Horror in anime can sometimes be creepier than fans expect. The genre ranges from quiet folk curses to full-on body horror. Creators use sound design, color, and pacing to keep audiences on edge. If you’re looking for spooky titles to add to your watchlist, here are a few worth checking out.
“Uzumaki”
If you want classic dread with a new layer of nightmare fuel, start with “Uzumaki.” It’s a black-and-white adaptation of Junji Ito’s cult manga about a seaside town cursed by spirals. High-schooler Kirie watches as neighbors, buildings, and even body parts twist into grotesque shapes while paranoia spreads. In the U.S., it aired on Adult Swim and streamed the next day on Max.
“Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai”
“Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai” on Crunchyroll is made up of four-minute urban legends told in a paper-theater format. The art stays minimal while the sound design carries the tension. You can binge the entire series in one sitting or spread it out over a few days for a minimarathon of spooky tales.
“Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre”
For more quick, punchy scares, “Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre” on Netflix also has bite-size nightmares adapted from Ito’s short stories. The tales include obsessive crushes that turn supernatural, families decaying from within, and doors that should stay closed. As an anthology, it lets viewers jump between episodes based on their comfort level. It’s the perfect lights-off, volume-up’ pick when you want a scare without committing to a full season.
“Devilman Crybaby”
Netflix’s “Devilman Crybaby” is an apocalyptic tragedy. Masaaki Yuasa directs a wild reimagining of Go Nagai’s classic. Gentle Akira merges with a demon to fight an approaching extinction, and humanity unravels even faster than the monsters. Science SARU’s kinetic animation and Kensuke Ushio’s score make the anime even creepier. The finale lands like a gut punch.
“Parasyte: The Maxim”
“Parasyte: -the maxim-” follows Shinichi, a teenager whose right hand is taken over by an alien parasite named Migi after a failed attempt to reach his brain. Their uneasy partnership turns into a tense exploration of survival, empathy, and what defines humanity. The transformations are grotesque, the battles are intense, and the moral questions linger long after the jump scares fade. It streams on Crunchyroll in most regions, including the U.S.
“Higurashi: When They Cry – GOU”
In “Higurashi: When They Cry – GOU,” the story returns to the rural village of Hinamizawa. New kid Keiichi grows close to his friends just as the festival season starts to unravel the town’s peaceful environment. Creator Ryukishi07 builds the tension through time loops, unreliable memories, and the haunting power of rumor. The series trades jump-scares for slow-building paranoia that explodes when the truth finally clicks. It’s available to stream on Crunchyroll in the U.S.
What horror anime would you recommend that didn’t make this list? Comment below!
