It’s October, which means it is spooky season, and what better way to celebrate the month than some spooky anime. It’s time to grab your blankets and dakimakuras to build your forts because Halloween is right around the corner. The anime on this list feature themes such as monsters, ghouls, vampires, and other spooky supernatural creatures.
Additionally, some of the anime on the list aren’t overly spooky. If horror isn’t your thing, then these are the ones you’ll want to watch. The fall 2020 season of anime is currently airing simultaneously. Be sure to check out those anime too.
[external_link_head]Updated on October 22nd, 2020 by Theo Kogod: It is that time of year again — October, when the daylight begins to fade and the autumnal trees cast long shadows, in whose black depths all manner of monstrous terrors lurk. This original list came out in 2019 and now is the perfect time to update it with five more spooky anime for you to watch. After all, one can never have enough good horror anime to get through Halloween. In these various series, ghoulish vampires drain their victims’ blood, bestial demons walk in human skins, and unfathomable entities drive people to madness and destruction. Happy Halloween.
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15 Junji Ito Collection
Junji Ito is the master of horror manga. He has an almost Lovecraftian quality to his work, playing on (and preying on) fears of the unknown. Stories of his like Tomie and Uzumaki considered among the greatest manga in the horror genre, but his short stories are just as terrifying. These episodes with claw their way through your unconscious long after you have finished watching the series. Additionally, there is a two-part OVA that adapts Tomie, one of the most chilling stories Ito ever created.
14 Elfen Lied
It is hard to pin down just what makes Elfen Lied so great. More than anything, it is the contrast between sweet childlike innocence and savage horrifying brutality. Half of the story concerns budding romance and two cousins caring for an amnesiac girl with childlike tendencies, but the other half – the darker half – involves twisted medical experiments, trauma-inducing torture, and inhuman creatures that warp reality with invisible arms. The series aired throughout the summer of 2004 and was 13 episodes, but sadly, not all of it has aged well.
13 Berserk
There have been numerous Berserk anime over the years, but by far the best is the original 1997 series which encompassed 25 unforgettable episodes. The pilot episode follows a scarred one-eyed demon hunter named Guts, known as the Black Swordsman. Then, it flashes back to a younger version of Guts fighting as a mercenary through a hundred-year-long war. The story focuses on the hardships of mercenary life, feudal politics, and the struggles of the poor in the middle ages – all horrors in their own right. However, the story is interrupted by encounters with demons called Apostles, slowly revealing the true terrors waiting to prey on humankind.
12 Hellsing: Ultimate
The story of Hellsing follows the vampire Alucard, bound to serve the English government and hunt down other supernatural threats, including other vampires, murderous priests, or undead Nazi armies. This shonen series mixes action with macabre elements of horror — characters transform into many-eyed beasts or mindless ghouls. In one iconic scene, clouds cross the blood-red moon as Alucard’s body is broken to a bloody pulp. Then, he gets up, and as he descends on his enemies, he reveals what a monster he really is.
[external_link offset=1]11 Devilman: Crybaby
As people begin to transform into demons throughout Japan, tearing people to shreds, the high school student Akira Fudo takes on a different form, becoming Devilman, a creature with the powers and form of a demon who still retains the essence of his humanity. But even he cannot save those around him from the hellspawn that take human form to better stalk their prey. Meanwhile, a new drug craze and rising xenophobia lead to a moral panic, eventually unleashing a full-on genocide.
10 Another
Kicking off this list is Another, a horror-thriller anime released during the winter 2012 season. The show follows class 3-3 of Yomiyama North Middles school. The class partakes in a tradition each year where they pretend one of the students doesn’t exist. This is because a traumatic death happened in the past when one extra student had joined the class. This year it’s Mei Misaki. When Kouichi Sakakibara transfers to class 3-3, he refuses to ignore her. This causes a series of inevitable deaths among the class in a very gory fashion. Another is one season and aired for 12 episodes.
9 Devils Line
Devils Line is a vampire-romance drama released during the spring 2018 season. The show is set in a world where vampires living alongside humans. These vampires are different than traditional vampires as they don’t require blood to survive. However, it calms then when they go into outrage. Taira Tsukasa meets Anzai Yuuki, a half human half vampire hybrid, after he saves her from an outrage. The two get close to each other but Anzai is worried that he is putting Taira in danger. Anzai must balance his vampire tendencies along working on the police squad. Devils Line is one season and aired for 12 episodes.
