Horror anime is super exciting because it mixes creepy stories, cool characters, and amazing visuals that stick with you. Whether you love spooky ghosts, mind-twisting mysteries, or even funny scares, this list has something for you! We’ve picked the top 10 horror anime, movies and series, that are popular, scary, and full of awesome moments.
Some are super creepy (like gothic horror with dark vibes), some mess with your head (psychological horror), and others are spooky but funny (comedy horror). Check the list out and let us know if we are missing on something great!
10. Blood Lad (Series)
Blood Lad is a fun, spooky anime that mixes vampire scares with laughs, making it a great pick for kids who want horror without too much creepiness.
Plot: Blood Lad follows Staz, a vampire boss in the Demon World who loves anime and manga. When a human girl, Fuyumi, accidentally ends up in his world and turns into a ghost, Staz promises to bring her back to life. This leads to crazy adventures with demons, werewolves, and magic spells. The story is exciting, with funny moments and spooky fights that keep you hooked.
Characters: Staz is a cool, lazy vampire who acts tough but cares about his friends. Fuyumi is sweet and curious, making her easy to root for. Other characters, like Bell the werewolf, add humor and sass, making the group fun to watch.
Art Style: The animation is bright and colorful, with awesome fight scenes that look like a comic book come to life. The Demon World has creepy castles and dark vibes, but the art keeps things lively and not too scary. The monsters look cool, with just a little bit of blood to keep it spooky.
Why It’s on the List: Blood Lad is a top comedy horror anime because it’s both funny and creepy, perfect for younger viewers. It’s popular for its short 10-episode run and mix of vampire action with jokes, making it a super fun watch for a spooky sleepover.
9. Blood: The Last Vampire (Movie)
This classic horror anime movie is short, action-packed, and full of creepy vampire vibes, great for a quick scare.
Plot: Set in Japan during the 1960s, Blood: The Last Vampire follows Saya, a tough vampire hunter who fights scary monsters called chiropterans. These creatures look human but turn into bloodthirsty beasts. Saya goes undercover at a school on a military base to stop them before Halloween, leading to intense battles and a big mystery. The story is fast and keeps you guessing.
Characters: Saya is a quiet, strong hero who feels lonely because she’s half-vampire. Her fights with monsters are epic, and her human friends, like a kind nurse, make you care about her mission. The chiropterans are super creepy, with sharp teeth and wild eyes.
Art Style: The animation is smooth and dark, with rainy streets and shadowy corners that feel spooky. The monsters look gross and scary, with blood and claws drawn in a way that’s thrilling but not too gory for older kids.
Why It’s on the List: This movie is a top gothic horror anime because it’s short (less than an hour) and packs a punch with cool fights and a creepy vibe. It’s popular for starting the vampire hunter trend in anime, making it a must-see for fans of spooky action.
8. The Promised Neverland (Series)
This anime is a thrilling mix of mystery and horror that keeps you on the edge of your seat, perfect for kids who love smart, scary stories.
Plot: The Promised Neverland is about three kids, Emma, Norman, and Ray, who live in a happy orphanage called Grace Field House. But they discover a creepy secret: the orphanage is actually a farm raising kids as food for demons! They plan a daring escape, facing tricky traps and scary truths. The story is full of surprises and keeps you guessing.
Characters: Emma is cheerful and brave, always protecting her friends. Norman is super smart, and Ray is clever but keeps secrets. The grown-ups, like the strict “Mama” Isabella, are creepy because they act nice but hide dark plans.
Art Style: The animation is bright and pretty at first, with green fields and cozy rooms, but it gets darker and spookier as the secrets come out. The demons look weird and scary, but the art doesn’t show too much blood, keeping it okay for younger viewers.
Why It’s on the List: This is one of the scariest horror anime shows because it’s so tense, you’re scared for the kids! It’s super popular for its clever story and emotional moments, making it a top pick for psychological horror fans who love a good mystery.
7. Ajin: Demi-Human (Series)
Ajin is a modern horror anime about people who can’t die, mixing action with creepy ideas about what it means to be human.
Plot: Kei Nagai, a high school kid, finds out he’s an Ajin, an immortal being who can heal from any injury. The government wants to catch Ajin for experiments, so Kei goes on the run, teaming up with other Ajin and fighting bad guys. The story is full of chases, battles, and big questions about right and wrong.
Characters: Kei starts off cold but grows into a brave hero. The villain, Sato, is super scary because he’s smart and loves causing chaos. Other characters, like Kei’s friend Tosaki, add heart to the story.
Art Style: The animation uses 3D computer graphics, making it look different but cool, with smooth action and creepy moments like body parts growing back. The dark cities and labs feel spooky and real.
Why It’s on the List: Ajin is a top psychological horror anime because it makes you think about scary ideas like living forever while being hunted. It’s popular on Netflix and has exciting episodes that are great for older kids who like action with their scares.
6. Shiki (Series)
Shiki is a creepy vampire anime with a small-town vibe, perfect for fans of classic horror stories.
Plot: In a quiet village called Sotoba, strange things happen when new people move into a spooky mansion. Villagers start dying mysteriously, and some come back as vampires called “shiki.” A doctor, Toshio, and a teen, Natsuno, try to stop the vampires before the whole town is taken over. The story is slow at first but gets super intense.
Characters: Toshio is a brave doctor who fights for his town, while Natsuno is a cool teen who doesn’t trust anyone. The vampires, like Sunako, are creepy but sometimes sad, making you wonder who’s really the bad guy.
