Halloween season is the perfect excuse for an anime marathon. Of course, horror is the perfect genre for the spookiest season, and there are plenty of anime out there to send chills down fans' spines. But not everyone is down for the scary stuff, and that's okay.
Whether it's for a Halloween party where silly humor is on the menu or one that needs to cater to audiences of all ages, there are some great anime out there that fit the occasion, while still staying true to the spirit of the holiday. These titles should be on anyone's list of anime to watch during the spookiest season of the year.
10 Tokimeki Tonight Is A Spooky Shojo Classic
Tokimeki Tonight is more old-school as an '80s shojo anime that certainly looks the part, with its big, sparkly eyes and retro aesthetic. And it certainly has all the melodrama that fans of the genre could want. In a supernatural twist, Ranze, the main character, is the child of a vampire and a werewolf. Tokimeki Tonight offers two classic monsters for the price of one, and it throws in plenty of romantic comedy, just to sweeten the deal.
9 The Ghost Stories English Dub Is Hilarious Improv
The original version of the 2000 anime series Ghost Stories markets itself as an episodic horror show, albeit one aimed at children, about various hauntings at a school. The dub, though, throws all notions of a serious translation out of the window. Instead, it's what amounts to an official abridged series. This is the perfect option for a casual Halloween hangout. It's unlike anything else out there, and it's one of the funniest things the world of anime has to offer.
8 Sankarea Shows That True Love Will Never Die
Fans of romance anime might not think that there are any Halloween-themed shows out there for them, but, luckily, Sankarea is there to fill that niche. It follows Chihiro, a zombie-obsessed teenage boy whose interests end up causing him more problems than he bargains for.
A misunderstanding means that he accidentally ends up turning the rich, beautiful Rea Sanka into a zombie herself, and her unconventional new appetites lead to plenty of sweet teen awkwardness in this unique take on one of horror's most famous subgenres.
7 Karin Subverts Vampire Tropes In More Ways Than One
The eponymous main character of Karin is an "unvampire," which means that unlike the other members of her immortal family, she produces excess blood rather than needing to suck it from humans. In fact, in order to survive, she must inject other humans with it. She's managed to live a relatively normal life, but, when a new student arrives at school, everything might change.
Karin swaps the traditional Gothic horror of vampire stories with a sweet high school romance, and it's perfect for fans who want something more feel-good than frightening.
6 Flying Witch Is Iyashikei Anime At Its Best
All that Halloween horror can freak even the toughest of anime fans out, so it can be nice to unwind with a bit of iyashikei anime. Within the genre, Flying Witch is the one best suited to the Halloween season.
This incredibly gentle, charming show follows an apprentice witch during her first year away from home. It immediately gained critical acclaim thanks to the way it blended slice-of-life escapades with some truly magical discoveries.
5 Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase Stars The Cutest Vampire In Anime
Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase successfully portrays bloodsucking vampires as cute rather than scary. It accomplishes this by featuring an adorable vampire wearing a frilly dress and a headband with cat ears.
The vampiric main character of Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase might look adorable, but she still poses a threat to the protagonist when he discovers her in a German castle. Despite being bitten, however, he seems to be immune to her powers, and this leads to a bizarre but heartwarming partnership when she follows him back to Japan.
4 Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun Will Make Fans Laugh Instead Of Scream
Ghost stories and urban legends have always been a prime source of spookiness. A popular story in Japan is the tale of "Hanako-san," the ghost of a little girl who haunts school bathrooms. Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun offers a twist on the story by having Hanako actually be a young boy.
This comedy series can be absolutely hilarious, but it also gained something of a cult following thanks to its surprisingly loveable and unique characters. For fans looking to laugh rather than scream, it's a must-see.
3 Zombie Land Saga
A girl wakes up in a dilapidated house in the dead of night. She calls for help but instead encounters lurching, groaning figures, and nothing seems to stop them in their tracks.
This sounds like the opening to a classic horror movie, but it's actually the first episode of Zombie Land Saga, an anime that shows what happens when a mad scientist makes a group of zombies into an idol group to bring tourism to a rural prefecture. Silly, sweet, and with plenty of zombie-themed jokes, this series became a sleeper hit.
2 Little Witch Academia Is Seasonal Fun For All Ages
The animation studio TRIGGER is known for producing extremely colorful, bombastically animated series, and Little Witch Academia follows that trend while being one of the studio's few series that is completely family-friendly.
That, along with its pointy-hat-wearing and broomstick-riding main characters, makes it ideal for a family-friendly Halloween Netflix marathon. And, if the series is a little too long, the original short film is the perfect bite-sized treat. Either way, this story of friendship and growing up is totally magical.
1 Kiki's Delivery Service Is A Ghibli Classic About A Young Witch & Her Black Cat
The many incredible films of Studio Ghibli are always worth a watch, and one that's particularly suited for Halloween is Kiki's Delivery Service. Kiki, a young witch, must seek her fortunes in a strange new town, with only her cat Jiji as a familiar face.
The joy of this film is seeing Kiki make new connections with the interesting and kind people she meets, from the couple who lets her live in their bakery to a young artist living in the woods. It's in these friendships where the real magic lies.