8 Blood Blockade Battlefront
Known by its Japanese title Kekkai Sensen, Blood Blockade Battlefront is a supernatural comedy anime released during the spring 2015 season. The show is set in a world where supernatural creatures live with humans in New York City. The residences can no longer leave the city and must get along with each other. An organization called Libra keeps the peace. A photographer named Leonardo Watch lives in NYC and receives the “All-seeing Eyes of the Gods” when his sister goes blind. Joining Libra, Leo searches for a way to help his sister. Blood Blockade Battlefront is 12 episodes and aired for two seasons.
7 Soul Eater
Soul Eater is a supernatural fantasy anime released during the spring 2008 season. The show takes place in Death City, at Death Weapon Meister Academy, run by Lord Death. This academy creates weapons for Shinigami made from human hybrids that can transform into weapons. Death the Kid is the protagonist of Soul Eater and is a Shinigami the dual wields two sisters, Liz and Patty as pistols. Soul Eater is one season and aired for 51 episodes. Additionally, it has a spin-off series titled Soul Eater NOT!
6 Rosario + Vampire
Rosario + Vampire is a harem rom-com anime released during the winter 2008 season. The show takes place at Youkai Academy, a boarding school for the supernatural. At this school it teaches the monsters to live with humans. Tsukune Aono, a human teen, is transferred into the academy where he meets Moka Akashiya, a vampiure. Moka takes interest in Tsukune and they get caught up in crazy adventures where Moka’s inner personality must bail them out. Along the way Tsukune meets other girls including a witch, a succubus, and a yuki-onnna spirt. Rosario + Vampire is 13 episodes and aired for two seasons.
5 Tokyo Ghoul
If you were looking for a reason to finally start Tokyo Ghoul, now is the time. Tokyo Ghoul is a supernatural drama released during the summer 2014 season. The show is set in Tokyo filled with ghouls living alongside humans. However, these ghouls can conceal themselves as humans. Some ghouls choose to feast on humans, others like Ken Kaneki abstain from eating humans. Ken is also a hybrid ghoul and struggles to survive in the ghoul infested city. Tokyo Ghoul is 12 episodes and aired for four seasons. If you have seen Tokyo Ghoul, check out these other horror anime you might like.
4 When They Cry
When They Cry is a horror-thriller anime released during the spring 2006 season. In the village of Hinamizawa, a group of friends spend the summer together. A tradition in the village is to celebrate a festival held each year. Around the time of the festival each year, there are a series of murders that relate to each other. Things take a turn when the friends get involved with the antics of the village. For fans of gore, this is the anime for you. There is lots of blood and murder in this show. When They Cry is 26 episodes and aired for two seasons.
3 Interviews with Monster Girls
If gore is an issue for you, Interviews with Monster Girls is a comedy school anime released during the winter 2017 season. The story follows Tetsuo Takahashi, a biology teacher at Shibasaki High School. In addition to studying biology, he studies demi-humans. At the high school, different types of demi-humans attend the school including a vampire, a yuki-onna spirit, a Dullahan, and a succubus. If Rosario + Vampire wasn’t your thing, this is a good alternative. Interviews with Monster Girls is one season and aired for 12 episodes.
2 Mononoke
Mononoke is a psychological horror anime released during the summer 2007 season. The story follows Kusuiuri Apothecary, known as the Medicine Seller. While not entirely human, Medicine Seller takes an elf like look. Travelling across Japan he kills spirits known as Mononoke. Along his journey he meets a pregnant woman staying in an inn. Her room is filled with Mononoke and Medicine Seller investigates the spirits to see where they come from and what they want. Mononoke aired for 12 episodes and has a prequel season titled Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales.
[external_link offset=2]1 Parasyte: The Maxim
Parasyte: The Maxim is an action-horror anime released during the fall 2014 season. After aliens have come down to earth, they have taken hose inside the brains of humans. One of the humans attacked is Shinichi Izumi. However, instead of giving up control of his brain, the parasite has taken control of his hand. Shinichi and his parasite Migi, must defend themselves from other parasites. Parasyte: The Maxim is one season and aired for 24 episodes.
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Isaiah Jones (95 Articles Published)
Isaiah is a student at the University of Western Ontario. Currently he is studying Media and Journalism and working towards a degree in Media, Information, Technoculture. In addition, he is minoring in Music. Isaiah enjoys writing and would love to pursue a career in Journalism if the opportunity presents itself. During his free time you can catch Isaiah playing video games, watching anime, writing, or attending concerts.
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