Top 5 Dark-Horror Anime Series

'Horror' is a very complex genre and is something of an elusive genre in the anime world. Horror genre is one of the more popular genres in both movies and in anime world. Horror genre touches something in every human that shocks, scares and forces us to experience something beyond our ken.

The World of Japanese animation can sometimes be bloody and terrifying at the same time. In a medium filled with whimsical storytelling, insane action scenes, unexpected and crazy concepts, the horror genre has plenty of representatives. Depending on their art style, soundtracks and atmosphere, unique plots, anime can end up being more terrifying and satisfying than any live-action movies or series.

If you're looking for a story as disgusting and bloody, whether you're more into jump scares, epic amount of gore, a tense atmosphere, chances are that there's a horror anime out there that's perfect for you. Today, I'll be giving you a list of the five best horror anime ever.

Here are the top 5 dark-horror anime:

1. Another

2. Higurashi When They Cry

3. Elfen Lied

4. Corpse Party: Tortured Souls

5. Shiki

1. Another

Rating: 7.6/10 (IMDb)

Episodes: 12

Premiered: Winter 2012

Studio: P.A. Works

Another, resting on the number one spot on this list. With a solid 12 episodes of mysterious deaths and creepy murders, Another is an absolute bloodbath masterpiece.

Another's the first short anime series that I had watched ever. I was just diving into the Anime world at that time. This anime is unlike any other horror series. The suspense, the mysteries, the art, the soundtracks, the voice acting and the pacing, are all perfect. It has a great story and plotline. I myself, actually watched another back when I was just a little kid, and this anime really stuck in my mind.

Another follows Kouichi, Mei, and their classmates as they are pulled into the enigma surrounding a series of inevitable, tragic events but unraveling the horror of Yomiyama may just cost them the ultimate price. Another is a cautionary tale about the far reaching ramifications when a person or, in this case, an entire class refuses to accept the death of a beloved classmate; thereby, inviting death into their school.

2. Higurashi When They Cry

Rating: 7.9/10 (IMDb)

Episodes: 26

Premiered: Spring 2006

Studio: Studio Deen

Higurashi When They Cry is another unsettling and extremely creepy show on this list. No anime list is complete without Higurashi. Not only has it spawned a billion other series, real number there, it's almost the definitive anime for horror fans. It's a careful mix of seemingly comfortable atmosphere broken by tragedy, violence, mystery and even likeable characters. Watch this series if you like gore, mental torture, mysteries and small arcs. Definitively a masterpiece.

The best horror anime to ever exist. A murder mystery that may be confusing, but all is explained as you progress through the series. This story is full of unexpected twists and turns that no one sees coming. Many of the characters appear sweet, innocent and cute but there is more than meets the eye in this haunting tale.

keichi Maebara has just moved to the quiet little village of Hanimizawa and quickly becomes inseparable friends with schoolmates Rena, Mion, Satoko and Rika. Keichi's friends soon begin acting strangely. He fears they may even be after his life. However, darkness lurks underneath the seemingly idyllic life they lead.

3. Elfen Lied

Rating: 8/10 (IMDb)

Episodes: 13

Premiered: Summer 2004

Studio: Arms

Elfen Lied is another classic horror anime, but as much as it mixes nudity with violence, it takes on themes and ideas while trying to make sense of them. It's not exactly a philosophical anime but it isn't as much senseless violence as you may think. This anime has a very unique concept and the art style is also quite good. It is incredibly dark and gory, but it's also heartbreaking and sad.

This is a classic tale about the oppression of a humanoid race with horns and incredible psychic abilities. After years of performing cruel and painful experiments on the Diclonii, their queen escapes. She releases the wrath of her psychic powers known as vectors as she makes her way to freedom. As she fights for her escape queen Lucy loses her memory. She finds herself alone in the world with no idea who she is or why she's so full of hatred for humankind.

4. Corpse Party: Tortured Souls

Rating: 6.5/10 (IMDb)

Episodes: 4

Premiered: Summer 2013

Studio: Asread

Only four episodes long, Corpse Party: Tortured Souls manages to pack in its short time enough nightmare fuel images to last for a lifetime. It may not have much of a story and ratings, but this anime will make you squirm in your seat, which is exactly the purpose of any good horror. It's got that spooky but real atmosphere that lets you wonder what might happen if you were thrown into a literal school from hell. It also has enough scares and deaths to sate anyone's dark desires.

This anime is based on a video game. After performing a strange farewell ritual, a group of students from kisaragi Academy find themselves trapped in Heavenly Host Elementary School, a place in another dimension, that was destroyed years ago after a series of gruesome murders took place.

This anime has a huge amount of violence and gore. This show will scare you and may leave you as traumatized as the survivors.

5. Shiki

Rating: 7.7/10 (IMDb)

Episodes: 22

Premiered: Summer 2010

Studio: Daume

Shiki is a horror-thriller anime about vampires. This slow building mystery takes some patience to get into but the pace soon picks up and rewards those committed with plot twists and creepy tension. Lovers of vampire horror will adore this anime that adds new flavor to a classic trope. Shiki may not look the part at first glance, but don't be fooled as there is actually quite a deep plot to this series.

The story of an isolated village under attack by vampires may sound like the typical monster invasion scenario, but this anime is much more than that. It starts out as an intriguing detective mystery, with a doctor, a priest and a teenager trying to investigate a rash of strange deaths and events. What follows is a bloody fight for the souls of the villagers.

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