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Top 5 Horror Anime

Anime popularity has boomed over the last few years thanks to TikTok spreading the word about lesser-known series and so many new and incredible series. Most anime conversations revolve around series like Dragon Ball, Naruto, My Hero Academia, and One Piece, while the horror subgenre of anime is almost completely absent. However, series like Chainsaw Man, Demon Slayer, and Jujutsu Kaisen have helped the subgenre to get a little bit more attention, and still, there are so many incredible series that are completely missed. Let’s take a look at five of the best horror anime series currently available to stream.

Quick Note: Horror anime can be incredibly difficult to find, so I only included ones that you can find on streaming platforms. It also should be noted that horror anime can be incredibly graphic, so please check the synopsis before watching!

5. Zom 100: Bucket List Of The Dead (2023)

Zom 100 is one of my favorite anime series of all time, and the only reason it isn’t number one on this list is that I do believe that there are some better horror anime series. This show follows Akira Tendô as he navigates the zombie apocalypse. While this might sound just like every other zombie apocalypse film/show, it really isn’t. Not only do the creators of the show use bright colors rather than the darker colors we are used to, but the overall tone of the show is actually really upbeat and happy. Akira is ecstatic that there has been a zombie apocalypse and spends his time creating a bucket list of things he wants to do before he becomes a zombie.

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is available to stream on Crunchyroll in both Japanese and English.

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4. Higurashi: When They Cry- GOU (2020-2021)

I want to be completely transparent when I say that this show is not for the faint of heart. I have never seen a show with so much blood, and while I love this show, it does not have a ton of rewatchability because of how bleak it is by the end. There are also multiple different versions of the show that have been coming out since 2006, but if you watch the series labeled “GOU” then you will have the most book-accurate and most recent version of the show. The series follows Keiichi, who has just moved to the quiet village of Hinamizawa. He makes friends quickly but can’t kick an overwhelming sense of dread.

Higurashi: When They Cry- GOU is available to stream on Crunchyroll in both Japanese and English.

3. Erased (2016)

Erased is the least gory series on this list, so if you want a horror anime with minimal blood, then this one's for you! The show follows a struggling manga artist named Satoru who is struggling to make a name for himself. He is also living with an ability that no one knows about – he is forced to travel back in time to the moment right before a life-threatening event occurs. He can only stop this if the source of the threat is erased. This show is amazing and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the conclusion.

Erased is available to stream on Crunchyroll in Japanese and on Hulu in English.

2. Another (2012)

This was one of the most interesting horror anime series I have ever watched. The show follows a high school student named Kouichi who has just moved to Yomiyama to live with his grandparents. He is quickly hospitalized, and when he finally makes it to his new school, he learns that his class and the school have been hiding a dark secret since the spring of 1998. This show is perfectly paced, and it kept me guessing until the final twist, which is really rare.

Another is available to stream on Crunchyroll in Japanese.

1. King’s Game (2017)

King’s Game is another series that is incredibly graphic with its violence, so make sure that you go into it prepared. I loved this show, and while I hated the ending, it is definitely the most original horror series I have ever seen. The show follows Kanazawa, who has just transferred to a new high school after a horrible event took place at his last one. Unfortunately, tragedy has followed him, and soon he and his classmates are getting text messages from “The King”. Each message includes a command that is designated to specific students. If the students do not do what they are told, then they will suffer a punishment. The commands and the punishments continue to get worse as the show goes on, and the students race against time to discover the true identity of The King.

King’s Game is available to stream on Crunchyroll in English.

Honorable Mentions: Junji Ito’s Collection & Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (2018 & 2023)

I don’t usually include honorable mentions in my list, but I had to for this one. Junji Ito is a mangaka known as the master of Japanese horror. Most recently, his manga, Uzumaki was turned into an anime that ran on Adult Swim. Both Netflix and Crunchyroll have created anime series that are collections of some of his scariest stories. If you love horror, then you definitely need to check out these collections!

Collection is available to stream on Crunchyroll, and Tales of the Macabre is available to stream on Netflix, and both have a dub. You can also stream Uzumaki on Max.

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