Top Horror Anime Recommendations

Tokyo Ghoul

Also known as Tokyo Ghoul.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

The suspense horror/dark fantasy story is set in Tokyo, which is haunted by mysterious "ghouls" who are devouring humans. People are gripped by the fear of these ghouls whose identities are masked in mystery. An ordinary college student named Kaneki encounters Rize, a girl who is an avid reader like him, at the café he frequents. Little does he realize that his fate will change overnight.



Tags: Gore , Urban Fantasy , Tragedy , Survival , Torture , Male Protagonist , Body Horror , Anti-Hero , Seinen , Coming of Age , Urban , Police , Cannibalism , Detective , Crime , Henshin , Primarily Adult Cast , Mythology , Heterosexual , College

Yakusoku no Neverland

Also known as The Promised Neverland.

Studio: CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Thriller

Emma, Norman and Ray are the brightest kids at the Grace Field House orphanage. And under the care of the woman they refer to as “Mom,” all the kids have enjoyed a comfortable life. Good food, clean clothes and the perfect environment to learn—what more could an orphan ask for? One day, though, Emma and Norman uncover the dark truth of the outside world they are forbidden from seeing.



Tags: Dystopian , Survival , Primarily Child Cast , Orphan , Tragedy , Found Family , Demons , Coming of Age , Ensemble Cast , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Tanned Skin , Gore

Akame ga Kill!

Also known as Akame ga Kill!.

Studio: White Fox
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Psychological , Thriller

In a land where corruption rules and a ruthless Prime Minister has turned the puppet Emperor's armies of soldiers, assassins and secret police against the people, only one force dares to stand against them: Night Raid, an elite team of relentless killers, each equipped with an Imperial Arm - legendary weapons with unique and incredible powers created in the distant past.

Rescued from a fate worse than death by Night Raid, young Tatsumi is offered the chance to join their lethal ranks… but it's a deadly choice, as few can master an Imperial Arm and even fewer survive when two Arms go against each other in combat. The battle is on, and only the strongest will make it out alive.



Tags: Assassins , Tragedy , Shounen , Politics , Gore , Crime , Henshin , Primarily Adult Cast , Swordplay , Revenge , Super Power , Anti-Hero , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Kuudere , Heterosexual , Female Harem , Kaiju , Yandere , Tomboy , Demons , Nekomimi , Time Manipulation , Shapeshifting , Guns , Kemonomimi , Love Triangle , Tsundere

Chainsaw Man

Also known as Chainsaw Man.

Studio: MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Supernatural

Denji is a teenage boy living with a Chainsaw Devil named Pochita. Due to the debt his father left behind, he has been living a rock-bottom life while repaying his debt by harvesting devil corpses with Pochita.

One day, Denji is betrayed and killed. As his consciousness fades, he makes a contract with Pochita and gets revived as "Chainsaw Man" — a man with a devil's heart.



Tags: Demons , Monster Boy , Urban Fantasy , Male Protagonist , Gore , Tragedy , Body Horror , Urban , Shapeshifting , Henshin , Shounen , Surreal Comedy , Monster Girl , Found Family , Primarily Adult Cast , Anthropomorphism , Revenge , Assassins , Guns , Heterosexual , Coming of Age , CGI , Age Gap , Cannibalism , Police , Anti-Hero , Crime , Yandere , POV , Homeless , Amnesia , Tomboy , Zombie , Angels

Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu

Also known as Parasyte -the maxim-.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Psychological , Sci-Fi

They arrive in silence and darkness. They descend from the skies. They have a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade–and take control of–a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces. So no one knows their secret–except an ordinary high school student. Shin is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?



Tags: Body Horror , Shapeshifting , Survival , Aliens , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Gore , Anti-Hero , Revenge , Seinen , Heterosexual , Crime , Tragedy , Cannibalism , Environmental , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Urban , Military , Guns , Love Triangle , Villainess , Female Harem , Bullying , Unrequited Love , Nudity

Mirai Nikki

Also known as The Future Diary.

