31 Dark Anime Series of All Time

Dark anime can mean a lot of different things other then just blood, guts and monsters. It can be violent, deep, psychological anime and some of them can be includes sexy anime content and violence.

So lets check go through with this list most of the anime are not in horror genre because most of these anime aim for +12 Usually Shounen or Shoujo Anime so if your bored out with that watch some these anime.

Lets Take a look From psychological thriller anime to dystopian societies with subtle, twisted elements that give these shows a morbid, bleak or downright twisted atmosphere here we go.

31. Monster

Kenzou Tenma, a Japanese brain surgeon in Germany, had it all: incredible skill at his work, a rich and beautiful fiancee, and a promising career at his hospital.

However, after becoming disenchanted by hospital politics, he chose to save the life of a young boy who got shot in the head over the life of the mayor.

As a result he lost the support of the hospital director, as well as his position in the hospital and his fiance.

A short time later, the hospital director and the doctors that replaced him were murdered, and once again he was catapulted back onto the top.

But as the chief suspect of the murders, Tenma did not get a easy life. As a matter of fact, it seems that the boy he saved was much more than he had appeared to be…

Now to clear his name and to correct his past mistake, Tenma must get to the bottom of these and other murders, and investigate the truth of the Monster who is behind all of this

Genre: Horror, Seinen, Thriller, Vampire, Dark Anime

30. School Live ( GAKKOU GURASHI! )

Takeya Yuki is in love with the school. For her, it’s a wonderful place, where she enjoys her school activities, especially the activities of her club: School Life Club.

The club has Rii-chan as the president, Kurumi-chan as another member, and the teacher, Megu-nee, always there for them.

Yes, she is in love with her school… on her mind. Because, for her, the reality of the school and their club’s activities is way too hard to be perceived…

Genre: Horror, Mystery, School, Seinen, Slice of Life, Supernatural, Dark Anime

29. Aoi Bungaku: Ningen Shikkaku (Blue Literature: No Longer Human)

An animated adaptation of six classical Japanese literature pieces, including No Longer Human (Ningen Shikaku) and Run, Melos (Hashire, Melos) by Osamu Dazai, Kokoro by Natsume Souseki, Hell Screen (Jigoku Hen) .

This brief animation follows the crumbling life of an alienated high school student through adulthood, and eventually his death.

He is an individual ridden with depression and a bit of narcissism and finds it difficult, if not impossible, to relate to other humans at all.

He thinks he is a failure at being human, hence the title, ‘No Longer Human’. Ningen Shikkaku tells his tale in a most despairing manner, and leaves a crawling, off-kilter feeling at the end.

It’s tragic, with themes of alcohol abuse and mental illness, and unnerving with the life it breathes into the little humanoid monsters which personify the main character’s fears and self-image.

If that’s not dark, I don’t know what is!

Genre: Drama, Historical, Psychological, Seinen, Thriller, Dark Anime

28. KINO NO TABI: THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD

Composed in the form of a series of short stories, this is the story of the travels and observations of the human Kino and the talking motorbike Hermes. 

Kino and Hermes visit various fantastic countries – a country that can’t coexist with others due to the development of telepathy; a country striving to make everything equal, whose residents are extremely united; and so on.

Small ripples are formed in the everyday lives of the people living in the various countries by the appearances of the unusual Kino.

These ripples gradually become a major influence, rattling the foundations of their normal lives.

What will Kino and Hermes see in their travels?

And what will be left in the hearts and minds of the people they encounter?

Genre: Action, Adventure, Slice of Life, Dark Anime

27. Death Note

Everyone Know about Death note and if you are someone who still didn’t watched this anime then dude do your self a favor and watch it right now.

Yagami Light is an ace student with great aspects who’s bored out of his mind. One day he finds the Death Note, a notebook held by a shinigami (Death God).

With the Death Note in hand, Light decides to create a perfect world. A world without crime or criminals.

However when criminals start dropping dead one by one, the authorities send the legendar… more Yagami Light is an ace student with great aspects who’s bored out of his mind.

One day he finds the Death Note, a notebook held by a shinigami (Death God). With the Death Note in hand, Light decides to create a perfect world. A world without crime or criminals.

However when criminals start dropping dead one by one, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer.

