10 Underrated Horror Anime Crunchyroll Users Underestimated (& Why You Should Watch Them)
Virtually every genre has its exemplars in the multifaceted world of anime. Yet horror, despite being one of the most popular entertainment categories across mediums, is surprisingly underrepresented in anime. The majority of horror enthusiasts have already seen the genre’s most talked-about sensations, as they’re not particularly plentiful. Thankfully, those seeking to venture into anime’s darkest, most frightening hidden corners still have tons of underrated series to explore, be it forgotten relics of the past or newer titles fans tend to overlook.
Crunchyroll, for being the go-to streaming service for all things anime, doesn’t feature the most extensive catalog of horror titles, missing both numerous classics and hidden gems acclaimed by horror anime buffs. Nonetheless, Crunchyroll’s lineup of horror anime isn’t limited by big hits like Another or Angels of Death, and these underrated titles should be next to join all horror anime fans’ watchlists.
Mononoke Combines Frightening Stories & Breathtaking Animation
Mononoke probably tops the list of “niche” horror anime recommended to people who want to break away from the mainstream – and for good reason. A truly one-of-a-kind horror anthology series, Mononoke takes inspiration for its plots from Japanese folktales of yokai and ayakashi, while its art style brings to life traditional ukiyo-e prints, mimicking their intricate patterns and bold colors.
The series’ visuals, while deceivingly vibrant, only amplify the horror of Mononoke’s narrative, adding a surreal, dreamlike quality to each encounter between the enigmatic Medicine Seller and the titular malicious spirits. However, being openly out there both narratively and visually, Mononoke never stood a chance to become a true mainstream sensation, even if it did achieve notable success as a cult classic favorite.
Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai Retells Chilling Urban Myths
Similar to Mononoke, Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai is an anthology anime series rooted in folk horror tales. Instead of venturing into the distant past, Yamishibai uncovers the eerie depths of modern urban legends, all in the style of the Japanese kamishibai theater. Each episode of Yamishibai tells a standalone horror vignette in under five minutes, which gives it the air of creepy campfire stories shared between friends on a gloomy night.
The episodes of Yamishibai might be short, yet the brevity amplifies the experience significantly, all of the series’ stories lingering just long enough to spook without overstaying their welcome. Stylistically, Yamishibai embraces an experimental aesthetic reminiscent of its inspiration, kamishibai, making it, on par with Mononoke, one of the most visually inventive horror series in anime.
Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne Is a Fascinating Yet Disturbed Miniseries
A 6-episode original anime, Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne tells the sinister story of Rin Asougi, an immortal investigator whose seemingly mundane detective work spirals into a messy, grisly plot shocking in both scale and extremity. Mnemosyne adopts a gritty aesthetic of noir sci-fi all fans of old-school horror anime would love, and boosts its appeal with an engrossing, if a bit rushed and undeniably confusing, narrative.
Yet, what Mnemosyne is most infamous for is its abundant use of erotic violence and gore, the series’ disturbing eroguro elements making it a true adult horror anime. A series so drenched in depravity and unsettling sexual content will understandably put off many viewers uncomfortable with such themes, particularly when the series itself takes a very edgy, indulgent approach to portraying them. However, for fans of erotic horror, Mnemosyne would be a thrilling ride.
Boogiepop Phantom Is a Complex Masterwork of Subtle Horror
While considered a relatively niche series, particularly today, Boogiepop Phantom is a cult classic of urban fantasy horror of considerable significance. A haunting avant-garde mystery, Boogiepop Phantom explores a string of blood-curdling occurrences from the perspectives of different people, all of the strange events tying back to the myth of Boogiepop – an enigmatic shikigami that plagues local urban legends.
Due to its nonlinear and complex narrative, Boogiepop Phantom is a rather taxing series to get into, leading many to dismiss it as too puzzling. Yet, figuring out Boogiepop Phantom’s mysteries as they unravel is immensely rewarding, and the show makes it easy for fans to lose themselves in its unearthly tale through the virtue of peerless style, immersive sound design, and subtle atmospheric horror.
The Junji Ito Collection is Still Great Horror Despite Its Flaws
Regarded as the king of horror in the manga world, Junji Ito is an exceptionally difficult author to adapt due to the intricacy of his body horror art. However, out of all anime attempts to bring Ito’s horror masterpieces to life, 2018’s Junji Ito Collection still stands as one of the best.