Studio: Asread
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

This psychological thriller, based on the manga written and illustrated by Sakae Esuno, is about Yuki, a loner who's not very good with people. He prefers to write a diary on his cell phone and talk to his imaginary friend, Deus Ex Machina – The God of Time and Space. However, Yuki soon learns that Deus is more than a figment of his imagination when he makes Yuki participate in a battle royale with eleven others. The contestants are given special diaries that can predict the future, each diary possessing unique features that give it both advantages and disadvantages. Within the next 90 days, the contestants must try to survive until there is only one left standing. The winner will become the new God of Time and Space.



Tags: Battle Royale , Death Game , Survival , Yandere , Tragedy , Alternate Universe , Suicide , Meta , Gore , Gods , Time Manipulation , Male Protagonist , Crime , Super Power , Urban , Female Protagonist , Shounen , Urban Fantasy , Heterosexual , Age Gap , Clone , Anti-Hero , Netorare , Guns , CGI , Terrorism , Police , Henshin , Adoption , Nudity , LGBTQ+ Themes , Bisexual , Orphan , Tanned Skin , Cult , Stop Motion , Disability , Psychosexual , Boys' Love

Tokyo Ghoul √A

Also known as Tokyo Ghoul √A.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

The second season of Tokyo Ghoul.

The ghouls of Anteiku invaded the Aogiri's site in order to rescue Ken Kaneki who is being tortured. Due to provocation, he unleashed greater power enough to defeat Yamori. To become stronger, he decided to join Aogiri and left Anteiku. Ghoul investigators also making their moves by collecting information about the eye-patched ghoul - Ken Kaneki.



Tags: Anti-Hero , Body Horror , Super Power , Gore , Military , Detective , Police , Urban Fantasy , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Urban , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , College , Mythology

Made in Abyss

Also known as Made in Abyss.

Studio: Kinema Citrus
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Mystery , Sci-Fi

The "Abyss" is the last unexplored place in the world. Strange and wonderful creatures roam within, and it is full of precious relics that present humans can't recreate. Those that dare to explore the depths are known as "Cave Raiders." An orphan girl named Riko lives on the rim. Her dream is to become a Cave Raider like her mother and solve the mysteries of the cave system. One day, Riko starts exploring the caves and discovers a robot who resembles a human boy.



Note: The last episode aired with a runtime of ~48 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

Tags: Survival , Primarily Child Cast , Environmental , Travel , Chibi , Body Horror , Philosophy , Tragedy , Lost Civilization , Dungeon , Seinen , Female Protagonist , Gore , Amnesia , Cosmic Horror , Robots , Male Protagonist , Steampunk , Outdoor , Anthropomorphism , Femboy , Food , Orphan , Tanned Skin , Agender , Religion , Rehabilitation , Crossdressing , Maids , Dissociative Identities , School , Time Manipulation , Conspiracy

Another

Also known as Another.

Studio: P.A. Works
Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural , Thriller

When Kouichi Sakakibara transfers to a new school, he senses a frightening atmosphere in his new class, a secret none of them will talk about. At the center is the beautiful Mei Misaki. Kouichi is immediately drawn to her mysterious aura, but he begins to realize that no one else in the class is aware of her presence. Soon after his arrival, what is known as the Calamity begins, and it claims the lives of many students.



Tags: Tragedy , Gore , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Memory Manipulation , Survival , Rural , Ghost , Kuudere , Urban Fantasy , Female Protagonist , Twins , Denpa , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Seinen , Suicide , Teacher , Death Game , Asexual

DEVILMAN crybaby

Also known as Devilman Crybaby.

Studio: Science SARU
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Horror , Psychological , Supernatural

New Devilman project marking Go Nagai's 50th anniversary as a creator.