Art Style: The animation has misty forests and old houses that feel super spooky. The vampires have pale skin and glowing eyes, and the bloodier scenes are creepy but not too gross for older kids.
Why It’s on the List: Shiki is a top gothic horror anime because it feels like a classic vampire story with a fresh twist. It’s popular for its creepy vibe and deep story about trust and survival, making it one of the scariest for its slow, spooky buildup.
5. Corpse Party: Tortured Souls (OVA Series)
This short anime is super scary and intense, great for kids who love really creepy ghost stories.
Plot: Corpse Party traps a group of students in a haunted school called Heavenly Host, where ghosts and curses make it impossible to escape. The kids try to survive traps and figure out why the school is cursed, facing lots of spooky dangers. It’s a short series (4 episodes), so it’s fast and terrifying.
Characters: The students, like Satoshi and Naomi, are scared but brave, making you cheer for them. The ghost, Sachiko, is super creepy but has a sad backstory that makes you feel for her.
Art Style: The animation is dark and creepy, with flickering lights and bloody scenes that look intense. The school feels like a nightmare, but the art keeps it exciting without being too gory for older kids.
Why It’s on the List: This is one of the scariest horror anime shows because it’s so intense and doesn’t hold back on spooky vibes. It’s popular for its short, shocking episodes and video game roots, perfect for a scary movie night.
4. Paranoia Agent (Series)
Paranoia Agent is a weird, creepy anime that messes with your mind, great for kids who like strange, spooky stories.
Plot: In Tokyo, a mysterious kid called “Lil’ Slugger” attacks people with a baseball bat, but only when they’re super stressed. Detectives try to catch him, but the story gets weirder as it explores why people are so scared. It’s like a puzzle that keeps you thinking.
Characters: Each episode follows different people, like a nervous artist or a tough detective, all dealing with their fears. Lil’ Slugger is creepy because he feels like a ghost of everyone’s worries.
Art Style: The animation mixes normal city scenes with wild, dream-like moments that feel spooky. The colors and angles make you feel uneasy, but it’s not too bloody or gross.
Why It’s on the List: This is a top psychological horror anime because it’s so unique and makes you think about fear. It’s popular for its strange story and cool style, making it one of the scariest for its mind-bending ideas.
3. Tokyo Ghoul (Series)
Tokyo Ghoul is a dark, exciting anime about monsters and identity, perfect for kids who like creepy but emotional stories.
Plot: Ken Kaneki, a shy college kid, becomes half-ghoul (a monster that eats humans) after a scary accident. He struggles to fit in with ghouls and humans, facing battles and tough choices. The story is full of action and big feelings about who you are.
Characters: Kaneki is a sweet guy who gets tougher but stays kind. Bad ghouls, like the creepy Jason, make things super scary. Other ghouls, like Touka, are tough but caring, adding heart to the story.
Art Style: The animation has dark, city vibes with cool fight scenes. The ghouls’ powers look wild, and the bloodier parts are creepy but not too much for older kids.
Why It’s on the List: Tokyo Ghoul is a top gothic horror anime because it’s emotional and scary, with a huge fanbase for its deep story. It’s one of the scariest for showing the horror of being stuck between two worlds.
2. Higurashi When They Cry (Series)
Higurashi is super creepy and full of surprises, great for kids who love twisty, scary mysteries.
Plot: In the small village of Hinamizawa, new kid Keiichi learns about weird deaths tied to a festival. The story repeats in different ways, with friends turning scary and secrets piling up. It’s like a spooky puzzle that keeps you guessing.
Characters: Keiichi is curious and brave, but his friends, like Rena, can seem sweet one minute and terrifying the next. Everyone’s secrets make the story extra creepy.
Art Style: The animation looks cute at first, with big eyes and bright colors, but it gets dark and bloody during scary parts. The contrast makes the horror hit harder.
Why It’s on the List: Higurashi is a top psychological horror anime because its twists mess with your head. It’s super popular for its wild story and is one of the scariest for keeping you nervous the whole time.
1. Another (Series)
Another is the scariest horror anime because it’s so creepy and full of mystery, perfect for a big scare.
Plot: Kouichi, a new student, joins Class 3-3, where a curse causes people to die in horrible ways every month. He and his friend Mei try to stop the curse, uncovering spooky secrets about the class. The story is tense and keeps you hooked.
Characters: Kouichi is brave and curious, while Mei is quiet and mysterious, making them a cool team. The other students are scared and suspicious, adding to the creepy vibe.
Art Style: The animation is dark and moody, with creepy classrooms and shocking accidents. It’s not too bloody but feels super spooky, perfect for older kids.
Why It’s on the List: Another is number one because it’s the scariest horror anime with its creepy curse and shocking moments. It’s super popular for its suspense and gothic horror style, making it the ultimate spooky watch.
Conclusion
Horror anime is so much fun because it brings all kinds of scares, from creepy vampires to mind-bending mysteries. This top 10 list has something for everyone, whether you want funny scares like Blood Lad, intense action like Blood: The Last Vampire, or super creepy stories like Another. These anime mix awesome characters, cool art, and spooky stories that make your heart race. They’re perfect for watching with friends or diving into alone (with the lights on!). From gothic horror to psychological twists, these shows and movies are some of the best in the anime world.
Want to find more spooky anime or get the latest news on your favorite shows? Head over to Shinime Anime for tons of anime updates, reviews, and more! Keep exploring the creepy side of anime and share your favorite scares with friends!