10 Best Anime to Watch on Halloween
Halloween is the perfect time to watch the eerie, thrilling, and supernatural world of anime. Whether you’re a fan of ghosts, vampires, or psychological horror, there’s something for everyone to get in the spooky spirit.
From haunted mysteries to blood-wrenching battles against the undead, these anime series are ideal for a night of chills. Here’s a countdown of the 10 best anime to watch during Halloween, offering a variety of scary tales, supernatural elements, and intense scenes to keep you on edge.
10. Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories
Yamishibai presents traditional Japanese horror tales in a unique, short-episode format. Each episode is a self-contained story inspired by Japanese urban legends and folklore. The animation style mimics kamishibai, a Japanese paper theater, which adds an extra layer of creepiness.
Some stories involve cursed objects, malevolent spirits, and terrifying creatures. With episodes under 5 minutes, the series delivers quick, spine-chilling experiences perfect for Halloween night. The atmosphere is unsettling, with eerie visuals and ominous soundscapes that build tension. If you enjoy brief, impactful scares, Yamishibai is an excellent choice for Halloween.
9. Hell Girl
Hell Girl follows Ai Enma, a mysterious figure who allows people to summon her to take revenge on those who have wronged them. The catch? When she takes their soul to Hell, the summoner is also condemned to the same fate after their death.
Each episode explores the moral dilemmas faced by characters seeking vengeance, highlighting the consequences of hatred and rage. The supernatural atmosphere and Ai's eerie calmness, along with her chilling tagline, "Would you like to give them a taste of hell?" make Hell Girl a spooky choice for Halloween.
8. Paranoia Agent
Paranoia Agent tells the story of "Lil' Slugger," a mysterious figure who attacks people with a golden baseball bat, spreading paranoia throughout Tokyo. The series focuses on the interconnected lives of the victims and how the fear of Lil' Slugger causes society to unravel.
As the attacks continue, the line between reality and delusion blurs, leading to mind-bending twists. Directed by the legendary Satoshi Kon, this psychological horror series showcases anxiety, urban pressure, and mass hysteria, making it a perfect Halloween watch for fans of the uncanny and psychological horror.
7. Shiki
Set in a small, isolated village, Shiki follows the mysterious deaths of villagers that begin after the arrival of a strange family. Dr. Toshio Ozaki investigates these deaths and soon discovers that vampires, or "Shiki," are behind the killings.
The anime is about survival, as both humans and Shiki fight to stay alive. The eerie atmosphere, combined with tense moments and horrific revelations, makes this vampire tale gripping. As the line between victim and predator blurs, Shiki builds a chilling narrative ideal for Halloween binge-watching.
6. Hellsing Ultimate
In Hellsing Ultimate, Sir Integra Hellsing leads an organization tasked with defending England from supernatural threats. The group's most powerful weapon is Alucard, an ancient vampire who serves the Hellsing family.
Alucard battles a variety of dark forces, including vampires, ghouls, and Nazi remnants aiming to plunge the world into chaos. With its blood-soaked action, gothic atmosphere, and a terrifyingly powerful protagonist, Hellsing Ultimate delivers intense, adrenaline-pumping horror. Alucard's unyielding dominance over his foes, along with dark themes and war, make it a perfect Halloween anime choice.
5. Another
Another is a psychological horror story set in Yomiyama North Middle School, where a curse causes students and their relatives to die in gruesome accidents. The story centers on Koichi Sakakibara, who transfers to the cursed school and befriends a mysterious girl, Mei Misaki, whom the other students seem to ignore.
Together, they try to unravel the truth behind the curse and stop the deaths. With a creeping atmosphere of dread and numerous shocking deaths, Another is a hair-raising experience perfect for Halloween night horror marathons.
4. Parasyte: The Maxim
Parasyte: The Maxim follows Shinichi Izumi, an ordinary high school student who is partially infected by an alien parasite named Migi. While most parasites completely take over human hosts, Migi only controls Shinichi’s right hand, allowing the two to form an unusual partnership.
Together, they fight off other parasites, who are fully in control of their hosts and intent on consuming humans. The gory battles, grotesque transformations, and philosophical questions about humanity and survival make Parasyte an intense and chilling series, perfectly suited for Halloween thrills.
3. The Promised Neverland (Season 1)
In The Promised Neverland, a group of orphans at Grace Field House, led by Emma, Norman, and Ray, discover the horrifying truth that their idyllic life is a facade. The children are being raised as livestock for monstrous creatures.
The series follows their desperate attempts to escape the facility and outwit their caretakers. With psychological tension, clever tactics, and a terrifying secret at its core, Season 1 of The Promised Neverland builds suspense in every episode, making it a perfect choice for a chilling Halloween watch.
2. Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul tells the story of Ken Kaneki, a college student who is transformed into a half-ghoul after a deadly encounter with one. Ghouls are flesh-eating creatures that live hidden within human society. As Ken struggles to balance his human emotions with his ghoul hunger, he is drawn into the violent world of ghoul factions and human hunters.
The series is filled with questions about identity, survival, and moral ambiguity, all while delivering brutal action scenes and grotesque transformations, making it a top pick for fans seeking dark, horrific themes this Halloween.
1. Death Note
In Death Note, Light Yagami, a high school genius, discovers a notebook that allows him to kill anyone whose name he writes in it. He uses the power of the Death Note to create a utopia free of criminals, positioning himself as the god-like figure "Kira."
However, his plans are threatened by the brilliant detective L, leading to a high-stakes battle of wits. Death Note’s suspenseful cat-and-mouse game, along with its dark exploration of justice, power, and morality, makes it an iconic psychological thriller and a must-watch for Halloween.