The protagonist Akira Fudou learns from his best friend, Ryou Asuka, that an ancient race of demons has returned to take back the world from humans. Ryou tells Akira that the only way to defeat the demons is to incorporate their supernatural powers, and suggests that he unite with a demon himself. Akira succeeds in transforming into Devilman, who possesses both the powers of a demon and the soul of a human. The battle of Devilman and Akira Fudou begins.



Tags: Demons , Tragedy , Body Horror , Gore , Urban Fantasy , Gods , Shapeshifting , Psychosexual , Male Protagonist , Philosophy , Cosmic Horror , War , Monster Boy , Nudity , Angels , Henshin , Anti-Hero , Coming of Age , Cannibalism , Revenge , LGBTQ+ Themes , Athletics , Mythology , Unrequited Love , Heterosexual , Drugs , Masturbation , Meta , Bisexual , Boys' Love , Public Sex , Afterlife , Motorcycles , Politics , Hip-hop Music , Shounen

Yakusoku no Neverland 2

Also known as The Promised Neverland Season 2.

Studio: CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Fantasy , Horror , Psychological , Thriller

The second season of Yakusoku no Neverland.

Fifteen children escape Grace Field House, a false paradise, hoping for a chance at freedom. Instead, they encounter plants and animals they have never before seen, and are chased by demons. The outside world is so beautiful, and yet is almost too cruel to face.

Even so, the children refuse to give up. They are guided in their search for better lives only by a message from Minerva and a pen Norman left behind in order to fulfill their promise to return to the House to save those of their family who are still trapped within.


Note: Episode 1 streamed early on Amazon Prime on Jan 7, 2021. The regular TV broadcast started on Jan 8, 2021.

Tags: Survival , Primarily Child Cast , Dystopian , Demons , Fugitive , Travel , Orphan , Revenge , Female Protagonist , Time Skip , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Male Protagonist , Body Horror , Gore , Archery , Food , Tanned Skin , Crime

Tokyo Ghoul:re

Also known as Tokyo Ghoul:re.

Studio: Studio Pierrot
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Two years have passed since the CCG’s raid on Anteiku. Although the atmosphere in Tokyo has changed drastically due to the increased influence of the CCG, ghouls continue to pose a problem as they have begun taking caution, especially the terrorist organization Aogiri Tree, who acknowledge the CCG’s growing threat to their existence. The creation of a special team, known as the Quinx Squad, may provide the CCG with the push they need to exterminate Tokyo’s unwanted residents. As humans who have undergone surgery in order to make use of the special abilities of ghouls, they participate in operations to eradicate the dangerous creatures. The leader of this group, Haise Sasaki, is a half-ghoul, half-human who has been trained by famed special class investigator, Kishou Arima. However, there’s more to this young man than meets the eye, as unknown memories claw at his mind, slowly reminding him of the person he used to be.

Tags: Detective , Amnesia , Tragedy , Police , Dissociative Identities , Urban Fantasy , Gore , Hikikomori , Body Horror , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Crossdressing , Femdom , Bondage , Unrequited Love , Martial Arts , Transgender , Urban , Mythology

MONSTER

Also known as Monster.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Thriller

Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a renowned Japanese brain surgeon working at a leading hospital in Germany. One night, Dr. Tenma risks his reputation and career to save the life of a critically wounded young boy over that of the town mayor who had been planning to support the hospital financially. A string of mysterious murders begin to occur soon after the operation, and Dr. Tenma emerges as the primary suspect despite no incriminating evidence.

A doctor is taught to believe that all life is equal; however, when another series of murders occur in the surgeon's vicinity, Dr. Tenma's beliefs are shaken as his actions that night are shown to have much broader consequences than he could have imagined. Leaving behind his life as a surgeon he embarks on a journey across the country to unravel the mystery of the boy he saved.

