From ‘Monster’ to ‘Corpse Party: Tortured Souls’: 5 must-watch dark anime shows
TOKYO, JAPAN: Anime has captivated audiences worldwide with a diverse range of original and high-quality content. It can be incredibly inspiring or profoundly pessimistic, and some of the most intriguing anime are those that embrace darker themes.
Dark Anime shows often feature some of the most compelling character developments and astonishing plotlines.
For those eager to dive into the world of Anime, here are some of the best dark Anime shows that deserve a place on your must-watch list.
‘Monster’ (2004)
‘Monster’, a 2004 anime show, has one of the most engaging stories about a serial killer.
Created by Naoki Urasawa, the anime revolves around Tenma, a brilliant neurosurgeon whose life is suddenly filled with mystery, tragedy, death, and heartbreak.
This anime show explores dark and profound themes and a string of unusual serial murders. The characters add suspense and a haunting atmosphere to the show without relying on gore or violence.
‘Monster’ is available on Hulu.
‘Erased’ (2016)
‘Erased’, a 2016 anime show, has one of the most disturbing and painful stories in anime history. It revolves around Satoru Fujinuma, a 29-year-old man, who travels back in time to prevent his mother's death.
Despite its tragic plot, ‘Erased’ gives a hopeful message that encourages viewers to seek help when needed.
‘Erased’ is available on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
‘Corpse Party: Tortured Souls’ (2013)
‘Corpse Party: Tortured Souls’, a four-episode anime show based on the Japanese video game Corpse Party. It revolves around a group of high school friends who enact a ritual to strengthen their friendship.
While performing the ritual, they are transported into the spooky Heavenly Host Elementary School and attacked by the murderous ghosts.
This 2013 anime show is available on Crunchyroll and Hulu.
‘Elfen Lied’ (2004)
‘Elfen Lied’ became quite popular in 2004 because of the great storyline. Created by Arms Corporation, ‘Elfen Lied’ became one of the darkest and greatest sci-fi anime with gore and violence.
It has bright visuals and cute characters but the storyline is dark with a whole lot of violent deaths. The anime revolves around Lucy, a mutant serial killer with a split personality.
‘Elfen Lied’ is available on Funimation and Crunchyroll.
‘Another’ (2012)
‘Another’, a 2012 anime show by P A Works, contains a great storyline with mind-blowing twists and turns.
This anime show revolves around a young boy, Koichi Sakakibara, who transfers to a new school and becomes friends with a mysterious girl.
Koichi finds himself in the middle of a dark mystery and a series of gruesome deaths. The anime is filled with surprising plot twists and chilling scenes.
‘Another’ is available on Funimation, Hulu and Crunchyroll.