When most people think of horror and Japan, they think of movies like The Ring or The Grudge–primarily something with a vengeful spirit haunting someone. However, for years, anime has also dipped its toes into the genre as well. While horror isn’t as popular as the other sub-genres of the anime, it’s a large, growing market that keeps getting better and better. And even more recently, there’s a larger appreciation for it in the West.
But just like its live-action counterpart, there are many different types of scary anime. Some shows and movies are steeped in Japan’s traditional legends of ghosts and curses, while others dip their toes into over-the-top gore and body horror. There are even horror anthologies as well. And of course, you can also find some good ol’ horror-comedies in the mix as well.
We’ve rounded up some of the best, scariest, and most memorable horror anime released over the past couple of decades. Most of these are available on streaming services such as Funimation, Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu, and while not every show will work for every horror fan, this list should provide a comprehensive overview of all the outstanding horror anime available right now.