Anime is hardly a new form of entertainment, but it’s been exciting to see the steps forward that the medium has made over the past few decades. Series are willing to push boundaries in ways that previously weren’t possible and titles that would typically be niche releases have become mainstream successes. Anime has a ton to offer, but their take on the horror genre remains impressive.
Anime is able to create scares in such a unique way, whether it’s through the animation, storytelling, or the designs behind terrifying monsters. Anime has introduced many memorable beasts, but some of these creatures deserve even more attention.
10 Angels (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Neon Genesis Evangelion is an existential take on the mech genre that’s been able to become one of the most groundbreaking and discussed anime of all time. Evangelion has a lot to say and it effectively dissects both human issues and action staples. One of the most enigmatic things about Evangelion is that the predatory Angels that engage the mech in combat all have such atypical designs. This creative take makes these monsters truly feel alien. These creatures have such versatility and depth that a movie that focuses purely on them could turn out to be something powerful like Arrival.
9 Parasites (Parasyte –The Maxim-)
There are many anime series where the normal protagonist suddenly becomes a hybrid with a monster. Parasyte -the maxim- sees an alien named Migi take up residence in Shinichi's hand and it leads to an amazing and unconventional bond between them. Shinichi and Migi attempt to keep Earth safe from a greater parasite invasion, but a deeper look into these monsters would be such a delight. These extraterrestrial threats transform human bodies in such horrifying and drastic ways. It'd be amazing to see this play out on a global scale or just focus on the aliens themselves in their own environment.
8 Shinigami (Death Note)
Death Note is a popular anime that’s been adapted in a number of different ways, but all of these works have focused on Light Yagami, the owner of the powerful Death Note. A fresh take on all of this would be to make Ryuk, the Shinigami, the protagonist and focus on his existence.
The anime explores how Ryuk places the Death Note in the Human World simply because he’s bored and needs entertainment. The character’s omnipotent nature and his time in the Shinigami Realm with the rest of his kind could make for a fascinating film.
7 Gauna (Knights Of Sidonia)
Netflix has become a strong home for anime series and Knights of Sidonia is one of their original titles that features some frightening material. The Gauna are an alien race that have unlimited potential to get under the audience's skin. Gauna are made up of a core-like True Body, but also a placenta that is able to both regenerate and create new material, whether that's body parts or even weaponry. This makes the Gauna difficult to defend against and they're also able to take on different forms. All of this makes these monsters the ideal subjects for a longer look.
6 Bunny Beasts (Blood-C)
Blood-C keeps its monsters, the Elder Bairns or Old Ones, a mystery and just implies that they've existed for thousands of years and are an ancient force that needs to consume flesh and blood. The primeval nature of the Elder Bairns makes them even more frightening, but the Bunny Beasts are the final of the Elder Bairn to appear in Blood-C and they're by far the worst. The Bunny Beasts are the Elder Bairn at their most vicious, but their appearance as deformed and abnormal rabbits makes them even harder to stomach.
5 Nurarihyon Alien Boss (Gantz: 0)
Gantz is an exciting blend of horror with science fiction and it presents the world as a dystopia that feels genuinely bleak. A number of aliens in disguise become primary obstacles throughout Gantz. Often these threats masquerade as unassuming humans, but it's when their true forms come out that their full glory can be seen.
The Nurarihyon Alien Boss takes on a very Satan-like appearance as it asserts its dominance on the world. The monster looks and feels like a deity of pure destruction and there's a lot more that could be done with such a deep enemy.
4 Boar Demon (Princess Mononoke)
Studio Ghibli films contain many gorgeous visuals and while none of their movies are outright horror films, they all excel at showing the darkness that can creep up on the world. Spirited Away features all sorts of creative demons, but that film is already very much a celebration of them. However, one of the most striking visuals in the environmentally conscious Princess Mononoke is the infected Boar Demon. The creature wreaks havoc on the land in a way that’s actually disturbing and it’s so vicious it makes Venom’s symbiote look playful. More depth on this virus would be incredible.
3 Genocyber (Genocyber)
Genocyber is an OVA series from the '90s that mixes horror and cyberpunk together with an addition of lots of extreme violence. Genocyber feels like an even more heightened version of the violence seen in Devilman, which is saying something. Genocyber itself is considered the ultimate life form and it's a hybrid of two special sisters. Genocyber first looks like a Devilman-type monster, but then becomes Kaiju-sized, and eventually transforms into a dragon. It's a terrifying and amazing anime monster whose origins aren't explored in the anime, which makes it perfect for blockbuster territory.
2 The Menos Grande (Bleach)
Bleach gets a lot of attention for its thrilling battles, but the anime occasionally deals with more frightening creatures and the Menos Grande is absolutely at the top of the list. The Menos Grande can divide itself into two separate entities. The way in which these two halves of this monster work in tandem as well as independently of each other is terrifying, but it also has the ability to regenerate and tear through space and time to enter the Human World. There's still a ton of unchartered territory for this unique monster that feels like an H.R. Giger creation.
1 Titans (Attack On Titan)
The way in which Attack on Titan has carefully parsed out its larger story is nothing short of incredible. The Titan behemoths have been a threat to humanity ever since the first episode, but the anime has progressively revealed more about these monsters and if they can perhaps be allies. The series’ later seasons explore the Titans and their genesis, but a film that focuses specifically on them would be brilliant. Attack on Titan has a ton to cover and streamlining a movie that just looks at the monsters in an attempt to humanize them would be a unique approach.