And there are many fan fiction theories about death note ending that you should read.

Genre: Mystery, Police, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller, Dark Anime

26. Shiki

During a fiercely hot summer in Sotoba, a peaceful and quiet village with a population of 1300 people, a series of bizarre deaths begin to occur.

At the same time, a strange family moves into a long abandoned mansion in the region.

Hospital dean Toshio Ozaki cannot figure out the cause of death in the deceased, initially suspecting an epidemic.

As investigations continue between the hospital staff and the residents, it turns out that the village is being attacked by vampires.

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Thriller, Vampire, Dark Anime

25. VAMPIRE HUNTER D

10,000 years in the future, the world has become a very different place; monsters roam the land freely, and people, although equipped with high-tech weapons and cybernetic horses, live a humble life reminiscent of millennia past.

A small hamlet is plagued by monster attacks, living under the shadow of rule by Count Magnus Lee, a powerful vampire lord who has ruled the land for thousands of years.

When a young girl is bitten by the Count and chosen as his current plaything, she seeks out the help of a quiet wandering stranger, D.

It so happens that D is a renowned vampire hunter, and he takes it upon himself to cut through the Count’s many minions, and put an end to the his rule.

Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Supernatural, Vampire, Dark Anime

24. HIGURASHI NO NAKU KORO NI

After moving into the quiet town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi spends his days blissfully in school often playing games with his local friends.

However, appearances can be deceiving. One fateful day, Keiichi stumbles upon news of a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa.

From this point on, horrific events unfold in front of Keiichi, as he soon learns his close friends may not be all that they seem.

Based on the amateur mystery game by 7th Expansion, the story is told in a series of different scenarios.

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller, Dark Anime

23. HELLSING ULTIMATE

Vampires exist. It is the duty of Hellsing, a secret organization sponsored by the British government, to hide that frightening fact and protect the blissfully unaware populace.

Along with its own personal army, Hellsing has secret weapons. Alucard, an incredibly powerful vampire, has been controlled by Hellsing for years.

It is unclear how he feels about being a servant to the Hellsing family, but he certainly enjoys his job as a vampire exterminator.

Seras is a fledgling vampire and former police woman. Although reluctant to embrace her new self, she is a valued member of the organization.

Integra Hellsing, the current leader, is usually fully capable of fulfilling her duty, but lately, vampire activity has been on the rise.

Unfortunately, the cause is more alarming than anything she could have imagined.

A group long thought dead has been plotting in secret since their apparent destruction over 50 years ago.

Genre: Action, Horror, Military, Seinen, Supernatural, Vampire, Dark Anime

22. MIRAI NIKKI

Yukiteru always rejects offers to go out with friends, preferring to spend the time writing a diary on his cell phone.

He has what he believes is an imaginary friend called Deus Ex Machina. However, one day Deus asks him to play a survival game along with eleven others.

The winner becomes the next Deus Ex Machina. In order to win, the contestants must use their diaries of the future to eliminate one another.

For Yukiteru to survive, he must team up with another diary holder, a girl named Yuno.

Genre: Action, Shounen, Supernatural, Dark Anime

21. Zankyou no Terror (Terror in Resonance)

On a summer day… Suddenly, an immense terrorist bomb struck Tokyo.

The culprits behind the act that woke up this complacent nation, were just two boys.

The culprits known as Sphinx now, begin a massive game that envelopes Japan.

Terrorism is a hot topic in the world today, and nothing puts that into perspective quite like fiction. 

Zankyou no Terror is a dark anime that brings up topics of nature vs. nurture through the eyes of its “protagonists” fighting for individual identity and recognition in a world hell-bent on burying its mistakes.

They do this through fear, terrorism and chaos. There are no “good guys and bad guys”, and it does a good job of skewing right and wrong in the face of justice.

Definitely fits the bill for the thriller anime genre with content that makes it relatable for adult viewers, despite the main characters being adolescents.

Genre: Psychological, Thriller, Dark Anime

20. BLACK BULLET

A near future, where humans have been defeated by the viral parasites named Gastrea.

They have been exiled into a small territory and live in despair, side-by-side in terror.

