25 Best Anime to Watch During Halloween

With the changing leaves and cooler weather, Halloween is almost here, and that means it’s time for spooky stories that give you chills and spark your imagination. Every year, I explore the world of anime to find the perfect shows for this time of year. If you’re in the mood for ghosts, unsettling mysteries, or just a bit of the supernatural, I’ve put together a list of the best anime to watch for Halloween. So, get comfortable with your favorite blanket, turn down the lights, and get ready to experience some scary and fantastical animated adventures.

1. Elfen Lied

Original Run: July 25, 2004 – October 17, 2004
Episodes: 13 (plus OVA)
Created By: Rin Okamoto
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction

The story takes place in Kamakura, Japan, and centers on the Diclonius – beings who are mutants, looking almost human but distinguished by two unusual horns and possessing incredibly powerful, unseen limbs known as “vectors”.

Diclonius babies are thought to pose a threat to humans, so they are either killed immediately after birth or confined to research facilities. There, they endure horrific torture and extremely violent experiments. This treatment is based on the belief that they are dangerous.

However, Lucy manages to escape to the sea, violently attacking anyone who tries to stop her. She’s discovered on the beach by two boys, suffering from complete amnesia and a split personality – the result of a gunshot wound to the head sustained during her escape.

2. Mononoke

Original Run: July 12, 2007 – September 27, 2007
Episodes: A total of 12 episodes were made.
Created By: The series was created by Kenji Nakamura.
Genres: It blends elements of ghost stories, mystery, and psychological horror.

Mononoke centers around the mysterious apothecary first introduced in the third story arc of Ayakashi. This character is a man of few words – so much so that his name remains unknown. He journeys with a medicine cabinet and a special box holding a spiritual sword, which features a monkey head as its handle ornament.

3. Tokyo Ghoul

Original Run: July 4, 2014 – December 25, 2018
Episodes: 48 episodes, plus 2 additional OVA episodes
Created By: Sui Ishida
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Horror, and Supernatural Thriller

The story of Tokyo Ghoul centers around Ken Kaneki, a student who develops feelings for a woman named Rize Kamishiro. After they meet, Rize unexpectedly bites Ken’s shoulder in a private alley, revealing she is a ghoul – a shocking discovery for him. This event dramatically changes Ken’s life.

Just as Rizeis was preparing to devour Ken, several large metal poles plummeted down from a nearby building construction site. Roze was killed instantly, while Ken was taken to the hospital with critical injuries. After he recovered, he was discharged. However, on the day he left the hospital, Ken discovered he was no longer human. Looking in the mirror, he felt a chill run down his spine as he noticed he now had one “red eye”.

He discovers that Rize’s organs were surgically implanted into his body while he was in the hospital. Because he now possesses Rize’s organs, he is known as a “half-ghoul” – a very rare occurrence.

4. Soul Eater

Original Run: April 7, 2008 – March 30, 2009
Episodes: 51
Created By: Atsushi Ōkubo
Genres: Action, Dark Comedy, Dark Fantasy

To defeat the malevolent Kishin, a being capable of throwing the world into utter chaos, Shinigami-sama established The Academy. This is where Weapons and their Overlords are trained as a team.

The first group represents the actual tools needed to save the world; the second group are the wielders of those tools. The Scythe of Death will be created when it consumes 99 evil souls on the verge of becoming Kishin, along with one witch’s soul, and as a result, all overlords are fiercely competing to create it.

This story unfolds alongside the central happenings of the manga and anime. At this point, Maka and Soul hadn’t yet gained recognition within the Academy or the wider world.

5. Seikimatsu Occult Academy

Original Run: July 6, 2010 – September 27, 2010
Episodes: A total of 13 episodes were made.
Created By: Tomohiko Itō is the creator of this series.
Genres: It’s a mix of fantasy, supernatural elements, and comedy.

The story centers on Maya Kumashiro, whose father, the head of the exclusive Waldstein academy-a school focused on the study of the occult-has recently passed away.

The year is 1999. Agent Fumiaki Uchida, a secretive young man, has traveled from 2012 through time. His mission: to destroy the Key of Nostradamus, a mysterious object that will soon cause a crisis. This crisis will open the door for an invasion from another dimension, potentially leading to a war that could wipe out humanity in the future.

Uchida and Maya join forces with the goal of stopping the invaders and saving Earth’s future. However, the school is filled with strange paranormal events, and figuring out which one holds the key to Nostradamus’s prophecy proves to be much more difficult than they initially thought.

