It’s getting cold outside. Grab a blanket, turn the lights off, and get yourself scared (or scarred) with these ten horror anime this Halloween.
Watching Halloween movies in October is part of almost everyone’s pre-Halloween traditions. The weather is starting to cool down, it gets darker earlier, and the leaves start to pile up – it’s the perfect time to cuddle up with a blanket solo or with friends and get yourself spooked right before bed. Though there are a lot of horror movies out there that can satiate even the cravings for scares and screams, sometimes you need something a little different. Why not give horror anime a try?
I’ve said this a thousand times: anime is not just for children. There are plenty of anime targeted towards kids, sure. With the cutest animation styles and trends, shows like Pokemon, Spy X Family, and many others are definitely suitable for children. However, there are plenty, plenty of anime that are absolutely for adult eyes only, and for good reasons: sexual and violent themes paired with gory and disturbing content are very much a thing in anime shows as well. This is why it’s extremely important to “try out” any anime before you let your kiddos consume it.
Well, for us adults who indulge in anime, there are a few must-watch horror anime on our lists for October as well. What makes anime so much scarier than a live-action movie sometimes is the ease with which horrible-looking things can be drawn and animated.
Compared to special effect budgeting and execution, anime monsters, gore, and horror can be as crazy and intricate as they need to be and it won’t bother anyone as long as it matches the animation style. It also adds a little more to the creepiness level to see animations that seem so innocent meet awful ends or turn into complete psychos. But the cherry on top is how so much of Japanese horror legends, myths, and lore make it into these stories.
Japanese horror is known for just having an extra edge when it comes to scaring the crap out of us. Take, for instance, the differences between The Grudge and Ju-On. They’re a movie about the same thing, but their executions make a big difference in just how much creepier Ju-On is. Some horror anime has that same kind of edge against live-action horror content, and I have 10 titles to share with you.
Now, please remember – these titles (and their trailers) are not appropriate for anyone under the age of 18. Don’t scar your kids by accident.