Tags: Crime , Seinen , Detective , Philosophy , Ensemble Cast , Fugitive , Revenge , Primarily Adult Cast , Noir , Conspiracy , Twins , Memory Manipulation , Tragedy , Adoption , Foreign , Urban , Police , Male Protagonist , Amnesia , Medicine , Politics , Dissociative Identities , Travel , Historical , Orphan , Time Skip , Guns , Suicide , Primarily Male Cast , Torture , Episodic , Crossdressing , Nudity , Gore ,

Gakuen Mokushiroku: HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD

Also known as High School of the Dead.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Ecchi , Horror , Romance , Supernatural

The lockers are splattered with blood, the student bodies are piling up and that's not mystery meat they're eating in the cafeteria… it's the faculty! And that's just the start of the worst day of school ever when a nightmarish virus is unleashed, turning humans into flesh eating zombies and converting Fujimi High School into a literal hell on Earth. Now it's a crash course in survival, and the only test or skill that matters is the ability to keep moving, breathing and fighting. Because if nerds, jocks and the surviving staff can't find a way to work together to escape this carnal house of education, they're all going to end up on the menu. And that's assuming there's anyplace safe left to escape to.



Tags: Zombie , Survival , Pandemic , Gore , Conspiracy , Body Horror , Ensemble Cast , Nudity , Male Protagonist , Female Harem , Guns , Large Breasts , Love Triangle , Swordplay , Ojou-sama , Politics , Primarily Teen Cast , Tsundere , Heterosexual , School , Military , Shounen , Assassins , Unrequited Love , Police , Suicide , Animals , Female Protagonist

Elfen Lied

Also known as Elfen Lied.

Studio: Arms
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Ecchi , Horror , Psychological , Romance , Supernatural

The Diclonius, a mutated homosapien that is said to be selected by God and will eventually become the destruction of mankind, possess two horns on their heads and have a "sixth sense" which gives them telekinetic abilities. Due to this dangerous power, they have been captured and isolated in laboratories by the government. Lucy, a young and psychotic Diclonius, manages to break free of her confines and brutally murders most of the guards in the laboratory where she is being held, only to be shot in the head as she makes her escape. She survives, falling off a cliff into the ocean and manages to drift along to a beach where two teenagers, Kouta and Yuka, discover her. Having lost her memories, she was named after the only thing that she can now say, "Nyuu," and the two allow her to stay at Kouta's home. However, it appears that the psychotic side of Lucy is not dead just yet...



Tags: Gore , Fugitive , Amnesia , Super Power , Tragedy , Dissociative Identities , Monster Girl , Seinen , Urban Fantasy , Philosophy , Female Protagonist , Nudity , Revenge , Body Horror , Yandere , Conspiracy , Incest , Love Triangle , Primarily Female Cast , Bullying , Kemonomimi , Male Protagonist , Military , Heterosexual , Family Life , Rural , Primarily Teen Cast , Coastal , Female Harem , Slapstick

Deadman Wonderland

Also known as Deadman Wonderland.

Studio: Manglobe
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Sci-Fi

Ganta is the only survivor after a mysterious man in red slaughters a classroom full of teenagers. He's framed for the carnage, sentenced to die, and locked away in the most twisted prison ever built: Deadman Wonderland. And then it gets worse.

At Deadman Wonderland, convicts are forced into brutal deathmatches for the amusement of the masses, the cheers of the crowd drowning out the screams of the dismembered. Even when Ganta befriends Shiro, an unusual female inmate, his dark fate crushes all hope —until he discovers the strange ability to wield his spilled blood as a weapon. Ganta learns his new skill might be related to the murderous man in red and uncovers disturbing secrets that could expose those who stole his freedom. He's determined to see justice served —but first he'll have to fight for his life in a prison that holds a million ways to die.



Tags: Tragedy , Super Power , Survival , Gore , Death Game , Prison , Anti-Hero , Body Horror , Male Protagonist , Dissociative Identities , Memory Manipulation , Shounen , Orphan , Rehabilitation , Guns , Tanned Skin , LGBTQ+ Themes , Nudity

Danganronpa: Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei - The Animation

Also known as Danganronpa: The Animation.

