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Horror is a tricky genre to convey due to its subjective nature; what one person finds terrifying or compelling, another finds dull and laughable. We see plenty of conflicting opinions on horror in Western media, and the same translates to anime discussions on well-known additions to the genre. Despite opposing reviews, there’s still a small but great selection of horror anime that really nail the bone-chilling, thought-provoking aspect that draws audiences to seek scares in their media selection. This list will explore five of the best horror anime that could give live-action films a run for their money, in terms of delivering on frights.
5) Junji Ito Collection
Junji Ito has been unofficially dubbed the forerunner of modern Eastern horror comics for quite some time, contributing classics such as Tomie and Uzumaki. His work has been described as disturbing, eerie, and unsettling, with visuals that enhance the complex plots discussed in each tale. Junji Ito relies heavily on themes of otherness in his work, often using tools such as body horror, cosmic horror, and madness to convey this feeling of separation from the rest of reality. It’s no wonder the Junji Ito Collection, an anime series that brings to life some of Ito’s iconic work, is easily one of the best horror anime shows of the decade.
The anime is laid out in an episodic fashion, with each episode portraying an anthology of horror stories from the author that are widely unrelated to each other. The Junji Ito Collection includes stories about slugs taking over family homes, inhuman creatures posing as fashion models, and a town haunted by ominous gravestones. While the anime doesn’t rely on intense animation skills to get its point across, the art style is striking enough in its uncanny nature to remain effective. If you’re a huge fan of Junji Ito’s graphic novels, or horror that relies on the grotesque and unnatural, this anime is a must-watch to add to your list.
4) Mononoke
One of the key components in horror is ensuring the story is visually interesting as well as structurally intriguing, a challenge that Mononoke handles with ease. Released in 2007, the series is characterized by its use of vibrant, stunning animation that utilizes traditional Japanese art in every frame, giving the entire show the feel of a moving painting. While so many horror franchises focus on dreary, grim color schemes, Mononoke hurtles fully into bright artwork that only serves to highlight the sinister moments of the show. Besides its iconic stylistic choices, the anime series also taps into the idea of supernatural horror as a mirror for the darkness of humanity, an overarching theme that gives the show depth as well as beauty.
This show is told in a series of episodic fragments that follow a titular character who experiences numerous supernatural events across the landscape of feudal Japan. Each story is self-contained, featuring unique settings and new characters that offer a change of pace while keeping the overarching theme of Mononoke intact. Our main character is known only as the Medicine Seller, a master of the occult who travels the land to locate supernatural entities threatening regular humans going about their everyday lives. The Medicine Seller must rely on analysis, understanding of psychology, and truth to deduce the spirits’ true nature to vanquish them once and for all.
3) Higarushi When They Cry
Every horror fan knows and loves a cult classic title that didn’t necessarily get the recognition it deserved during its original debut. Higurashi When They Cry was originally released in 2006, though there was a soft reboot of the series released in 2020, titled Higurashi: When They Cry – Gou. The show is most known for the stark contrast between its deceptively cute art style and the brutal body horror it utilizes to convey the depravity within the series. While it may not visually appear to be a deep horror show, Higurashi When They Cry makes use of slice-of-life moments to highlight the sudden sparks of violence characters engage in. The expertly crafted mystery of the series builds enough suspense throughout that every character begins to feel threatening on the first watch.
Set in the peaceful village of Hinamizawa during the 80s, Higurashi When They Cry follows Keiichi Maebara, a newcomer to town looking for friends. Befriending a small group of girls, Keiichi quickly becomes disenchanted by the village when he learns about a mysterious event that happens annually; the local Cotton-Drifting Festival is known for heralding a series of murders each year that have remained relatively unsolved. The anime is split between multiple characters’ points of view, weaving together a secret-filled narrative punctuated by violence, gore, and psychologically driven horror.
