The 25 Best Anime That Will Only Get Darker

It’s no secret that Japanese animation promotes a lot of shows and movies with dark and cruel themes.

Some of them have a strong ascending climax and are quite unpredictable, meaning that you will never see it coming.

Let’s see our top anime picks if you love anime that get darker and darker.

25. Deadman Wonderland

Deadman Wonderland is a 12-episode survival game anime that was released in 2011, based on the manga series by Jinsei Kataoka.

The story follows Ganta Igarashi, the protagonist, and his classmates as they visit an amusement park called Deadman Wonderland during a field trip.

But a mysterious man brutally murders Ganta’s classmates, and Ganta is framed for the crime. He is then imprisoned in the very facility he was meant to visit.

Inside Deadman Wonderland, Ganta discovers that it is not an ordinary prison but a place where inmates are forced to participate in deadly games in order to survive.

Deadman Wonderland is just as it sounds: a good survival game anime filled with intense moments and a lot of gore scenes, with a story that gets more and more twisted and dark as the number of episodes increases.

24. Inuyashiki

Inuyashiki is an 11-episode anime that shares its perspective between two great main characters in a spiral of violence and dark scenes.

Ichiro Inuyashiki is a 58-year-old man down on his luck after finding out that he has stomach cancer. Ignored by his family when he tries to tell them, he goes to a nearby park with his dog and despairs about his situation.

Hiro Shishigami is an ordinary high school boy who spends his days talking about girls and manga. He also sometimes roams around aimlessly, looking for something missing inside.

Tragedy struck them as they were caught in an accident in the park after being hit by aliens that reconstructed their entire bodies using deadly machinery. What will they do now with their newfound capabilities?

Inuyashiki is a criminally underrated anime that hides a unique and excellent story, even though it cuts a lot of material from the manga.

The best aspect of this anime is the dualism between the two MCs: Inuyashiki is an old man with nothing to lose, who will use his powers for good to make sense of his empty life.

Hiro, on the other hand, will use them selfishly and sickly, using them to kill for fun and bring chaos to the world.

23. Elfen Lied

Elfen Lied is a seinen manga-based anime that gained notoriety in the 2000s for its controversial and gory elements.

The story starts in a lab where Diclonius, a race of beings with special abilities, are subjected to brutal experiments to make them lethal weapons.

The events begin to move with Lucy, one of the Diclonius, escaping the base, but after suffering a violent head injury, she loses her memory.

She is later found by a boy named Kota with a connection to her past, and that’s where the plot begins.

If you are looking for a series that is gory and doesn’t shy away from showing increasingly intense graphic scenes, then Elfen Lied is undoubtedly a solid choice.

22. Parasyte

A 24-episode anime created by Madhouse studio from Hitoshi Iwaaki’s manga of the same name, bringing it to the present day by debunking it from its vintage setting.

The work stars Shinichi Izumi, an ordinary student whose right hand is infested by a mysterious alien parasite interested in taking over his body.

Migi, a nickname given to the parasite, is just one of a race of parasites intent on taking over human bodies to conquer Earth.

The forced coexistence between the two leads them to clash with other malicious parasites in an ongoing struggle for their survival and that of humankind.

But what seems like an almost bizarre and comical situation will soon turn out to be chaotic and bloody as the two realize how violent and bloodthirsty the other parasites are.

21. Texhnolyze

Texhnolyze is an original series aired in 2003, with character design by Yoshitoshi Abe. The story takes place in the crumbling underground city of Lux, within which three factions vie for its control.

The series focuses particularly on Ichise, an orphan turned bounty hunter who has lost a leg and an arm, and his other companions such as Yoshi, Onishi, and Ran.

These characters will witness major events that will determine the fate of the city. These events, however, will soon take a dark and ugly turn, so be very careful.

This is not an easy anime to follow or interpret. The episodes are paced very slowly, and the themes and scenes are difficult to interpret.

But that is exactly what the author wanted: to create a cryptic work where every viewer could grasp its message.

20. Trigun

Dating back to 1998, Trigun stars Vash the Stampede, also known by the dreaded title “Humanoid Typhoon.”