Studio: Lerche
Status: Finished
Genres: Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Thriller

A group of 15 elite high school students are gathered at a very special, high class high school. To graduate from this high school essentially means you'll succeed in life, but graduating is very difficult. The school is presided over by a bear called Monokuma, and he explains to them that their graduation hinges around committing a murder. The only way to graduate is to kill one of your classmates and get away with it. If the other classmates discover the identity of the killer, the killer is the only one executed. However, if they fail to catch the killer, only the killer graduates and the others are annihilated. Which of the 15 will survive the bloodbath to come?

Tags: Death Game , Battle Royale , Tragedy , Survival , Detective , Dystopian , Memory Manipulation , Amnesia , School , Ensemble Cast , Gore , Dissociative Identities , Twins , Male Protagonist , Post-Apocalyptic , Primarily Adult Cast , Artificial Intelligence , Suicide , Tanned Skin , Meta , Crossdressing , Yandere , Femboy , Kuudere , CGI , Surreal Comedy , Primarily Teen Cast , Gyaru , Idol , School Club

Tokyo Ghoul:re 2

Also known as Tokyo Ghoul:re 2.

Studio: Studio Pierrot , Studio Signpost
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

The second cour of Tokyo Ghoul:re.

Kaneki Ken has finally regained memories of his former self, but this once again leaves him at a crossroads in the war between human and ghoul. After donning a pair of glasses to mirror his mentor Arima, Kaneki's new assignment is to manage the interrogation of Eto, the One-Eyed Owl, after she reveals her ghoul nature in a press conference about the publication of her newest book, which she claims will bridge the gap between the two warring sides. Now interred in Cochlea, Eto eagerly awaits the awakening of the "One-Eyed King", but only Kaneki seems to understand what she's really planning. As Aogiri Tree descends on the facility to rescue their leader, Kaneki turns to one of his oldest friends for help in his new secret mission.



The first episode was distributed online via GYAO! on September 29, 2018. TV broadcast began on October 9, 2018.

Tags: Dissociative Identities , Time Skip , Seinen , Urban , Urban Fantasy , Gore , Male Protagonist , Time Manipulation , Body Horror , Police , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Dragons , CGI , Transgender , Unrequited Love , Mythology , Love Triangle

PERFECT BLUE

Also known as Perfect Blue.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Horror , Psychological , Thriller

Rising pop star Mima has quit singing to pursue a career as an actress and model, but her fans aren’t ready to see her go... Encouraged by her managers, Mima takes on a recurring role on a popular TV show, when suddenly her handlers and collaborators begin turning up murdered. Harboring feelings of guilt and haunted by visions of her former self, Mima’s reality and fantasy meld into a frenzied paranoia. As her stalker closes in, in person and online, the threat he poses is more real than even Mima knows, in this iconic psychological thriller that has frequently been hailed as one of the most important animated films of all time.



Note: The film received an early premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival on August 5, 1997.

Tags: Dissociative Identities , Denpa , Female Protagonist , Acting , Idol , Otaku Culture , Primarily Adult Cast , Meta , Work , Philosophy , Tragedy , Gore , Nudity , Filmmaking , Noir

AKIRA

Also known as Akira.

Studio: Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Horror , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

It's the year 2019, thirty-one years have passed since the start of World War III. A top-secret child with amazing powers of the mind breaks free from custody and accidentally gets a motorcycle gang involved in the project. This incident triggers psychic powers within one of the gang members, Tetsuo, and he is taken by the army to be experimented on. His mind has been altered and is now on the path of war, seeking revenge on the society that once called him weak.



Tags: Cyberpunk , Post-Apocalyptic , Dystopian , Super Power , Urban , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Seinen , Delinquents , Body Horror , Primarily Male Cast , Motorcycles , Anti-Hero , Conspiracy , Urban Fantasy , Gangs , Military , Gore , Philosophy , Crime , Orphan , Politics , Mythology , Aliens , Nudity