In this world trapped in darkness— Rentaro, a boy living near Tokyo and member of the “Civil Security”—an organization specializing in fighting against the Gastrea—is used to accomplishing dangerous tasks.

His partner is Enju, a precocious young girl. They fight thanks to their peculiar powers until one day, when they receive a special assignment from the government.

This top secret mission is to prevent the destruction of Tokyo… Set in a near future, this thrilling heroic-action story… starts now!

Genre: Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Seinen, Dark Anime

19. JIGOKU SHOUJO (HELL GIRL)

There is a rumor. There exists a message board called Jigoku Tsushin where one can access only at midnight.

It is said that if one writes his grudge against someone, Jigoku Shoujo appears and she takes the person to the Hell.

An eye for an eye takes on new meaning in Jigoku Shoujo, where you can curse someone to Hell but are also sentenced to Hell yourself.

The anime explores the many reasons why a person would give up their soul to curse another, be they a tormentor or bitter enemy.

It shows the dark side of human nature, as it discusses a different sort of immoral action in each episode.

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Dark Anime

18. TABOO TATTOO

Seigi, a martial arts trained middle schooler, often feels driven to protect the weaker people around him.

One day, he defends a homeless man against some punks, and the man gives him a strange tattoo on his palm in return.

The tattoo is a secret weapon produced in the arms race between America and the Serinistan Kingdom.

Seigi finds himself in over his head when a powerful girl, using the same secret weapon, violently pursues him in order to retrieve it.

His skill at martial arts may not be enough to keep him alive, but will he be able to learn how to trigger the power of his tattoo in time?

Genre: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts, Mystery, Super Power, Supernatural, Dark Anime

17. TOKYO GHOUL

Tokyo is haunted by mysterious ghouls who are devouring humans.

People are gripped by the fear of these ghouls whose identities are masked in mystery.

An ordinary college student named Kaneki encounters Rize, a girl who is an avid reader like he is, at the café he frequents.

Little does Kaneki realize that his fate will change overnight.

Blood, guts, and monsters – Tokyo Ghoul is a classic story with a dark new twist.

This anime explores loss, bigotry, prejudice, literal racism, questionable philosophy and morals.

It begs the question of what makes a murderer, if one must kill to survive? It throws the irony of human standards for murdering another human vs. killing an animal into almost stark relief.

Although it lacks any intense psychological twists, it’s a fresh addition to the horror genre.

Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Dark Anime

16. Another

In 1972, a popular student in Yomiyama North Middle School’s class 3-3 named Misaki passed away during the school year.

Since then, the town of Yomiyama has been shrouded by a fearful atmosphere, from the dark secrets hidden deep within.

Twenty-six years later, 15-year-old Kouichi Sakakibara transfers into class 3-3 of Yomiyama North and soon after discovers that a strange, gloomy mood seems to hang over all the students.

He also finds himself drawn to the mysterious, eyepatch-wearing student Mei Misaki; however, the rest of the class and the teachers seem to treat her like she doesn’t exist.

Paying no heed to warnings from everyone including Mei herself, Kouichi begins to get closer not only to her, but also to the truth behind the gruesome phenomenon plaguing class 3-3 of Yomiyama North.

Another follows Kouichi, Mei, and their classmates as they are pulled into the enigma surrounding a series of inevitable, tragic events—but unraveling the horror of Yomiyama may just cost them the ultimate price.

Genre: Horror, Mystery, School, Supernatural, Thriller, Dark Anime

15. GHOST IN THE SHELL

In the year 2029, the world is made borderless by the net; augmented humans live in virtual environments, watched over by law enforcement that is able to download themselves into super-powered, crime busting mecha.

The ultimate secret agent of the future is not human, has no physical body and can freely travel the information highways of the world, hacking and manipulating whatever and whenever required.

Genre: Mecha, Police, Psychological, Sci-Fi

14. Death Parade

“Welcome to Queen Dekim.” What greets two unsuspecting guests is a strange bar, Queen Dekim, and the white-haired bartender, Dekim.

“From here you two shall begin a battle where your lives hang in the balance,” he says to introduce the Death Game.

