For those who don’t know, anime is a specific type of Japanese animation which utilises an inventive art style to blend and subvert genres in ways that allow for mature storytelling. Many anime works are adaptations of manga, which are Japanese comics that are read right-to-left. In both cases, the only limit is often an artist’s imagination, and this has led to numerous works which exceptionally bring horror alive.
For those horror fans who have not dipped far into this pool, I have 10 horror-ish recommendations for anime and manga to start off with.
Akira (1988)
To kick off this list, how about one of the most influential and iconic anime works of all time? Adapting his manga series of the same name, co-writer/director Katsuhiro Otomo brings alive Akira with an exceptional vision. The story unfolds in Neo-Tokyo, 2019, where a member of a biker gang undergoes a terrifying transformation that imbues him with psychic powers which send him on a destructive rampage.
This feature may be a streamlined version of the original cyberpunk vision, but it is no less of a mind-bending piece that brings alive gruesome body horror through gorgeous animation that captures the creator’s untethered imagination. Through all of the kinetic visuals of bike-sliding, milk leaking, blood spurting goodness, this is a character driven piece that will stay with you long after the credits roll. No wonder this trailblazing work paved the way for anime’s popularity in the West.
Attack on Titan (2013 – 2023)
Of the anime works which arrived on-screen through the 2010’s, Attack on Titan is one of the most important shows for how it introduced anime to a new generation and catapulted the medium into the mainstream. Hajime Isayama’s story is set within a post-apocalyptic world where what remains of humanity lives within cities surrounded by giant walls. These walls keep out Titans, giant humanoid creatures which devour humans, although that semi-idyllic life changes when a Colossal Titan breaches a wall.
My selection of the anime is not to diminish the source material, but because there is an added terror in seeing the titans in motion. It is unsettling to watch the animalistic movements of what are essentially ginormous zombies. Seemingly unstoppable,these towering creatures impose a fear of not knowing which characters will survive. Whilst the titan’s imagery remains unchanged, the story evolves season-by-season in ways that give new meaning to what was previously shown. By the end, it focuses on more familiar horror relating to fascism and humanity’s unending nature to destroy, resulting in Eren Yeager becoming one of the most fascinating protagonists in quite some time.
Berserk (1989 – present)
A caveat must be included with this recommendation. If you can think of a trigger warning, it can be applied to Kentaro Miura’s manga series, so approach it with caution. For those still here, Berserk follows lone swordsman Guts who has been literally marked for death, condemned to a fate where demonic beings are in constant pursuit. Yet, that does not stop his quest for revenge, armed with a massive sword and unbelievable strength.
From the opening page, the pieces are there for a work that relies on shock value to appeal to edgelords, but what sets this apart from lesser works is the exquisite writing capturing the tragedy at the heart of Guts. He constantly fights within a world horrifyingly realized with an exceptional art style, but within this world full of inhumane actions, this is ultimately a story about finding hope within the grim landscape. There have been many adaptations of Berserk, and each has their own positives, but nothing compares to the unfiltered world that has been captured on the page. Once you start into this unforgettable world, prepare to never stop.
Chainsaw Man (2018 – Present)
This may be the most gleefully bizarre choice on this list, although that is not captured through the sombre introduction to Denji, a teenager living a miserable life paying off his deceased father’s debt to the yakuza. All that carries him through these bleak days is his dog-like companion, Pochita the Chainsaw Devil. After a betrayal tragically ends Denji’s life, Pochita makes a deal for them to merge, resurrecting Denji as the “Chainsaw Man.”
Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga sensation may seem like a superhero series on paper, but diving further into this story makes it clear how this breaks the shōnen mould that it apparently fits into. At its heart, this is a story about sad and broken people who hold onto small remnants of hope while others use them as objects. What sets this tale apart is how such serious elements are conveyed, in ways that are absurdist, gory, and even disgusting.
