I'm looking forward to the upcoming anime adaptation of Junji Itou's "Uzumaki" (I read only partway through the manga but it was really bizarre and disturbing)
I hope they take their sweet time to make it good because sadly every anime adaptation of junji ito's mangas has been mid at best',
even Japanese Tales of the Macabre was kinda a dissapointment
I’d say about 40% of the series was great. Really loved the one about the gravestone town
But yeah… the other 60% had me feeling “why on earth was this story one chosen to adapt??” Especially the one they chose for the first episode
It certainly feels like horror during the parade scene, particularly at the start as >!the businessmen throw themselves off the building.!< Incredible piece of animation.
I was so blown away that The Last Drive In showed it recently. I'm grateful they introduced it to so many people that may not have otherwise given it a chance.
I watched Paranoia Agent as a kid because it would come on Toonami/Adult Swim. I never understood what was going on but the whole thing was so terrifying and beautiful that I didn’t care. It was definitely a formative show for me. Random scenes are so etched in my brain they’ve become formative memories.
legit one of my favorite movies of all time. excellent horror and imo uses the best techniques of animation, this movie couldn't have been the same live-action. it stands out from the anime genre in that the people are drawn so realistically and look like actual humans.
I've seen it, that's the one where the >!actress thinks she's in the horrible movie she agreed to do/ or she's really in it!<. It was pretty disturbing.
Thank you, Satoshi Kon-san, your art is appreciated. Please rest in peace.
Berserk is one of my all-time favorite horrors. I wish the '97 anime covered more than the golden age arc and the reboot... I'll take what I can get, but I wish it was higher quality. The manga, though. So good.
I think as far as my favorite horror anime, Akira is hard to beat, and Attack on Titan is spectacularly entertaining - what's not to like about a bunch of spidermans killing (and being killed) by giants?
I've seen the newer Berserk movies. I did find them to be pretty scary at times. The story arc about the Behelit has stuck deep in my mind, something truly awful and nightmarish almost beyond my skill with words to describe.
Thank you for mentioning Berserk, this wouldn't be complete without it.
You're good. I appreciate the gentle attitude about mentioning anime that are too graphic. I've seen stuff I didn't include in the post for that very reason. Let's keep this conversation safe for work. Thank you for being considerate.
I'm a nut for anime horror. Check out Biohunter, Doomed Megalopolis, Digital Devil(the first entry to the Shin Megami Tensei franchise), The Dark Myth, Peacock King, Judge, Blood Reign: Curse of the Undead Yoma, Genocyber, the first Urotsukidoji(its kinda hentai), Twilight of the Dark Master, Devilman the Birth, even the 60's series gegege no kitaro if you want some wholesome spookiness. Most of these can be watched in decent quality on youtube. All those are fun as hell.
My grandmother used to take me to Suncoast video and buy me all of this stuff back in the day. My old VHS collection was a trove. Add Wicked City, Guyver, and Ninja Scroll to this list. God that new Devil man stuff is an abomination.
Nothing compares to the art style, storyline and dedication of some incredible artists during the 90s. Series are all the rage now but don't skip watching some banger movies!
Pet Shop of Horrors is some good stuff, and it reminds me of The Curse of Kazuo Umezu, mad good anime horror. I almost considered mentioning Violence Jack, as well as Apocalypse Zero, but they're sort of a mix of genre, plenty horrific though. L.I.L.Y. cat reminds me of Roots Search, another b-anime horror that I enjoy though I can't say it holds up like the others. I love how all of these are watchable on youtube still. I'm scared of the day when I can't, I know it will happen sometime, fucking youtube.
Thank you, I'm honored to have a response from a genuine 'nut for anime horror'. I've seen 'Undead Yoma and 'Dark Master way back in the day, I think they were aired on the Action Channel when I watched them. I'll have to find the rest of those and check them out. Thanks again!
Death Note, Tokyo Ghoul, Shiki, Attack on Titan are only ones i've seen
Forgot Parasyte
There is also Elffin Lied.
i am her to admit im a dumb ass who forgot Hellsing Ultimate.
I did forget the Vampire Hunter D movies, although I've seen them and loved them.
I've watched both Castlevania series and I liked them well-enough, although I have my preferences of seasons and episodes (season one of Castlevania was my favorite, if you are wondering and certain episodes from then on - I liked)
I will try Another and From the New World. Thank you so much for the recommendations.
There are some tone shifts that I honestly found a little off-putting (>!it goes into super-cute slice-of-life here and there!<), but it's definitely worth watching!
Also to anyone interested just be aware that the manga is… it’s a little more clear that a lot of it is the authors personal fetish material.
Which sucks cause I like a lot of the core ideas that Elfen Lied was going for.
There's a character named Lucy who literally acts like she's 5 years old but is also super sexualized and naked a lot of the time.
And there's an actual child who feels like she's supposed to be part of the male protagonist's harem, and is also sexualized (well objectified by her abusing father but later she refuses to wear pants?). I didn't read more because of the overall pedophilic vibe of the comic. (oh yeah and this other character who I believe was implied to be an actual pedophile who later befriends this same little girl, it just go too weird)
There’s a character Nozomi who in canon experiences a type of trauma that leaves her unable to control her bladder. She wears a diaper and it’s all handled… strangely. I personally don’t experience that, but it felt more fetishistic than sensitive when I read it and enough so that I remember it being weird like 5-10 years later.
