Horror anime did not have a memorable 2024, at least not in a positive sense. The genre’s biggest release, Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror, ended up being a bit of a disappointment, and no other show stood up to carry the weight in its place. Fortunately, 2025’s horror anime lineup has been better, mostly due to the quality of a single show. In terms of quantity, the year has not exactly produced constant scares, but every season except Spring has included at least one series that fits the genre.
Horror tends to be something of an afterthought in anime, so expectations should be kept relatively low. If you are craving a fright or some nightmare fuel, these 2025 horror anime might just be able to deliver.
Updated on October 12, 2025, by Mark Sammut: With the Fall 2025 season underway, the year’s horror anime lineup is done and has been mostly OK. The Summer Hikaru Died was in a league of its own, but some of the other shows were also OK. This Monster Wants to Eat Me has minimal horror elements, but fans of the genres (who enjoy Girls Love stories) should check it out.
Winter 2025
Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai 14
In terms of seasonal shows, Winter 2025 had almost nothing to offer horror fans, with the main exception being another entry in Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai. Just to be clear, this series is one of the greatest horror anime of all time, and there have been plenty of months when Yami Shibai carried the genre on its back solo. At this point, it is a staple of the industry, and most episodes are watchable since they are just 5 minutes long.
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That said, Theatre of Darkness lost steam quite a long time ago and has been running on fumes ever since. While nearly all the more recent episodes are fine, they are rarely anything more than just that. Season 14 continued that trend with no variation.
Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning
- Release Month (Korea): February 21, 2025
- Studio: Locus Corporation
- Based On: The Soul Guardians, aka Toemarok, by Lee Hyeop (Manhwa)
Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning is still a bit unknown, with most of the information being based on a trailer and the source material. Technically, the movie has made its debut in some regions, but it is not widely available at the moment. The manhwa lasted for roughly three years and 131 chapters, but it is not extremely well-known compared to some other stories that have managed to crossover into Western nations. A lot of manhwa are popular only in South Korea, and a lack of exposure in North America does not reflect their quality.
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Going by the trailer, which showcases pretty good animation, Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning seems to focus more on action than horror, although the latter will be represented through various supernatural entities. While there is a good chance it will not receive an official release in the United States or Europe, this movie is still worth keeping an eye on for anyone craving something similar to horror anime. The few impressions available suggest this could be a pretty good film and, perhaps, one of the better 2025 horror anime.
Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II – Fire Rat
OK, this one was not truly a Winter 2025 anime, even if it will debut during this period in Japan. Mononoke the Movie: Phantom in the Rain came out in July 2024 in Japan, but it did not become widely available until its international Netflix debut on November 28, 2024.
The sequel is following a similar release schedule, so it will likely arrive on a streaming platform a few months following its cinematic launch. Still, Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II – Fire Rat should be great, as this series has yet to produce anything underwhelming.
Lockdown Zone: Lv. X Season 2
Lockdown Zone: Lv. X ended its first season in October 2024, releasing six half-length episodes in the process. As the Fall 2024 anime flew under the radar compared to nearly everything else released during that quarter, there is a good chance not too many people are aware that a sequel will be coming out in Winter 2025. While not amazing, Lockdown Zone: Lv. X is more than watchable and gets pretty intense at times. The story has a cosmic horror twist and leans heavily into mystery, with the main characters being very much in the dark during the earliest episodes.
Ryouka and Shuuhei are trapped in a building that has been quarantined due to the presence of Sai, an unknown creature. They have to stay quiet, not leave their rooms, and avoid looking outside. The anime gradually pulls back the curtain, all the while introducing a few fun shifts that move the story in an unexpected direction. Lockdown Zone: Lv. X is fun, and the sequel mostly maintains the quality of its predecessor. Unfortunately, the anime has largely flown by without attracting any attention, but it is one of the only 2025 horror anime to debut so far.
