When done right, there is nothing quite as gut-wrenchingly disgusting and intriguing as a good horror anime. Anime has a precious edge over live-action movies in that there is very little stopping the creative director and artists from pushing their ideas however far they want to take it, outside of an adult rating and the policies of the publishing company. Nothing shows this off better than horror, where every little gritty detail can be drawn as crystal-clearly or as obscure as they wish. The Junji Ito Collection, named after its creator, Junji Ito, is a shining example of what can be accomplished when artists are given the creative liberty to unleash their darker imaginations on paper or on-screen.

RELATED: 5 Junji Ito Stories That Will Give You Nightmares (& 5 That Definitely Won't)

Unfortunately, many of the bigger shonen and shojo anime tend to overshadow some precious gems of a much more niche genre. But for those looking for it, these underrated horror anime definitely deserve some more attention.

10 Dusk Maiden Of Amnesia Won't Let Viewers Forget It

Shadow Yuuko Seen while talking to Teiichi in Dusk Maiden of Amnesia

The Dusk Maiden of Amnesia is equal parts horror, ecchi, and slice of life. The story follows Teiichi Niiya, a student at Seikyou Private Academy to whom the spirit of Yuuko attaches herself, and the Paranormal Investigation club probing seven mysteries around the school involving the unexplained and mysterious death of Yuuko Kanoe years earlier. As they get closer to finding the truth about Yuuko's death, more and more sightings of an insidious presence are noted, eventually reaching a climax when the secret is discovered.

9 Gantz Is A Different, But No Less Gruesome, Take On The "Battle Royale" Genre

Anime The Rowdy and Grumpy Aliens of the Buddhist Temple Mission in Gantz

Gantz is a peculiar anime. It samples aspects across multiple genres in media, primarily the framework of a battle royale. This is both to its strength and detriment, as Gantz is kind of always in the "heard, but not seen" category. The battle royale system is not the typical "survive among a group of people until there is no one else standing" though. Instead of other humans, the hunters in this game are going after aliens to earn points that can be redeemed in various ways - from leaving the game and going back to a normal life, to reviving someone who has died in the past. While the anime does not cover much of the grand saga in the Gantz manga, it nonetheless is a great watch that often gets overlooked.

8 Hell Girl Ferries The Souls Of The Corrupt

Ai Enma from Hell Girl

Hell Girl shares some similarities with a few other anime on this list in that it is an anthology series. Most episodes in the early seasons have no, or loose, connections with one another, allowing viewers to hop in on whatever episode and not miss much in terms of an overarching story.

RELATED: 10 Anime To Watch If You Liked Hell Girl

As far as the plot goes, the stories revolve around the local legend of Hell Girl, or Ai Enma, a vengeful spirit who will take revenge on those who have wronged the person who requested her services and take them to Hell to wallow in damnation. The fee for using this service, however, is not one that can be paid lightly.

7 Devilman Crybaby Is Grotesque In Many Ways

Akira after becoming a devil in Devilman Crybaby

Devilman Crybaby has a lot to offer and is equally a lot to take in. There is plenty here for those who love horror, especially that of the biblical nature with a dash of psychological introspection and philosophical questions about religion and humanity. While this show is definitely not for everyone, it has a good story to it, and the gore involved in the show is more than enough to keep the audience at the edge of their seats.

Because it is a Netflix anime, it is often overlooked due to the stigma attached to that label. But with a track record of entertaining animated shows racking up as of late -- especially Beaststars and Castlevania -- Devilman Crybaby has been seeing more attention come its way, but not nearly enough.

6 Boogiepop Phantom Serves Unsettling Vibes On A Silver Platter

Jounouchi Hisashi Seeing Spiritual Spider Leeches for the first time in Boogiepop Phantom

Boogiepop Phantom knows how to seed and cultivate an existential sense of dread in viewers before bringing it to a crescendo and reaping the inevitable harvest. The premise follows the sightings of Boogiepop, a well-known figure of impending death to the city's inhabitants ever since its first appearance at the scene of a serial killer crime years ago. The episodes begin as a sort of loose anthology before the audience realizes that things are more connected than what was previously thought. For those who want a more "up to date" look at the anime, there is also the 2019 edition of Boogiepop Phantom for viewing pleasure.

5 Theatre Of Darkness: Yamishibai Has Years Worth Of Scares Packed Into Five Minutes

Shizuka from Episode 1 Season 8 of Yamishibai Before Disappearing from the Handkerchief Game

Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai can most easily be described as the Bite-Size Halloween short stories Hulu put out last Halloween, but as an anime and often much scarier. An anthology centered around urban myths and stories told throughout generations, Yamishibai episodes typically last about five minutes each and does as much as it can with that time - which turns out to be a lot. Eight seasons strong, there is plenty here to offer a horror aficionado who needs their quick fix to hit with an impact.

4 Umineko When They Cry Has Phenomenal Build-Up

Shannon Visualization from Umineko When They Cry

Although it is often overshadowed by its cousin Higurashi: When They CryUmineko: When They Cry stands to prove that not every sequel is doomed to mediocracy. Arguably, Umineko even surpasses Higurashi in certain key aspects, such as the overarching tension throughout the series and the murder mystery itself that allows viewers to solve the case on their own.

RELATED: Umineko: When They Cry: 10 Ways The Anime Is Nothing Like The Visual Novel

Similar to other detective anime such as Gosick and Un-GoUmineko makes it a priority to keep the viewer attentive as the episodes pass for clues.

3 Paprika Is A Wild Ride For Your Eyeballs

Dr Chiba and Shima from Paprika running froma monster

Paprika is a wild ride from beginning to end. A masterful example of artistic direction, the horror from Paprika doesn't stem from the standard fare of dark corners, gore, and murder. Instead, the often disjointed and remarkably patchwork designs of the variety of dangers come from a much more psychological direction, but in a way that has not been done since. The only anime that is remotely even comparable may be Paranoia Agent in some aspects, but even then, Paprika stands strongly in the horror genre.

2 Seoul Station Is A Solid Prequel To A Solid Movie

Zombie in police station in Seoul Station

Seoul Station is more obscure than it should be, especially considering it is the prequel to the heavily lauded Train to Busan movie that captured the hearts of zombie fans everywhere with its refreshing concept and well fleshed-out characters. Those who watched said movie should know exactly what to expect from Seoul Station, and it delivers admirably. While not as engaging as its progenitor, the anime still serves to tell a gripping story about the zombification of humanity and the dangers of existing in a world where the dead eat the living.

1 Happy Sugar Life Really Isn't So Happy

Satou Matsuzaka from Happy Sugar Life asking for Taiyou Mitsuboshi in "protecting" Shio

Happy Sugar Life is probably only on the radar of those who looked for it or the prominent character archetype presented within the show itself. Deeply disturbing in a myriad of ways, Happy Sugar Life offers an unsettling atmosphere that bubbles just beneath the surface, occasionally breaking the surface at times. The story is centered around Sato Matsuzaka, a high-school girl who meets Shio Kube, an eight-year-old girl who was abandoned in an alleyway. However, while Sato is outwardly the ideal image of a young teenage girl, there is a darker side to her that will not balk at murdering someone if they come in between herself and Shio.

NEXT: 5 Horror Anime That Will Scare You Silly (And 5 That Don't Scare Anyone)