The Dark Tales Of Japanese Animes
If you're tired of the cliche masked villains or ouija boards, jump into the absolute darkness of anime. The listed shows might start in a cute village or town, but it gets dark. Some shows even get banned.
Another
Another is inspired by Yukito Ayatsuji's novel. Kōichi Sakakibara, the main character, was transferred to Yomiyama Middle School after hospitalization. During his hospital stay, he meets a girl in the hospital; she has an eye patch with a strange event-seeing doll eye underneath—her name? Mei Misaki.
A Cursed Class 9-3
The cursed Class 9-3, where Kōichi was admitted, was far from normal because, as Mei put it, "It's close to death". Kouichi and Mei team up to find out why this was happening. The show is riddled with mysterious deaths, dark visuals, haunting music, graphic content, and psychological horror.
One After Another
The first incident was actually Mei's cousin, Misaki Fujioka, departing on Kōichi's hospital discharge date. Next was Yukari (Kōichi's ally), who fell down the stairs, and her umbrella pierced her. Her mum also suffered the same fate. Sometimes, they do succeed in saving the victims.
Another anime umbrella death seen | horror anime death seen by Toon tanvir anime
Tokyo Ghoul
Imagine going on a date, and your date both endangers and saves your life. Well, meet Ken Kaneki and his ghoul date, Rize. Rize attacks Kaneki, injuring him, and in a weird twist of fate, the surgeon operating on Kaneki gives him Rize's organs, not knowing she's a human flesh eater.
Tokyo Ghoul - Season 1 - Official Uncut Trailer by Crunchyroll Store Australia
A World Of Ghouls
Kaneki becomes half-ghoul and teams up with Rize. You see, Tokyo is divided between humans and ghouls. The CCG (Commission of Counter Ghoul) hunts these creatures, while ghouls form their own societies. The horrendous battles, psychological trauma, and Kaneki's torment by the sadistic Jason are bone-chilling.
Kaneki (4 season) | Twixtor Scenes | Tokyo Ghoul by̶ Hannah Schmidt
Life As A Half-Breed
It's hard enough to tackle school and life, but now, Kaneki also has to struggle with his dual nature with threats from both sides. His powers grow through his kagune (a predatory organ with tentacle-like appendages). And he forms connections with both sides while fighting increasingly dangerous enemies.
Kaneki (4 season) | Twixtor Scenes | Tokyo Ghoul by̶ Hannah Schmidt
Parasyte: The Maxim
In another horror, a 17-year-old Shinichi Izumi also falls on the fence. Here, parasites aim to take up human brains, but instead, a parasite merges with Izumi's right hand and births Migi—the parasite. Unlike other controlled humans, Shinichi maintains his humanity while gaining enhanced abilities.
Parasyte: The Maxim - Opening [4K 60FPS | Creditless | CC] by̶ Neobrane
The Horror Within
The anime has body horror, themes of identity crisis, as well as seemingly normal people transforming into monsters. The parasites consume and replace human hosts, perfectly mimicking their appearance until feeding time—when their heads split open into grotesque shapes. Yikes.
Parasyte - the maxim - Official Trailer AUS by̶ Hanabee Entertainment
Fighting For Humanity
Shinichi and Migi fight other parasites while they try to keep their secrets under wraps. The beauty of this series is that both parties learn more about humanity. Shinichi gradually understands emotional changes, and Migi grasps human nature. The loss of loved ones and brutal battles mark their journey toward survival.
Parasyte -the maxim- [Kiseijuu] Trailer (2015) - AMV by̶ Catnotic
The Promised Neverland
At Grace Field House orphanage, Emma, Norman, and Ray live happily with other children under their caring "Mom," Isabella. But that happiness slowly fades into horror. Their perfect life shatters when they discover the harrowing truth that they're being raised as high-quality food for demons.
The Promised Neverland Trailer 1 Aniplex USA
The Dark Truth
The children learn that their comfortable orphanage is actually a farm, and their intelligence tests determine their food quality. This is one place you would love to be dumb, isn't it? In the third episode, the trio followed Conny who was up for adoption. What happened next had them scared witless.
The Promised Neverland English Dub Trailer by̶ Aniplex USA
The Truth Is Out
The trio stumbled on her lifeless body, brainless. Imagine the entire effort to make them smart was simply marinating the demon's food. As expected, the trio wants to escape with two others. They plan their escape while maintaining a facade of innocence. Isabella finds out, and this creates intense suspense.
The Promised Neverland - Clip #06 (dt.) by peppermint anime
Perfect Blue
Mimi Kirigoe pops out of her idol career to pursue acting, but her grip on reality starts to spiral down. A stalker obsessed with her idol persona turns her life into a psychological nightmare, leaving audiences to wonder, "Who's who in this show?"
PERFECT BLUE: Satoshi Kon's Horror of Perception & Celebrity by Matt Draper
Am I Dreaming?
The most chilling scene? When Mimi discovers her reflection moving independently; this shatters her sense of self. Her infamous bathtub breakdown scene, where reality and delusion take a bath together, leaves viewers questioning everything that follows.
