Our picks include cult-favorite series and feature films alike.

The 19 best horror anime ranked, from *Vampire Hunter D *to Death Note

Our picks include cult-favorite series and feature films alike.

By Declan Gallagher

October 30, 2025 9:00 a.m. ET

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From top left: 'Vampire Hunter D,' 'Perfect Blue,' 'Belladonna of Sadness,' and 'Death Note'. Credit:

Toho Co., Ltd.; Kobal/Shutterstock; Cinelicious Pics/Courtesy Everett; Viz Media

Horror anime is a special beast. Blending the two forms requires a keen eye for visuals and an uncanny sense of the surreal. The films and TV shows that pull it off do so in a far more visceral fashion than many live-action productions are capable of achieving.

From slasher homages like Satoshi Kon’s *Perfect Blue *to esoteric but no less worthy films like *Belladonna of Sadness*, these works possess a power to shock and terrify. Many horror anime also reflect the social issues of the time, tackling thorny topics with a genre-oriented accessibility that lingers in the mind.

Choosing the best horror anime was no easy feat, but we took a close look at the canon and settled on a wide range of works — both big-screen features and small-screen sagas — that encompass the most important hallmarks of the genre. Read on for our picks.

19. Shiki (2010–2011)

Sunako Kirishiki, one of the eponymous Shiki from the horror novel adaptation.

This unassuming but frankly disturbing anime is a Stephen King-inspired story about a small town beset by a mysterious string of deaths. Hospital administrator Toshio Ozaki (Tôru Ôkawa) sets out to discover the true species behind the bizarre, gruesome attacks — and discovers, wouldn’t you know it, *vampires*.

*Shiki* is a stylish investigative horror series, a neo-noir procedural filtered through the lens of contemporary anime. The story is chilling, but what really makes the series special is its atmosphere, which is positively out of this world.

Where to watch *Shiki*: Not currently available to stream

18. Devilman Crybaby (2018)

'Devilman Crybaby'.

Good luck *not *bingeing this devilishly good series in one sitting. Tasked with defeating an age-old species of demon hell-bent on wiping out humanity (sound familiar?), teenagers Akira and Ryo take drastic steps to ensure their success.

How drastic? Ryo suggests Akira meld with a demon to acquire a set of unique powers — and this ludicrous plan actually works. Akira is transformed into the eponymous Devilman, who retains a human soul while adopting a particular set of skills that make him a nightmare for any demon.

Where to watch *Devilman Crybaby*: Netflix

17. Demon Slayer Mugen Train (2020)

The first 'Demon Slayer' film, but definitely not the last.

This film was such a big North American box office hit, it’s largely responsible for the volume of anime features being released in U.S. theaters these days. An adaptation of one manga storyline and situated between the first and second seasons of the TV series, *Mugen Train* revolves around three fledgling demon slayers — Tanjiro (Natsuki Hanae), Zenitsu (Hiro Shimono), and Inosuke (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka), plus Tanjiro’s demonically possessed sister, Nezuko (Akari Kitō).

Our heroic trio is tasked with looking into disappearances aboard the titular train — and, yes, fighting off demons, including the primary villain, slithery and sinister Enmu (Daisuke Hirakawa).

Where to watch *Demon Slayer Mugen Train*: Crunchyroll

16. King of Thorn (2009)

'King of Thorn,' an adaptation of the early 2000s manga.

Kazuyoshi Katayama’s petrifying speculative sci-fi, based upon Yūji Iwahara’s manga, exists in a world where select humans have been cryofrozen — a temporary solution to a virus that was turning people to stone — until a more sustainable future is assured. In the meantime, grotesque monsters have overtaken the planet, killing those who’ve gone through the cryo process.

In a horrific twist, Kasumi (Kana Hanazawa) wakes up way too early — and thus has to battle the ferocious beasties to survive. There are more twists and conceptual wrinkles to come.

Where to watch *King of Thorn*: Crunchyroll

15. Demon City Shinjuku (1988)

Demon City Shinjuku.

Along with* Vampire Hunter D* and (to a lesser degree) *Belladonna of Sadness*, *Shinjuku* is one of the works that solidified some of the now-familiar conventions, aesthetics, and possibilities of horror anime.

Skilled swordsman (and reluctant hero) Kyoya (Hideyuki Hori) is recruited by Sayaka (Hiromi Tsuru) to rescue her powerful father from a curse that carries existential implications. That quest ties back to a nefarious dark lord (Kiyoshi Kobayashi) who intends to open a portal of demons that will cede the city of Tokyo to his control.

Where to watch *Demon City Shinjuku*: Prime Video

14. The Empire of Corpses (2015)

Literary figures get the anime treatment in 'The Empire of Corpses'.

This is the first (and finest) in a series of films based on the work of sci-fi author Project Itoh, in this case a manga completed by Toh EnJoe after Itoh’s death. The movie is about 19th-century London medical student John Watson (Yoshimasa Hosoya), who must locate the diary of Dr. Frankenstein to uncover the secret behind a rash of reanimated corpses who, unlike the normal undead, have complex emotions.

