10 Horror Anime To Keep You Up At Night

The world of Japanese animation can sometimes be as scary as it is delightful. In a medium filled to the brim with whimsical storytelling, insane action scenes, fan service and crazy concepts, the horror genre has plenty of representatives.

Depending on their art style, music and atmosphere, anime can end up being more terrifying than any live-action series or film. As is to be expected, not every horror anime is a masterpiece, but while some fall short when it comes to storytelling and character development, they more than make up for it with gallons of blood and guts.

Others start deceptively innocent enough, making the viewers drop their defenses and shocking them when they least expect it. Some anime make a habit of subverting expectations. A freaky smile can sometimes be more disturbing than any pile of corpses.

Nevertheless, as varied as they come, what the anime on this list all have in common is a capacity to disturb and shatter any sense of security the viewer has ever had. When the dark suddenly seems more menacing than usual, you know you’re watching something truly scary. So, whether you’re more into jump scares, epic amounts of gore, a tense atmosphere or an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, chances are that there’s a horror anime out there that’s perfect for you. (Just be sure to keep the lights on, when you watch it.)

When compared with some of the other anime on this list, The Promised Neverland may come off as a little tame. It may not be anywhere near as bloody as some of the gorefests that'll come later, but it more than makes up in story, tense atmosphere and creepy expressions.

An orphanage where children are raised to serve as cattle is an idea that is disturbing by itself, but The Promised Neverland takes the concept and builds around it a complex and deadly cat and mouse game. The three oldest siblings that live at the apparently idyllic Grace Field House, Emma, Ray and Norman not only have to face the horrible truth regarding the fate of the children, but they must also outwit their so-called ‘Mama’, Isabella.

The stakes are incredibly high for these kids, as they deal with the people they used to consider family and prepare themselves to escape to the world outside, which just happens to be populated by the very creatures that consume human children.

There’s a constant sense of unease, making The Promised Neverland an excellent thriller, as well as an effective horror story.