As we come closer to Halloween, I started to think about horror anime. There are some pretty scary things lurking and sometimes seeing what scares another culture might just give you a shiver as well. The anime described here can be a series or simply a movie. A word of caution: anime does not pull punches in regards to gore, especially in horror, so tuck the little ones in before you turn off the lights and dive into these classics
Corpse Party: Tortured Souls
With a name like Corpse Party, you already get a feeling where this little gore fest is going. An anime based off a series of video games, this is one of the most violent anime ever produced. A group of friends awake in a nightmarish version of their school after a friendship ritual goes wrong. As they try to find a way back to their own world, they are stalked by the ghosts of murdered students. Some of the death scenes are extreme, in a way that Saw and Hostel never reached. There are some friendly ghosts, but good luck trying to decide who is good or bad. The wrong answer will probably get you killed. This anime series works because the characters are in danger from the opening scene. No one is coming to save them, and they just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Try and guess who will be alive when the credits role. Bonus points for the name of the school, Heavenly Host Elementary School, still giving me a shiver every time I hear its name.
When They Cry
From a haunted school to a small village that is hiding a few secrets then. When They Cry starts off like a John Hughes movie. New kid comes to town, some girls really like him, hi jinks occur. Until the murders start that is. A yearly festival honoring a local God might have something to do with it. I don’t want to spoil anything, part of the fun of When they Cry is figuring the mysteries out, but the village of Hinamizawa is not a place you want to move to. The anime balances school life with horror elements, making you laugh one minute and scream the next. There is a supernatural element, but the real source of the terror is more scientific. If you want a horror anime that believes the viewer is smart, When They Cry is the one for you.
Vampire Hunter D
Long before the vampire known as Alucard served the Hellsing organization, another heroic vampire came to protect rather then kill. His name is simply D, and he is the hero of the anime movie that bears his name. Far, far into the future, a woman is attacked by an ancient vampire, who wants to make her his new bride. She hires the newly arrived D to protect her. This is a horror anime for those who like a little more action. Coming out over 30 years ago, Vampire Hunter D still looks great and holds up remarkable well. A new English dub was put out two years ago, if you don’t want to read subtitles. There is a sequel, Bloodlust, but for me it never quite reached the high mark it’s predecessor had set.
Perfect Blue
If you scoff at supernatural monsters, Perfect Blue might be able to hit closer to your fear bone. Mima Kirigoe decides to give up her singing career in order to become a serious actress. This does not sit well with a mysterious person who begins leaving threatening notes and then escalates to murder. One of this movie’s biggest strengths is that the viewer begins to suspect everyone, including Mima. Has the pressure caused her to snap? This is more Single White Female then Dracula and there are few things scarier then an obsessed stalker. The late Satoshi Kon, the director and writer, would continue to create anime, leading to our final entry on this list.
Paranoia Agent
A young woman is walking to her car late at night. She hears sounds and quickly gets to her car. Dropping her keys, she unlocks the door just before a young grinning boy on roller blades smashes her head with a golden baseball bat. This is the first attack of the antagonist Lil’ Slugger, in the disturbing anime Paranoia Agent. In a suburb of Tokyo, different people are all attacked by what is first thought to be a juvenile, but quickly turns out to be much more. What sets this anime apart is that the focus is not on Lil’ Slugger, but the people he attacks. Each episodes gives a glimpse into a person’s life before they cross paths with the boy with the golden baseball bat. This anime asks the viewer about the choices they have made, and the monsters they created. There a quite a few scary scenes, but the one that sticks out is when one of the characters is driving late at night. He glances in his rear view mirror at the street lights passing by. Three pass, but on the fourth one, Lil’ Slugger is there, skating behind the car. Paranoia Agent is an anime that the viewer will be thinking about long after it is over.
Tip of the Iceberg
There are of course many other horror anime. Tokyo Ghoul, Another, Parasyte, Hell Girl just to name a few. Drop me some of your favorites in the comment section. You might have a favorite that I have never heard of. If you haven’t watched any on this small list, check one of them before midnight strikes on all Hollows Eve. You’re brave right? If not, well, you can catch a beautiful sunrise.
