The 30 Best Supernatural Anime That Will Amaze You
Yorozuya
Tops & Rankings
The supernatural, as it is in human nature, fascinates us and always will because it is something that we cannot understand, that transcends our world.
And even more fascinating are the countless artistic declinations the authors have given, being that when something is not real, the only limit is imagination.
There are quite a few, but we have collected for you the best supernatural-themed anime for some good, wholesome hours of entertainment.
Rankings are based on our experience and personal taste. There may be spoilers throughout the article too, so be careful.
Table of Contents
30. Another
Another is one of the most famous horror anime right now, adapted from the light novel of the same name written in 2009 by Yukito Ayatsuji.
Another tells the adventures of Mei and Koichi, two students at Japan’s Yomiyama North High School, who investigate to end a curse that has plagued their school for 26 years.
This curse will lead the two protagonists to encounter paranormal phenomena and to discover, as the solution to the mystery approaches, disturbing secrets that will change their lives, and lots of deaths too.
Another is a truly disturbing horror film, capable of keeping you on your toes for both its very anxiety-provoking scenes and its strong visual violence, with very gruesome scenes as well.
If you are a horror fan, we shouldn’t even have to stand here and tell you, but you shouldn’t miss it under any circumstances.
29. To Your Eternity
An immortal being with the ability to take the form of anything it wants as long as the impetus is stronger than the previous one is sent to the Earth.
What experiences will an immortal being have on our planet, and what will happen when he meets humans, especially a boy who lives alone in the forests?
To Your Eternity is an anime that grounds its narrative on adventure, settings with fantasy and very rural tones, and very smooth and enjoyable animations.
If you want to enjoy a relaxed, lulling show to pass the time, this is one of the best choices. Just don’t expect it to be a masterpiece or something innovative, it’s a normal supernatural anime.
28. Your Name.
A real media phenomenon, hated by some but loved by many more. We are talking about Your Name, one of the most famous Makoto Shinkai movies.
Mitsuha is a high school student living in a rural town nestled in the mountains who dreams of life in Tokyo.
Taki is a student living in downtown Tokyo in its hustle and bustle. One day, they both dream of being in each other’s bodies. But is it really just a dream?
Your Name features a beautiful setting between the city and countryside while boasting solid and fluid animations.
It’s perfect if you want to watch a romantic movie, even though we warn you that the plot isn’t the most consistent ever.
27. Death Note
If you are a fan of psychological confrontations or the detective genre, Death Note is a must.
The work is the perfect example of a psychological thriller, able to perfectly tie together elements of the fantasy and gothic worlds.
Light Yagami is a young model student, who nevertheless harbors strong disgust and disappointment with the world around him.
His life will change drastically when one day he sees a mysterious notebook, the Death Note, fall from the sky, capable of causing the death of anyone simply by writing his name.
Light’s plans are clear, to use the notebook to kill as many criminals as possible to purge this world of evil. But soon he will have to deal with L, one of the greatest private investigators, hired to unravel the mystery of the continuing deaths among criminals.
If you are a fan of anime thrillers you will surely have already seen it, if not, do it now, because you cannot miss it.
26. Bungo Stray Dogs
Bungo Stray Dogs is a mystery manga with supernatural elements written by Kafka Asagiri and drawn by Sango Harukawa.
Atsushi Nakajima, the main character, is an orphan boy who lives with others like him in an orphanage. After being kicked out of the same, however, he finds himself wandering homeless.
And it is at this time that he rescues a man attempting to commit suicide, one Osamu Dazai, a strange detective who together with his partner Kunikida is part of a detective agency that is peculiar, to say the least.
Indeed, both are endowed with supernatural powers and deal with cases deemed risky for the police force. It is clear that Atsushi’s fate is now linked to that of the 2 investigators. He thus joins them in solving the particular cases to which they are assigned.
Bungou Stray Dogs is an underrated anime that can offer an excellent combination of investigation, action, and supernatural.
And another of its merits is that, without being a crude or overly mature story, it presents a plot that goes smoothly, without exaggeration or plot armors.
25. Death Parade
Death Parade consists of 12 episodes and blends the tension of death games with an interest in the supernatural and mystery.
