5 best horror anime on Netflix

Some of the most memorable moments I shared with my friends when I was younger were microwaving an obscene amount of popcorn, making an unsteady fort out of blankets and pillows, and tuning into some late-night horror movies and shows against all of our parents’ advice.

This was the beginning stages of an obsession that would span well into my adulthood and bleed into a majority of my daily content consumption. Couple this keen hunger for all things heebie-jeebie with a proclivity for watching cartoons and visual animation, the result is something spectacular.

If you grew up with the same knack for choosing Goosebumps over Magic School Bus and impatiently awaiting the next issue of Shonen Jump to land in your mailbox, look no further.

Best horror anime on Netflix

Below are some of the most gruesome, tantalizing, action-packed, gory horror anime culminations to exist on Netflix!

The Promised Neverland

Set in and around an orphanage called Grace Field House, the highly intelligent children here live extremely peaceful, happy lives all in the care of their mother, Isabella. The beautiful, open landscape that surrounds the Grace Field House is a perfect place for the children to explore, play, and find respite during their days at the orphanage. One that sports three full stories and a very dated lifestyle without the use of modern technology. However, everything is not as it seems.

Emma, Norman, and Ray, three highly intelligent children, discover that their existence at Grace Field House is anything but a loving place for children to await their forever families. They discover that the children are being raised as livestock for dreadful, flesh-hungry demons in a dystopian world that has been forever changed by the presence of these creatures. Constantly pursued by Isabella and these demons, the children must utilize their skills and resourcefulness to escape their newfound fate.

The Promised Neverland is a suspenseful, dark, disheartening, edge-of-seat thriller that explores themes of survival, betrayal, innocence, trust, and the meaning of family, all while providing horrific visuals and a fresh look at the common dystopian trope.

Japanese Tales of the Macabre

Presenting as an anthology series much like Guillermo del Toros’ Cabinet of Curiosities, each of its 12 episodes tells a different story. Artist Junji Ito is already well known in the world of horror for illustrating some of the most memorably gruesome horror-candy stories like Tomie, Uzumaki, and Gyo.

Japanese Tales of the Macabre is a masterpiece of exploration into what seems like a madman given the power of projecting their darkest, most in-depth nightmares. This series explores many common tropes that include dark themes like suicide, ghosts, ghouls, bullying, and the supernatural but without the restraints that physics would place on a real-life film.

Japanese Tales of the Macabre explores a plethora of commonly understood horror tropes that work, often utilizing characters from all social classes and walks of life. Whether you’re into vengeful spirits, haunted locations, folklore, or paranormal encounters, this series has a little bit of everything and is the perfect watch for someone not looking to binge-watch but to get pulled into stories illustrating terrifying tales from all corners of horror.

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: The Battle of Unato

Introduced as a prequel to the successful Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, this three-part film follows Ikoma, a human with a zombie-like virus in their system, as he and his friends defend Unato against siege from the zombie-like creatures. The virus gives some humans powerful abilities, known as Kabaneri.

Though The Battle of Unato is very action-forward, this still lands on this list as the Kabane are just as powerful as they are terrifying. Ikoma faces not only these devastatingly vicious, blood-hungry creatures and a pack of rogue Kabaneri, and this relentless battle also fought over the stronghold of Unato is bound to have you switching from the edge of your seat back to under your covers.

The series is wrought with moments of high-intensity action, emotional tear-jerkers, horrific visuals, and stunning animation, all the while exploring themes of violence, courage, friendship, unwavering determination, and most of all, horror.

Sirius the Jaeger

As one of my personal favorites on this list, the story of Yuliy in Sirius the Jaeger may be hiding in plain site, as it’s not an obvious horror anime. Set in 1930s Imperial Tokyo, Yuliy is the last surviving member of his tribe; a tribe of werewolves. As vampires have just come out of hiding, they nefariously strategize to obtain a powerful artifact known as “The Ark of Sirius.”

The vampires depicted in this show are nothing to laugh at either, often displaying immense savagery and brute strength that can be seen in popular vampire adaptations like Queen of the Damned. Our protagonists are the only true opposition: a group of vampire hunters known as The Jaegers. With somewhat politically-driven themes, Yuliy and the Jaegers must restrain the hold that these vampires would otherwise easily obtain over Tokyo all while uncovering Yuliy’s tragic, complicated past and how it shaped the current events.

Sirius the Jaeger flawlessly executes traditionally popular depictions of creatures popular in age-old folklore in a way that is refreshing enough to stand out and familiar enough to expect the absolute worst in terms of their respective abilities, strengths, motives, and characteristics.

Attack on Titan

Possibly the most brutal of all the others on this list, Attack on Titan is a massively successful story of pure desperation to survive juxtaposed with human beings’ innate ability to thrive amidst gruesome odds. Mostly taking place on Paradis Island, human beings have built a nearly impenetrable fortress sporting 50-meter walls all to keep one thing out: the Titans, giant humanoid creatures that carelessly devour humans for no obvious reason.

This show follows our protagonist Eren and his two friends, Mikasa and Armin, who all bear witness to these Titans as they destroy their hometown and watch in horror as Erens’ mother is ferociously devoured. They all gradually make their way to joining the Armed Forces of Eldia, the military specifically trained to defeat and defend Paradis Island from the Titans. Darkness seems to layer every moment of this show even in its’ most positive moments.

The themes of sheer brutality and the Titans’ unsettling movements and behavior make Attack on Titan a must-watch for any horror fan. The show is all-encompassing in terms of explored themes and emotions that cause pause and contemplation.

From vampires to ghouls, to inhumane creatures of only the wildest imaginations, some of the most grueling stories ever told are through Japanese-style animation. Now you know where to find them! What’s your favorite horror anime on Netflix?