6. Ghost Hunt

Original Run: October 3, 2006 – March 27, 2007
Episodes: A total of 25 episodes were made.
Created By: Fuyumi Ono is the creator of this series.
Genres: This show blends mystery, horror, and supernatural elements.

Ghost Hunt centers around Shibuya Kazuya, the head of Shibuya Psychic Research (SPR), and Mai Taniyama, a freshman in high school. The narrative kicks off when Mai and her friends share ghost stories in class. Their storytelling is interrupted twice: first by an enigmatic “student,” and then by a classmate who cautions them that their tales seem to attract spirits.

The following morning, as she was walking, she came across the building featured in one of the ghost stories. Intrigued, she decided to investigate.

7. DEATH NOTE

Original Run: October 3, 2006 – June 26, 2007
Episodes: A total of 37 episodes were made.
Created By: The series was created by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata.
Genres: It falls into the categories of Mystery, Supernatural Thriller, and Psychological Thriller.

Light Yagami is an exceptionally bright student who feels unfulfilled and frustrated by the crime and dishonesty he sees all around him. His life dramatically changes when he discovers a strange black notebook on the ground. The notebook, called “Death Note”, contains a chilling rule: “Anyone whose name is written in this notebook will die.”

At first, Light doubted the notebook’s power, but he became convinced after testing it on two criminals and encountering Ryuk, the shinigami who owned the Death Note. He then resolved to use this newfound ability to eliminate all criminals, wipe out evil, and become the “God of the new world”.

In his evil deeds, he is first challenged by the mysterious L and later by his former apprentices.

8. Parasyte -the maxim-

Original Run: October 9, 2014 – March 26, 2015
Episodes: A total of 24 episodes were made.
Created By: The series was created by Hitoshi Iwaaki.
Genres: It combines elements of body horror, thrilling horror, and science fiction.

One night, strange, tennis ball-sized spheres filled with snake-like beings rained down across the globe – no one knows how many there were. These creatures are designed to replace human brains. One of them attacks a young man named Shinichi while he’s sleeping, attempting to enter through his ear, but fails to reach his brain.

I was on the edge of my seat when he woke up, startled as this parasite tried to get inside through his nose! He desperately tried to fight it off, but it managed to puncture his right hand. Then, in a really resourceful move, the high school student grabbed his headphones and quickly wrapped them tightly around his arm – a makeshift barrier to stop the parasite from reaching his brain. It was such a tense moment!

It’s wild to watch how the parasite just *becomes* part of his arm, eventually even fusing with his hand. And things get even creepier – other parasites manage to take over people’s brains and start feeding on humans. It’s a total nightmare! This leaves the creature and Shinichi in this bizarre situation where they’re forced to live together, completely stuck with each other. It’s a really unsettling dynamic, and I was on the edge of my seat!

9. Rosario + Vampire

Original Run: January 3, 2008 – March 27, 2008 / October 2, 2008 – December 24, 2008
Episodes: 13 / 13
Created By: Akihisa Ikeda
Genres: Harem, romantic comedy, supernatural

Tsukune Aono is a pretty average teenager who didn’t do well on his high school entrance exams. Luckily, his father stumbles upon an ad for Yokai High School, a school specifically for monsters. That’s where he meets Moka Akashiya, a seemingly sweet girl who actually has a hidden dual personality and incredibly strong vampire abilities – she’s an S-class monster.

His abilities become apparent when the rosary he wears around his neck is ripped away. With Moka’s powers assisting him, the two of them will battle numerous monsters. Afterwards, Tsukune and Moka encounter Kurumu Kurono, a succubus, and Yukari Sendo, a remarkably talented young witch.

10. Umineko: When They Cry

Original Run: July 2, 2009 – December 24, 2009
Episodes: 26
Created By: 07th Expansion
Genres: Mystery

The game’s central story unfolds over just two days – October 4th and 5th, 1986 – on the secluded island of Rokkenjima, part of the Izu Islands. This is the home of Kinzo, the patriarch of the wealthy Ushiromiya family.

With the patriarch’s health failing, eight family members come together for their yearly meeting to figure out how to split the inheritance.

The group includes three additional family members and five staff. Just as initial discussions start, a typhoon approaches, trapping everyone on the island. Simultaneously, bizarre events unfold, and people begin to die, one after another.

