Seven Spookiest Anime Series Of All-Time

When it comes to anime, there are plenty of series where things go bump in the night. The ever-popular medium is no stranger to spooky storylines, and more than a few of them revel in their dark delights.

If you’re looking for paranormal suspense, then shows such as Ghost Hunt will be right up your alley. But, should you be look for supernatural affairs, then Hellsing should be in your queue.

Here at ComicBook.com, we’ve compiled a list of the seven spookiest anime series around. These series have it all: gore, demons, ghosts, and a heavy emphasis on bloody excursions.

Just, be warned; You might not want to watch these shows in the dark.

Hell Girl

If you could send your worst enemies to Hell, would you take the chance? In Hell Girl, that’s exactly what kind of question its characters face. The dark series is set in a world where tormented or bullied loners can check out a website to send their enemies straight to Hell.

The episodic serial follows a girl named Ai Enma who gifts victims with a voodoo doll. When the item is used, Enma and her hellish companions will haunt their intended target before whisking them off to Hell. Of course, there’s a catch for users who decided they want to rid the world of their tormentors: they must also go to Hell once they’ve died.

Talk about a double-edged sword.

Another

Another stands as one of this list’s most recent anime adaptation. The story orignated as mystery horror novel by Yukito Ayatsuji. The spooky, gruesome tale caught the attention of P.A. Works Studio who debuted their 12 part anime of Another to excited fans.

The story follows a young boy named Kōichi Sakakibara after he transfers to Yomiyama North Middle School. The student is placed in Class 3-3, and he soon meets a girl named Mei Misaki who everyone seems to ignore. Shortly after he arrives, Kōichi learns that his classmates and their families are being killed off one-by-one in increasingly horrifying ways. The deaths are attributed to the “Misaki of 1972” curse after a former student suddenly died during the school year back in the 1970s.

Since her death, the curse has taken place annually, and it comes down to Kōichi and Mei to stop the event before anymore bodies can be found. 

Hellsing

You have surely heard of Van Hellsing. The legendary character has been portrayed in all sorts of mediums from film to television. Fans might be most familiar with Hugh Jackman’s live-action film about the undead slayer, but it is about time more people were introduced to Japan’s anime adaptation of Hellsing.

The anime follows members of the Royal Order of Protestant Knight, an organization originally led by Abraham Van Hellsing. Their mission is to destroy all undead and demonic beings in England. Comprised of Van Hellsing’s descendants, the anime pits the hunter’s clan against an increasingly active hoard of undead vampires. 

Shiki

If there’s one anime you should not watch in the dark, it is Shiki. The acclaimed supernatural horror series depicts what most would consider the stuff of nightmares, and then it kicks it up a few dozen notches.

The show takes places in a quiet, rural village known as Sotoba. However, the peaceful locale is shaken after a string of murders unravels itself throughout the town. The deaths coincide with the arrival of a mysterious family who the townsfolk fear. While local doctors wonder whether the deaths are part of an epidemic, they eventually learn the murders are the result of a vampire-like creature called ‘Shiki.’ And, when the being decides to target a young man named Natsuno Yuuki, the boy finds himself and his acquaintances bathed in blood. 

Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni

If you look at the artwork of Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni, you might not think it looks particularly scary. In fact, the show looks downright cute with its wide-eyed heroines and adorable male lead, but don’t let that fool you.

For many anime fans, Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni is the spookiest series out there. The series follows a boy named Maebara Keiichi who moves to the quiet town of Hinamizawa. He quickly befriends several of his classmates, but things don’t stay serene for long. Soon, the town’s tranquility is threatened when Keiichi learns that one person from the village dies annually in unspeakably horrible ways.

The series takes what could have been a friendly shojo anime and turns it on its head. Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni uses the pitfalls of friendship and the ever-present threat of paranoia to turn characters against one another. And, as you may have assumed, the deaths on the show are pretty grisly to watch. 

Mononoke

Alright, so Mononoke might not sound particularly scary or even look the part. But, when it comes down to it, the anime is one of the creepier series out there.

The series follows a nameless character who is known as the “Medicine Seller.” Episodes are grouped together into story arcs which see the protagonist selling his wares and also his combat skills. The main character is often pitted against evil spirits known as ‘mononokes’ which he tries to cleanse.

While the show delves into colorful imagery and trippy animation sequences, the hyperactive series uses its visuals to ultimately unsettle viewers. Seriously, everything about Mononoke is disturbing from start to finish. 

Ghost Hunt

Ghost Hunt is one of the go-to anime series for fans of paranormal mysteries. The acclaimed series follows the ghost hunting escapades of a girl named Mai Taniyama, a high school student who becomes unwittingly involved with the Shibuya Psychic Research clinic. She becomes an assistant to its owner Kazuya Shibuya and his cohort of paranormal experts.

The series features several story arcs which cover a range of spooky paranormal cases. By the time you reach “Bloodstained Labyrinth,” fans will already know that they are in for a definitely terrifying treat. Even Mai’s persistant optimism and wise-cracking quips can’t cover up the episode’s gory secrets.