Being an anthology of numerous short stories by Junji Ito, the series doesn’t have the best of reputations, critiqued for its subpar animation and inability to capture the frightening atmosphere of the source material. As such, many fans purposefully avoid Junji Ito Collection, even though it can definitely surprise skeptics. Far from perfect, the anime, nonetheless, is genuinely unnerving and possesses an uncanny quality that, while nowhere near the paralyzing horror of Ito’s manga, easily unsettles impressionable viewers.
Kagewani Dives Into the Terrifying World of Cryptids
A tale of scientist Sousuke Banba and his investigations into the various horrifying cryptids, or UMAs, plaguing Japan, Kagewani might not be working with a lot, with seven-minute episodes and very limited animation, yet it achieves remarkable things despite its limitations. Each episode focusing on a single monster case, Kagewani puts a lot of emphasis on uniquely frightening cryptid designs, which look even more unsettling in the series’ cardboard cutout-like style.
Kagewani’s brand of horror might not be startlingly scary; however, its simple yet effective monster stories, paired with the unorthodox art style, would definitely make viewers’ flesh crawl. And, considering how short the series is, there’s really no excuse for horror fans not to give it a try.
Angel Cop Is ‘80s Ultra-Violent Anime at Its Most Delightfully Unhinged
The ‘80s and early ‘90s were a special time for ultra-violent anime that went all-out on gore and brutality. While rarely revolutionary in terms of storytelling, OVAs from that time are animation marvels that combine gorgeous, endlessly stylish visuals with boundary-pushing spectacle of violence. Angel Cop is one such old-school OVA that, despite being quite controversial, remains a classic of its time.
A gruesome cyberpunk story narrating the conflict between futuristic terrorists and equally remorseful justice fighters, Angel Cop features explicit violence in spades, its horror being less haunting and more disturbing in just how over-the-top and unhinged every fight scene in the series is. While certainly dated and hardly a popular show with new-gen fans, Angel Cop is a nostalgic cult classic that perfectly encapsulates its era.
GeGeGe no Kitaro 2018 Brought Back One of the Most Iconic Supernatural Horror Titles in Anime
A completely different brand of nostalgic classic, GeGeGe no Kitaro was originally a horror comedy manga from 1960 that follows its titular young hero’s adventures with various yokai from Japanese mythology. Revered as the series that popularized folklore-inspired stories in anime and manga, GeGeGe no Kitaro, nonetheless, was never exceptionally popular outside of Japan, where it’s celebrated as a cult classic in all of its iterations.
Thankfully, today’s anime fans have a chance to experience this iconic story in all of its modernized glory with 2018’s reboot of GeGeGe no Kitaro, created to commemorate the anime’s 50th anniversary. Charming, lighthearted, and featuring just enough subtle spooks to interest fans of the supernatural, GeGeGe no Kitaro might not be the scariest horror title on this list, yet it’s definitely worth a watch for its nostalgic atmosphere and surprisingly entertaining episodic storytelling.
This Monster Wants to Eat Me Is a Disquieting Blend of Horror & Romance
The Summer 2025 season gifted fans of subtle, character-driven horror The Summer Hikaru Died, yet its currently airing yuri counterpart, This Monster Wants to Eat Me, has regrettably failed to gather as much attention. After losing her parents, Hinako Yaotose stops clinging onto life, yet can’t bring herself to end it. At her lowest, Hinako meets Shiori, a mermaid who harbors a desire to eat Hinako, yet is willing to protect her until she is at her most delicious.
This Monster Wants to Eat Me is a haunting series, both in its more straightforward horror elements and, more prominently, in its exploration of people’s frightening emotions and unconventionally unsettling yet fascinating relationships. And, while the series’ adaptation is still in its early episodes, there’s merit to following this eerie tale to the end.
Nyaight of the Living Cat’s Apocalypse Is Unexpectedly Adorable
The zombie theme is a staple of the horror genre, yet many subversive works also explore its potential in a comedy setting. Nyaight of the Living Cat’s brand of apocalyptic horror adds an adorable twist to the classic zombie outbreak scenario as, instead of rotting corpses, this world’s pandemic turns everyone into cats.
A lovable spoof of countless zombie movie classics, Nyaight of the Living Cat is a perfect blend of ridiculous and genuinely intense, forcing its characters to not just fight for survival in a rapidly collapsing society but also resist their desire to pet cats in fear of abandoning their own humanity. A perfect series for cat lovers and horror enthusiasts alike, Nyaight of the Living Cat knows exactly what makes zombie horror effective – and it boldly uses it to craft anime’s funniest (and cutest) apocalypse.
