is set in a medieval fantasy world where Yomas are a plague on survivors. To tackle these beings, the Organization creates human and Yoma hybrids called Claymores.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
We should not overlook some of the anime films, which are also hotbeds for dark fantasy anime stories that are visually stunning. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is an example of such an anime film from 2000, which is based on the novels by Hideyuki Kikuchi.
Even though it is not that well known, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust can go toe to toe with anime such as Berserk when it comes to gore and violence in terms of visual delight. The anime follows a damphir named D, who gets hired to rescue a young girl from a vampire of royalty.
Basilisk
We mostly always get dark fantasy stories that are based on a Western setting and aesthetics. This is why works like Basilisk are special, as it brings a beautiful Japanese historical fantasy story for the modern world.
Aside from having some mature themes and violent visuals, Basilisk also harbours an emotionally draining tale of love and war. The original work by Masaki Segawa is based on the novels by Futaro Yamada, titled The Kouga Ninja Scrolls.
It tells the tale of hatred between two warring Ninja factions that stems from centuries. What culminates at the end of the anime is a long-awaited conclusion.
Hell Girl
Dark Fantasy anime may not always rely on gore and action. Japanese horror media has the long standing reputation for inciting horror, even from the most normal and mundane scenarios. Hell Girl is an anime that can be an example of that.
Set in modern times, when the internet was just an up-and-coming technology and the World Wide Web was vast and dark. An individual holding a lifetime of grudge against another human could contact the hotline to hell in order to have them dealt with.
This is where Hell Girl shines as a dark fantasy anime that blends with sci-fi, but still retains its grounded cultural horror. Enma Ai, the hell girl, takes viewers on a ride that displays some of the darkest aspects of human society while telling stories that are draining enough to destroy you.
Dororo
The legendary father of manga, Osamu Tezuka, was known for creating a lot of series, but unfortunately, not all of them found their way into mainstream success. This is in no way demeaning to his lesser-known works of art.
Take Dororo, for example, he created something that is the perfect blend of traditional Japanese fantasy with the stylization of anime that still feels fresh. But the work was never found under the mainstream radar until the anime adaptation by MAPPA in 2019.
Dororo follows the exploits of Hyakkimaru, who is on the search for twelve demons, all of whom hold his missing body parts in captivity. It is a dark fantasy anime that has a destructive premise, which on paper sounds like the perfect mythological play for theaters.
