The 10 Scariest Anime Shows of the 21st Century, Ranked

This time of season is perfect for scary shows and horror movies, but one medium that is often overlooked for horror content is anime. It sort of makes sense, as the medium is most often related to battle, action, and fantasy. However, as anime becomes increasingly popular with series like Jujutsu Kaisen and One Piece, horror stories are also gaining more recognition, especially in modern times.

This list will rank the ten scariest anime shows from the 21st Century, meaning 2000 to present day, based on imagery, themes, story, moments, violence, gore, psychological thrills, jump scares, and general horror aspects. However, not every anime on this list needs to be a horror series, as there are plenty of scary thrillers or mystery anime.

10

‘Paranoia Agent’ (2004)

Satoshi Kon is a legendary filmmaker who made some of the greatest anime movies ever, including Perfect Blue. However, he also tried his hand at TV, delivering Paranoia Agent. When a worker is under extreme pressure, they are mysteriously attacked by a kid on roller skates, wielding a bat. As his victims increase, paranoia continues to build as the show follows some of the victims and the police trying to catch him.

Paranoia Agent may not be a horror anime, but it is terrifying, specifically for its psychological focus that explores a distorted world of overworked individuals and their real-world issues. The anime builds a sense of paranoia in the viewer, dragging it along with the mystery that is thrilling to witness. Paranoia Agent is an original masterpiece and a must-watch for any horror fans looking for something different.

9

‘Uzumaki’ (2024)

One of the biggest disappointments of 2024 was Uzumaki, which delivered an outstanding first couple of episodes until the quality drastically dropped. When strange things start happening in a village, the local residents think nothing of it until it is too late. The town is swept up in a repeating curse that haunts every resident, slowly turning them into disgusting creatures.

If the quality had remained consistent, Uzumaki could have been the scariest anime of all time, but the drop in animation, writing, and directing hindered the horror, making everything feel lackluster and empty. Still, the first couple of episodes are a masterclass of horror, with unique, frightening developments and gruesome moments which help make Uzumaki one of the darkest anime series.

8

‘Mieruko-chan’ (2021)

Some of the anime on this list are well-known, while others are a bit obscure. One of the latter is Mieruko-chan, a horror comedy that is both horrifying and hilarious. The titular protagonist can see ghosts, but she chooses to ignore them, hoping they’ll eventually disappear; however, her attempts only succeed in making them try to get her attention for various reasons.

Mieruko-chan has a fascinating premise and some gnarly designs for the ghosts, creating a great sense of fright. One main blight is the overuse of fan service, which takes viewers out of the horror elements a bit. But still, the juxtaposition between art style and content makes for a horrific delight with scary moments and plot developments.

7

‘Hell Girl’ (2005-2017)

Another underrated and underappreciated horror anime is Hell Girl. Every midnight, a mysterious website becomes available for all to peruse, and for those brave enough to enter, they can make a request. Simply enter the name of someone who wronged them and ask for revenge, and the Hell Girl will send them to Hell, also killing the requester as a payment.

Hell Girl is an original anime that explores the grey morality of humans and the horror that comes about, creating a genuinely fascinating psychological horror that is as intriguing as it is scary. It can get formulaic, which makes future seasons predictable and less scary, but it is still, overall, a unique, scary anime that any horror enthusiasts must watch.

6

‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ (2025-)

The most recent anime on this list is The Summer Hikaru Died, which only ended in September 2025. Hikaru returns from the mountains a changed man, but Yoshiki suspects foul play and learns that a spirit possessed him. However, this new Hikaru still wants to live, and Yoshiki isn’t ready to give up his best friend, prompting a disturbing friendship that puts them and the town at risk.

Despite only having one season, The Summer Hikaru Died has become an instant classic and a strong candidate for anime of the year. Its unique story and themes of guilt, denial, friendship, and a centuries-old village tradition and curse make it fresh and terrifying. This season focuses a lot on the dynamic and relationship of Yoshiki and Hikaru, but this modern classic of an anime is still scary.

5

‘Mononoke’ (2007)

What was once a definitive 2000s anime slumbered for decades until the 2020s saw the return of Mononoke with a trilogy of movies set to be released over the next few years. Set in feudal Japan, a medicine seller wanders the country with a secret mission to exorcise any demons and spirits possessing people and places. This is the plot of Mononoke, with every arc being a new mission and demon.

Mononoke is arguably the best horror anime of all time, but it isn’t the scariest, even if it is plenty frightening. It became a classic because of its unique editing style and magnificent art, combining to take the viewers’ senses on a ride that will wow and scare at the same time. Mononoke features some horrifying plots, such as a brothel haunted by aborted babies, making it a one-of-a-kind horror that doesn’t hold back.

4

‘Monster’ (2004-2005)

Most of the anime on this list are horror series, but like Paranoia Agent, Monster is more of a mystery thriller, made by the legendary Naoki Urasawa. Dr. Tenma chooses to save a young boy’s life over the mayor’s, but fast forward a decade or so, and that same child has become a serial killer. Tenma now decides to take matters into his own hands, but how will Johan’s dark past affect things?

Monster is one of the best anime series from the 2000s, with its iconic mystery, well-written villain, and unpredictable plot. However, what makes it so scary is its psychological tone and messed-up history and lore, frightening viewers with a mixed sense of realism and surrealism. This grounded psychological horror has an ominous tone and terrifying moments that make it a borderline horror anime.

3

‘Higurashi: When They Cry’ (2006-2021)

Out of all the anime on this list, Higurashi: When They Cry is probably the most iconic horror anime because of its popularity in the 2000s and over-the-top gore. Keiichi is new to town, but he notices mysterious murders and a growing plague close to the annual festival. No one will answer his questions, making him paranoid and fearing what dark secrets lie within the town and its residents.

Higurashi: When They Cry looks sweet and innocent on the outside, but once it gets going, it turns into a bloody fest of gore and violence. The gore definitely adds to the scariness, but the psychological elements and its unsettling vibe make it the iconic horror it is. Higurashi: When They Cry will make any fans queasy through unrelenting violence and disturbing imagery, making it an incredible horror anime.

2

‘Ghost Hunt’ (2006-2007)

Who doesn’t love to share ghost stories? Well, in this anime, a group of friends love to indulge in these terrifying tales, so much so that they investigate their claims. Ghost Hunt follows this group of friends learning more about the paranormal world through the abandoned school building right next to them and the many spirits that haunt it.

Not every horror anime needs to be rated R in order to be scary, as proven by Ghost Hunt, which boasts a PG-13 rating. This anime excels at creating a tense and haunting atmosphere instead of over-reliance on gore, which helped it greatly become a show that reached more viewers. This unnerving anime is an underrated horror series and one of the scariest anime ever.

1

‘Shiki’ (2010)

This list proves that the 21st Century is ripe with scary horror anime, but there can only be one at the top, and that anime is Shiki. When tragedy suddenly strikes a quiet, unassuming village, a group of friends decides to investigate this murder. However, they learn more than they would have wanted, uncovering a dark conspiracy that involves the entire town.

Horror anime in general aren’t the greatest, but Shiki proves to be the scariest modern series through its unsettling tone, frightening scenes, and horrific story. This slow-burning vampire anime takes its time setting up the story, mystery, and horror themes, making the payoff even more frightening. From shocking moments to an overall dark tone, the foreboding sense only builds with each episode, making it a riveting horror anime that will even scare veteran fans.