When on Earth two people die at the same time they must be judged, and they are sent to liminal spaces, such as the Quindecim bar.
On the surface a simple bartender, Decim is the judge, whose job it is to decide whether to send souls to reincarnation or the eternal void.
In the death game, players take turns, remembering during the games both their identities and the reasons for their deaths.
Death Parade is a very enjoyable anime without excessive pretension, although the plot may make it seem so.
Its deep psychological side and the trials people must undergo will know how to captivate you in a smooth and entertaining experience.
24. Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the modern fighting anime that is making the most success, born from the manga by Gege Akutami.
Its success is definitely due to its excellent story that runs smoothly, but without a shadow of doubt also due to the wonderful animations by Mappa, which enlightens the animation to over-the-top levels.
The protagonist is Yuji Itadori, a young boy with off-kilter physical abilities who never misses a chance to help his friends to abide by his philosophy of life.
Following an accident at his school, he will find himself a receptacle for the most powerful dark spirit ever, Sukuna, eating one of its 20 fingers. But enemies will not think twice about trying to get their hands on the boy.
Jujutsu Kaisen takes a lot of inspiration from Bleach, Naruto and even Hunter x Hunter. It’s the modern battle shonen you should watch, as it brings a lot of memories back.
23. Claymore
A 26-episode anime set in a dark medieval fantasy-themed world where the inhabitants are forced to fight the threat of monstrous creatures that feed on humans.
Fighting these creatures, called Yomi, are the Claymores, warriors with enormous power who can counter the terrible monsters with their swords.
The protagonist of the story is Claire, a low-level claymore who will increase her fighting power over time as she discovers the deceptions behind the Yomi and the society in which she lives.
A very good dark fantasy setting mixed with a lot of action and excellent characters make this anime one of the must watch if you like mature stories.
The dark fantasy setting of Claymore is charming and gloomy, perfect to represent a sad world infested by Yomi. The anime isn’t really at the same level as the original source, the manga.
That’s because it aired before the manga finished so the last 3 episodes aren’t canon, but this adaptation is still a great introduction anyway.
22. Erased
Erased is a fully immersive 12-episode anime that merges Mystery/Crime, Psychological, Supernatural, and Thriller elements.
The main character is Satoru Fujinuma, a 29-year-old mangaka without any success, mostly due to suffering from notorious writer’s block.
However, following mysterious happenings, he obtains a power called Revival that allows him to go back in time just enough to save people’s lives.
During his far-from-a-happy childhood, one of his classmates had been murdered, and this is where his mission begins. What does this have to do with his mother’s murder?
Erased is a very good anime if you want to see a very good mystery, psychological anime with mature themes that lasts a short time.
The story will know how to grab you, making you impatient for the next clue that goes into completing the intricate mystery of the plot.
21. Noragami Series
An action and fantasy anime with supernatural elements composed of two seasons of 12 episodes each.
The story follows the bizarre duo of Yato, a minor god, and Hiyori Iki, an average schoolgirl. One day, Hiyori saves Yato from a car accident, taking the hit instead of him.
The girl’s soul is not stable anymore and she cannot return to her body and that’s exactly when Yato will start to take advantage of this situation. In fact, the minor god had a weapon partner, who abandoned him before the accident.
If you want some romance and great action, this is the anime for you, even though the setting is nothing special, as it’s used very often in the anime medium.
But despite this, we are 200% sure when we tell you that it is a very enjoyable anime that can be very balanced.
20. Inuyasha
Everybody knows Inuyasha, a big classic of shonen manga and anime in general.
The story stars Kagome, a young girl who, as a result of an accident, will fall a well and is catapulted into Sengoku-era Japan. Here she will be reborn as the reincarnation of the priestess Kikyo, to protect the four winds’ sphere with Inuyasha’s help, a canine-like demon.
Inuyasha is undoubtedly one of the greatest cult greats ever, and there must be a reason for that. It’s a simple but solid story, its excellent settings, and its character design is always on point.
This is a good choice for romance lovers, in particular those who love action and mythical elements. Inuyasha is still quite influential and we recommend to watch it for its historical value.
