Best Dark Anime of All Time – Top 10 List!

Dark anime is more than just blood and gore; quite often, it is simply something that disturbs the audience psychologically or shows the ugly reality of society. It could occur in a school, in a war-ravaged country, or even in the mind of one character; the possibilities are endless.

Unlike most anime, these shows force you to confront the themes you’d do your best to avoid. In some ways, these “dark” anime allows its audience to understand their morals and nature with more clarity than they did before pressing play.

While romantic comedies and shounen are popular watches, dark anime has its own charm. So if testing human limits, fighting monsters more psychological than real, exploring dystopias, and you know, proving that anime is not just for kids is what you are interested in, read on!

10. Death Parade

Starting with one of the most famous psychological thrillers of all time, Death Parade will get you hooked in with its very first episode. After death, what awaits a person is neither heaven nor hell but a bar. Here, the bartender has more important things to do than serve drinks, i.e., to allow the deceased to reincarnate or condemn them to oblivion based on the results of a random game.

This anime questions the morality of humans and how willing they are to bypass it. Through these games, Death Parade tests not only the players but also the spectators.

9. Aku no Hana

Aku no Hana revolves around Kasuga Takao, a boy who loves Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal, Saeki Nanako, his muse and someone whose gym uniform he stole, and Kasuga, a girl who witnessed the crime. While the plot seems a bit generic in the description and bears a likeness to a poorly made hentai or comedy, in truth, Aku no Hana plays out very differently.

The feelings of isolation, haunting regret, the obsession with someone who offers refuge from the oppression of the status quo, the quiet suffering, the depression that follows a lifetime of trying to grasp at something but never quite succeeding; it’s all in here, and it’s so brutally raw.

At its core, Aku no Hana is about how much of a fight we put up to be with the people we consider home. It is about creating a philosophical value system that works for you in a society where everything is already set. But, unfortunately, the anime has lost its moment in the spotlight.

Aku no Hana is one of those anime that can either be a hit or miss. The reason for this is its unconventional animation style that is a mix between realism and minimalism. The characters don’t all look like fashion magazine cutouts but like actual humans.

This art style, contrasted by the highly detailed city backdrop, hides so much symbolism and depth. It emphasizes the insignificance of humankind and leaves such a heavy, sweet dread in the audience’s gut. However, once you look past the “ugly” non-anime-like faces and art, then you’ll find something that is much more precious and meaningful.

8. Banana Fish

Banana Fish takes on a dark theme from the very first episode. Then, just when you think that things are finally looking up, the next episode shatters your heart into pieces for the hundredth time.

The story revolves around Ash Lynx, a 17-year-old boss of his gang, and the two words uttered by his brother Griffin —Banana Fish. With Eiji Okumura, a Japanese photographer, willingly caught up in the fray, both struggle to find answers and a way out of this mess.

The series isn’t shy to deliver mature context in the form of sex slavery, drug deals, criminal activities, or gang wars. Despite remaining a crime thriller, Banana Fish explores the role of justice and law in the minds of humans and the bleakness of living in a world gone wrong.

7. Aoi Bungaku

As one of the darkest anime out there, Aoi Bungaku has redefined the psychology genre in anime. It features six short stories adapted from classic Japanese tales, each acting as a standalone. This series thrusts its audience into the shoes of its protagonist and gives them a first-hand insight into their thoughts and emotions. The plot itself continues placing these protagonists in situations that test the complex and fickle nature of the human mind.

Aoi Bungaku has not yet had its moment in the spotlight due to its mature nature. As a series containing strong messages about society that are portrayed in dark and complex ways, Aoi Bungaku is not a show that’ll have universal appeal. However, if you’re in the mood for a gripping anime highlighting the world’s cruelty, then this series will definitely fit the bill.

6. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, or When They Cry, is an extraordinarily dark and horrific anime packaged like a generic harem and romance series. The story revolves around Keiichi Maebara, who, having just moved to the quaint little village of Hinamizawa, quickly becomes inseparable friends with Rena Ryuuguu, Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Houjou, and Rika Furude.

Their seemingly idyllic life quickly comes to an end when Keiichi discovers that there have been several murders and disappearances in the village that seem to be connected to its annual festival and the village’s patron god, Oyashiro. Receiving less than satisfactory answers from his friends, paranoia and madness begin taking root in Keiichi’s heart.

Higurashi divides itself into several arcs, each of which begins precisely the same. A teenager moves into a remote countryside village, befriends a group of sweet girls, and then things go…wrong. Very wrong. New theories come to light with each arc, but everything is shattered in front of the unexpected horror of reality.