He is a wanted man throughout Gunsmoke, the planet where the events are set. This is because of the destruction of July City, of which he is believed to be the culprit.

Vash is far from a criminal but instead uses his keen skills to defend those in need, killing only on rare occasions and when strictly necessary.

But also because of this nature of his, Vash will find himself entangled in a grand conspiracy, and precisely to his detriment.

19. Rainbow

Rainbow is a criminally underrated anime from 2010 with 26 episodes.

It’s great if you like psychological and dramatic series that take a dark and unexpected turn, with a solid and interesting cast of characters.

Set in 1955, the anime follows the story of seven teenagers locked up in a reform school, who wait for the light in a succession of suffering, or the chance to escape.

As anticipated, the course of events will not unfold smoothly, and before the protagonists glimpse the light at the end of the tunnel, they will have to endure a considerable amount of suffering…

18. Heavenly Delusion

Heavenly Delusion is a recent anime adaptation based on a seinen manga, with its first season concluded in the summer of 2023 with 13 episodes.

This series is intriguing, featuring a mix of mystery and supernatural elements within an excellent post-apocalyptic setting, with a plot that gradually darkens as it unveils its mysteries.

Fifteen years before the series begins, a catastrophic event reshaped the world, giving rise to menacing, human-eating monsters that pose a constant threat to the survivors.

The remaining humans seek refuge in isolated facilities, left to dream and wonder about the outside world.

It is against this backdrop that Maru and Kiruko join forces outside the safety of the shelters, embarking on a quest to discover a special place known as Heaven and to find answers that might explain the world’s transformation.

But as they unravel the truths, they may come to realize that some mysteries are perhaps better left undiscovered…

17. Mobile Suit Gundam 0800 – War in the Pocket

A mini-series of just 6 episodes belonging to the long and intricate Gundam narrative universe, but still carving out a place as one of the best products in the franchise.

This mini-series is different from what you might expect from reading the title. This is because it does not focus on pilots or robots, but on an ordinary civilian who knows almost nothing about machines.

In fact, the protagonist is Alfred, a child like any other who will see his ordinariness disrupted by an encounter with a Zeon spy. Predictably, he will soon find himself entangled in something hot and bigger than himself.

Already the premise should give you a sense of the dark turn that will grip this show soon. After all, how can a child like any other react when embroiled in war?

16. Mawaru Penguindrum

If someone extremely dear to you were to pass away, what would you do if he or she came back to life, but possessed by another entity that promises to bring your loved one back to life in exchange for a favor?

This work comes after a decade or so of absence on the scene for Ikuhara, so it marks an important turning point for the author.

The initial premise reflects on Shoma and Kanba Takakura, two brothers who lose their beloved little sister Himari to an illness. Their surprise is then justified as they see her come back to life with a bizarre penguin-shaped hat.

The girl will not be her in spirit as she is possessed by the Princess of Crystals, who promises the brothers to bring their little sister back to life in exchange for their help in finding the Penguindrum.

But this hides something darker, that you can only understand if you give this anime a chance.

15. Terror in Resonance

An interesting anime released in 2014 and consists of only 11 episodes, with an extremely fascinating thriller and detective component.

Tokyo is under a terroristic attack, and a group calling itself Sphinx has begun planting explosive devices around the city. They pose riddles via the Internet daring the police to solve them or they will detonate the bombs. Who will emerge victorious from this sick game?

Terror in Resonance will progressively add tension and adrenaline to the whole, with burning puzzles and games with more and more at stake.

14. Attack on Titan

One of the most popular works in recent times, if not the most in the period when his manga was at the finish line. Isayama’s Attack on Titan does not need much of a premise.

In an alternate world to our own, humanity is hunted by giants, huge humanoid life forms that feed on people, becoming natural predators of them.

Eren, Mikasa, and Armin will have to live with this threat, training to kill these life forms to get revenge.

What seems like the premise of almost just another shonen is soon broken when in the very first mission we witness mutilation, people being eaten alive, and more.

