Waking Nightmares: The Ultimate Guide to The Darkest Animes Ever Created
Live-action movies and series are one of the most popular forms of entertainment nowadays, mostly in the genre of horror.
Higurashi When They Cry, 2006
Accuracy, stimulation, and thrill are the important factors that live-action can offer, but it still has limiting boundaries. This is where anime takes the wheel.
Although it’s incredibly widespread as a medium, action and romance triumph as the top genres, leaving its creepy and gory side underrated, even though they can become surreal blood pools and indescribable realms of horrors better than anything else. Thankfully, they aren’t forgotten - they are just talked about less.
Wicked City, 1987
Cult classics like Tokyo Ghoul and Death Note are possibly the gods of horror anime, and if you have not had the chance to watch these, binging these series is an emergency, and you should do so before you even continue this guide.
These two are no-brainers and ultimately the most recognizable animes in the genre. Therefore, the guide plunges into a whirlwind of our 24 favorite body horrors, psycho-thrillers, gruesome mysteries, and satanic tales of revenge.
In no particular order are the dirtiest, creepiest, most brutal, and most haunting dark animes. Some are more palatable than others, while some will make you question if humanity secretly thrives off of sadism and fear.
Another, 2012
Starting the list with a bang, Another is one of the most favored dark anime. It’s unequivocally the ultimate horror as it is simultaneously thrilling, gutting, and unexpected. The anime is based on the 2009 novel by Yukito Ayatsuji.
The story is straight-up mind-boggling at first. Leads and hints are completely mixed up to finish with an explosive truth. Following Koichi Sakakibara, he moves to a small town as a transfer student and is met with a very cold reception from his classmates. It turns out that there is a fatal curse looming over the class, and as Koichi gets closer to a girl with an eye patch, suspicions arise and bodies start to scatter. Another is as creepy as it gets; even with all the gore and dread, it does not stop being absolutely addicting.
Inuyashiki, 2017
The creator of Gantz, Hiroya Oku, delivered one of the most underrated anime with Inuyashiki. It has been acclaimed as being ahead of its time with its intense philosophical approach and creeping thrill. Reminiscing Death Note and Paranoia Agent, Inuyashiki will have you cramped at the edge of your seat.
Ichiro Inuyashiki is a middle-aged man who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Learning this abruptly, he realizes that his family and friends around him seem unfazed about his state. One night as he’s in a park, he’s caught in an explosion of alien nature which entirely reconstructs his body as an indestructible machine. The catch is that the teenage Hiro Shishigami was also a victim and hence reborn in the same way. However, Ichiro is determined to do good in the world with his supernatural powers, while Hiro has different, unstoppable plans.
From the New World, 2013
The next millennium is full of surprises, but also full of secrets. Set in Japan in the years 3000s, young students are living in a green utopia of harmony, compassion, and safety.
The plot follows the 12-year-old Saki initiated by her telekinetic powers and other youths in her group. Excited to enter adulthood with her friends in this psychic realm, Saki starts to question her reality as strange cat-like creatures roam in silence and the usual peace becomes shaky.
Adapted from the 2008 novel by Yusuke Kishi, From the New World has astounding reviews and viewers worldwide deem it as one of the most touching and profound anime. It starts as sweet and very slice-of-life, but it proves to be much more heavy than marketed. Rather than being gory and all-over graphic, it’s profound, deep, and heart-wrenching, as it probes into the faults and crevasses of humanity. If you’re looking for something to alter your perspective of the world, From the New World is the way to go.
Hakaba no Kitaro, 2008
Not to be confused with the iconic Gegege no Kitaro, Hakaba no Kitaro is like the evil twin of the franchise. Created by Shigeru Mizuki, it was first developed as a manga in 1960. Readers deemed it too scary for children and it was adapted into the comical and milder Gegege no Kitaro later on.
The 11-episode anime was released in 2008 as an adaptation of the original manga. The plot revolves around the main character Kitaro and a side of him that wasn’t explored in its succeeding work. Through his difficulties fitting in, his father slowly realizes that his adopted son isn’t as human as he seems. Retro and eerie, Hakaba no Kitaro is a fantastic introduction to the Japanese yokai subculture, as it talks about superstitions, myths, social standards, and hell. A dark comedy, it’s a suspenseful and exciting anime that tops the classics of horror anime.
Ajin: Demi-Human, 2016
Fans of Tokyo Ghoul will find their old flame again in this anime. Created by Gamon Sakurai, Ajin: Demi-Human is a CGI anime and most definitely a gem in the genre of horror and dark anime. Humanity is at risk by outsiders, who are a lot closer than they seem.