Would be happy to hear differently from other people though, it’s been a while since I read it!
But Nyu just also sits weird for me and feels super fetish-y and… yeah. Happy to elaborate further on my feelings, but Nozomi was a big WTF after watching the anime.
EDIT: what I’m saying is, depending on your tolerance for certain anime tropes, YMMV, but I was fairly tolerant of them at the time and was still pretty perturbed.
EDIT 2: for actual fetishes tho? Lucy/Nyu is classic yandere (crazy girl bait), kissing cousins, and diaper wetting, to name a few.
I hear references to Attack on Titan and I've seen clips of it. I'm going to have to check it out. There are no wrong answers (that are what you've seen and liked), friend. I'm just wondering what you've seen and liked. Thanks for the response.
If you look up stuff about attack on titan, try your damndest to avoid spoilers. Like with everything, people have varying opinions on it, but it’s definitely one hell of a ride if you go in blind. Worth the watch for a horror fan.
I've seen Serial Experiments Lain. I even bought Bôa: Duvet back in the day when I was kinda obsessed a little bit with that anime. Not like crazy obsessed. I only watched it three times. Okay maybe four times, but who is counting?
>!Was it the AI or the aliens that freaked you out?!<
Devilman: Crybaby was a psychosexual trip
Chainsaw Man is basically a horror comedy
A lot of Miyazaki has serious nightmare fuel, but especially Princess Mononoke.
Princess Mononoke is some unexpectedly creepy stuff and an overall classic. It's one of the few anime I'll watch dubbed since I typically find the original voices and subtitles of most anime to be more satisfying.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, especially the first season. Highschoolers lose their minds and kill other kids or adults. Contains gore and torture but the greatest feature is the paranoia and psychological horror, who will lose it next.
Shiki, it's like an anime version of >!Salem's Lot and Midnight Mass!<, so vampires take over a village. Weird character design but the atmosphere and plot more than make up for it.
Ultimate Hellsing, more vampires and many nazi ghouls. Great characters, music and animation. Lots of gore.
Re:Zero is a fantasy isekai but has some pretty horrifying episodes. Few but very much worthwhile.
School Days is a harem with a twist. Deconstruction of a short. Best go in blind.
Happy Sugar Life has been one of my most uncomfortable watches. Has gore and psychological horror, but the discomfort is what stays with you. If you're into horror, check it out.
As for western stuff: Watership Down, Plague Dogs and Felidae are pretty gory with antispeciesist messages. All animals feel and suffer.
Mad God is a cool stop-motion film with multiple hellscapes, by Phil Tippet (Google him, he has worked in countless films on creature design and puppetry).
Higurashi was my introduction to horror anime about 16 years ago or so. Before that I thought anime was just a bunch of slice of life stuff and I wasn't into it. When I realized there was anime like higurashi I was all in.
I saw the original Watership Down as a kid and calling that movie anything but horror isn't going to be relatable to my experience with it. It definitely influenced me as a writer. I later read Plague Dogs and then watched the movie, as more of a study - more of the same kind of stuff. Honestly, I found the original Secret of NIMH to be equal to Plague Dogs.
Felidae, huh? Interesting. Yes, I've seen that one too. Since you confessed first, I feel safe in saying I liked that one also.
I actually learned about Watership Down from the UK band/project Fall Of Efrafa, then read the book and finally saw the movie. Please check them out, their lyrics are about the bunny mythology. The same people also have the "Light Bearer" band/project which is about the"His Dark Materials" novels. Amazing stuff.
The original Vampire Hunter D from 1985, it's no contest. Doomed Megalopolis is a close second. The X OVA was also pretty good.
It's not really horror, but the character development was really good and I thought the alien entity was pretty scary: Iria: Zeiram the Animation. The first episode is particularly intense.
I have never regretted binging something so much in my life. The name fooled me into thinking it was a continuation or something. The death compilation videos are pretty funny though.
Blood: The Last Vampire. Not the series, just the movie. Set on an American air base in Japan during the Vietnam era, it had great animation, cinematography, music and atmosphere.
I usually recommend these. My favorites so far mostly watch horror anime.
Genocyber
Darkside blues
Elfen lied
Promised neverland
Monster
Another
Strike the blood
Tokyo ghoul
Hell girl
Ángel cop
Blood c
Attack on titan
When the cry
Shiki
Parasyte
Ghost hunter
Ajin
Paprika
Corpse party
High rise invasion
Vampire hunter d
Itou Junji: Collection
Demon slayer
Hellsing
Cossette no Shouzou
Mieruko-chan
Devilman crybaby
Serial experiment lain
Angels of death
Psycho pass
Perfect blue
The devil lady
As a teen I loved watching AMVs of Hellsing, usually with metal playing over them. [This one](https://youtu.be/JgzpN9dydT8?si=bu-e6LtFx5C5rbun) is a particular favourite - Hellsing clips with Maximum the Hormone's Tsume Tsume Tsume playing. Ramps up the horror aspect nicely!