11. Another

Original Run: January 10, 2012 – March 27, 2012
Episodes: 12 episodes, plus an OVA
Created By: Yukiko Ayatsuji
Genres: Horror, Mystery, and Supernatural Thriller

In 1972, a well-liked and engaging student named Misaki Yomiyama, from Class 3-3 at North Yomiyama School, unexpectedly passed away during the school year. The loss deeply affected his classmates and teacher, who continued to act as if he were still with them, and they even kept a place open for him at the graduation ceremony.

What was even more suspicious was that Misaki appeared in the graduation photograph.

In the spring of 1998, Kōichi Sakakibara, a ninth-grade student, relocated from Tokyo to Yomiyama, his mother’s hometown. This move happened because his father took a research assignment in India. Kōichi transferred to North Yomiyama School, specifically joining class 3-3.

12. Devilman Crybaby

I absolutely loved discovering this show! The Original Run: started back on January 5, 2018, and it had a total of Episodes: 10. What really drew me in was the creative vision of Created By: Masaaki Yuasa and Ichirō Ōkouchi. It’s a fantastic blend of Genres: action and dark fantasy – truly captivating!

Akira Fudo learns from his close friend, Ryo Asuka, that an ancient race of Demons – who inhabit human bodies – have returned to Earth. Ryo believes the best way to overcome the Demons is to demonstrate their existence to people, so he asks Akira to join him in witnessing a possession firsthand.

By uniting with Amon, the Lord of Demons, Akira undergoes a transformation into Devilman-a being possessing demonic abilities, yet still maintaining his human heart.

13. Blood Blockade Battlefront

Original Run: April 4, 2015 – October 4, 2015 / October 7, 2017 – December 23, 2017
Episodes: 12 episodes plus an OVA / 12 episodes plus an OVA
Created By: Yasuhiro Nightow
Genres: Action, science fiction, and urban fantasy

A separation between Earth and another world appeared in New York City three years ago. That awful night, New York was completely destroyed and then rebuilt, creating a barrier that trapped both New Yorkers and beings from other dimensions inside.

As a total movie buff, let me tell you about this city, now called Hellsalem’s Lot. It’s seriously wild – a real paranormal melting pot where magic, craziness, and everyday life all collide. Basically, every kind of supernatural creature you can imagine ends up there, trying to tap into the power. But things are getting dangerous! Someone’s trying to break through this barrier called the Bull and unleash all sorts of horrors from New Jerusalem. Luckily, there’s this secret group, Libra – a team of super agents – working to stop it. They’re the only ones who can prevent something truly awful from happening.

14. Hell Girl

Original Run: October 4, 2005 – September 29, 2017
Episodes: 90
Created By: Hiroshi Watanabe
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Supernatural Thriller

If someone harbors a deep grudge, the Jigoku Shōjo (Hell Girl) will appear, offering to send the person who caused that hatred to Hell. However, before she can enact this revenge, the person seeking it must first make a contract with her. The cost of this contract is always the same: the person who accepts it will also be sent to Hell upon their death.

The series is essentially a set of standalone stories. Each one focuses on a different person’s hardship caused by others, their agreement with Enma Ai, and the resulting punishment given to the person who caused the harm.

15. Highschool of the Dead

Original Run: July 5, 2010 – September 20, 2010
Episodes: 12 episodes, plus an OVA
Created By: Daisuke Satō and Shōji Satō
Genres: Action, Horror, and Supernatural Thriller

It was a typical morning, and things were proceeding as usual. However, Komuro Takashi, the story’s protagonist, noticed something odd from the rooftop. He saw a suspicious man creating a disturbance at the school entrance, causing confusion.

During an attempt to remove him from school, one of the teachers was bitten by the strange man. Amidst the panicked cries of the other teachers, he rises again – but now he’s a zombie.

He then starts eating the teachers who had been with him. Witnessing this horrific scene, Takashi flees back into the school, reuniting with his friend Miyamoto Rei and her boyfriend, Igou Hisashi, who is also a close friend of Takashi’s.

Now the school is already overrun with teachers and other zombie high schools.

16. Berserk

Original Run: October 7, 1997 – March 31, 1998 / July 1, 2016 – June 23, 2017
Episodes: 25 / 24
Created By: Kentaro Miura
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Epic, Sword and Sorcery

Berserk recounts the story of how Guts and Griffith first met. Griffith is the leader of the Falcon Troop, a group of mercenaries working for the kingdom of Midland. Their encounter sparks a complex, yet effective, friendship. Guts, a powerful warrior wielding a massive sword, quickly becomes a vital asset to Griffith’s aspirations. Griffith himself is a charismatic leader and a brilliant strategist.

