Just like in cinema, anime also has several genres of fiction and horror is one of the most striking, since the Japanese have their own way of constructing horror. The genre began to stand out in the early 2000s and consolidated itself in its first decade, but do you know which are the best horror anime? We have prepared a complete list that will help you find the perfect one for you to watch!
You can find everything from psychological horror anime to supernatural horror, but despite the scary moments, the plots also deliver stories that are interesting and keep the audience waiting for the next episode. Let's get to know the 10 best horror anime and a little about their stories?
Pet Shop of Horrors (2000)
Starting off our list of the best horror anime, we have Pet Shop Horrors, an anime set in a pet shop owned by the mysterious Count D. Anyone can take a pet home from there if they sign a contract taking responsibility for everything that happens if the three rules imposed by the Count are not properly followed. We can already expect that not all owners will respect these rules and that this will cause problems.
Despite its unexpected premise, the Pet Shop of Horrors anime is quite short, with only 4 episodes and the highlight is the construction of almost independent stories in each episode. If you are interested and want to watch the anime, you should know that it can be easily found on the internet.
Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories (2013)
Yamishibai is an anthology that covers several Japanese urban legends, and that's enough to make it one of the best horror animes! By revisiting these centuries-old legends, the anime offers a new perspective, bringing modernity to each one. The visual production of this anime is based on a traditional method of storytelling, using paper dolls (called Kamishibai).
The difference with this work is that each episode has a duration that varies between 3 and 5 minutes, making it a great option for those looking for quick and dynamic stories. If you liked it and want to watch it, know that it is available on Crunchyroll!
Junji Ito Collection (2018)
This recommendation may be familiar to some horror fans, since Junji Ito is an ultra-renowned horror manga author recognized around the world! We couldn't leave the Junji Ito Collection out of our list of the best horror anime, since Ito is a master at exploring the bizarre, the gore and the psychological horror in several of his stories.
All of the stories in this collection were adapted from manga that brought together several short stories in a single book, so it didn't take long for these stories to be turned into anime. The most famous characters such as Tomie and Soiche are present in the adaptation and you can check them all out on Crunchyroll.
Higurashi: When They Cry (2006)
This is an anime inspired by a series of horror games that was very popular among the Japanese, known as Onikakushi-hen. It is among the best horror anime because it features a group of friends living in the village of Hinamizawa, who are surprised by strange events in the region. Everyone lives peacefully until everything changes and horror takes hold in the town.
The anime features several arcs that follow individual stories, but which complement each other as they deal with the same characters. If you liked the premise and want to watch it, the first season of the anime has 26 episodes and is available on Netflix!
Mieruko-chan (2021)
This recommendation is another mix of horror and comedy, being one of the most recent releases on our list of the best horror anime. The plot follows a young woman named Miko Yotsuya, who begins to see the spirits of several people who have already passed away and, surprisingly, they insist on staying close to the young woman. Scared, she decides that she will ignore them and continue her life normally, but will she be able to?
Of course, the frequency and number of ghosts chasing the young woman only increases considerably, which makes us realize that Miko is always fighting against her supernatural ability. If you want to check out this story, it is available in the Crunchyroll catalog!
Jigoku Shoujo (Hell Girl) (2005)
Are you a vengeful person? If so, this might be the anime for you! In this fictional world, people can get revenge and “get even” by accessing a mysterious website that is only available at midnight. Once the target is selected, they are sent straight to hell by the girl known as Hell Girl, and this makes for several disturbing scenes in the anime.
However, sending someone else to hell comes at a price and the person who made this request on the website is not exempt from the harsh consequences of using Hell Girl. This is one of the best horror anime and can be easily found on the internet.
Kagewani (2015)
Standing out on our list of the best horror anime, Kagewani stands out for its unique animation style. The plot follows a scientist who travels the world in search of unknown mysterious animals, also known as UMAs. These creatures, on the other hand, have the goal of destroying humanity!
Thus, the scientist faces each of them in episodes that have an average duration of 7 minutes. If you want to watch it, the anime is available in the Crunchyroll catalog.
Serial Experiments Lain (1998)
For fans of psychological horror and science fiction, Serial Experiments Lain is a great choice among the best horror anime, as it conveys a more complex and complete message, in a feature-length format. In the plot, we follow a little girl named Lain, who discovers the Wired (a version similar to the internet) and, thus, we see the deterioration of her mental health.
The film's depth allows for themes such as cyberculture, philosophy, religion, and conspiracy theories to be explored while its visuals draw attention to another side of the story. If you want to watch this film, you can find it online.
Perfect Blue (1998)
One of the best psychological horror anime on our list, Perfect Blue tells the story of a young idol singer who decides to leave her music career and pursue a career in film. However, throughout this new professional journey, what we see is a decline in the young woman's mental health, as she can no longer differentiate between what is real and what is fiction. In addition, the story has a plot twist that will impress most audiences!
It served as inspiration and helped many Hollywood filmmakers create reference scenes using this classic Japanese animation. To watch Perfect Blue, just search on the internet!
Corpse Party: Tortured Souls (2013)
This is another anime inspired by a game series, this time called Corpse Party, which was a huge hit in Japan. Despite only having 4 episodes, the anime manages to be scary and full of gore, by taking children to extreme situations. In the plot, a group of students make a friendship pact, but the ritual they perform has a negative effect and ends up taking the group to a dark version of the school they were attending.
They end up at a daycare center that was demolished years ago after an incident in which children were violently murdered. Thus, the new school was built on its site. Thus, this is one of the best horror anime for those looking for a short story, and for those interested, this anime can be found on the internet.
Another (2012)
Another is perhaps one of the best-known titles on our list of the best horror anime, as it was a huge success the year it was released. This is a story that combines mystery, suspense and horror after a young man moves to a city and discovers that his new class at school is cursed.
The curse that follows the class is quite heavy and soon begins to affect the students brutally, causing fatal accidents and much more. The series has only one season and 12 episodes, which are available on Crunchyroll.
Conclusion
And these are the best horror anime of recent times, which are worth watching for fans of the genre who are not yet familiar with animations. You can choose from psychological horror to gore and have a lot of fun with each of these dark stories. And if you like lists of recommendations like this, be sure to check them out too The 11 Best Vampire Anime, Ranked!
