eems as Halloween is around the corner, surely this is when we load up our favorite scary anime shows? You know, something to give you chills or even freak you out with its flesh-ripping details? Perhaps a glimpse of oozing blood spatters on the wall is your thing… unless you want to join the quiet hunt for crazy serial killers? Whatever the case, I have gathered a list of different anime from the horror genre, where each one will hopefully appeal to different tastes (do keep in mind that all of these shows are best suited for an older audience).

Elfen Lied

This anime is a top favorite amongst horror flicks fans. Think of it as a Supernatural-style series that innocently plays around with paranormal themes before sneaking up on you by commenting on social norms. The story is about a group of mutants who have developed additional powers and are deemed as a threat to mankind. They are tucked away in experimental labs and such until one mutant, Lucy, manages to flee. She is provided sanctuary by folks who find her but unfortunately, it looks like Lucy has an evil side to that has rather diabolical plans.

The beauty of Elfen Lied lies in its ability to twist everyday concepts and making us view them in a new light. The series was one of the horror animes that didn't shy away from gore; admittedly, most of the gore was implied which in itself made it even more frightening.

Monster

This one is for those who love slow creepy thrills. It's got generous doses of supernatural elements but all of it builds up at a gradual pace. Funnily enough, this gives a sense of urgency which will be delightful for viewers (and mortifying for main protagonist but we're all rooting for the demonish evil guy here, aren't we?). The series itself is about a brain surgeon who goes about his work, saving folks' lives. Except one of his patients turned out to be evil personified. And he just might have unleashed a despicable horror onto mankind by fixing up the brat.

Like I said before, this particular anime is a build-it-up sort of horror that effectively plays mind games with you. The gore itself is not as bad as some of the others on this list but the acts depicted in the story are enough to send chills down your spine.

Violence Jack

Alright, so this deserved honorary mention here. This particular anime is old school and will remind you of the good old days when everything wasn't toned down as a PG-13 number. Thus, expect to see scenes that make you squirm in your seat. You will witness explicit gore (limb-tearing anyone?) and you will be a bit shocked at some of the adult scenes. It's really not that bad, but it is a far cry from the modern colorful (not to mention romance-based) pseudo-horror/thriller series that we are happy to brand as scary today. Violence Jack is about a world that has fallen apart after some tragic natural diasters. Remember all those dystopian movies about nuclear holocausts and what not? With folks living in street, shouting 'Every man for himself' and indulging in weird and nasty acts everywhere? Ye, that's basically what this show is about. Oh and you get Jack, the beffy main character who helps the weak and the helpless, so to speak. But amongst his adventyures, you get to see some rather ugly aspects of human nature in this show so brace yourself.

Hakaba Kitaro

For those who want something a bit more traditional in a horror flick, try out Hakaba Kitaro. The series follows the footsteps of a spirit-monster called Kitaro as he strives to maintain a balance between humans and spirits. Oh boy, you can see how this can be troublesome. The charm of this show lies in the way it creates a chilling atmosphere … not to mention, surreal creatures or objects. To a large extent, this is more charming than frightening but is still worth watching because of its creative subject matter.

Jigoku Shoujo (aka Hell Girl)

This one's another top favorite amongst anime fans. The gist of the story is as follows: you have a liasion of sorts to hell who will take away folks who bully you. Well, anyone who makes your life miserable or creates a private hell for you on earth. Sounds pretty witchy, doesn't it? The appeal of this show revolves around its stunning visuals. But that's not all; folks also praise the way human viles are depicted in the show. It's terrifying, not just because of the journey through the unknown but because of what you witness about human nature.

Gantz

Enough of the soft, namby-pamby stuff, how about some action! Well, at least that's what a few readers are probably thinking now. Fear not, there's always Gantz. This scifi horror offers plenty of intense fighting, creepy chases down dark tunnels and bizarre mind-warping twists in the story. The show also doesn't tip-toe around gore, an element that is lacking in a lot of modern animes and thus, is a sore point amongst diehard fans. Where the plot is concerend, it is about two teenagers who die an icky death on a train track only to find that they have become a weird type of undead. Thus, they are now owned by an 'entity' called Gantz which assigns them missions … to fend off aliens! Things get creepy and interesting at the same from then onwards.

 

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