At least you can never call this series boring, with each new chapter leaving you unsure of where it will go next, offering surprises that can leave you laughing or emotionally devastated. It is also worth mentioning the very good anime adaptation, complete with banger themes and an intro that homages works including The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and Jacob’s Ladder (1990).
Dark Gathering (2023)
The most recent entry on this list, Dark Gathering begins with the previously isolated Keitarou trying to reclaim normality in his life, following a traumatic encounter which left his right hand cursed. His first step towards attempted normality is becoming a private tutor, with his first student being Yayoi, a young girl who is a cousin to Keitarou’s childhood friend. It turns out that Yayoi has a unique hobby, which is finding vengeful spirits that she wishes to collect. The reason? To forcibly build a supernatural army that can combat the powerful entity which took the spirit of Yayoi’s deceased mother.
Across its 25-episode run, the first season offers a fun mixture that tickles different horror sensibilities, as the ghostly encounters are delivered in ways that are creepy, unsettling, and at times gory. Key to it are charming character dynamics, as the lead figures take personal steps forward while perilously battling the supernatural. A second series is not yet on the cards, apparently due to the original manga not yet having enough material to fill another season, but here’s hoping this underrated work eventually gets a follow-up.
Mononoke (2007)
Made up of individual chapters, this 12-episode series follows a nameless medicine vendor. Each chapter has him wandering into a new story, where he encounters an unnatural spirit which lingers in the human world, and can only exorcise them once he learns the spirit’s shape, truth, and reason. The ensuing stories are given a mystery structure while rooted in humanity, but what sets apart this series is the distinctive visual style. Through the experimental uses of animation, unsettling imagery is given life in creepy ways that are not easily forgotten, leaving Mononoke as a must-see series.
Perfect Blue (1997)
Leaving the band that she is part of, pop singer Mima Kirigoe changes careers to become a serious actress. As she takes a recurring role on a popular TV show, her sense of reality is shaken due to an obsessed fan stalking her. The first film directed by anime-master Satoshi Kon, this is a masterful slice of psychological horror that feels prescient regarding how celebrities are treated. This examination of fan entitlement sees followers disregarding their idol’s desires to prop up an idealised version of the celebrity they are obsessed with, feeling tragically relevant to this day.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011)
You may be looking at this entry and wondering why I have included a tale of teenage protagonists in colour-coded outfits, along with their supernatural sidekick that resembles a cute cat, fighting “witches.” This may be an entry into the magical girl subgenre, but expecting something light and fluffy is playing into the hands of creator Magica Quartet. As further depths are revealed to this tale, Puella Magi Madoka Magica takes subversive routes that are far darker and more heartbreaking than one may have expected. A strong example of not judging a book by its cover.
Uzumaki (1998)
An entire list could have been filled with recommendations from Junji Ito, a horror master whose works will leave one questioning whether he is okay. I decided to limit myself to only one recommendation of his, and Uzumaki is the perfect encapsulation of this writer/artist. The manga series has a premise that admittedly sounds silly, where the residents of a small town are menaced by spirals, but the exceptional realisation sees that premise turned into nightmare fuel. Through this masterful art style, familiar and unassuming things are warped in distressing ways that conjure haunting and grotesque imagery. Phobias, existential anxieties, and terrors of the unknown are brought alive with a terrifying imagination that feels like the offspring of David Cronenberg and Takashi Miike. There is a live-action adaptation, and an Adult Swim series whose promise diminishes, but nothing beats the raw realisation of Ito on the page.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)
While writer Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrator Yoshitaka Amano have crafted over 40 novels since 1983, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is only the second (and most recent) feature adaptation of the popular series which follows the titular dhampir – half vampire, half human. For this feature, D is hired to rescue a human woman who was seemingly abducted by a vampire nobleman, and finds himself competing with a bounty-hunter family who are also pursuing the abducted woman. This amalgamation of genres taps into horror, science-fiction, western, and romance for a one-of-a-kind world that is gorgeously animated. In-between the action beats is an engrossing tale about the loneliness that comes with vampirism, adding a heartfelt cherry on top of this phenomenal feature.
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