Any well-crafted psychological or fantastical horror media will often leave a bitter aftertaste after consumption. It’s trite to say that the disturbing nature of these sub-genres’ productions determines their impact on viewers, and the same blueprint applies toanimeof the same thematic domain.
Just as anime promotes heartiness and mental positivity through typical shōnenseries, the medium equally hosts unnerving shows that mirror humanity’s darker underbelly,anime that border on psychological trauma, depressive episodes, and gritty murders often wrapped in melancholic sequences that substantially add to their underlying depth.
These unnerving titles are already set on disturbing premises; however, anime’s utterly unique touches impact their storytelling narrative. In other words, they are terrifying to watch due to the creative enhancements made possible only through anime.
The classic Germany-set psychological thriller,Monster, is anime’s take on psychopathythrough Johan Liebert, the series' quasi-ubermensch antagonist. The anime questions the actions of Dr. Kenzo Tenma, who operates on and saves a young child, Johan, who is later revealed to be an emotionless sociopath, leaving tragedy in his wake.
Saving Johan causes Dr. Tenma to rethink his medical philosophy:what is the value and nature of human life?Time and again, Johan kills mercilessly, with such flawless execution that the authorities — especially BKA investigator, Detective Heinrich Lunge — are unaware of his existence, implicating the innocent Dr. Tenma, who is tragically connected to Johan’s atrocities.
To Dr. Tenma’s exasperation, he takes up the investigative mantle to find Johan. Throughout Tenma’s private investigation, viewers get a vivid picture of Johan’s horrid psyche. Johan is an emotionless, manipulative mastermind willing to kill even children, just for the sake of it. His ruthless actions are shockingly vile, but will intrigue fans who appreciate psychologically dark dramas.
Debuting in 2020,Talentless Nanais an underdog title that didn’t get its deserved attention, given how shows likeJujutsu Kaisen,The Great Pretender, andTower of Godstole the spotlight. The anime pretentiously cosplays as a superhero-training series, only to rip off a shocking, sinister layer that redefines the series’ onward.
The anime is set on an isolated island school (a government special needs initiative) that supposedly grooms children with powerful abilities. At this point, it’s sensible to brand the series asMy Hero Academia’sbrainchild, that is, until the institution uncovers their diabolical purpose.
The aim of the “island” in question is for the children to be eliminated due to the threats they pose to the outside world. The titular Nana is the charming assassin tasked with murdering the children in a nightmarishly chilling manner that transforms the series from a light fantasy tale to a grim thriller.
Set in rural Japan,Summer Time Renderingis a supernatural thriller that debuted in 2022, well-received for its mystery-laced story that keeps viewers guessing. The anime follows Shinpei, who returns to his native hometown, Awajishima island, to pay homage to his childhood friend Ushio, who died at sea saving the life of a young girl.
Two years after the death of his friend, Shinpei returns to the island just to mourn Ushio’s death. However, he begins to notice unusual occurrences that don’t quite add up to the death of his friend. These occurrences lead him down the hornet’s nest, and soon enough, he’s suddenly shot in the head.
Although Shinpei’s ability is among the highlights inSummer Time Rendering,it centers on the unraveling of the gruesome actions of an antagonistic shadowy being that is rooted in the island’s cultural beliefs.
Surprisingly, instead of dying, Shinpei awakens on the previous day of his arrival, through an innate looping ability that reverses time, with death being the trigger. Although Shinpei’s ability is among the highlights inSummer Time Rendering,it centers on the unravelling of the gruesome actions of an antagonistic shadowy being that is rooted in the island’s cultural beliefs.
Only a few anime titles can rival the cyberpunk narrative that is encapsulated inPsycho Pass. Debuting in the early 2010s,Psycho Passset the bar high for dystopian storiesby adding a layer of philosophical introspection for viewers to ponder.
The story is set in a world run by the Sibyl system that uses cymatic scans to evaluate the mental state of citizens. Hence, whenever their coefficient is higher than the deemed threshold, such a person is taken into custody or killed if they resist.
The anime paints this dystopic horror through Akane Tsunemori — a fresh recruit for the Public Safety Bureau’s Criminal Division — who follows the system unquestionably until she realizes the flaw of the pseudo-utopian civilization.There are no bright moments inPsycho Pass;the anime perpetually connects viewers to a bleak world with mindless gore using depressively toned developments.
Higurashi: When They Cryis a multidimensional storyadapted from Ryukishi07’s light novels; it’s a pivotal building block in theWhen They Cryfranchise that riddles first-time viewers unaccustomed to the series’ signature storytelling style.
Higurashi: When They Crydeceives with the anime’s make-believe slice-of-life posture that brews supernatural horrors waiting to emerge. Tragedy is a constant inHigurashito the point that it can be exhausting to watch. The story kicks off when the main character ventures to the countryside from the city.
Higurashi’sprotagonist is constantly at the core of horrific events that only add to the franchise’s macabre preference.
Unfortunately, relocation soon seems like a bad idea, as the supernatural village secrets come to life to haunt the character. Soon,Higurashi’sprotagonist is constantly at the core of horrific events that only add to the franchise’s macabre preference.
Debuting in 2017,Made in Abysscamouflaged itself as a fun-filled adventure tale with young, charming children, effectively driving this mistaken belief. It ticks all the boxes as the ideal comfort tale, devoid of harsh realities that come with darker fiction.
However, this fallacy gives way to a dangerously steeped narrative:Made in Abyssis set in a world with a gaping chasmat the very centre. No one knows the depths of this chasm, and few dare to explore the inner reaches of this unexplained mystery.
The protagonist, Riko, ventures to explore into this void-like pit to find her mother, Lyza the Annihilator, a celebrated explorer of the seemingly boundless pit. Through Lyza’s exploration, fans slowly witness the terrors of the abyss, as every layer is a problematic hurdle the character has to scale through.
A crowning jewel of the seinen demographic, Kentaro Miura’sBerserkis a hauntingly gothic tale with mythology-inspired horrors that explores the darkened depths of the high fantasy story. Based on the critically acclaimedBerserkmanga series, the anime partially captures the disconcerting nature of the original series.
However, even though the anime fails to fully recapture the remarkable detailing of the manga, it still promotes the title’s recurrently unnerving features.Berserkis an unrelenting tale of suffering; Guts, the titular protagonist, embodies this concept completely, going through constant bouts of despair.
Berserkis unlike any other fantasy tale; it’s one of anime’s most daunting representations of fantastical horrors. It’s a must-watch for fans looking for a filling slice of the darker reaches of fantasy.
2025’s highest-rated anime yet,Takopi’s Original Sin, redefines psychological horror, fusing sci-fi elements into a slice-of-life setting with a simple story that snowballs into a scarring, mind-numbing saga.Takopi’s Original Sinunconventionally tackles unsettling psychological themes — suicide, depression, abuse — using distinct narrations.
At the heart of the anime,Takopi’s Original Sinis about a gratingly enthusiastic alien from the Planet Happy, whose goal is to spread happiness to anyone he meets (in this case, to the Protagonist Shizuka). Coming from a simple-natured planet, Takopi is clueless about the complexities of humanity.
Soon, the chipper alien discovers the discouraging aspects of humanity, and instead of dissolving his naive determinations, they ironically harden his resolve to make Shizuka happy.Even to the detriment of other humans.Takopi’s Original Sin’semotional touchpoints are both stirring and scarring; it’s a never-ending loop of depressive sequences that barely give viewers a chance to breathe.