Before long the guests’ true natures become apparent. As a matter of course, at the game’s end Dekim is revealed to be the “arbiter.” Dekim’s judgement on the two guests is…

Genre: Game, Psychological, Dark Anime

13. LE CHEVALIER D`EON

During the time when Louis XV still ruled France, a certain woman was found dead in the coffin floating through the Seine river.

D’Eon, the woman’s brother, determines to seach for the killer of his sister, Lia.

But there are some strange movements in France. And things become more strange when Lia’s soul enters D’Eon’s body…

Genre: Historical, Magic, Mystery, Seinen, Supernatural, Dark Anime

12. ELFEN LIED

The “diclonii” (singular: “diclonius”), otherwise known as a two-horned human, are mutants of the human species, may well be the next step in human evolution.

The diclonii have horns and strong telekinetic powers represented by arms. However with this great power, they could easily destroy the human race.

Fearful of their power, humans quarantined the diclonii into secret research facilities to study.

However, in a freak accident, a enraged female diclonius escaped, killing many guards in the process.

Interesting enough, the female escapee appears to have suffered amnesia after her escape and floated to Yuigahama of Kamakura city.

There, she meets two people named Kouta and Yuka, who name the female diclonius “Nyuu”, and decide that they all should live together.

Genre: Action, Drama, Ecchi, Horror, Psychological, Romance anime, Dark Anime

11. GHOST HUNT

Telling ghost stories is a favorite past time of Mai Taniyama and her friends–that is, until she meets 17 year-old Kazuya Shibuya, the man sent by Shibuya Psychic Research Center to investigate paranormal activity at a supposedly haunted school.

When Mai gets caught in a dangerous situation, she is rescued by Kazuya’s assistant.

Saving her lands the assistant incapacitated, and Kazuya demands that Mai become his assistant, instead…

Genre: Comedy, Horror, Mystery, Shoujo, Supernatural, Dark Anime

10. God Eater

Set in Japan in the year 2071 where the world has been mostly destroyed by mysterious monsters known as the Aragami.

An organization known as Fenrir was made to exterminate Aragami using weapons called God Arcs which is made from the cells of an Aragami.

Those who specialize in exterminating Aragami are known as God Eaters.

Originally God Eaters had one type in which their God Arcs can only keep gun form or blade form.

however a new type has been discovered that can switch between gun and blade form.

Since then, they have been classified new-types and the previous as old-types.

Genre: Action, Demons, Fantasy, Military, Supernatural, Dark Anime

9. ERGO PROXY

Sometime in the distant future, humanity has managed to survive, but only in isolated cities and through the use of cloning and robotic servants called Autoraves.

Life in the cities is strictly controlled by management dedicated to preserving their ‘utopian’ way of life.

But something is causing the Autoraves to become independent and is driving them to seek to escape the city. 

Re-l Mayer, a female inspector from the Citizen Information Board, learns that the awakening of the Autoraves is caused by an encounter with something called a Proxy.

In seeking to learn more, Re-l stumbles into a secret that management is desperately trying to hide and will go to any length to keep suppressed.

Genre: Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Dark Anime

8. FATE ZERO

Taking place 10 years before the events of Fate/stay night, this series chronicles the events of the Fourth Holy Grail War.

Fate Zero’s a classic fantasy series with alternative animes in alternate universes.

Every now and then, something called the Holy Grail will choose a master and a servant.

Whoever is chosen gets forced to fight in the Holy Grail war, with the promise of having 1 wish fulfilled if you win.

Compared to Fate Stay Night, Fate Zero is obscene and disgustingly more vile in almost every way.

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural, Dark Anime

7. SHINSEKAI YORI (From the New World)

About one thousand years into the future, civilization has been retrograded and humans are living dispersed within small communities.

People in this era have a psychic power called “Juryoku” which materializes things they imagine.

In the absence of advanced scientific technology, people are using this power as a major source of energy.

One day, a girl called Saki, along with her friends, finds a small archive robot outside the town.

It records the ancient history of humans. It tells them that Juryoku was found in the 21st century and the discovery caused a world war between psychics and non-psychics.

The psychics won this war and thus their reign of terror began. When the adults in town figure out that the children discovered this forbidden knowledge, they seal their Juryoku and exile them.

Saki and the others end up in a forest where they meet a huge hairless bipedal mouse known as a “Bakenezumi” and get involved in a violent war the creatures are currently engaged in.

Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Supernatural, Dark Anime

6. Jormungand

Koko Hekmatyar, a young arms dealer sells weapons under HCLI, a shipping corporation.

As one of the company’s unofficial weapon sellers, she secretly sells weapons in many countries while avoiding the local authorities and law enforcements as most of her work is actually illegal under international law.

Travelling with her is her team of bodyguards who are mostly composed of ex-military veterans.

Her latest addition to the crew is Jonah, a seemingly emotionless child soldier who is skilled in combat yet ironically hates arms dealers.

Jonah joins Koko as he wishes to find the arms dealer responsible for his family’s death. What follows is Koko and her crews escapades around the world.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Seinen, Dark Anime

5. PSYCHO-PASS

In the future, it is possible to quantitatively measure a person’s emotions, desires, and every inclination.

In this way, it is also possible to measure a person’s criminal tendency factor, which is used to judge criminals.

This is the story of a team of policemen dedicated to maintaining public order.

Some of them work in the Enforcement Division, responsible for the apprehension of criminals, while others belong to the Supervisory Division which oversees their colleagues in Enforcement.

Genre: Action, Police, Sci-Fi, Dark Anime

4. SAMURAI CHAMPLOO

Mugen is a fierce animal-like warrior with a unique Bboying (break-dance) inspired fighting style.

Jin has a more traditional style but don’t think of this as a weakness because his skills are amazing.

The two contrasting samurai warriors are far from friends, yet their separate paths seem to cross anyways.

Mugen is wandering aimlessly through the city when he stumbles upon a teahouse where he meets Jin and Fuu (A ditzy waitress, but don‘t think she doesn‘t have anything hidden up her sleeves).

Fuu convinces them both to come with her in search of a mysterious samurai that smells like sunflowers and their journey begins.

This modernized hip-hop tale breaks the barriers of the common, historical, samurai anime.  

Genre: Action, adventure, comedy, drama, Dark Anime

3. BERSERK

Guts, a man who calls himself “The Black Swordsman” looks upon his days serving as a member of a group of mercenaries, the Band of the Hawk, nicknamed “the Grim Reaper of the Battlefield.”

Led by an ambitious, ruthless, and intelligent man named Griffith, together they battle their way into the royal court, and are forced into a fate that may chang… more Guts, a man who calls himself “The Black Swordsman”

looks upon his days serving as a member of a group of mercenaries, the Band of the Hawk, nicknamed “the Grim Reaper of the Battlefield.”

Led by an ambitious, ruthless, and intelligent man named Griffith, together they battle their way into the royal court, and are forced into a fate that may change their entire lives.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Demons, Fantasy, Horror, Military, Romance, Seinen, Supernatural, Dark Anime

2. KISEIJUU: SEI NO KAKURITSU ( Parasyte )

The 17-year-old Izumi Shinichi lives with his mother and father in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo.

One night, worm-like aliens called Parasytes invade Earth, taking over the brains of human hosts by entering through their ears or noses.

One Parasytes attempts to crawl into Shinichi’s ear while he sleeps, but fails since he is wearing headphones, and enters his body by burrowing into his arm instead, taking over his right hand and is named Migi.

Because Shinichi was able to prevent Migi from travelling further up into his brain, both beings retain their separate intellect and personality.

As the duo encounter other Parasytes, they capitalize on their strange situation and gradually form a strong bond, working together to survive.

This gives them an edge in battling other Parasytes who frequently attack the pair upon realization that Shinichi’s human brain is still intact.

Shinichi feels compelled to fight other Parasytes, who devour humans as food, while enlisting Migi’s help.

Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Psychological, Sci-Fi, Seinen, Dark Anime

1. NO. 6

The TV anime series No. 6 is created by studio Bones, based on a sci-fi light novel series authored by Atsuko Asano.

The story is set in a future model city in 2013, called “No. 6?. Raised as a top-ranking elite since the age of 2, a boy named Shion lives in an exclusive area of the city.

On the night of his 12th birthday, he rescues a boy who calls himself “Nezumi” (“Rat”).

Nezumi ran away from the city’s Special Security Area. From that moment on, Shion’s life is changed forever now this is a Dark Anime.

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Dark Anime