As rumors of immortal demi-humans, Ajins, start to spread, Kei Nagai is a devoted student and friend who’s leading a peaceful life. He does not pay too much mind to it, even if bounties are stacked for the capture of an Ajin. After a day at school, a trucker rams into Kei, striking him fatally. However, despite the impact of the injury, the teenager gets back on his feet to meet the awful realization that he might not be who he believed to be. Chilling but strikingly realistic, Ajin: Demi-Human is a horrifying enigma questioning mortality’s worth.
Shiki, 2010
Shiki lives up as one of the scariest animes made. In a slow-burn fashion, worlds are overthrown with a slightly misplaced oddity. It was released as an anime in 2010 as the adaptation of the manga which was inspired by the 1998 novel by Fuyumi Ono.
Everybody knows each other in small villages, so when the Kirishiki family arrives almost overnight to settle into a huge castle on the outskirts, people are struck by their eccentricity. A thread of sudden deaths occurs back-to-back and the doctor Toshio Ozaki takes responsibility for analyzing the causes, assuming it might be an outbreak. Despite his strong intellect, every plausible answer seems incorrect, and the occultist and weird traits of the Kirishiki family disturb Toshio increasingly. What’s happening in the small village seems to be inevitably connected to a force beyond the grasp of modern science.
Monster, 2004
The greatly celebrated psycho-thriller anime Monster is something that will keep you up at night. This anime is nothing other than dreadful, but it’s an addicting story. It’s significantly longer than the other ones mentioned with over 70 episodes thanks to its impeccable pacing.
Set in West Germany, the praised neurosurgeon Kenzo Tenma is fed up with the biased procedure the hospital has: when it comes to saving lives, it prioritizes people of higher social rankings. In a rebellious strike, Tenma decides to save a young boy named Johan Liebert instead of the mayor, who inevitably dies. Although the doctor feels that he has done the right thing, his good deed backfires 9 years later when a series of brutal deaths are declared. The culprit is impossible to find, and Tenma is highly suspected until somebody admits to a so-called “monster”. Complex and eerie, Monster is a dark tale about eugenics, murders, and morality.
Higurashi When They Cry, 2006
Higurashi When They Cry is easily an anime that will fuck you up and fill you with despair. Grotesque, unexpected, and sickeningly brutal, this Groundhog-Day-esque story keeps on taking unexpected turns.
The summer of 1983 in the village of Hinamizawa is looking promising. Keiichi Maebara is a new student at a local high school and, along with his group of friends, he’s spending his afternoons playing games and gathering for picnics. Despite the joy and peace in their lives, Oyashiro’s curse is still part of their fate: during the festival in honor of the local deity Oyashiro, one person inevitably dies and another disappears. The superstition worsens with time, as two people fall victim to it as predicted, and Keiichi and his friends slowly descend into an infinite loop of turbulence, death, and horrors. This anime had such a good reception to the story that a sequel was released in 2020.
Pet Shop of Horrors, 1999
This anime is the hands-down weirdest one on this list. Like nightmares engendered by a feverish circus, Pet Shop of Horrors lives up to its name. In fact, this short series of four episodes is the ultimate depiction of the worst happening.
The story stems from a sketchy pet shop located in Chinatown in Los Angeles. Count D is its shop owner and sells strange pets to rather desperate clients, and rightfully so: they’re often distressed from mourning a recent loss or anxious about their failing careers. Part of the purchase is a contract that ensures the safety of the pets and is constituted of three rules, and breaching those could result in terrible consequences that Count D specifies he isn’t liable for. After strange deaths happen, the detective Leon Orcot is determined to arrest Count D but things aren’t as simple as they seem. Thanks to impeccably creepy graphics and haunting mythological creatures, Pet Shop of Horrors is an anime many come back to.
91 Days, 2016
Vendetta has never been so appropriate to describe an anime. A young man named Angelo Lagusa hides a dark past: his entire life was ruined in a blow when the Vanetti family kills his family, tainting his happy childhood forever and leaving him an orphan.
Set during the Prohibition era in the United States, Angelo receives a mysterious letter from a family friend sending him on a quest to avenge the Lagusa family. Renaming himself Avilio Bruno, the main character infiltrates the Vanetti family as a new member and through tactical manipulation, the traitor slowly cooks up a storm that will have irreversible consequences on everyone involved. 91 Days is a tale of blood-thirsty and merciless revenge, and the slow and steady pace of death echoes throughout the anime.
Hellsing Ultimate, 2006
The Hellsing manga was a huge hit in the dark action manga community, and the anime Hellsing Ultimate is an ode to its art style and addicting story. Inspired by the mythical story of Dracula, it’s a must-watch for fans of gores and vampires.
