Summary
- Junji Ito Maniac provides fans with faithful adaptations of chilling stories by Junji Ito, improving on the original collection.
- Housing Complex C is a short but effective horror series, delivering scares and tension in just four episodes.
- School-Live! offers a unique take on the zombie genre, blending psychological themes with dark, unsettling moments.
The medium of anime has some of the best stories that horror has to offer. Horror has become one of the most well-regarded genres among fans for its unique stories that investigate the primal instinct of fear. Whether they're clever explorations of the psyche or a simple story of survival against a masked killer, horror has survived for years for the thrills it has created for fans.
Animation has proven itself over the years to be a valid source for some of the scariest horror content due to the fact that it can push the bar without the limitations that real life provides. Anime in particular has given fans some of its most visually creative takes on the genre while also finding compelling ways to have viewers leave the lights on long after the credits begin to roll. Here are ten of the best horror anime that fans can seek out in case they want something a bit scarier to add to their watchlist!
10 Junji Ito Maniac Gives the World's Most Famous Mangaka a Great Anime
Animated By Studio Deen & Based on the Works of Junji Ito
Year Released |
2023 |
Number of Episodes |
12 |
Where to Stream it |
Netflix |
Kicking things off is a fairly recent series based around the works of legendary horror mangaka, Junji Ito. This sequel series to the disappointing Junji Ito Collection anime improves on its predecessor in almost every way with much stronger animation and far more faithful adaptations of Ito's stories. Though it may not be of the same quality as the Uzumaki anime adaptation, Maniac is still a great watch.
Not every story lands, which is expected from an anthology series, but Junji Ito Maniac definitely contains far more hits than misses with the highlight of the collection being that excellently uses sound to make the source story even scarier. Fans of Junji Ito will find a lot to like about this series, and it's the perfect watch for a scary night inside.
9 Housing Complex C is One of the Scariest anime Aired By Adult Swim
Original Anime Series By Studio Akatsuki
Year Released |
2022 |
Number of Episodes |
4 |
Where to Stream it |
Max |
This terrifying limited anime series from Adult Swim caught many anime fans by surprise as it served as the block's big Halloween event for 2022, following another delay for Uzumaki. What really works about this series is how much it's able to convey in just four short episodes. It follows a housing complex of mostly older inhabitants as a new family moves in with a group of international workers. Tensions begin to rise as the inhabitants blame the workers for strange things beginning to happen, including an odd mold slowly creeping toward the building.
Housing Complex C is a one-of-a-kind horror story that's best gone into as blind as possible. It's a unique series that knows how to effectively deliver its scares with what little time it has, and it leaves a terrific impression when it's all over.
8 School-Live! is a Zombie Anime With a Truly Killer Hook
Animated By Lerche, Based on the Manga By Norimitsu Kaihō & Sadoru Chib
Year Released |
2015 |
Number of Episodes |
12 |
Where to Stream it |
HiDive |
Fans shouldn't let the cute exterior or misleading anime opening of this series fool them, as School-Live is perhaps one of the most upsetting and horrifying series they will ever encounter thanks to its ingenious set-up. The show focuses on a group of girls that live inside their school as they get up to a variety of shenanigans. It all seems fairly harmless until it's revealed that the main character, Yuki, is imagining everything. In reality, the world has been overtaken by a zombie apocalypse, and the series isn't afraid to get dark about it.
There are major character deaths alongside disturbing psychological moments that have made this a treasured horror series. School-Live! is unlike any zombie story fans will ever experience, making it an absolute must-watch.
7 Higurashi: When They Cry Shows the Horrific Potential of a Time Loop
Animated By Studio Deen & Based on the Visual Novel By 07th Expansion
Year Released |
2006 |
Number of Episodes |
26 |
Where to Buy it |
Amazon |
This is a horror anime that has lived in infamy among fans for its grotesque use of violence...and yet it still continues to be one of the most recommended for people who love the genre. Higurashi: When They Cry follows a group of kids in a town that's been cursed by an entity known as Oyashiro. There are multiple arcs throughout the long-running series that usually lead to the brutal death of one or more of the characters before everything gets reset in a mysterious time-loop.
Higurashi Could Answer the Series' Greatest Mystery in New Prequel
A new prequel series from the Higurashi franchise called Oni follows "Old Hag" Oryou Sonozaki as a child and the start of the Hinamizawa Syndrome.
Higurashi is a terrifying experience as more and more is revealed about the curse plaguing the town, and it's difficult to stop watching once the show has started. Fans of the first anime will have a lot to dig into as well. Currently, the Higurashi franchise has five anime series, a pair of live-action movies, a live-action series, and of course the original visual novels.
6 Shiki Confirms Vampires Still Have a Place in Modern Horror
Animated By Daume & Based on the Novel By Fuyumi Ono
When many deaths occur in the quiet village of Sotoba, Doctor Toshio Ozaki initially suspects an epidemic but soon becomes convinced that something else is causing them.
- Release Date
- June 27, 2010
- Seasons
- 1
- Main Genre
- Anime
Year Released |
2010 |
Number of Episodes |
22 + 2 OVAs |
Where to Stream it |
Only available on physical media |
Shiki follows a small town on the search for a missing girl named Megumi following her discovery of a new family living in a mysterious old household. When they do find her though, she es away due to anemia and a series of bites they find along her skin. The hunt is on to find out more about what happened to her before more townspeople fall to a horrific force. This is just a good old-fashioned vampire story that works.
