Top 5 Underrated Horror Anime Series

There’s a distinct reason why dedicated anime enthusiasts take offense when those unfamiliar with anime label it as ‘cartoons.’ Cartoons typically embody wholesome, child-friendly animated content designed to elicit feelings of joy and amusement. They exude brightness and fantasy, serving as a means for both kids and adults to unwind and momentarily escape the burdens of reality. They are certainly not intended to induce existential crises or nightmares.

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In stark contrast, anime has gained renown for catering to a more mature audience. While there are undoubtedly many anime series with a child-friendly and vibrant tone, such as “Pokemon” and “Doraemon,” numerous horror anime, including the renowned “Junji Ito Collection” and “Hellsing,” delve into spine-chilling and terrifying narratives that even adults may find unsettling.

Explore some of the most underappreciated horror anime of all time, provided your nerves can withstand the experience intact.

#1 Hell Girl

“Hell Girl,” also known as “Jigoku Shoujo: Girl From Hell,” is a horror fantasy anime released in 2005. The concept of “Hell Girl” revolves around revenge and humanity. Every episode has a different story, but the one constant is the presence of Enma Ai, the Hell Girl. Enma Ai operates a website called Hell Correspondence, where, at exactly midnight, a ‘victim’ can request revenge on their ‘tormentor.’ Enma Ai and her partners go through with the revenge for the requester and send the perpetrator to hell. However, the catch is that both the perpetrator and the client making the request will be condemned to hell.

“Hell Girl” has 4 seasons as of 2023. You can watch them on Prime Video.

#2 Devilman Crybaby

“Devilman Crybaby,” released in 2018, is another unsettling anime. It’s a dark fantasy with explicit gory elements and graphic animation that leave the viewers tipsy. It explores many philosophical themes about humanity, war, hopelessness, and discrimination. It follows a weak and unassuming high school teen, Akira Fudou who finds out from his best friend Ryo Asuka, that demons exist and that there is a chance they might attack humans. The only way to stop them is for Akira to integrate with a demon. Akira becomes the Devilman, but he can’t replace his human heart.

“Devilman Crybaby” is licensed by Netflix and is available to stream on the platform.

#3 Another

“Another” is a supernatural horror anime released in 2012, centered around a high school transfer student, Kouichi Sakakibara, who meets a mysterious girl, Mei Misaki, at his new school. All the other students avoid Mei and at times treat her like she’s invisible, but Kouichi befriends her instantly. However, following their new budding friendship, a series of tragedies surrounding his classmates’ deaths start to happen.

“Another” is available on Crunchyroll.

#4 Ergo Proxy

“Ergo Proxy,” released in 2006, is not exactly a horror anime but more like a dystopian action with cyberpunk elements. Additionally, it’s not the most disturbing anime on this list either. This anime also has philosophical elements to it, particularly religious philosophy. It follows Inspector Re-l Mayer of the Citizen Intelligence Bureau who gets assigned to investigate mysterious cases of robots becoming sentient.

“Ergo Proxy” can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

#5 xxxHOLiC

“xxxHOLiC,” released in 2006, is another dark fantasy anime with horror elements in it. The anime revolves around a high school student, Kimihiro Watanuki, who has the ability to see supernatural beings despite not wanting to. He seeks out Yuko Ichihara, a witch who runs a shop that grants wishes, for the removal of his abilities.

“xxxHOLiC” is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

These anime series are not meant for the faint-hearted, and their intensity doesn’t solely arise from their horror elements but also from their profound and thought-provoking philosophical depth. Nevertheless, the experience they offer is entirely worthwhile.