*The Empire of Corpses* is a wild ride, an entertaining and expansive piece of imagination that has a great deal of fun combining characters from classic film and literary sources. The less you know about this going in, the better.

Where to watch *The Empire of Corpses*: Crunchyroll

13. Wicked City (1987)

Makie in 'Wicked City'.

For centuries, a peace treaty between humans and the Black World — which houses all manner of witches, demons, and ghouls — has been in place to ensure separation between the two factions. With the treaty up for renewal, a group of Black World radicals seeks to stop the agreement so that demons can wipe out humans and overtake our existence.

There have been many movies with similar themes and ideas, but Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s picture, based upon Hideyuki Kikucki’s *Wicked City: Black Guard*, combines its inspirations with greater assurance than most. It’s far more insidiously chilling and contemplative than its logline suggests.

Where to watch *Wicked City*: Prime Video (to rent)

12. Seoul Station (2016)

The live-action hit 'Train to Busan' gets an equally grim anime companion piece.

An anime sequel to zombie-horror hit *Train to Busan* (2016), *Seoul Station* takes a decidedly darker approach to the material. Suk-gyu (Ryu Seung-ryong) sets out to find his troubled runaway daughter Hye-sun (Shim Eun-kyung) just as the government is beginning to quarantine citizens from the plague. He ends up at the eponymous train station fending off bloodthirsty walkers.

A simple tale of a father trying to reunite his family? Well, not quite. As it turns out, things are not what they seem.

Where to watch *Seoul Station*: Prime Video

11. Tokyo Ghoul (2014)

'Tokyo Ghoul,' based on Sui Ishida's manga series.

*Tokyo Ghoul* is set in an alternate Tokyo where people live alongside creatures more or less indistinguishable from humans, except they survive by feasting upon human flesh. You can see how dating might be fraught with complications, which our young hero Ken Kaneki learns the hard way. An evening with the girl of his dreams ends with her unceremoniously chowing down on him. From there, he turns half-ghoul and finds himself on the run from the law as he navigates the precarious social strata between mortals and monsters.

This is a diabolically clever satire that tackles issues of isolationism, racism, and homophobia with gusto — to say nothing of its over-the-top set pieces.

Where to watch *Tokyo Ghoul*: Crunchyroll

10. Ninja Scroll (1993)

Ninjas and devils in feudal Japan in 1993's 'Ninja Scroll'.

After skilled ninja Jubei (Kōichi Yamadera) is essentially tricked into killing his entire band of comrades, he becomes an assassin who, in the *Shogun Assassin *mold, takes to the countryside as a roving cutthroat. He soon gets roped into doing battle with the Devils of Kimon, a demonic ninja clan that intends to overthrow the country’s leadership.

One of the great pleasures of anime is that its unabashed, rollicky genre pieces are often suffused with grand, but not grandiose, sociopolitical commentary — a heady combination that many similar pictures can’t pull off. *Ninja Scroll* is no exception; it’s one of the sharpest, most innovative riffs on the wandering-avenger trope.

Where to watch *Ninja Scroll*: Prime Video (to rent)

9. Hellsing Ultimate (2006–2014)

Alucard in 'Hellsing Ultimate'.

Vampire warrior Alucard (Jôji Nakata) joins forces with his mentor, Sir Integra Hellsing (Yoshiko Sakakibara), and his new companion Seras Victoria (Fumiko Orikasa), to defeat a rabidly authoritarian SS Major who wants to wipe out the entire vampire race.

Absolutely bonkers in the best way possible, *Hellsing Ultimate *offers a singular and finely tuned reinvention of the famous bloodsucker assassin. Coming just two years after the underwhelming *Van Helsing* live-action feature, this is a welcome twist to the well-known story.

Where to watch *Hellsing Ultimate*: Crunchyroll

8. Belladonna of Sadness (1973)

'Belladonna of Sadness' raised the bar for experimental and sophisticated animated storytelling.

Cinelicious Pics/Courtesy Everett

After she’s brutally assaulted on her wedding night by a powerful politician (Masaya Takahashi), Jeanne (Aiko Nagayama) makes a deal with the devil (Tatsuya Nakadai) that unlocks an extraordinary power in her — not only over men but over life and death.

Eiichi Yamamoto’s expressionistic picture, adapted from Jules Michelet’s non-fiction *Satanism and Witchcraft*, initially seems to be a rape-revenge setup fairly typical of the ’70s. But *Belladonna of Sadness* is more layered, lush, and morally thorny than you’d expect. Though some elements are admittedly dated by today's standards, it’s nonetheless a searing parable about destiny and power.

Where to watch *Belladonna of Sadness*: YouTube (to rent)

7. Paprika (2006)

Satoshi Kon's great final film before his premature death at 46.