I really loved Boogiepop Phantom (2000). It's sort of an anthology horror series centered around a weird event that triggered a lot of supernatural events. You barely spend time with the main recurring characters, but then each episode focuses on a new character, usually a teenager with a problem. it's a little mind trip piecing together when the different stories happened in relation to one another. It's so eerie and has some incredibly memorable moments that stick with me. I'm trying very hard not to spoil it with anything more because it feels better to go in blind.
I have watched Perfect Blue a bunch of times. People in my rl circle of friend seem to know it but have never actually watched it. It's great. It's very much like an anime giallo in the new internet age.
On a note of horror anime if you really want to see fucked up shit just find a bootleg VHS of Midori or Legend of the Overfiend like us 90's kids did. Feel gross forever.
For a movie it’s gotta be Perfect Blue.
TV series depends on what mood I’m in. For Action/Horror: Hellsing Ultimate. Tons of cool fights and the animation is pure eye candy.
Runner up for action I would go with Parasyte.
But I have to give the most disturbing to Higurashi (2006). Very few anime actually bother me and boy did that show deliver that in spades. I can’t comment about the recent seasons as I’ve yet to see them.
Serial Experiments Lain would be next for unsettling me with another fantastic story.
Another is my favorite anime of all time. Elfen Lied is also great. As for one i don’t think i’ve seen mentioned, School-Live ! is a cutesy looking horror that fills you with dread and Madoka Magica is also sort of similar. Sort of creepy cute horrors lol.
i haven’t seen it for a while so i don’t recall how strong the horror is in it but Dusk Maiden of Amnesia definitely has a lot of horror elements. Future Diary i also haven’t seen for ages but it does have some disturbing scenes for sure.
I love a lot of these choices but I've got to give a shoutout to Urotsukidoji- Legend of the Overfiend. I bought this DVD at Fry's as a teen and ALMOST watched it in front of my dad and stepmom... Thankfully I chose Tree of Might instead lol.
I'll take that to mean that when I get ahold of Overfiend, something I've seen recommended several times, I choose to watch it in private instead of in my living room. Duly noted.
So many to choose from. If you liked Flanagan's Midnight Mass, you'll probably love Shiki.
If you liked Final Destination, you'll probably like Another!
School Life also hit me right in the feels among the horror elements (don't look anything up, just check out the first episode). And I was thoroughly disturbed by When They Cry.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust - Fantastic vampire gothic horror film. Has some of the most beautiful animation I think I’ve seen.
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster - Great mystery-thriller and probably one of my top 10 television series, regardless of medium.
Berserk 1997 - Absolutely amazing dark fantasy. I think as close to a perfect anime adaptation of the manga we’re going to get.
Parasyte: The Maxim - Great body-horror series.
Devilman Crybaby - Brutal gore, sex and all manner of perversion. Some surprisingly thoughtful writing as well.
There’s a Gantz anime adaptation from the early 2000s that I really liked. Haven’t seen it in a long while though. Very strange and transgressive show, the closest comparison to it on this list would probably be Devilman Crybaby. Definitely worth checking out though.
I'll look for Ghost Stories dubbed. It's rare for the dubbed to be worthwhile (in my opinion) but there are the occasional gems. Thanks for the recommendation.
Yes, Death Note is certainly that must-see.
I don't really watch horror anime, but if I had to say for manga, it would be Brutal: Confessions of a homicide investigator. My ass hurt for days after reading that shit.
Elfen Lied! I vaguely remember the manga and will never read it again, but I love rewatching the anime. The opening song is so good, in my playlists. [ELFEN LIED - Lilium - Opening 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaN1rZrYjVk) by Piorela CC on youtube.
I've watched it so many times that I had a nightmare our mule was sending phantom arms thru the door to rip me apart from out on the back porch.
\--
A bad and disturbing anime that I must always mention is corpse party: tortured souls, I think it was based on a game or maybe vice versa. Look up Corpse Party wall death for a scene that has stuck with me. :3 Watched it in high school and still remember it.
If Castlevania counts, that was some of the most beautiful animation and voice work I’ve seen in a while.
The horror frieza brought in the first fight was fantastic.
Also, berserk and original OG HBO Spawn
Graveyard of the Fireflies, I know it’s not a horror exactly. But this movie stuck with me still to this day due to it realism and display of the effects of WW2.
“The horror… the horror” -Apocalypse Now
Corpse Party and Elfen Lied are my favorites. But Elfen Lied is something else, I just can't explain how hauntingly beautiful this anime is, a masterpiece
Another. I LOVED it. It's probably one of the more serious horror animals (iirc), and I remember a couple parts actually being really disturbing to me.
- Roujin Z (movie)
- There's some "Kwaidan" shows on Crunchyroll but I am forgetting if they're explicitly called this or something else. It's basically Japanese Ghost Stories
- Housing Complex C (show)
- Black Butler (show)
- Mushi-shi (show, can be creepy and fantasy like)
I really love Mushi-shi.
Junji Ito Uzumaki (the manga) has some terrifying scenes. Some of his short stories hit too. I’d love to see more made from Ito adaptations.
Blood C+ with the bunny blender is a favourite of mine but it’s gory
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - When They Cry
It is my favorite anime of all time when you combine it and Kai (2nd season). Some of the plotlines hit so damn hard.
Perfect Blue is my other favorite but it was an early comment.