As a fan, I’d describe the anime as the story of the Falcon Troop – how they rose to power and then ultimately fell. But it’s really the connection between Guts and Griffith that drives everything. Their relationship is incredibly complex! You see Griffith using Guts’ strength to his advantage, but there’s also a real sense of respect between them – they both acknowledge each other as powerful soldiers. And beyond that, there’s this deep, almost inexplicable need each has for the other’s presence. It’s not just a working relationship; it’s something far more profound. You really feel how much they rely on each other, even when things get difficult. It’s a central theme, and it’s fascinating to watch unfold.

17. Devils’ Line

Original Run: April 7, 2018 – June 23, 2018
Episodes: 12 + OVA
Created By: Ryo Hanada
Genres: Dark fantasy

One evening, student Tsukasa Taira is walking home with her classmate, Shota Akimura, when a mysterious figure begins to follow them. The city has been plagued by a series of murders targeting women, and many suspect a demon is responsible. However, the person following them turns out to be Yūki Anzai, an investigator who is secretly a half-demon and uses his unique abilities to track down these demonic threats.

Shota is arrested due to being a demon and being a suspect in the recent murders. Meanwhile, the rescued Tsukasa takes Anzai back to his home. There, he unexpectedly attacks her, but manages to restrain himself thanks to his medication. This is because Anzai, like other demons, also struggles to control his bloodlust while trying to live peacefully among humans. Maintaining this balance is a constant challenge.

18. Actually, I Am…

Original Run: July 6, 2015 – September 28, 2015
Episodes: A total of 13 episodes were made.
Created By: Eiji Masuda is the creator of this series.
Genres: It’s a romantic comedy.

Asahi Kuromine, a high school student who can’t keep anything to himself, shocks his classmate, Yoko Shiragami, by suddenly growing a large pair of wings. He soon discovers that Yōko is a vampire, and her father is threatening to shut down her operation if anyone finds out her secret.

Because Youko is easily distracted, it’s hard for her to hide her secret, particularly with Mikan, Asahi’s friend from childhood, constantly trying to learn more. Later, Asahi will realize that other girls at her school are also keeping significant secrets, making it even harder for her to be a good listener and trusted friend.

19. Dororon Enma-kun

Original Run: October 4, 1973 – March 28, 1974 / April 8, 2011 – June 24, 2011
Episodes: 25 / 12
Created By: Go Nagai
Genres: Horror, comedy, and supernatural.

Certain demons living on earth are rebelling against the rules of hell and plotting to take over the underworld’s king. To deal with this, he dispatches his nephew, Enma, to investigate. Enma joins forces with Yukiko, the daughter of the Snow Princess, and Kappa Kapaeru to resolve the situation.

Working together, they take refuge with an elementary school student and Mangalan Tsutomu, and pursue the rogue demons. Enma’s magical hat, Chappoji, assists them in their efforts, though it frequently offers risky suggestions.

20. Higurashi: When They Cry

Original Run: April 4, 2006 – still running
Episodes: 74 (plus 11 OVA episodes)
Created By: 07th Expansion
Genres: Murder Mystery, Psychological Horror, Supernatural Horror

The story takes place in the made-up village of Hinamizawa in June of 1983. Just before the events begin, Keiichi Maebara, a key character, transfers to the school there.

He slowly starts to become friends with his new classmates – including class president Mion Sonozaki, her twin sister Shion, a student named Rena Ryūgū, and younger students Rika Furude and Satoko Hōjō.

To Keiichi, Hinamizawa appears to be a quiet and serene village. However, just before the Watanagashi festival, he discovers that for the past four years, murders and disappearances have occurred there on the day of the festival. These crimes have gone unsolved, and the locals refer to them as the “curse of Oyashiro-sama.”

21. BLOOD+ / BLOOD-C

As a huge fan, I remember first discovering this show back in Original Run: October 8, 2005, and it really stayed with me until it finished on September 30, 2011. There’s a lot to dive into – a total of Episodes: 62, plus an extra film! It was brought to life by Created By: Production I.G, and it perfectly blends Genres: Action, Horror, and Dark Fantasy. It’s a really unique combination that I always recommend.

The series takes place over 30 years after the movie Blood: The Last Vampire (you might also enjoy watching it!) – specifically in the year 2005. The story delves into contemporary conspiracies, involving multiple groups. For instance, the US Army is interested in controlling vampires and exploiting their abilities for their own gain.