What makes Higurashi the pinnacle of a dark mystery is that despite its grand scale, every detail is meticulous, and every bizarre event soon falls into place. In addition, the characters, despite their actions, are likable, and the audience will grow to care for them genuinely. The only shortcoming of When They Cry is its jarring animation, but nonetheless, it is a must-watch.

5. Serial Experiments Lain

There are anime that are explicitly meant for the sake of enjoyment, and then there are those whose purpose is to stretch the boundary of human imagination. Serial Experiments Lain undoubtedly falls in the latter category.

The story revolves around technophobe Lain Iwakura, an introverted fourteen-year-old. She is one of the many girls from her school to receive a disturbing email from her classmate Chisa Yomoda, who recently committed suicide. Despite having neither the desire nor the experience to handle even basic technology, Lain opens the mail, which leads her straight into the Wired, a virtual world of communication networks.

Serial Experiments Lain blurs the boundaries between reality and cyberspace as both worlds start closing in on Iwakura. It makes us question the concepts of identity, consciousness, and perception, among many others.

Along with philosophical highlights, the series does not skimp back on the plot and its intricate details. Even the minimalist cyberpunk animation forms a perfect vessel for the anime’s themes. Everything is well thought out, making Serial Experiments Lain indeed a revolutionary anime of its time.

4. Texhnolyze

By the same creator as Serial Experiments Lain, Texhnolyze is a profoundly experimental avant-garde anime. It takes place in Lux, an artificial underground city that is on the verge of collapse.

The anime’s plot centers on Ichise, a prizefighter who has now lost his arm and leg, replaced by a newly designed Texhnolyze. When he comes across a mysterious young girl, Ran, who has the power to see possible futures, they soon realize that Lux is on the brink of war and collapse and that they may be the only ones who can save it.

Texhnolyze is extremely gritty and minimalist — as illustrated by the total lack of dialogue in the first episode. Unlike most dark psychological thrillers, it is much more raw and straightforward in its brutality. It will make you wince, question, rethink and analyze society, life, and humanity in general. Texhnolyze is not meant for everyone, but weathering through the first few episodes will be highly rewarding.

3. Now and Then, Here and There

Now and Then, Here and There might be one of the most emotionally engaging and impactful series of all time. From the inception, we are presented with an innocent and welcoming presentation of modern-day life. The main character, Shuuzou, enjoys this everyday life with his cliched principles of righteousness.

What Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku does is that it takes this overused story of facing hardship to protect those you love and instead tears it apart to show the more brutal and disturbing narrative filled with disturbing themes such as murder, rape, conscription of children, and human extortion. At its core, the anime remains a character-driven dystopian fantasy that illustrates the true horrors of war and its toll on humanity. Now and Then, Here and There is dark, it is depressing, but most importantly, it is worth betting your sanity on.

2. Shinsekai Yori

Shinsekai Yori has slow pacing, intense world-building, and lots of information dump for the first few episodes, and yet, it is one of the highest-rated shows of all time. Why? Well, it is simply a novel come to life.

The story takes place in a future utopian Japan where a portion of the population retains a special power called psychokinesis. We follow a group of five children growing and developing within a community bounded by strict rules. They soon learn to question their privilege, and most importantly, the fate of those “less” than them.

Shinsekai Yori impressively portrays the prejudice and discriminatory nature of humans in a way never seen before. It leaves blurring the lines between humans and animals. The spectacular ending elevates Shinsekai Yori to a masterpiece with an infinite rewatch value.

1. Monster

Things are popular for a reason, that’s for sure. Monster is the poster boy for self-proclaimed intellectual types and is easy to discount as overhyped. But, in truth, the show is deserving of every praise it gets.

Monster is the best dark anime of all time because it stays as close to reality as possible. It deals with uncomfortable subjects such as morals, the worth of human life, and human conditioning, among many others. Despite its lengthy pacing, Monster is chilling, horrific, and incredibly riveting.

Monster Trailer

Monster’s story revolves around Dr. Tenma, who owes the world a lot just because he saved the life of a young boy nine years ago. Throughout the series, the topic of evil is proactively exploited by revealing the extent of human depravity. While these are themes that most make a conscious effort to keep away, Monster unflinchingly holds them upright in front of your face. It’s a slow, burning descent into a world consumed by violence, retribution, and never-ending desire.

Monster is a masterclass in dark psychological and philosophical thrillers, and to think that one man’s hunt for redemption could lead to this.