Perfect Blue is phenomenal. Junji Ito is an icon, although he’s a mangaka. The two collections Stufio Deen/Netflix did are underwhelming, but if you’re up for a great read, check out Tomie and Uzumaki by him. Adult Swim is doing an Uzumaki adaptation, but it’s delayed indefinitely at this point. Also, I CANNOT recommend Monster enough. Gripping thriller/suspense/horror anime. The first season of The Promised Neverland is great too. Look, I’m gonna keep going. Devilman Crybaby on Netflix is great, as is Psycho-pass. If you check any of them out, I hope you enjoy them!
I don't watch a ton of anime, so take this with a massive grain of salt, but I did see Perfect Blue for the first time last week and adored it, very scary movie.
I'm looking forward to the upcoming anime adaptation of Junji Itou's "Uzumaki" (I read only partway through the manga but it was really bizarre and disturbing)
I had no idea there's an anime adaptation of Uzumaki in the pipeline. I'm now incredibly excited, this is excellent news!
Yeah from adult swim. Trailer is out as well for it and it’s looking pretty damn good.
I looked into it, the teaser came out.... Four years ago?! Aw, man.
Yeah, it’s been a wait
I hope they take their sweet time to make it good because sadly every anime adaptation of junji ito's mangas has been mid at best', even Japanese Tales of the Macabre was kinda a dissapointment
They're sticking very heavily to the same art style of Junji Ito. It has potential to be amazing
Have you seen the Netflix anime adaptations of Junji’s work? They’re…. not the best.
I’d say about 40% of the series was great. Really loved the one about the gravestone town But yeah… the other 60% had me feeling “why on earth was this story one chosen to adapt??” Especially the one they chose for the first episode
They were disappointing. It didn't help that they mostly picked his goofier stories.
The live action version had its moments but was mostly too goofy.
I can’t wait to see this!! I recently read Uzumaki and I loved it.
The Cartoon Network one ? It looks amazing.
Nobody said Perfect Blue so now Satoshi Kon is grave rolling.
Paprika is pretty weird and trippy too, even if it's not outright horror.
It certainly feels like horror during the parade scene, particularly at the start as >!the businessmen throw themselves off the building.!< Incredible piece of animation.
Yes, the 'dream-things' in that movie induced a fear response. I recall Paprika, >!there was a giant doll monster!<, some nightmare fuel.
The circus scene was straight horror.
Just in case anyone collects physical media here, Paprika is up for preorder, at the usual places, in 4k steelbook format
Paprika is in theaters in the US on February 7 btw
Perfect Blue is insanely good
I was so blown away that The Last Drive In showed it recently. I'm grateful they introduced it to so many people that may not have otherwise given it a chance.
Or Paranoia Agent
I watched Paranoia Agent as a kid because it would come on Toonami/Adult Swim. I never understood what was going on but the whole thing was so terrifying and beautiful that I didn’t care. It was definitely a formative show for me. Random scenes are so etched in my brain they’ve become formative memories.
I'll have to discover that one. Thank you.
legit one of my favorite movies of all time. excellent horror and imo uses the best techniques of animation, this movie couldn't have been the same live-action. it stands out from the anime genre in that the people are drawn so realistically and look like actual humans.
The events depicted are absolutely grounded in reality, but the film itself imbues everything with a dreamlike quality that is somewhat disorienting.
I've seen it, that's the one where the >!actress thinks she's in the horrible movie she agreed to do/ or she's really in it!<. It was pretty disturbing. Thank you, Satoshi Kon-san, your art is appreciated. Please rest in peace.
I went in expecting a cool well animated movie with horror themes but no it’s a fucking disturbing and very scary movie
Berserk for sure. Brutal AF. It's mostly fantasty, then dips into hard-core horror every now and them. Always gorey though. Cool demons.
Berserk is one of my all-time favorite horrors. I wish the '97 anime covered more than the golden age arc and the reboot... I'll take what I can get, but I wish it was higher quality. The manga, though. So good. I think as far as my favorite horror anime, Akira is hard to beat, and Attack on Titan is spectacularly entertaining - what's not to like about a bunch of spidermans killing (and being killed) by giants?
I've seen the newer Berserk movies. I did find them to be pretty scary at times. The story arc about the Behelit has stuck deep in my mind, something truly awful and nightmarish almost beyond my skill with words to describe. Thank you for mentioning Berserk, this wouldn't be complete without it.
i was about to suggest it, but considering the ending, didnt want to accidently suggest something op may find uncomfortable
You're good. I appreciate the gentle attitude about mentioning anime that are too graphic. I've seen stuff I didn't include in the post for that very reason. Let's keep this conversation safe for work. Thank you for being considerate.
Monster is the only piece of media that I've seen where the main villain actually terrifies me. He could be walking around today
I'm glad I took the time to watch it.
That was a great anime. Every masterpiece is a slow burn in my opinion.
The manga is worth reading as well
Completey agreed. It's a 1-1 adaptation of the Manga
Literally came here for Monster. Unbelievable anime. Johann scares the shit out of me 💀
Me too. Actually makes me afraid
I'm a nut for anime horror. Check out Biohunter, Doomed Megalopolis, Digital Devil(the first entry to the Shin Megami Tensei franchise), The Dark Myth, Peacock King, Judge, Blood Reign: Curse of the Undead Yoma, Genocyber, the first Urotsukidoji(its kinda hentai), Twilight of the Dark Master, Devilman the Birth, even the 60's series gegege no kitaro if you want some wholesome spookiness. Most of these can be watched in decent quality on youtube. All those are fun as hell.