The final film of legendary auteur Satoshi Kon is a completely mad confection concerning Atsuko Chiba — by day a scientist, by night a dream detective known as Paprika. Atsuko is working on a prototype device that will allow users to view and analyze their dreams, though in its primitive state, it has the frightening power to rewire users’ brains. Naturally, it ends up in the hands of someone bent on world domination.

*Paprika *takes a well-trod concept and flips it on its head. It sounds straightforward, but as the story progresses, Kon infuses it with increasingly bizarre imagery, dreamy digressions, and uncanny characterizations. It’s a perfect testament to a true genius of the form.

Where to watch *Paprika*: Criterion Channel

6. Memories (1995)

'Magnetic Rose,' one of three stories in the anthology film 'Memories'.

This impressive anthological feature, based on the work of Katsuhiro Ôtomo, contains three stories: Kōji Morimoto’s *Magnetic Rose*, written by Satoshi Kon; Tensai Okamura’s *Stink Bomb*, written by Ôtomo; and *Cannon Fodder*, written and directed by Ôtomo.

As with all anthologies, some segments are better than others. However, this one bats a pretty impressive average, and the triptych structure keeps things moving at a nice clip. Ôtomo’s fingerprints, obviously, are all over this thing. You leave with the sense that, despite the presence of other filmmakers, he’s the auteur behind this vehicle.

Where to watch *Memories*: Prime Video

5. Parasyte -the maxim- (2014–2015)

Shinichi (center) and the parasite that controls his hand in 'Parasyte -the maxim-'.

*Parasyte* *-the maxim-* is a pleasurably perverse tale of high schooler Shinichi Izumi, whose town is beset by galactic parasites who infest the brains of citizens and turn them into mindless drones.

Shinichi has a parasite of his own, but in a stroke of bad luck for the bodily invader, it gained access through (and possession of) the hand, rather than the brain. Thus, Shinichi retains his mind. He and his parasite merge into a sort of dual persona (yes, the shadow of *Venom* permeates the original manga) and fight back against the dastardly alien worms.

Where to watch *Parasyte -the maxim-*: Crunchyroll

4. Death Note (2006–2007)

Light Yagami and his persuasive demon friend, Ryuk. Viz Media

You all know this story by now. Teenager Light Yagami (Mamoru Miyano) discovers a notebook with profoundly scary supernatural properties: write someone’s name within it while imagining their face, and that unlucky soul will meet their imminent demise. Absolute power, as they say.

The seductive pull of righteous retribution gives way to a full-on god complex, setting the stage for an extraordinary cautionary tale in the form of a cat-and-mouse procedural. Both the *Death Note* manga and this 37-episode adaptation are staggeringly original and deviously entertaining, a brilliant, gory dark comedy that fully capitalizes on its premise.

Where to watch *Death Note*: Netflix

3. Mononoke (2007)

The 'Medicine Seller' from Kenji Nakamura's 'Mononoke'.

In feudal Japan, ravenous demons known as *mononoke *create havoc across a formerly tranquil countryside until a fearsome warrior known only as the Medicine Seller arrives to dispel the threat by understanding their humanity. Call it exorcism by empathy.

Yet another anime whose message has only grown stronger with age, *Mononoke *(a spinoff of the 2006 anthology series *Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales*) is a highly entertaining adventure yarn that weaves compelling period details throughout its storyline.

Where to watch *Mononoke*: Netflix

2. Vampire Hunter D (1985)

Not just one of the best but one of the most influential anime of all time, 'Vampire Hunter D'.

Part mortal, part vampire, and complete badass D (Kaneto Shiozawa) devotes his life to vanquishing the evil bloodsuckers preying upon the people in a distant post-apocalyptic future. When a young woman (Michie Tomizawa) becomes the target of a powerful vampire lord, Count Lee (Seizô Katô) — first in a ruthless countryside attack, later an abduction — D takes it upon himself to save her.

Directed by Toyoo Ashida, this is an admirably to-the-point action-horror hybrid boasting unbelievable animation, while deftly keeping a trick or two up its sleeve. A sequel followed 15 years later, but it can’t quite match the freakish chill and frenetic energy of this original.

Where to watch *Vampire Hunter D*: AMC+

1. Perfect Blue (1997)

Mima in the midst of an identity crisis in Satoshi Kon's iconic 'Perfect Blue'.

Kobal/Shutterstock

Pop star Mima (Junko Iwao) decides to leave her white-hot J-pop group to focus on a career in acting, which requires leaving her clean-cut image behind. This rankles some of her fans, particularly a stalker who begins murdering those boosting her acting ambitions. Meanwhile, Mima’s own psyche becomes fractured, a crisis of self-image expressed in frighteningly dreamlike fashion.

Directed by the great Satoshi Kon, this suspenseful, surreal, gorgeous thriller has inspired countless artists, most notably Darren Aronofsky in his Oscar-winning *Black Swan* (2010). Kon subverts slasher tropes and nimbly toys with reality, constantly upending audience expectations and keeping us on our toes.

Where to watch *Perfect Blue*: Prime Video (to rent)

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Movies”