It’s that time of the year again – October is in full swing and it’s the perfect time to huddle up and watch some horror anime. With Halloween just around the corner, the spooky atmosphere is at its peak so we compiled a list of the best horror anime to watch this October.
Horror anime isn’t a rare sight, but in recent years it’s become exceedingly difficult to find good titles that give out the creepy vibes. It’s also quite hard to find a good balance between just gore and actual scary horror. The manga scene probably has more to offer in this regard, but while we wait for some of the better titles to get anime adaptations, we’ll have to make do with what we have. So, take a look at the list we compiled and hopefully, you’ll find something worth watching.
Another (2012)
Another is one of those titles you see on nearly every horror anime list. The story is based on a light novel with the same name, but the anime adds some elements. For example, the main plot twist is less obvious in the anime, and there is more violence and gore. You’ve probably seen the iconic umbrella scene but Another has a lot more to offer. The mystery is spot on, the horror doesn’t stop at gore and the ending actually leaves you with a spooky feeling. Most of us probably have a soft spot for it, which is why it ranks quite high among the fans, but it’s definitely a good choice for horror anime.
The anime only has one season, but the light novel sequel came out last year. The sequel, titled Another 2001, is getting an English release next March.
You can watch it on Crunchyroll.
©Yukito Ayatsuji, Hiro Kiyohara/Kadokawa Shoten/Another Production Committee
Highschool of the Dead (2010)
Highschool of the Dead is one of those series that are just absolutely wild in every way. The anime has an insane amount of fan service and over-the-top ecchi scenes, you’ve seen the infamous sniper stand scene, but it actually does a good job of portraying a zombie apocalypse. A group of high-schoolers takes on the world filled with zombies while trying to find allies and a way to survive. The anime has one season and an OVA, which don’t complete the story but give somewhat of a satisfying ending.
The author of the manga, Daisuke Sato, sadly died in 2017. He was sick for close to a decade, which brought the manga production to a halt. After his death, Highschool of the Dead manga stopped publishing. The illustrator Shoji Sato stated that he could not do it alone and that Daisuke was the brain behind the series.
You can watch it on HiDive and Funimation.
© Daisuke Sato, Shuoji Sato/Fujimishobo/H.O.T.D. Production Committee
Shiki (2010)
Shiki is… a special case. Was it great? Not really. But it was still quite decent and it did pose some interesting questions. Bonus points for completing the main storyline in 1 season. Vampires aren’t that scary anymore but are a Halloween must. Shiki manages to take a cliche and make it actually creepy, by adding some absolutely terrifying moments and overall atmosphere. The mystery is there, but in the second half it devolves into a weird mix of “humans are monsters” and just overall ridiculous plot points. Still, it’s a good watch and if you like horror you should definitely watch it. The philosophical aspect of the story was also quite intriguing, all things considered.
Shiki begins during a hot summer when an alarming number of deaths occur in a quiet village. An epidemic is suspected, but as investigations continue and bodies pile up, a horrifying truth is revealed. All hell breaks loose when the villagers discover their loved ones are rising from the grave. Haunting, hallucinogenic, and unnerving, Shiki stares into the hearts of the hunter and the hunted.
-via Funimation
The anime isn’t available to stream but Funimation does have physical editions of it – DVD and BluRay.
©Fuyumi Ono, Ryu Fujisaki/Shinchosha, Shueisha/Shiki Production Committee
Higurashi
Higurashi is not something you can just binge, but I firmly believe that season 1 is a perfect choice for a Halloween watch. The series always used gore to accentuate the horror aspect of its story, and once that wears off the shock value is sadly lost and the whole premise doesn’t feel as scary anymore. As the story progresses secrets and mysteries get resolved, but the gore is still there, so this franchise is a perfect choice for the fans of slashers. Seasons 1 and 2 of DEEN adaptation have that spooky feel to it since the answers aren’t given until later. Since a new adaptation came out recently, you might be confused as to what to watch first, in which case you can check out our Higurashi watching guide.
Transfer student Maebara Keiichi enjoys carefree days of playing with his friends in the sleepy town of Hinamizawa until news of a murder set horrible events into motion.
via HiDive
You can watch Higurashi on Netflix and HiDive.
© Ryukishi07/Higurashi-P/SOTSU
Shadows House
Shadows House is a relatively new title, especially in the anime scene. Season 1 aired during Spring 2021 and the sequel is on its way. The story is more mystery-oriented, but it does have some horror aspects that make you tense up as you watch. The characters look cute but the truth behind the Shadows House is quite terrifying. Even though the story diverges from the manga at one point, the authors promise that it will get back on track as they are involved with the production. If you’re an anime-only for this series, you won’t even notice the difference.
High atop a cliff sits the mansion known as Shadows House, home to a faceless clan that pretends to live like nobles. They express their emotions through living dolls that also endlessly clean the home of soot. One such servant, Emilico, aids her master Kate as they learn more about themselves and the mysteries of the house.
via Funimation
You can watch it on Funimation.
©Somato/Shueisha/Shadows House Production Committee