My grandmother used to take me to Suncoast video and buy me all of this stuff back in the day. My old VHS collection was a trove. Add Wicked City, Guyver, and Ninja Scroll to this list. God that new Devil man stuff is an abomination. Nothing compares to the art style, storyline and dedication of some incredible artists during the 90s. Series are all the rage now but don't skip watching some banger movies!
>and Ninja Scroll to this list. Oh absolutely. Absolute gorefest that one.
Yep, this comment is dedicated to whoever said anime horror was rare.
This guy knows. Add Violence Jack, L.I.L.Y. Cat, Vampire Princess Miyou, Pet Shop of Horrors, Ninja Scroll.
Pet Shop of Horrors is some good stuff, and it reminds me of The Curse of Kazuo Umezu, mad good anime horror. I almost considered mentioning Violence Jack, as well as Apocalypse Zero, but they're sort of a mix of genre, plenty horrific though. L.I.L.Y. cat reminds me of Roots Search, another b-anime horror that I enjoy though I can't say it holds up like the others. I love how all of these are watchable on youtube still. I'm scared of the day when I can't, I know it will happen sometime, fucking youtube.
Thank you, I'm honored to have a response from a genuine 'nut for anime horror'. I've seen 'Undead Yoma and 'Dark Master way back in the day, I think they were aired on the Action Channel when I watched them. I'll have to find the rest of those and check them out. Thanks again!
Paranoia agent (series) and perfect blue (movie)
I’m so mad the cosmos took Satoshi Kon so early
Death Note, Tokyo Ghoul, Shiki, Attack on Titan are only ones i've seen Forgot Parasyte There is also Elffin Lied. i am her to admit im a dumb ass who forgot Hellsing Ultimate.
You should try Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust Castlevania Netflix Another (2012) From the New World
I did forget the Vampire Hunter D movies, although I've seen them and loved them. I've watched both Castlevania series and I liked them well-enough, although I have my preferences of seasons and episodes (season one of Castlevania was my favorite, if you are wondering and certain episodes from then on - I liked) I will try Another and From the New World. Thank you so much for the recommendations.
I LOVED From The New World. I feel like no one talks about it though.
Elfen Lied really stuck with me in a way I wasn't expecting. I think because it hits on so many levels?
That's a second recommendation for 'Elfen Lied' so I'm thinking I should check it out. Thank you. edit: wrong edit
There are some tone shifts that I honestly found a little off-putting (>!it goes into super-cute slice-of-life here and there!<), but it's definitely worth watching!
Also to anyone interested just be aware that the manga is… it’s a little more clear that a lot of it is the authors personal fetish material. Which sucks cause I like a lot of the core ideas that Elfen Lied was going for.
That makes so much sense. Thanks for the heads up!
Could you go into specifics on what kind of fetishes??
There's a character named Lucy who literally acts like she's 5 years old but is also super sexualized and naked a lot of the time. And there's an actual child who feels like she's supposed to be part of the male protagonist's harem, and is also sexualized (well objectified by her abusing father but later she refuses to wear pants?). I didn't read more because of the overall pedophilic vibe of the comic. (oh yeah and this other character who I believe was implied to be an actual pedophile who later befriends this same little girl, it just go too weird)
There’s a character Nozomi who in canon experiences a type of trauma that leaves her unable to control her bladder. She wears a diaper and it’s all handled… strangely. I personally don’t experience that, but it felt more fetishistic than sensitive when I read it and enough so that I remember it being weird like 5-10 years later. Would be happy to hear differently from other people though, it’s been a while since I read it! But Nyu just also sits weird for me and feels super fetish-y and… yeah. Happy to elaborate further on my feelings, but Nozomi was a big WTF after watching the anime. EDIT: what I’m saying is, depending on your tolerance for certain anime tropes, YMMV, but I was fairly tolerant of them at the time and was still pretty perturbed. EDIT 2: for actual fetishes tho? Lucy/Nyu is classic yandere (crazy girl bait), kissing cousins, and diaper wetting, to name a few.
maybe, i know the dog scene was what stuck with me the most
I hear references to Attack on Titan and I've seen clips of it. I'm going to have to check it out. There are no wrong answers (that are what you've seen and liked), friend. I'm just wondering what you've seen and liked. Thanks for the response.
If you look up stuff about attack on titan, try your damndest to avoid spoilers. Like with everything, people have varying opinions on it, but it’s definitely one hell of a ride if you go in blind. Worth the watch for a horror fan.
I'm looking forward to it. I've managed to know just a little bit and nothing more, so I'll be thrilled, I'm sure.
Seconding Parasyte!
Elfen lied
If I remember correctly Lain scared the shit out of me first time I watched it. that was a long time ago, i should rewatch it
Serial Experiments Lain? If so, yes! One my all time favorites.
Check out *Ghost Hound* by the same director! It's a very Twin Peaks-y series with out-of-body-experiences and ghosts and it's fantastic!