19. Yu Yu Hakusho
Yu Yu Hakusho is a work by the legendary master Togashi, the same author of the very famous Hunter X Hunter series. An anime started in 1992 consisting of 112 episodes is made from the manga.
The plot revolves around the adventures of Yusuke Urameshi, a young punk with a heart of gold who one day sacrifices himself to save a child from an accident.
Due to this extreme act of generosity, the Spirit King proposes to bring him back to life in exchange for him becoming the detective of the spiritual world.
The anime is a great battle classic, thanks to its beautifully directed fights and the quality of the characters, all of whom are diverse and well-characterized.
Let us not exaggerate by saying that with this work Togashi laid many of the foundations of battle shonen, with narrative techniques that are still used today.
18. Mushishi
Mushishi follows the story of Ginko, a serious and composed character, and also a Mushi. This term refers to strange creatures whose origin or habits no one knows.
What is known is that coexistence with them is complicated for human beings. For this reason, there are the Mushishi, experts in the field who know how to deal with them.
Each episode will thus be devoted to a different creature, creating a succession of self-contained stories.
It must be said that the episodes are slow, reflective, and if we want to use a misnomer, artistic.
But the anime is deliberately so, to create a fantastic atmosphere that is almost hypnotic and lulling.
17. Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light
Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light tells a story of pure feelings, capable of breaking through to even the most hardened people.
It tells the story of Hotaru, a little girl who gets lost in a country forest and meets a human-like yokai named Gin.
The two immediately befriend each other but Gin warns little Hotaru that, because of the Mountain God’s curse, he cannot touch or be touched by humans or he would disappear forever.
The deep relationship that will arise between the two will be the pivotal theme of the story, with a poignant ending that will melt your heart.
But the wonderful countryside settings will also play their part, however, as will the excellent character design.
16. Natsume’s Book of Friends
An underrated slice-of-life anime with supernatural elements released in 2008 in 13 episodes, based on a shojo manga.
Natsume, like her grandmother Reiko, has the gift of being able to see spirits.
The woman used to propose a variety of challenges to them, and if they were defeated, she would take possession of their name by writing it on what she called the Book of Friends.
Now that Natsume has inherited it, a new adventure begins for him, among spirits who want revenge and others who ask him for help.
A very light-hearted and distinctive series, set in an atmospheric country setting, which deviates from the usual slice of life making the formula more interesting and innovative.
If you are tired of the usual slice-of-life anime and want something that twists the formula then you must see it.
15. Fate
Fate is one of the most popular series in recent years. Composed of a colossal universe divided over several completely different media, the work features summoners (Masters) who through the summoning of familiars fight to conquer the Holy Grail.
The reinterpretations of the various historical characters in the anime are a great strength for the series and allow it to have an amazing roster of characters.
For those who enjoy fantasy anime focused mainly on confrontations with amazing fantasy settings and formulas, this is a series not to be missed.
14. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
Based on Hajime Kamoshida’s light novel of the same name, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is a 2018 anime by CloverWorks.
The plot revolves around Sakuta Azusagawa, a high school boy who keeps to himself and has only two friends.
This is caused by the fact that rumors are circulating about him allegedly assaulting some boys. One day, while walking around the library, he runs into a girl dressed as a bunny.
The girl’s name is Mai Sakurajima, his senpai older than him as well as a professional actress. The two will begin to discover each other, opening doors to their various past experiences.
This series is undoubtedly one of the best romance anime out there that you cannot miss if you love the genre. It will feature many romantic scenes but will also deal with important and serious themes of the human psyche, with a specific focus on youth issues in a truly unique way.
These problems will not only be told and solved but will be shown as real supernatural phenomena, making it much more captivating, and creating a super interesting union of romance and supernatural genres.
13. Princess Mononoke
Another movie by Studio Ghibli, Princess Mononoke is quite famous and deals with themes attached to the environment.
We can summarize this production by saying that it’s about the contrast between nature and humanity, a quite current theme right now. All of that in a pleasant fantasy setting attributable to the late Muromachi period in Japan.
Princess Mononoke features a strong female lead and a great direction by Hayao Miyazaki. There is a very deep focus on nature and elements, as you can see from all the references to spirits and mythical creatures.