I Was Right About Perfect Blue. by BaronJ
Double Take Double Life
You could say Mimi's life becomes quite the dramatic performance—but the joke's end there when she finds her fictional TV character's traumatic scenes bleeding into her real life. The scene where she discovers multiple diary entries written by herself makes viewers' skin crawl.
Anime Expo Cinema Nights: Perfect Blue by Iconic Events Now
Uzumaki
Another anime to break out a cold sweat is Uzumaki, a horror manga series that hits the skids in the small town of Kurouzu-cho, cursed by literal spirals that appear in everything—objects, human beings, behaviors, and the environment where everything appears spiraling and wavy.
OFFICIAL TRAILER: Uzumaki | adult swim by Adult Swim
Twisted Terror
One of the most disturbing scenes has to be in "Chapter 9: Medusa," where a girl's hair turns into hungry spirals that consume others. But that closely ties to the "Chapter 3: The Scar" scene where human bodies twist into spiral shapes while still alive—that one really turns heads.
OFFICIAL TRAILER: Uzumaki | adult swim by Adult Swim
Horror After Horror
The series follows Kirie Goshima, her boyfriend, Shuichi Saito, and the people from this town who are experiencing all these things. I don't know which one is worse: Spiral-infected pregnant women in "Chapter 11: Umbilical Cord" or the twisted love story of two teenagers who literally become one spiral.
OFFICIAL TRAILER: Uzumaki | adult swim by Adult Swim
Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories
Yamishibai contains bite-sized horror episodes proving good things come in small packages, though these packages contain your worst nightmares. Each tale delivers fresh scares in under five minutes. Everything horrific, you'll find it here—ghosts, mystery, urban legends, curses, etc., etc. You have to be really strong to watch these ones.
Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories Season 1 trailer | Anime DubSpot by Anime DubSpot
Spine-Chilling Shorts
The episodes are short, punchy, and always have you weak in the knees. The very first episode is the story of Ito, a youngster who constantly finds talismans stuck in his home. Every time he removes them, ghosts appear.
Yamishibai Japanese Ghost Stories Review | PacJeff by PacJeff
Thirteen Season's Strong
Yamishibai goes on for thirteen seasons that started in 2013, with the latest release running from July 15, 2024, to October 7, 2024. So, if you want to binge-watch some heart-shattering anime, you have quite a lot to catch up on. This production emulates the ancient Kamishibai story-telling.
Yamishibai Japanese Ghost Stories Review | PacJeff by PacJeff
Boogiepop Phantom
Have you ever watched a series that requires a book, pens in all colors, and sticky notes? Well, this is it. Boogiepop Phantom dives into proving that being a supernatural savior isn't all it's cracked up to be. The story splits reality so many times you'll need a flowchart.
Boogiepop Phantom trailer by BreadCrustCouncil
Reality Breaks
In the very first episode, "Portraits From Memory" there's a scene showing a girl finding out that her memories are false while her body literally begins to dissolve into light. This part is so unsettling, viewers report feeling physically ill after watching it.
Boogiepop and Others Trailer (English Sub) by IGN Anime Club
Time Twisted Terror
Another haunting scene involves a man realizing he's been dead for years, but he just continues his daily routine while his body slowly rots. This gives working dead-lines a whole new meaning. The entire series individually follows a group of youngsters who witnessed a pillar of light appearing. And then, they all disappear.
Boogiepop Phantom Seasion 1 Episode 1 by ａｎｉｍｅ ｂｏｙ
Blood-C
Blood-C follows Saya, a seemingly normal teenager who is also a swordswoman. Her mission is to fight monsters called Elder Bairns, which crave and feed off human blood. This one might give you some joy, seeing Saya slice through monsters like they're butter. Shing! Swish. Swish.
Blood-C (2011) ANIME KILL COUNT by Shiroi Kodo: KIRU
Gore Galore
If red creeps you out, press next. From the name, expect gore scenes where you'll find yourself looking away every so often. In the fourth episode, friendly café customers transform into monsters and graphically devour schoolchildren. This scene was so brutal it had to be censored in several countries.
Blood-C (2011) ANIME KILL COUNT by Shiroi Kodo: KIRU
Truth's Edge
Now here comes the twist: Saya learns she's been living in an experiment, with her memories and relationships all fabricated. This hits harder than any of her sword strikes and the consequent actions makes viewers question who the real monsters are. Is it Saya? Or the monsters?
Blood-C (2011) ANIME KILL COUNT by Shiroi Kodo: KIRU
Ajin: Demi-Human
Being immortal isn't all it's cracked up to be—especially when you keep dying to tell everyone about it. Kei Nagai discovers he's immortal after an accident that took his life. Shortly after, he's back. How? Well, he is now an Ajin, a group of immortals who can heal from all and any mortal injury.
Ajin: Demi-Human Official Dub Trailer by Sentai
Immortal Impact
In Ajin: Demi-Human, the most disturbing aspect isn't the Ajin events but it's the government's inhumane experiments on Ajins. Watching them repeatedly kill and revive subjects for testing makes viewers question humanity's capacity for cruelty. Like, what is the reason? They cannot die no matter what you do.