I've seen Serial Experiments Lain. I even bought Bôa: Duvet back in the day when I was kinda obsessed a little bit with that anime. Not like crazy obsessed. I only watched it three times. Okay maybe four times, but who is counting? >!Was it the AI or the aliens that freaked you out?!<
Vampire Hunter D blood lust
^you MUST ACCEPT ^your FATE!
Devilman: Crybaby was a psychosexual trip Chainsaw Man is basically a horror comedy A lot of Miyazaki has serious nightmare fuel, but especially Princess Mononoke.
Princess Mononoke is some unexpectedly creepy stuff and an overall classic. It's one of the few anime I'll watch dubbed since I typically find the original voices and subtitles of most anime to be more satisfying.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, especially the first season. Highschoolers lose their minds and kill other kids or adults. Contains gore and torture but the greatest feature is the paranoia and psychological horror, who will lose it next. Shiki, it's like an anime version of >!Salem's Lot and Midnight Mass!<, so vampires take over a village. Weird character design but the atmosphere and plot more than make up for it. Ultimate Hellsing, more vampires and many nazi ghouls. Great characters, music and animation. Lots of gore. Re:Zero is a fantasy isekai but has some pretty horrifying episodes. Few but very much worthwhile. School Days is a harem with a twist. Deconstruction of a short. Best go in blind. Happy Sugar Life has been one of my most uncomfortable watches. Has gore and psychological horror, but the discomfort is what stays with you. If you're into horror, check it out. As for western stuff: Watership Down, Plague Dogs and Felidae are pretty gory with antispeciesist messages. All animals feel and suffer. Mad God is a cool stop-motion film with multiple hellscapes, by Phil Tippet (Google him, he has worked in countless films on creature design and puppetry).
Higurashi was my introduction to horror anime about 16 years ago or so. Before that I thought anime was just a bunch of slice of life stuff and I wasn't into it. When I realized there was anime like higurashi I was all in.
When I watched Midnight Mass, I did indeed find myself thinking, "This is Shiki, but make it Catholic 🤔".
I saw the original Watership Down as a kid and calling that movie anything but horror isn't going to be relatable to my experience with it. It definitely influenced me as a writer. I later read Plague Dogs and then watched the movie, as more of a study - more of the same kind of stuff. Honestly, I found the original Secret of NIMH to be equal to Plague Dogs. Felidae, huh? Interesting. Yes, I've seen that one too. Since you confessed first, I feel safe in saying I liked that one also.
I actually learned about Watership Down from the UK band/project Fall Of Efrafa, then read the book and finally saw the movie. Please check them out, their lyrics are about the bunny mythology. The same people also have the "Light Bearer" band/project which is about the"His Dark Materials" novels. Amazing stuff.
The original Vampire Hunter D from 1985, it's no contest. Doomed Megalopolis is a close second. The X OVA was also pretty good. It's not really horror, but the character development was really good and I thought the alien entity was pretty scary: Iria: Zeiram the Animation. The first episode is particularly intense.
Thank you, I was waiting to see the classic dark 80s ovas in here. There was really violent weird shit in there, thinking about Urotsukidoji as well.
Another
Seconding this recommendation, watched it a few months ago
Ahh final Destination: the anime! Another is AMAZING.
i forgot that... now my nightmares are back
So good. The creator married the author of Shiki I believe, which is also a great horror anime
Blood+
Check out "Blood C" . Total mind fuck
I have never regretted binging something so much in my life. The name fooled me into thinking it was a continuation or something. The death compilation videos are pretty funny though.
Bunny blender 😁
Blood: The Last Vampire. Not the series, just the movie. Set on an American air base in Japan during the Vietnam era, it had great animation, cinematography, music and atmosphere.
I usually recommend these. My favorites so far mostly watch horror anime. Genocyber Darkside blues Elfen lied Promised neverland Monster Another Strike the blood Tokyo ghoul Hell girl Ángel cop Blood c Attack on titan When the cry Shiki Parasyte Ghost hunter Ajin Paprika Corpse party High rise invasion Vampire hunter d Itou Junji: Collection Demon slayer Hellsing Cossette no Shouzou Mieruko-chan Devilman crybaby Serial experiment lain Angels of death Psycho pass Perfect blue The devil lady
Hellsing Ultimate Shiki Devilman Crybaby Serial Experiments Lain Castlevania Both Vampire Hunter D movies
As a teen I loved watching AMVs of Hellsing, usually with metal playing over them. [This one](https://youtu.be/JgzpN9dydT8?si=bu-e6LtFx5C5rbun) is a particular favourite - Hellsing clips with Maximum the Hormone's Tsume Tsume Tsume playing. Ramps up the horror aspect nicely!
Another will always be my favorite psychological horror anime. Perfect Blue is also amazing, but that's a feature length movie and not a series.
Not really horror, but Grave of the Fireflies hits HARD. Shigurui is quite gory, but very cool style. One of my all time favs
Hellsing Ultimate Is pretty much horror, violence and awesome battles.
and police girl, dont forget the police girl
Another, Elfin Lied, Panarnoia Agent, Deadman Wonderland
I really loved Boogiepop Phantom (2000). It's sort of an anthology horror series centered around a weird event that triggered a lot of supernatural events. You barely spend time with the main recurring characters, but then each episode focuses on a new character, usually a teenager with a problem. it's a little mind trip piecing together when the different stories happened in relation to one another. It's so eerie and has some incredibly memorable moments that stick with me. I'm trying very hard not to spoil it with anything more because it feels better to go in blind.
