When monsters can't make friends with human society, they might as well make friends with one another. Nearly all of anime is fascinated with different organizations meant to hunt down and slay different ghouls, ghosts, and freaks. However, it often feels like there's not enough focus on the actual beings at the other end of the crossbow.
Monsters in anime are innately some of the most fascinating creatures as they invite the viewer to both a new world and a new way of living. Though the common perception is of a lone beast stalking the streets of Tokyo, anime as a whole has plenty of different and cultured monster societies to rival even the human ones. Looking at the meetups that have to happen in the shadows or in another world, here are some of the best monster societies in anime.
10 Homunculi (Fullmetal Alchemist)
When the Dwarf in the Flask first parted ways with Van Hohenheim, he didn't realize that he had just lost of friend. He almost certainly didn't realize that he would subconsciously try to reclaim that sense of togetherness during his long conspiracy. Using his knowledge and the power of the Philsopher's Stones, the Dwarf in the Flask made seven, new beings each literally made from a part of his being.
Though he wouldn't admit himself, the Homunculi were his family which is why he went from just being the Dwarf to being Father. The Homunculi are not exactly the nicest family, but there is an understood relationship between all of them that surprisingly keeps infighting low and cooperation high for one of the most delicate and nefarious plots in anime.
9 Tartaros (Fairy Tail)
Throughout Fairy Tail, its different characters and residents have been plagued with the Demons of the Book of Zeref. They are responsible for some of the greatest tragedies in the world's history and a constant, overwhelming foe in some arcs. However, for most of the series, mages and the Fairy Tail guild have had to deal with each one individually.
They weren't exactly prepared for the day that they'd team up and wreak havoc as a unit. When Mard Geer Tartaros accidently found the Book of E.N.D., he'd subsequently pledge his life to E.N.D. and round up as many of Zeref's demons as he could. They were one of the most frightening Dark Guilds in the entire series and were the ones to convince the Fairy Tail guild to have a proper time-skip arc to train.
8 The Beast Kingdom (The Boy And The Beast)
The Boy and the Beast is naturally one of Momoru Hosoda's most magical films. While plenty of his movies revel in the nuances of family and social life in a world of advances, he took a step back in this one to use a magical kingdom of beasts to tell a surprising father-son tale. The Beast Kingdom is a parallel world occupied by various beasts, gods, and deities inspired by Japanese spirits and folklore.
Though its citizens may be otherwordly, their entire culture reflects the simplicity and romanticism of feudal Japan, so much so that they base their leading god off of whoever has the best dojo. It's a fun, awe-inspiring world that somehow made a sword-wielding, beastman appear friendly.
7 Twelve Demon Moons (Demon Slayer)
Demon Slayer may be a new entry in the world of anime, but it has made a huge impression with its centuries spanning lore and culture. It's feudal adventure is rife with demons who eat and repopulate at the detriment of human life. Though they may not look it based off their ferocious demeanors, but demons can actually be quite an eloquent and civilized folk.
The key example of this being the Twelve Demon Moons started by Muzan Kibutsuji. They are the elites of the demon world whose lives are based on strength and the orders of Kibutsuji. Though their own ranks are incredibly competitive, they have more than shown their results by being a constant bane to the Demon Slayer Corps.
6 Aogiri Tree (Tokyo Ghoul)
Tokyo Ghoul is a series all about trying to fit in a world, where people are constantly trying to make each other feel different. Even though some ghouls can feast on human flesh, many of them are able to resist the urges and live a sustainable life. Despite that approach for inclusion and peace, that won't stop human society from hunting all of them down with extreme prejudice.
When that threat comes, one group dares to rise up. Aogiri Tree is a ghoul terrorist organization started by Eto Yoshimura in an effort to protect the livelihoods of ghouls and combat the CCG's oppressive efforts. Though they're not a peaceful cafe, they managed to inspire and unite dozens of demons for a terrifying campaign.
5 The God Hand (Berserk)
The world of Berserk may have a medieval appearance, but its underbelly is filled with tons of regular evil. During the early part of the series, monsters and demons would haunt people every now and then and cause mass chaos. That all changed when God Hand, the figures responsible for much of the destructive evil in the world, managed to claim a fifth member and started expediting their demonic efforts.
Living out the will of the Idea of Evil, God Hand is comprised of the supreme beings Void, Slan, Ubik, Conrad, and the ex-Griffith, Femto. Together, they order the apostles and personally spread tragedy across the world and history.
4 The Robber Fly Colony (From The New World)
Monsters Rats by themselves are an "inferior" yet intelligent species brought up by humanity from supposedly mole rats and made to act as servants. They've developed different colonies that each work in an insect-like efficiency and even serve different queens, the only reproductive members of each society.
The Robber Fly colony in particular began to take dominance over some of the colonies and even unite them in an effort to rebel against the human population.
3 The Bathhouse (Spirited Away)
Spirited Away's bathhouse may not occupy the entirety of its world's complex and well-historied traditions, but it is a microcosm that defines an entire culture of its own. Just by looking at Studio Ghibli's creation from the other side of the bridge, one can identity elements that bridge the detail and attention of bare craftsman as well as the mystique and power of great spirits and deities.
As Chihiro explores the grand building, she meets the old man that runs its complex boiler room, the various workers who serve the customers and help one another, and, of course, the loud and extravagant manager who holds control over all of them. It's an entire yet subtle clinic on Japanese lore.
2 Monster Association (One-Punch Man)
Monster societies don't get as clear cut as one literally named the "Monster Association." In an effort to facilitate the rule and power of monsters, hundreds of monsters banded together under the rule of Monster King Orochi to combat the Hero Association and overthrow the human race.
They are a powerful brood that even has tons of monsters that are Demon level or higher and have even developed a means of transforming powerful humans into powerful monsters. They are guided by the belief that a monster by themselves can't do much but, as a unit, can accomplish a lot.
1 Hellsalem's Lot (Blood Blockade Battlefront)
Hellsalem's Lot reflects a lot of the immigration culture that was impacted the United States after 9/11. After a portal to the Beyond opens up and subsequently destroys large portions of what was once New York City, the different cultures and ideas between humanity and demons intermingled like a national trade agreement.
However, given the tragic circumstances, not everyone is too keen on monsters, and there's even strong, prejudicial policies in place that suppress many of them. Despite this, culture and advances continue to mix and be defined by the strong mix of cultures, and it still somehow resembles the loud and wild New York that people know today.