Ajin: Demi-Human Official Dub Trailer by Sentai
Life Switch
There is a certain scene where an Ajin is endlessly drowned and revived while fully conscious—just to test their limits—leaving viewers gasping. The psychological trauma of passing on repeatedly is portrayed so vividly that it makes immortality seem like a curse rather than a gift.
https://youtu.be/SGlh9H12QzA?si=dwsJqaRMZ_QhL1lx
Petshop Of Horrors
Pet shops are to be cute and adorable, but not Count D's pet shop. Sure, it has everything you could want—hamsters, cats, and rabbits—but just make sure to read the "claws" in the contract. His exotic pets are "purr-fect" matches for their owners... until they break the rules.
Pet Shop of Horrors | KYOTO VIDEO by KaiserBeamz
Fatal Fauna
Each episode is based on the buyers breaking these rules. In one particular story, a pet rabbit grows into a beautiful woman, only to devour her owner when he breaks his promise of fidelity. The conversion from innocent pet to monster happens in seconds.
Pet shop of horrors Welcome Home by Serpentineauthor
Deadly Deals
In another take, in the episode called "Daughter," a grieving family buys an exotic rabbit that resembles the daughter they just lost. Now here is the saddest part; instead of comforting them, the pet would consume their daughter's memories, leaving them empty. Do you still want Bunny for Christmas?
Pet Shop of Horrors | KYOTO VIDEO by KaiserBeamz
Ghost Hunt
Ghost hunts are usually exciting, but the hunters have to tread carefully. Something Mai Taniyama didn't do because she spirits herself into paranormal investigation when she breaks some expensive equipment. Working with the narcissistic Kazuya Shibuya (Naru), they tackle supernatural cases in Japan.
Ghost Hunt (Anime) - Trailer by aetherealia
Terrifying Tales
The Urado case stands as one of anime's most frightening arcs. It shows victims being bathed in red liquids while still alive to maintain immortality. Additionally, the scene where Mai psychically experiences a victim's passing in an all-red bathroom makes viewers afraid to open their eyes.
Ghost Hunt (Anime) - Trailer by aetherealia
Haunting Horrors
Ghost Hunt's infamous dollhouse episode is when a possessed doll slowly stalks children through a house, creating unbearable tension. But nothing tops the scene in the cursed school where a student's body is found contorted inside a small wall space—still moving.
Ghost Hunt Cinematic Trailer! by Cinematic Anime Trailers
Devilman Crybaby
Akira Fudo learns the hard way that having a demon inside you isn't all it's said to be. When his friend Ryo suggests they raise hell to fight and expose demons, things really start to heat up! It all begins when Ryo tells Fudo that governments want to keep the demon's existence a secret.
Devilman Crybaby | Multi-Audio Clip: Akira's New Vibe | Netflix Anime by Netflix Anime
Demonic Devastation
One of the most shocking scenes has to be the party sequence where humans transform into demons. They all turned a rave into a bloodbath of huge proportions. The metamorphosis sequences are so visceral and body-horror-focused that you might start feeling ill.
Nobody Was Prepared For Devilman Crybaby by MrCr1spy
Apocalyptic Anguish
The Devilman Crybaby series' finale delivers the most devastating ending in anime history. Akira is holding his departed lover's body while the world literally ends around him, and Satan/Ryo finally realizes they loved him only after destroying everything. The Earth splits apart while Akira screams in grief.
When They Cry (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni)
This anime is a psychological horror based on the 07th Expansion's visual novel. Set in a rural village, the series follows Keiichi Maebara with a set of five girls: Rena, Mion and Shion, Satoko, and Rika. The Hinamizawa village has an annual event that claims the lives of the villagers.
Higurashi: When They Cry - New | Official Trailer byCrunchyroll Dubs
The Annual Watanagashi Festival
The Watanagashi Festival is deeply intertwined with the village's dark history and the curse that plagues its inhabitants. In this curse, the Oyashiro-sama, a deity worshiped by them, claims the lives of several villagers every year during the Watanagashi Festival.
Higurashi: When They Cry - New | Official Trailer by Crunchyroll Dubs
Rika's Demise
Rika, who appeared to be sweet and innocent, is actually the key to stopping all the madness. But in a heart-wrenching twist, she is gone. This shocks everyone, both the characters and the audience. The big question then remains: What now? Who ends the curse?
Higurashi: When They Cry - New | Official Trailer byCrunchyroll Dubs
Shoujo Tsubaki
Shoujo Tsubaki, or The Camellia Girl, is a dark horror anime based on Suehiro Maruo's 1984 manga. The story follows Midori, a young girl trapped in a disturbing traveling freak show, where she suffers extreme abuse. This horror was so gruesome, Japan banned it.
Banned Everywhere
Banned in Japan and elsewhere, Shoujo Tsubaki exploration of abuse and psychological horror pushed boundaries in anime. The thing about this series is that it also had a controversial undertone, possibly linking to Japan's Ero Guro Nansensu movement—grotesque, absurd, deviant, bizarre.