13. Flip Flappers

Flip Flappers is an anime produced by Studio 3Hz and broadcast in the winter of 2016. The main character is Cocona, a young girl attending middle school.

Quiet and judicious, however, she will make the acquaintance of Papika, a peer with an explosive personality.

The latter also unexpectedly invites Cocona to come along with her to a mysterious parallel dimension called Pure Illusion.

But what at first glance may look like a fun and colorful journey into a new world hides more than one secret, revealing its true colors.

12. Cowboy Bebop

Impossible not to mention this masterpiece by Watanabe, one of the best works in the entire history of animation. Cowboy Bebop shows a not-too-future world where interspatial travel is the norm and Mars represents one of the cornerstones of humanity.

Unfortunately, it does not change one of the big problems in the story, namely organized crime, which is fought in a rather extravagant way by placing bounties on outlaws. The bounty hunters are precisely called cowboys, hence the name of the title.

Don’t be fooled by the premises that seem to herald a vision of fun-filled interspace travel.

Cowboy Bebop deals with very serious and burning issues told through the lives and pasts of the crew members, each with their burdens.

11. School-Live!

School-Live is a 2015 anime based on a seinen target manga, which plays on the surprise effect and manages to generate surprise in the viewer often and often.

This looks like a very normal slice-of-life anime, where the cheerful protagonist Takeya Yuki lives her school life in a sunny and energetic way in her school club together with her friends Kurumi, Rii-chan, and Megu-nee.

This happy scenario will soon be interrupted by a terrible and violent zombie invasion, which will send the school into a panic.

10. Sailor Moon

Based on the manga of the same name written in 1991 by Naoko Takeuchi, Sailor Moon features Usagi Tsukino and her friends as protagonists.

The plot of the anime unfolds in various self-contained mini-adventures that slowly bring the warriors closer to the final enemy of the day.

Sailor Moon features dark elements and the end of the first season is not happy at all, as many may think during their first watch.

The entire series is generally acknowledged for being about friendship and love but there is much more to it. A good explanation is provided by Anime News Network, but be careful as it contains spoilers.

9. Higurashi: When they Cry – Gou

When They Cry is a series that simply could not be missing from this list for one simple reason: without hiding it, this series does not simply have gore, but it relies on it, and it even gets more intense as the episodes progress.

The plot follows Keiichi Maebara and his friends who live in Hinamizawa, a small village plagued by a macabre curse linked to the worship of a local god, Oyashiro.

But as the protagonists begin to investigate the town’s mysteries, the situation escalates, and various characters commit terrible acts as the truth is revealed.

Higurashi: When They Cry is packed, to put it mildly, with gore scenes that will turn your stomach and it can be quite bothersome to watch.

So if you like this type of trash anime, this is your cup of tea.

8. Made in Abyss

Made in Abyss is an amazing and maybe even a bit underrated anime that was released in multiple seasons starting in 2017.

The plot follows the adventures of Riko, a 12-year-old girl who lives in the Belchero orphanage in the town of Orth.

The distinguishing feature of this place is the presence of a giant chasm, called the Abyss, containing mysterious artifacts and objects of special interest to the outside world.

But the Abyss is known for one thing in particular: the further down you venture, the harder it will be to come back up…

Made in Abyss is one of those anime that might seem light and cute, but it’s actually quite mature and soon gets pretty intense.

So, don’t be fooled by the atmosphere and character design, because there are some pretty graphic scenes in store that awaits you.

7. Serial Experiments Lain

Serial Experiments Lain is an avant-garde animation masterpiece that graced audiences with its release in 1998, spanning 13 episodes.

The series explores visionary and ahead-of-its-time themes, almost creating an eerie sense of foresight considering the time of its release. It’s almost as if its creators had glimpsed into the future before going back to craft its story.

So you will understand that it is a must-watch gem and an anime that you don’t get to witness every day, with one of the best psychological and increasingly dark aspects ever created.

The story starts with the tragic suicide of Chisa Yomoda, a high school girl.

This event seems to elicit a little reaction from those around her until some of her classmates start receiving messages claiming that Chisa is still alive and has found freedom in the Wired, a virtual world.