Fans of vampire anime will want to give Shiki a watch as it gives a bloodcurdling new spin on the bloodthirsty creatures. The only unfortunate thing is that it's incredibly rare nowadays with physical media being the only way to watch it. However, if fans ever find themselves in possession of a copy of this landmark series, make sure not to miss out on this unique horror story.
5 Perfect Blue is One of the Greatest Anime Psychological Thrillers
Animated By Madhouse, Based on the Novel By Yoshikazu Takeuchi, & Directed By Satoshi Kon
Year Released |
1997 |
Runtime |
81 Minutes |
Where to Stream it |
AMC+, Shudder |
Taking a break from monsters and curses, Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue is a great pick for those who love psychological thrillers. The film follows a former idol who attempts to break free of her public image and become an actress. However, things begin to get surreal as a series of murders take place where she's the primary suspect...even if she was nowhere near the scene of the crime. This leads to an exploration of her psyche as she tries to figure out what's happening while facing abstract figures in the shadows.
Satoshi Kon's other horror masterpiece, Paranoia Agent, is also worth checking out for fans of psychological thrillers.
Perfect Blue is a film that's become a huge influence for other popular works of fiction for its brilliant use of psychological horror and has become a must-watch for cinephiles due to its exceptional use of the visual medium. There are many Japanese films that inspired Western movies, and given Perfect Blue's unique visuals, it's easy to see why. It's scary and mind-breaking with its abstract execution, making it perfect viewing for a spooky night.
4 Death Note Shows the Dark & Horrific Side of Shonen
Animated By Madhouse, Based on the Manga By Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
- Created by
- Takeshi Obata, Tsugumi Ohba
- TV Show(s)
- Death Note (2006)
- Video Game(s)
- Death Note: Kira Game
- Movie(s)
- Death Note, Death Note 2: The Last Name
- Character(s)
- Light Yagami, L Lawliet, Ryuk, Misa Amane, Near (Death Note), Mello (Death Note), Teru Mikami, Minoru Tanaka
Year Released |
2006 |
Number of Episodes |
37 |
Where to Stream it |
Youtube , Pluto TV, Tubi, Peacock, Roku, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime |
This iconic series based on the Shonen Jump manga by Tsugumi Ohba has become best known as one of the must-watch anime series for those wanting to get into the medium, and it's easy to see why. This series has become legendary for fans due to its compelling storytelling and thrilling twists that make it one of the most binge-worthy anime of all time.
Fans of Death Note may want to watch Bakumon and Platinum End, two anime based on manga by Death Note's creators.
It follows Light Yagami, a boy who stumbles upon a mysterious notebook called the Death Note. Anytime he writes a name inside it, they die of a heart attack unless otherwise specified. This leads to a game of cat-and-mouse as he attempts to evade detection. While this show may not cause nightmares, Light's journey will keep viewers on edge as he leaves carnage in his wake to become a god among his human peers and make the world safer...at least, by his standards.
3 Another Offers a Great Twist to the Destined to Die Trope
Animated By P.A. Works & Based on the Novel By Yukito Ayatsuji
Year Released |
2012 |
Number of Episodes |
12 |
Where to Stream it |
Crunchyroll |
The mere premise of Another should be enough to get horror fans on board. Essentially, it's what would happen if Final Destination became an anime series as a class of cursed students begin to die one-by-one in mysterious accidents.
The kills are incredibly creative, using unexpected means to pick off the classmates as they fall to the curse, with the most notable involving an umbrella. While these kind of anime where a cast of high schoolers are slowly killed off have become quite common, few series has done the concept as much justice as Another. Any fan who wants the fun of Final Destination mixed with a good mystery will find Another a must-watch that's perfect for any horror fan.
2 Mieruko-Chan Combines Horror & Comedy to Excellent Effect
Animated By ione Based on the Manga By Tomoki Izumi
Year Released |
2021 |
Number of Episodes |
12 |
Where to Stream it |
Crunchyroll |
At first glance, Mieruko-Chan looks like it should be out of place among the best horror anime ever made. After all, it's a comedy coming-of-age series about a girl who's able to see ghosts around her. However, what makes this anime absolutely terrifying are the designs of the undead. The ghosts in this series are nightmare-inducing with their distorted looks and sunken eyes. Sometimes even the levity of comedy isn't enough to prevent an image of an unsuspecting ghoul into the audience's mind.
Despite seeming like polar opposites, comedy and horror are an exceptional pairing when done well. Mieruko-Chan does a good job not having its comedy elements undermine the horrific designs of the series' ghosts, keeping both the horror and comedy quite effective. Mieruko-Chan is a series that can be incredibly funny, but that doesn't mean it can't be equally horrifying as well.
1 Parasyte -the maxim- is the Best Horror Anime
Animated By Studio Madhouse & Based on the Manga By Hitoshi Iwaaki
Year Released |
2014 |
Number of Episodes |
24 |
Where to Stream it |
Hulu, Crunchyroll, HIDIVE |
Not only is Parasyte one of the best horror manga not made by Junji Ito, but it doubles as the best horror anime fans can seek out as well. This sci-fi horror tale tells the story of an alien invasion where parasites bury themselves into human hosts and take over their bodies. However, Shinichi Izumi finds a parsite has buried itself in his arm, taking over his one limb instead. Together, they begin fighting off other parasites to preserve each other's life.
Parasyte -the maxim- is a body horror lover's dream as it takes a page out of The Thing, showing off some of the most grotesque human-to-alien transitions in the medium. It's a must-watch for sci-fi horror fans and is bound to become a classic as the years go by. With its horrific visuals and incredible plot, Parasyte -the maxim- is the best horror anime.