These elements contribute to creating one of the best worldbuilding in anime, since the entire setting is extremely detailed and feels like a parallel fantasy world.
12. Fruits Basket
A classic romance anime with supernatural elements and a cult in the romance genre that received a remake in 2019 by Studio TMS Entertainment.
The story follows Tohru Honda, a girl that starts living in a tent after a family tragedy. Her tent is located inside the Souma residence, a very peculiar household.
Once they know about her situation, they offer to let her live inside their house. The strange thing about the Souma family is that when they are hugged by a member of the opposite sex, they transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
This show proves how romance can fit with every other genre, and fantasy is not an exception at all. Fruits Basket is a cult for sentimental fans and you should watch it even if you aren’t interested in the fantastic/supernatural setting.
11. Baccano
This is an anime tv show based on the series of light novels written by Ryohgo Narita.
The plot is set in the US in the 1930s. It involves a war that breaks out between various mafia gangs in Manhattan during the Prohibition Era.
But even if it does not seem so, the supernatural element is very much present, as the war between these gangs is due to the search for an elixir of immortality that everyone wants to get their hands on.
Baccano! is a very cool and fun anime that goes about combining supernatural and mob-centered themes in a very innovative way.
If you are interested in this particular mix and want to see a fun anime with top music then you absolutely must see it.
10. Dororo
Born at the hand of legendary master Osamu Tezuka, it has recently received a remake in 2019.
The plot revolves around Hyakkimaru, a boy with a body made of prosthetics, who fights demons. When he was a child his impoverished father sacrificed the child to demons to seek prosperity.
These demons now possess his body parts and senses, so Hyakkimaru will have to seek them out and defeat them to regain his lost body.
He will do this together with Dororo, a child that is keeping him company during the journey.
Dororo is an anime that everyone should see, very complete and satisfying, and undoubtely one of the best anime with demons.
A very solid plot accompanied by excellent animation and a soundtrack that will make the fighting even better are just the surface of this anime.
The very well-characterized and diverse characters that populate a very well-realized dark fantasy-themed feudal Japanese world are the real stars of this immortal work.
9. Mob Psycho 100
An interesting series by Studio Bones based on the manga by ONE, the same author of One-Punch Man. The story follows Mob, an average high-school boy with tremendous esper powers.
He works with the con-man Reigen Arataka, an exorcist, to control his special powers and keep them from exploding, causing possible collateral damage.
But fate will not exactly be on his side, and it will take every possible way to make him lose patience.
A perfect union between comedy and action, with a unique art style that will for sure stick with you.
We don’t exaggerate by saying that Mob Psycho 100 is one of the most unique anime right now, and should be watched for that alone.
8. Serial Experiments Lain
Series Experiments Lain has 13 episodes and is an original story dating back to 1998. It’s one of the most famous short original works due to its fairly deep meaning and plot complexity.
The plot tells the story of Lain Iwakura, a rather peculiar little girl partly because of a less than ideal family situation.
Lain comes into contact with Wired, a global network very reminiscent of our Internet, where she will learn a lot of information regarding this mysterious world. But the Wired hides more horrific things than expected.
In this case, you will have well understood that the overwhelming threat is precisely due to the Wired, but there is more behind that.
Indeed, the message of this anime lies in the warning to keep an eye on technology, and the threats it can bring with it.
7. Clannad
Clannad follows the events of Tomoya Okazaki, a high school senior who is considered by many to be a bad element.
One day, on his way to school, he meets Nagisa Furukawa, a sweet girl who has difficulty relating to others a year older but is forced to repeat the year because of her health problems.
A deep relationship of friendship and more will soon develop between the two.
The supernatural elements will be present but it’s absolutely not what the anime is based on, nor are they an overly present element.
They are definitely more of an added element in certain story arcs, but the main focus undoubtedly remains love, romance, and drama.
6. Hellsing Ultimate
The name of the series comes from the homonym secret organization Hellsing, whose duty is to hide the existence of vampires and to keep the population safe.
It’s financed and supported by the British government and its current leader is Integra Hellsing.
The main character Alucard works for Hellsing as a vampire exterminator, being himself a member of the vampire race. He is supported by his new assistant Seras Victoria, a former policewoman whom he saved in the past.