Around the time of World War II, the British authorities sponsor the Hellsing Organization, a secret group put in place to destroy the undead or any other threat to the Queen. Alucard, the world’s most powerful vampire, is a loyal servant of his Majesty and is mainly in charge of Hellsing, along with the cold Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, the deadly Walter C. Dornez, and the new vampire Seras Victoria. It comes to light that a Nazi organization called Millenium is plotting to kill Alucard, but with his own kind, in order to conquer the nation.
Elfen Lied, 2004
It has been said that the creators of Stranger Things have found inspiration in this anime. Though completely different than the Hollywood series, Elfen Lied is filled with supernatural happenings and leans much more towards gore.
Japanese scientists have been experimenting on the Diclonii species, a sub-human with incalculable telekinetic abilities. During an accident at a lab, the Diclonius Lucy escapes and runs away. The traumatic events trigger the awakening of a split personality in Lucy, separating her from her tormented and violent self into a naive and childlike character. Two cousins, Kouta and Yuka take her in as a disoriented and challenged girl, but the scientists are not far from disrupting their peace.
Ninja Scroll, 1993
This guide wouldn’t be legitimate without this anime film on it. Ninja Scroll inspired many other pieces of fiction including Akira and the Matrix franchise. With remarkable art and animation, it’s a classic of dark anime without any doubt.
In feudal Japan, the vagabond Jubei roams around as a skilled swordsman for hire, and one day comes across the powerful ninja Kagero in the hands of a monster. Saving her from the grasp of evil, Jubei follows her on her mission of fighting the Demons of Kimon that have been terrorizing the nation. However, on their journey, Jubei gets poisoned and an antidote will only be available in exchange for the truth behind the demons. Brutal, grotesque, and erotic, Ninja Scroll is a fairytale gone wrong.
Wicked City, 1987
Horror and sex appeal rarely mix well, but Wicked City delivers a twisted mix that is both sultry and apocalyptic. In a world with gray morals, this anime is sickeningly dark.
It is a well-kept secret that the human world is actually shared by a parallel world of demonic entities: the Black World. In order to keep the colliding realms stable, a peace treaty was put in place and both sides are heavily protected by Black Guards. When Taki, an undercover Black Guard, discovers that his casual lover is actually a ferocious demon, putting him in a life or death situation. This triggers chaos between the worldly barriers, and Taki has to prove his humanity through brutality and violence.
Black Butler, 2008
When the manga came out in 2006, it was like the world of dark anime changed forever. It was quickly adapted into an anime, and Black Butler remains one of the most compelling anime favorites.
Set during the Victoria era in London, the youngest member of the Phatomhive family, Ciel, is in charge of protecting the queen against mysterious threats, after his entire family was wiped out. What makes the earl so powerful is his loyal butler: Sebastian Michaelis. Black Butler is an anime that starts off light but dives into one of the most soul-consuming plot twists, as the viewer discovers more about the satanic contract between the two men. Cracking down mysteries like Jack the Ripper, this series is haunting yet beautiful, both visually and philosophically.
Parasyte, 2014
Morality, massacre, and monsters are on the menu. With a twist of romance and a punch of mind games, this body horror is unmatched, and every aspect of Parasyte scores a perfect 10.
The plot follow 17-year-old Shinichi Izumi, a victim of a surreal parasite. As he was resting, this otherwordly parasite took over his right arm, leaving Shinichi’s body altered for an indefinite period. At first, the high schooler was not in any way eager to let this being live in him, but the two develop a relationship, thanks to Migi, the parasite, being highly intelligent and possessing incalculable strength. A fatal friendship, the anime plunges into philosophical questions like the value of humanity compared to other live organisms, developing answers as the story continues.
Junji Ito Collection, 2018
This prolific mangaka does not need an introduction. With amassing countless fans globally, the king of dark manga shaped the entire industry of horror entertainment. To celebrate his legacy, the Junji Ito Collection is a short series of his best works animated.
Whether it’s the lethally seductive Tomie or the revolting Slug Girl, this series has it all, and, compared to the manga, it’s much more graphic, indulging in every phobia possible, body horror, decaying bodies, blood, and supernatural apparitions. Brace yourself for a succession of the most terrifying and nightmarish episodes ever created.
Paranoia Agent, 2004
When a young character designer gets brutally attacked by an unrecognizable young boy in rollerblades and a golden baseball bat, other similar attacks are reported by the police. This series of ominous and random incidents push the police to investigate, and they realize that the victims' lives improved in one way or another after it.
The creator is none other than Satoshi Kon. Known for his psycho-thrillers, Paranoia Agent will leave you livid at the possibilities of life. Brutally subconscious and surreal, this anime is a treat for fans of Perfect Blue and Paprika.