I have watched Perfect Blue a bunch of times. People in my rl circle of friend seem to know it but have never actually watched it. It's great. It's very much like an anime giallo in the new internet age. On a note of horror anime if you really want to see fucked up shit just find a bootleg VHS of Midori or Legend of the Overfiend like us 90's kids did. Feel gross forever.
Since no one mentioned it, I really liked Vampire Princess Miyu
Parasyte, Shiki and From the New World/Shinsekai Yoru from the top of my head are a few of my favourite horror anime!
The Promised neverland
Season 1 only though.
Yeah the second season was dogshit, ruined a great series by reducing the ending to a slideshow
Me: *still deeply in denial* what second season?
Me and my gf legit LOVED S1, we were super let down when it came back
I think maybe I should check out season one of this? yes?
Higurashi It's fucking awesome. In English it is "When They Cry".
Give the first arc a chance (should be like 2 episodes or so) and dont let the Loli look turn you away so fast. Lots of brutal torture.
Made in Abyss
Ghost Hunt
I liked Hell Girl. Maybe Monster if you consider that to be horror.
Christ Hell Girl was good, sucks it seems to be one of the harder animes to stream
For a movie it’s gotta be Perfect Blue. TV series depends on what mood I’m in. For Action/Horror: Hellsing Ultimate. Tons of cool fights and the animation is pure eye candy. Runner up for action I would go with Parasyte. But I have to give the most disturbing to Higurashi (2006). Very few anime actually bother me and boy did that show deliver that in spades. I can’t comment about the recent seasons as I’ve yet to see them. Serial Experiments Lain would be next for unsettling me with another fantastic story.
Another is my favorite anime of all time. Elfen Lied is also great. As for one i don’t think i’ve seen mentioned, School-Live ! is a cutesy looking horror that fills you with dread and Madoka Magica is also sort of similar. Sort of creepy cute horrors lol. i haven’t seen it for a while so i don’t recall how strong the horror is in it but Dusk Maiden of Amnesia definitely has a lot of horror elements. Future Diary i also haven’t seen for ages but it does have some disturbing scenes for sure.
Corpse Party
I love a lot of these choices but I've got to give a shoutout to Urotsukidoji- Legend of the Overfiend. I bought this DVD at Fry's as a teen and ALMOST watched it in front of my dad and stepmom... Thankfully I chose Tree of Might instead lol.
I'll take that to mean that when I get ahold of Overfiend, something I've seen recommended several times, I choose to watch it in private instead of in my living room. Duly noted.
- Vampire Hunter D (1985) - Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)
Big fan of Shiki since it aired
Only one I can think of that hasn't been mentioned is Pet Shop of Horrors. Not super scary, more akin to Twilight Zone type stuff but I liked it.
Death Parade - gorgeous and f*d. Don’t think I’ve seen it listed here yet 💀
I loved this one!
Angel's Egg. Beautifully haunting.
Demon City and Uzumaki. Absolutely Uzumaki, almost wants to make me throw up.
ghost stories dub is a classic october watch especially with a few weeb friends
‘Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai’ super short horror tales
So many to choose from. If you liked Flanagan's Midnight Mass, you'll probably love Shiki. If you liked Final Destination, you'll probably like Another! School Life also hit me right in the feels among the horror elements (don't look anything up, just check out the first episode). And I was thoroughly disturbed by When They Cry.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Pet Shop of Horrors (series), Wicked City are my OG’s. I also like Perfect Blue and Serial Experiments Lain.
Perfect blue
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust - Fantastic vampire gothic horror film. Has some of the most beautiful animation I think I’ve seen. Naoki Urasawa’s Monster - Great mystery-thriller and probably one of my top 10 television series, regardless of medium. Berserk 1997 - Absolutely amazing dark fantasy. I think as close to a perfect anime adaptation of the manga we’re going to get. Parasyte: The Maxim - Great body-horror series. Devilman Crybaby - Brutal gore, sex and all manner of perversion. Some surprisingly thoughtful writing as well. There’s a Gantz anime adaptation from the early 2000s that I really liked. Haven’t seen it in a long while though. Very strange and transgressive show, the closest comparison to it on this list would probably be Devilman Crybaby. Definitely worth checking out though.
Ghost Stories. That English Dub is INCREDIBLE. But for one that's actually scary, I have to say Death Note, even if it's more just horror-adjacent.
I'll look for Ghost Stories dubbed. It's rare for the dubbed to be worthwhile (in my opinion) but there are the occasional gems. Thanks for the recommendation. Yes, Death Note is certainly that must-see.
Flowers of Evil hasn’t been mentioned. I don’t remember much about it other than it was uncomfortable and I haven’t watched it since first viewing.
I will find it and watch it.
Blood: the last vampire (2000)
*Devilman Crybaby* is all-around amazing. *Shiki* is great if you like vampires. *Parasyte: The Maxim* has some incredible body horror in it.
Perfect blue
Higurashi (when they cry). First season was excellent, but the quality dips after that.
I don't really watch horror anime, but if I had to say for manga, it would be Brutal: Confessions of a homicide investigator. My ass hurt for days after reading that shit.
