One of the reasons that anime remains such a versatile medium is because it takes a fearless approach to the types of stories that it brings to life. Live-action television and Western animation engage in plenty of different genres, but anime goes above and beyond. There’s a series for every niche interest imaginable.

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The horror genre has seen a lot of success in anime and there are some absolutely terrifying programs out there. Some anime horror shows get too lost in their premise or a unique animation style, but the very best series will leave the audience shaken and disturbed.

10 Higurashi: When They Cry Deals With An Eternal Time Loop Of Pain

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Higurashi: When They Cry is a true magic trick of a horror series. Its cute and friendly art design gives off the impression that it's a charming slice of life series, but it slowly reveals itself to be a violent murder mystery that's filled with graphic deaths. These murderous children are hard to watch, but Higurashi grows into a much bigger story that involves time loops and science fiction ideas which leave the characters hopelessly overwhelmed. There's a true feeling of being trapped Higurashi creates where every episode is an exercise in tension.

9 Paranoia Agent Crafts An Invincible Menace Through The Power Of Suggestion

Shonen Bat Makes A Strike In Paranoia Agent

Satoshi Kon passed away far too early, but in his brief time he was able to make immeasurable contributions to the anime industry. Perfect Blue and Paprika are both exquisite examples of creative psychological horror, but Paranoia Agent translates that anxiety into a 13-episode TV show. Paranoia Agent excels through its large cast and shifting perspectives, all of which contribute to the larger idea of mob mentality and social phenomena. Paranoia Agent is a rare example that's frightening with its visuals as well as the themes that it asks its audience to consider.

8 Blue Gender’s Deadly Aliens Make Humanity Feel Helpless

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There is no shortage of anime series that center around a deadly alien invasion and a dwindling human population that struggles to survive. Blue Gender is one of the most thought-provoking sci-fi and horror hybrids, crafting a tight story across 26 episodes.

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Blue Gender features a lot of familiar tropes, like a protagonist who wakes up after decades of cryogenic slumber to find the world in ruins. Blue Gender's predatory Blue are truly terrifying in both design and functionality. Their ruthless nature helps elevate this story into something that's even bleaker.

7 Attack On Titan Proves That Man And Monster Can Be Equally Horrifying

Anime The Myth Of Ymir In Attack On Titan

Attack on Titan is one of the biggest anime of the decade and has managed to continually push its story forward in ways that are satisfying and unpredictable. Attack on Titan pits man against monster, but there’s just as much betrayal and bloodshed that takes place between the “innocent.” While not strictly a horror series, Attack on Titan is full of death, psychological turmoil, and battles between monsters that will leave the audience traumatized in terror.

6 Elfen Lied Combines Horror And Sci-Fi Into A Vicious Attack On Humanity

Lucy escapes her captors in Elfen Lied Episode 1.

Elfen Lied is the very best kind of slow burn horror. It begins in an uncomfortable place, but it reaches a bloody climax that will leave the audience shaken. Elfen Lied focuses on Lucy, a human-looking young girl who is actually an extremely powerful mutant who is meant to help wipe out the planet for her predatory species. Lucy coming to terms with her identity, powers, and what's best for the world is harrowing, but it's even more effective every time the powers of the Diclonius are put to use. Elfen Lied is the perfect blend of sci-fi and horror.

5 Happy Sugar Life Puts The Audience In The Mind Of A Psychopath

Satou gets murderous over Shio in Happy Sugar Life

Happy Sugar Life dresses itself up as a cute and adorable female-friendly program, but this level of deception only mirrors the duplicitous and deranged nature of the show's protagonist, Sato. Sato becomes obsessed with a young girl who she views as a bastion of purity and wants to keep safe at all costs.

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Sato's commitment to this results in rampant murders, along with Shio's kidnapping and brainwashing. Happy Sugar Life forces the audience to spend time with a broken character for an extended period of time and it's not easy to get through.

4 Junji Ito Collection Adapts Some Of The Horror Legend’s Best Stories

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Junji Ito is one of the most prolific names in horror manga and he’s created countless images that are absolute nightmare fuel. Attempts to adapt Ito’s works are often met with setbacks and it’s a testament to the power of the mangaka’s striking artwork. Junji Ito Collection is far from perfect, but it’s still extremely unsettling at times due to the nature of the stories.  Junji Ito Collection is only a dozen episodes, plus an OVA, but it tackles some of Ito’s most disturbing stories like “Greased,” Smashed,” Tomie,” and “Marionette Mansion.” It’s full of haunting visuals.

3 Parasyte: The Maxim Creates Some Iconic Aliens With Disturbing Designs

Anime Parasyte The Maxim Parasite Host

Plenty of anime look at aliens and monsters, which makes it crucial to have an original design that can make people wince and have their skin crawl. Parasyte -the maxim- looks at a deadly alien invasion and the unlikely alliance that forms between Shinichi and Migi, an alien that’s taken up residence in his hand as a host. Parasyte tells an emotional story that doesn’t hold back, but it’s the vicious actions of these body horror aliens that give Parasyte its edge. It’s a rare case where just stills from Parasyte can induce panic.

2 Another Uses The Pain Of Past Traumas As A Powerful Guiding Force

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Another is a horror masterpiece that gets so much mileage out of playing with the audience's expectations in regards to who is truly alive and dead through this foreboding mystery. Transfer student Koichi befriends an odd girl, Mei, and the two get pulled into the recurring tragedy that's taken over their school and left it with a haunting history. The delicate character work and stark uses of violence make the set pieces in Another hit hard. The ticking clock element to the mystery also actively adds to the anime’s horror.

1 Corpse Party: Tortured Souls Throws Its Heroes Into An Unrelenting Bloodbath

Anime Corpse Party Tortured Souls Zombies

Some of the most overdone tropes in anime involve series that are set in schools, as well as isekai programs that whisk characters away to fantastical new worlds. Corpse Party: Tortured Souls effectively riffs on both of these customs as a group of young students wind up in a bizarro version of their school that's full of deadly murderous spirits. Corpse Party is just a four-episode OVA series, but it crams a lot into these installments and the visuals of these deceased classmates are brutal. There's a palpable sense of danger and these characters truly feel frightened.

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