Shoujo Tsubaki, 1992
After watching this, just hearing the title will give you shivers of fear and disgust. Shoujo Tsubaki is as gritty and brutal as it gets; with ample depictions of abuse, body horror, and emotional turmoil, it’s not an anime film made for everyone.
Midori is a young girl living with her bedridden mother. Suffering from poverty and health complications, her mother dies, leaving the daughter to fend for herself. Amidst her grief, she comes across a strange circus, which is more of a freak show and gets hired. Midori is new to the world of adults, and the entertainers will make her vulnerability and innocence the star of the show.
Hell Girl, 2005
With similar tones to 91 Days and Black Butler, Hell Girl will free you from all of your turmoil and anger all while keeping you at the edge of your seat. Dark, gloomy, and pensive, this anime will make you rethink the morals and edges that humanity has.
A former journalist, Shibata, is pushed to investigate what happens to be sudden and unexplainable disappearances, which are all linked to a creepy urban legend: it’s rumored that a website helps victims of injustice to send their perpetrators to hell. To his surprise, his daughter is able to see the messenger between Earth and hell. Revenge is without consequences, and victims will have to sign a contract accepting the repercussions. Beautifully animated, Hell Girl questions if justice is as black and white as it seems to be.
Umineko When They Cry, 2009
This anime is also a part of the game franchise that inspired the previously mentioned anime, Higurashi When They Cry. Despite this, this series takes a completely different turn, maxing out on the mystery and horror elements.
A family gathers on the Island of Rokkenjima to split the inheritance of the bedridden Kinzou, who happens to be the head of the family. However, as he feels his imminent death, he summons his true love to meet one last time. What the family didn’t expect was that his lover was a powerful witch practicing black magic, and as they attempt to revive Kinzou, a storm traps them on the island, and a mysterious murdering hand seems to lose grip. Umineko When They Cry gets twisted episode after episode, not shying away from full-blown gore and constant dread.
Deadman’s Wonderland, 2011
As violent and messy horror animes can get, this one has a stroke of sentimentality, adding depth to the story’s severity. Set to be watched from the perspective of the main character, Deadman’s Wonderland is not as joyful as the title suggests.
Ganta is falsely accused of homicide and is immediately sent to prison. However, the prison has a secret system making the experience worse than it should: Ganta is constantly tracked and is prescribed poison shots. In order to survive, he has to outsmart the other inmates and participate in the prison’s “society”. Aided by a strange albino girl, Ganta is determined to find the Red Man, whom he is convinced committed the crime he’s paying for.
Kemonozume, 2006
It’s always refreshing to see diverse art styles weld into the world of anime, and even more so when it comes to its darkest genre. Kemonozume has its strong points set in every element of the anime, whether it be animation or storyline.
Toshihiko is a skilled swordsman devoted to protecting the human race against flesh-eating demons; these disrupting creatures have terrorized mankind since the dawn of time. One day, during a skydiving class, he meets the terribly charming Yuka and falls head over heels. As the two develop a passion for each other, the two run away together as Toshihiko wants to protect Yuka’s true monstrous identity.
Pupa, 2014
This is easily one of the most grotesque animes on the list, but also one of the most tender ones. Pupa oozes, bleeds, and devours, but even during its most horrific moments, it reminisces of forgiveness and true love.
Utsutsu and Yume are a pair of odd siblings. Without each other, there’s little chance that either sustains because Yume is a covert monster that lives off of other living organisms, and Utsutsu has flesh regenerating powers after being infected by the same virus that turned his sister into a monster. Their abusive father slowly paces back into their lives after he suspects that he can take advantage of their supernatural abilities.
Fist of the North Star, 1984
First of the North Star strays away from psycho-thrillers and leans more towards action, but is undeniable how gory and gruesome it is. The insane number of deaths makes it an absolute human butchery of an anime.
Set on a futuristic post-nuclear-apocalypse Earth, the main character Kenshiro is a threat to all because he masters the deadly art of Hokuto Shinken, which can instantly kill anyone if their vital points are struck. Simultaneously a heroic anti-hero, Kenshiro is fueled with rage since his enemies jealously kidnapped his fiance, Yuria. Fighting for survival, he spares almost no one and inevitably becomes the focal point of many other assassins.
Made in Abyss, 2017
The cutesy characters and bright greenery of the environment don’t give any signs about what Made in Abyss actually is. The chibi-esque characters are far from being happy-go-lucky protagonists and are met with an awful fate.
Riko likes to explore the Abyss, a great place of mystery and unexplored wonder. Diving into her adventurous streak, she meets a cyborg during her excavations. However, a blood bath awaits her at the bottom of the pit, and as she slowly descends, the curse only gets stronger.
About the Author:
Mizuki Khoury
Born in Montreal, based in Tokyo. Sabukaru’s senior writer and works as an artist under Exit Number Five.