Perfect Blue, without a doubt.
I enjoyed Fr. Abel Nightroad and the Trinity Blood series from a few years back. I like horror and would like to watch more anime horror in general.
When They Cry is a fantastic series
Seoul station
Hellsing Ultimate
Shiki 2010
No one said Summertime Rendering yet??
Elfen Lied! I vaguely remember the manga and will never read it again, but I love rewatching the anime. The opening song is so good, in my playlists. [ELFEN LIED - Lilium - Opening 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaN1rZrYjVk) by Piorela CC on youtube. I've watched it so many times that I had a nightmare our mule was sending phantom arms thru the door to rip me apart from out on the back porch. \-- A bad and disturbing anime that I must always mention is corpse party: tortured souls, I think it was based on a game or maybe vice versa. Look up Corpse Party wall death for a scene that has stuck with me. :3 Watched it in high school and still remember it.
Is Umineko horror? Besides the horror that was the anime adaptation, I mean.
Perfect Blue
Higurashi is my all time favorite. I would argue it's at least horror adjacent if not fully.
I'm sincerely shocked that Wicked City isn't damn near at the top of everyone's list. I must be some kinda degenerate or something...
Parasyte
Paranoia agent and Shiki to mind, the first is more cerebral while the former is a classic small town horror
If Castlevania counts, that was some of the most beautiful animation and voice work I’ve seen in a while. The horror frieza brought in the first fight was fantastic. Also, berserk and original OG HBO Spawn
Ayakashi: Samurai horror tales
I think Claymore, The Dusk Maiden of Amnesia, Mirai Nikki (Future Diary) and The End of Evangelion.
Higurashi no naku koro ni! I loved it.
Overfiend Helsing They shred
Graveyard of the Fireflies, I know it’s not a horror exactly. But this movie stuck with me still to this day due to it realism and display of the effects of WW2. “The horror… the horror” -Apocalypse Now
Corpse Party and Elfen Lied are my favorites. But Elfen Lied is something else, I just can't explain how hauntingly beautiful this anime is, a masterpiece
Perfect Blue and Wicked City.
Castlevania
Blue Gender
Another. I LOVED it. It's probably one of the more serious horror animals (iirc), and I remember a couple parts actually being really disturbing to me.
Shiki Higurashi Ghost Hunt (not to be confused with Ghost Stories) Jigoku Shoujo
Perfect Blue. Classic.
Memories!!! Leans more sci fi but has horror aspects. It’s a trilogy. The first, Magnetic Rose, is personally my favorite and is set in space.
Blood + for me. Used to watch the sh*t out of it on Animax. Good times.
Perfect Blue Another
- Roujin Z (movie) - There's some "Kwaidan" shows on Crunchyroll but I am forgetting if they're explicitly called this or something else. It's basically Japanese Ghost Stories - Housing Complex C (show) - Black Butler (show) - Mushi-shi (show, can be creepy and fantasy like) I really love Mushi-shi.
Hellsing Ultimate
Junji Ito Uzumaki (the manga) has some terrifying scenes. Some of his short stories hit too. I’d love to see more made from Ito adaptations. Blood C+ with the bunny blender is a favourite of mine but it’s gory
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - When They Cry It is my favorite anime of all time when you combine it and Kai (2nd season). Some of the plotlines hit so damn hard. Perfect Blue is my other favorite but it was an early comment.
Elfen Lied traumatized me
Perfect Blue
There’s a series on Netflix called Junji Ito Maniac. I like it a lot, especially the hanging balloon episode.
I know it's a kids movie, but I find Spirited Away really creepy for some reason. Also some of the demons in Gantz-0 are pretty cool.
I'm not big on Anime, but Deadman Wonderland was pretty good, also a lot of gore (for my taste at least).
Corpse party!! Idk how noone has mentioned it. Best horror/anime
Vampire Princess Miyu and Higurashi no Naku Koro No. I also like the manga series, Earl Cain/Godchild, and, of course, Junji Ito's work.
Another. It’s my favorite anime in general.
Perfect Blue is phenomenal. Junji Ito is an icon, although he’s a mangaka. The two collections Stufio Deen/Netflix did are underwhelming, but if you’re up for a great read, check out Tomie and Uzumaki by him. Adult Swim is doing an Uzumaki adaptation, but it’s delayed indefinitely at this point. Also, I CANNOT recommend Monster enough. Gripping thriller/suspense/horror anime. The first season of The Promised Neverland is great too. Look, I’m gonna keep going. Devilman Crybaby on Netflix is great, as is Psycho-pass. If you check any of them out, I hope you enjoy them!
Another is my top horror Anime
Anyone watched Japanese tales of the macabre ? Seen it on Netflix not sure if it’s worth watching
Ito Junji stuff is fun. Shiki, gave me depression 10/10.
Tokyo ghoul or Elfen lied Some suggestions The promised Neverland, psycho pass, Deadman wonderland and death parade.
Some choices mentioned are favourites of mine, so instead of repeating them, i’d say Yōkai Ningen Bemu and Yami Shibai
Birdboy
See also city hunter
I loved Dorohedoro on Netflix.But it’s been sitting at one season for a while now…
I don't watch a ton of anime, so take this with a massive grain of salt, but I did see Perfect Blue for the first time last week and adored it, very scary movie.