Saya Otonashi resides in a city within Okinawa alongside her adoptive father, George Miyaguscu, and her two brothers, Kai and Rik. She has no recollection of her earlier life, and her memories began surfacing only after she started living with a new foster family approximately a year ago.

For medical reasons, she needs blood transfusions from time to time.

22. Shiki

Original Run: July 8, 2010 – December 30, 2010
Episodes: 22 episodes, plus 2 additional ones
Created By: Fuyumi Ono
Genres: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, and Horror

The story unfolds in Sotoba, a secluded mountain village where old customs, like traditional burial practices, are still observed. As a relentlessly hot summer draws to a close, the Kirishiki family unexpectedly arrives and takes residence in a large, western-style mansion overlooking the village from a hilltop.

Meanwhile, people in the town start dying unexpectedly and rapidly. Toshio Ozaki, the town’s doctor and clinic owner, first thinks it’s a strange disease. However, with the assistance of his old friend, Seishin Muroi-now a Buddhist monk and a popular novelist-he uncovers a truly terrifying reality.

Okay, so this movie really dives into the classic vampire mythos, but with a fresh spin. It’s about what happens when the dead *literally* come back to life – not as the romantic heroes we often see, but as creatures desperately needing blood to survive. The whole terrifying situation kicks off with the arrival of the Kirishiki family, and let me tell you, their appearance is the beginning of a seriously unsettling chain of events. It’s not just about scares, though; the film explores the desperation and horror of being forced to feed on others just to stay ‘alive’. You can find more information about the film here, but be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart!

23. Interviews with Monster Girls

Original Run: January 7, 2021 – March 25, 2021
Episodes: 12 episodes, plus additional online content (ONA)
Created By: Petos
Genres: Comedy and supernatural

I’m really fascinated by this story, which unfolds as demi-humans – everyone calls them “demis” – are starting to be more accepted among humans. It centers around Tetsuo Takahashi, a biology teacher who has a surprisingly strong interest in running backs! He decides to bring together the three running backs from his school. He’s not just interested in their athletic ability, though; he really wants to connect with them, earn their trust, and figure out what makes them tick as athletes and as people. It’s a really interesting approach to understanding this phenomenon and I’m eager to see where it goes. You can find more about the author here.

24. Deadman Wonderland

As a huge anime fan, I recently checked out this series. The Original Run: was from April 17, 2011, to July 3, 2011. It has a total of Episodes: 12, plus an OVA! It was Created By: Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou, and I’d describe it as falling into the Genres: of dystopian fiction, post-apocalyptic settings, and a really gripping thriller.

A devastating earthquake struck Japan, causing widespread destruction, especially in Tokyo. The city was largely ruined, with most of it sinking into the ocean. The story takes place ten years after this event and focuses on Ganta Igarashi, who appears to be a typical student at Nagano Prefecture College.

Despite surviving the earthquake, Ganta has no recollection of the event and had been living a normal life. Everything shifts when a bizarre figure, covered in blood and donning purple armor, appears outside the classroom windows. With a maniacal grin, the Man in Red massacres Ganta’s entire class. Instead of killing Ganta, however, he implants a fragment of red crystal into his chest.

Just a few days after that terrible massacre, they pinned everything on Ganta – me! It was a really quick trial, and the sentence? Life in Deadman Wonderland. It’s not your average prison, though – imagine a place that’s part jail, part amusement park. Seriously, it’s a completely messed up place, and I’m stuck there for life. It’s unbelievable.

25. Hellsing Ultimate

Original Run: October 10, 2001 – January 16, 2002
Episodes: 13 (plus 10 OVA episodes)
Created By: Kōta Hirano
Genres: Action, Dark Fantasy, Horror

The Royal Knights of Protestant Order are a prestigious family in London, headed by Abraham Van Helsing. For many generations, he has battled creatures that most people don’t know exist – things like vampires, ghouls, and any other non-human being commonly called a “monster”. This group dedicates itself to protecting humanity from these hidden threats.

The Order is a highly secretive group and has functioned as a private army for the Queen for many years. It is currently led by Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, who comes from the original Lord Hellsing’s family line. Despite being very young, she was compelled to assume leadership of the Order.

Her father, Arthur, who was very ill and nearing the end of his life, told his daughter that if she ever felt in danger, she should go to the basement of their large house. He said there was something down there that could keep her safe.

2025-10-02 23:53