10 Anime Shows Perfect To Watch on Halloween
As the leaves start falling, the weather gets colder, and the season gets spooky, fans know Halloween is just around the corner. October isn’t just for pumpkin spice lattes and warm sweaters; it is also the perfect time to watch some TV. Most fans don’t think of anime, but the medium has some spooky classics, such as the iconic Thriller Bark arc in One Piece.
Whether fans prefer some horror shows or family-friendly spooks, this list will rank the ten anime that are perfect to watch on Halloween. These ten shows can be either scary or spooky, featuring a variety of anime that include ghouls, ghosts, zombies, or anything Halloween-related. Each entry will be based on overall quality, fan opinion, and Halloween aspects.
10
‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ (2025-)
The Summer Hikaru Died is the newest anime on this list, only ending in September 2025. When his best friend acts differently, Yoshiki learns that a spirit has possessed Hikaru’s dead body. They must now maneuver the growing horrors and mysteries in the village while Yoshiki struggles to accept the situation, finding it harder to deal with the spirits and keep this secret from his friends.
It may be set in summer, but this anime is also a perfect new watch for Halloween fans. The Summer Hikaru Died is the best new horror anime, creating a genuinely terrifying atmosphere with a chilling story, brilliant editing, stunning animation, and frightening imagery. Halloween is a perfect time to watch this anime of the year candidate.
9
‘The Witch and the Beast’ (2024)
Another modern entry on this list is The Witch and the Beast, whose source material has unfortunately been on indefinite hiatus. When a witch curses a woman, she joins a magical organization to help find the wicked witch and reverse the curse while helping solve other magical fantasy scenarios.
Witches are a staple of Halloween, which is why fans can expect a couple on this list, with the first being The Witch and the Beast. With its magical action sequences and dark aesthetic, this anime is perfect for Halloween. While it is relatively unknown, The Witch and the Beast has plenty of dark and spooky content that will instantly make it a must-watch anime this October.
8
‘Blue Exorcist’ (2011-)
After years of waiting, Blue Exorcist finally returned for a new season in 2024, adapting some of the manga’s best arcs for anime fans to enjoy. Learning that his father is Satan, Rin joins an exorcist academy to learn how to defeat demons in the hope that he can take down his father. However, he also faces discrimination from his classmates, who only view him as a demon.
Blue Exorcist used to be one of the most popular anime series of the early 2010s, but despite a decline in popularity, the anime remains incredible, and this Halloween is the perfect opportunity to discover its greatness. It excels in character dynamics and its mystical worldbuilding, which utilizes spirits, demons, and ghouls to create a spooky atmosphere.
7
‘Ghost Stories’ (2000-2001)
Most of the anime on this list are either horror shows, action series, or dramas, but comedies can also be spooky. Ghost Stories was a normal kids’ show in Japan, but the dub licensors gave the studio full command, which they used to create a dark, immature, and at times, offensive adult comedy. What was supposed to be a typical children’s mystery show became an iconic adult comedy.
Halloween isn’t just a holiday for frights; it can also be perfect for spooky laughs, and that is precisely what Ghost Stories offers. With plenty of campfire ghost stories, this show takes those and makes a hilarious and chaotic comedy. The crass humor means it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Ghost Stories became a cult classic because of its spooky setting and offensive approach.
6
‘Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun’ (2020-)
Another recent anime on this list is Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun, whose most recent season just ended. When a girl makes a wish to one of the infamous school ghosts, their fates become intertwined as the rest of the school’s spirits make their move.
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun has a distinctly spooky art style that instantly reminds fans of Halloween. This peculiar anime has many strengths (that name is a choice, for starters), but it feels like it was made for Halloween, specifically because of its art style, aesthetic, and focus on ghosts and ghouls. Its unique look gives off spooky vibes, also featuring plenty of dark content that creates a surprisingly mature show with horror themes and haunting situations.
5
‘Shiki’ (2010)
Horror anime aren’t historically the best or scariest, but Shiki might be one of the few exceptions. When tragedy strikes a small village, a group of local teenagers suspect something much darker is brewing, prompting their investigation into the mysterious deaths and disease that plagues this town.
Shiki is a staple horror anime, and the perfect watch on Halloween for any fans looking for something scary. The mystery is haunting, the visuals are frightening, and some imagery is genuinely disturbing, creating an inventive horror that promises to deliver on the thrills this Halloween. This season wouldn’t feel right without horror, and in terms of anime, it doesn’t get much better than Shiki.
4
‘Higurashi: When They Cry’ (2006-2021)
Speaking of genuinely popular, well-made, and scary anime, Higurashi: When They Cry is one of the most recognized horror anime. Keiichi is new to town, and as the annual festival approaches, strange deaths pop up after another. However, no one will answer his questions, leading him to take action before the paranoia sets in.
Higurashi: When They Cry is a classic horror anime and an icon of the genre, making it essential for any horror enthusiasts who haven’t seen it already. It has some horrible aspects, but its psychological horror themes can be gut-wrenching and disturbing. It has plenty of camp and cringe, along with a well-written story and shocking, gory moments —all areas that make for a perfect Halloween series.
3
‘Little Witch Academia’ (2017)
This list previously mentioned that witches are a staple of Halloween and a growing theme in anime, with Little Witch Academia being the best example of this increasing interest. When Akko finally realizes her dream of attending school for witches, she hopes to learn and spread her magic, but it proves to be much more challenging than she imagined.
The magical witch focus obviously creates a wholesome Halloween aesthetic with whimsical spells, mystical creatures, fall ambience, and a familiar yet comfortable story. The lighthearted tone and nostalgic feeling are a perfect fit for Halloween, especially in this whimsical world with obvious Halloween inspiration, such as the Samhain festival.
2
‘Soul Eater’ (2008-2009)
Every single anime on this list is perfect for Halloween, but if fans were only to watch one, it would have to be Soul Eater. Students at Death Weapon Meister Academy learn the art of ghoul hunting, needing the souls of 99 evil beings and one witch. However, a darker conspiracy is brewing that puts all the students at risk.
It feels like Soul Eater was made for Halloween, as it is very reminiscent of a Tim Burton movie. This love letter to the spooky season features ghouls, ghosts, witches, and pumpkins, using these elements in its eerie plot and dark lore. Soul Eater has an unparalleled aesthetic and world, which is heavily influenced by Halloween. The ending may not be the best, but the action, story, characters, and spooky fun make it a Halloween masterpiece.
1
‘Mononoke’ (2007)
After nearly two decades, Mononoke returned to the screen with a set trilogy, with two released so far. Every arc follows a travelling medicine seller who actually exorcises Mononoke, creatures that haunt people or places. Every arc is something new, but fans can’t expect a thrilling story in each, from a brothel haunted by the aborted babies to a sea creature menacing every ship that passes by.
It may not be directly Halloween-themed, but Mononoke is the best horror anime of all time, meaning it is excellent for this season regardless. Its distinct art style, magnificent editing, unique narrative, and chaotic story mix to create an unforgettable horror that doesn’t rely on jump scares. Instead, Mononoke uses its disturbing stories and lore to both scare and dazzle fans at the same time. It will unsettle fans in ways anime doesn’t typically go, truly being an original horror anime.