One of the recipients of these messages is Lain Iwakura, a quiet and introverted 14-year-old girl who embarks on an investigation into this event.

6. Chainsaw Man

Chainsaw Man is one of the biggest hits of recent times, thanks to MAPPA’s simply perfect work.

Denji is a boy who because of his father, after his death, is in debt up to his neck. Because of this, he is forced to be a Devil Hunter, or demon hunter, to scrape together some money.

In all this he is joined by his companion and weapon Pochita, a chainsaw dog who one day, in a dangerous situation, will change his master’s life, making him the dreaded Chainsaw Man.

There are many reasons behind the incredible success of this work. Chainsaw Man is a dynamic and fast-paced story that takes the theme of demons and makes it interesting again.

The story is full of surprises with an escalation of dark moments, accompanied by the best cast you could ever ask for.

5. Berserk

A masterpiece of the dark fantasy and sword and sorcery genres by the notorious mangaka Kentaro Miura. Its 1997 anime adaptation is famous for its vintage style and for being one of the best cosmic horror anime.

Few other works can match this one due to the complexity of its characters and for starring two incredible personalities: Gatsu and Griffith.

The story doesn’t start in the happiest of ways, but it gets even worse as the protagonist Gatsu has a fateful encounter with Griffith, the leader of the Falcons.

Berserk is a milestone in Japanese art and the progressive suffering of Gatsu is what makes it more realistic.

4. Devilman Crybaby

Devilman Crybaby is a 10-episode anime of the Action/Combat, Drama, Supernatural, and Splatter genres, based on the famous work of master Go Nagai and presented in a modern key and the style of master Yuasa.

This is a must-watch for anyone with an over-the-top palate and especially for fans of rather gory anime. Devilman is based on demons, beings that lived on Earth and disappeared long ago, frozen in huge blocks of ice.

One day, however, something slowly begins to awaken them. Akira Fudo, the protagonist, is informed of the incident by his best friend, Ryo Asuka, who invites Akira to merge with a demon.

This gives rise to the mythical Devilman, a man-demon hybrid who will fight the demon menace. Devilman is the definition of an ascending climax, as every progress in the story is a step forward towards despair.

3. Perfect Blue

In his debut as a director, the legendary Satoshi Kon in 1997 gave us a rare gem like Perfect Blue.

Mima Kirigoe is a young girl belonging to the Chams, a trio of idols who sing J-Pop songs. The group is having a fair amount of success, but Mima wants to become an actress, so she leaves the group.

Amid the discouragement of the fans, Mima will start acting in a small role in a drama and some strange events will begin to take place.

A fax will be delivered to her in which she is accused of treason, and even more disturbing is the existence of a website called Mima’s Room in which someone describes her days in great detail.

What can a person’s obsession with one’s idol lead to? The answer lies here, in this mandatory stop for any movie lover.

Perfect Blue manages to build a copybook ending with a wise use of direction and ascending climax.

2. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion is an original anime created by Hideaki Anno that depicts a world under attack by so-called Angels, mysterious entities that threaten the quiet of humanity.

Through the use of special mechs, it is possible to fight these beings, for which the Special Agency Nerv has taken responsibility. The protagonist Shinji Ikari will be hired by this very group to pilot one of the robots, EVA 01, and attempt to put an end to these attacks.

Although the plot seems very action-centric, all the focus is on the characters and their psychology, as well as their traumas and personal experiences.

The message of Evangelion resonates near the second half of the original anime, as the situation starts to get grim.

1. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

A 2011 anime produced by Shaft and Aniplex, Puella Magi Madoka Magika is a masterpiece that gives a different twist to the classic Majokko genre, even though it’s not the first series to do that.

The narrative starts in much the same way as other anime in the genre, the protagonists gain magical powers to fight against witches, who are guilty of various terrible deeds against humans.

The real revolution occurs later in the plot when the relaxed and playful atmosphere is dropped and the focus is on dark and deep themes, becoming one of the best thriller anime ever made.

Madoka Magica escalates quickly by the end of the first episode and things will get even worse as you watch it.