Integra Hellsing, the current leader of the organization, is worried about a new wave of vampire attacks and the problem seems much bigger than she expected.
The mysterious group called Millenium is plotting to throw England into disarray, and maybe threaten even the entire world.
Hellsing Ultimate is an anime recognized by the masses as a small masterpiece, and can be easily considered as one of the best anime with vampires in our opinion.
And this is certainly because of its excellent action, its gorgeous and recognizable settings, and an excess of gore but that works, totally contextualized and great.
One of Studio Ghibli’s absolute masterpieces, which made and still makes fans of Japanese animation and others fall in love.
Chihiro is a 10-year-old girl; her parents are moving to a new town when, within minutes of arriving, they find themselves in the middle of the woods in front of a strange building.
Intrigued, Chihiro’s father gets out of the car and insists on taking a look.
The little girl initially opposed, hurries to join them, intimidated by being alone in the car waiting for them.
They drive through the curious building and, once on the other side, find themselves in a curious village fulfilled with supernatural elements, not knowing what awaits them.
Spirited Away is undoubtedly one of the best anime movies ever, with a breathtaking fantasy/supernatural world and Ghibli style recognizable from miles away.
Is it enough to convince you to see it, if you haven’t already, that this film won no less than an Oscar?
4. Devilman Crybaby
Devilman is the most iconic Go Nagai manga, released in 1973 and still considered one of the most important productions ever. Masaaki Yuasa decided to pay homage to the work by taking it and catapulting the events to the present day without unhinging its soul.
Akira is far too good a boy, reasoning that he ends up receiving the nickname, Crybaby. Not so is Ryo, his best friend who is more fearless and arrogant than he is, and by who he gets carried away.
One day, Akira will be persuaded to go on a Sabbath, which ends up turning out to be a full-blown satanic ritual to attract demons.
Everyone will be possessed, including Akira, who nevertheless manages through his gentle spirit to control the beast. Thus is born Devilman, a demon lord with supernatural powers dedicated to the protection of humanity.
Devilman Crybaby is one of those anime that shouldn’t be missed under any circumstances, with a solid story, sad and action moments, and animations that are nothing short of incredible and unique.
But then again, when Yuasa puts its hand to it this is the result.
3. Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure
The Bizarre Adventures of JoJo started as a shonen manga written by Hirohiko Araki in 1987 and the anime adaptation is still ongoing with the 6th arc.
Each arc has a separate protagonist, although some main characters appear in more than one. The plot revolves around the adventures experienced by the various members of the Joestar family over time, with a protagonist on each side.
Without exaggeration, JoJo is one of the icons of the anime industry.
His recognizable style even from a single frame, his unforgettable moments, some of the best fighting scenes ever, and of course his quirky being earned him this deserved nomination.
Without exaggeration, JoJo is definitely one of the icons of battle anime, and this is certainly because of the Stands the legendary power-system of the series as well as the supernatural element.
They have the more extravangant powers you can imagine, and some even has some of the best elemental powers you can find around.
2. Berserk
A masterpiece of the dark fantasy and sword and sorcery genres by the notorious mangaka Kentaro Miura, which changed the media forever. Its 1997 anime adaptation is famous for its vintage style and its fitting setting.
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 and relatable.
The anime relies mainly on its incredible world-building and its very deep psychological side, but the action, when present, will also play its part very well. So the nomination in this list is totally deserved.
1. Monogatari Series
The story deals with the events of Koyomi Araragi, a generous boy attending high school who sees his life change after meeting Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade, a vampire.
The main character will save her by giving away some of his blood, and this will make the boy a vampire too.
After becoming almost human again as a result of these events, he begins to find himself in various affairs involving spirits, gods, and angels while living his private life.
Don’t be fooled by the plot, this anime is far from one of the classic stories of monsters and ghosts that must be defeated to preserve peace on earth.
Monogatari is a more unique than rare anime, almost impossible to categorize, combining so many genres and elements, including psychology and a romance with demons and spirits in its setting.
Passionate about Japanese culture for years, serial devourer of manga, anime, and videogames that have now become part of my routine.
My favorite series? Goodnight Punpun and One Piece.