Newcomers who are planning to watch the first season should be aware that the animation can be a bit off-putting at first. The animation is quite similar to Theatre of Darkness, albeit with a bit more movement.
Summer 2025
Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube
One of the more exciting 2025 horror anime, Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube has made its big return, receiving a reboot/remake that will freshly adapt Shō Makura’s classic shonen manga. The source material was turned into an enjoyable anime during the ’90s, but that version is quite hard to track down legally in this day and age. Consequently, the 2025 show will likely be most people’s introduction to this universe.
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Nube is an elementary school teacher who frequently has to step up to protect his students from supernatural forces, and he accomplishes this task by using his Demon’s Hand. Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube is not 100% horror, as the story is more of an action-comedy that incorporates scary themes and imagery.
To be honest, Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube has not been that great. Don’t get me wrong, it is more than watchable, but the new version has done very little to justify its existence.
Nyaight of the Living Cat
Oh, here is some silly fun. Nyaight of the Living Cat delivers exactly what its title offers: a post-apocalyptic setting with cats instead of zombies. A virus spreads throughout the world, transforming victims into adorable felines.
Sure, they might look cute, but infected cats are dangerous, as a wayward scratch could leave someone crawling on all fours. “Horror” does not always have to be terrifying, and Nyaight of the Living Cat serves as a prime example of that. The anime is nothing special by any means, but it is fine. Honestly, the story takes itself a bit too seriously.
The Summer Hikaru Died
The definitive 2025 horror anime, The Summer Hikaru Died is brilliant. An unsettling psychological mystery with a gripping premise that is executed well, this is one of those stories that newcomers should try to experience as blindly as possible. That said, the anime revolves around a close friendship between two teenagers that gradually morphs into something else after one of the boys changes.
Dandadan, My Dress-Up Darling, and The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity are just a few of Summer 2025’s best anime.
CygamesPictures has adapted the manga, a studio has produced good stuff, like Brave Bang Bravern!, but is more known for lighthearted shows. The Summer Hikaru Died is anything but lighthearted, telling a character-driven story with some genuinely intense moments, all the while not indulging too much in things like gore. This Netflix exclusive will be remembered as the best 2025 horror anime, and by quite a margin.
Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai 15
- Start Date: July 14, 2025
- Streaming Service: Crunchyroll
Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai is also part of the Summer 2025 lineup, with season 15 airing another batch of horror anime shorts. Like all recent entries, this sequel has not attracted too much attention, but the episodes themselves are fine.
Fall 2025
This Monster Wants to Eat Me
OK, you would be forgiven for assuming that This Monster Wants to Eat Me is the Girls Love version of The Summer Hikaru Died, but they do not share many similarities beyond revolving around a “friendship” between a human and a monster. The Netflix show is more straight-up horror, but this Fall 2025 series seems to take just enough elements from the genre to warrant a light mention. Just do not go in expecting a full-blown scarefest, as you will not get it. Ultimately, Fall 2025 does not have any conventional horror anime, so This Monster Wants to Eat Me will just have to do.
Hinako wants to die. She simply has a death wish, but she does not want to do it by her own hand. She also has this unique ability to attract monsters, who seem really enticed by the idea of turning her into a snack. One such entity is Shiori, a mermaid who just HAS to have Hinako for dinner. However, she will wait for the right moment; during that time, Shiori will live alongside Hinako, helping to protect her from other monsters.
Girls Love anime are so rare that This Monster Wants to Eat Me is exciting just from that angle. However, as a horror series, it will likely just come down to a couple of creepy monster designs, along with a premise that certainly could work within the genre. The first two episodes were fun.
2025 Anime That Might Have Some Horror Elements
Kaiju No. 8, Chainsaw Man, & More
2025 horror anime are in short enough supply that die-hard fans of the genre should, at least, consider loosening their criteria for what qualifies as a must-watch. While scares might not be the main focus, some anime incorporate ideas from horror and warrant a quick mention. The upcoming series are not part of the genre, but they might still entertain folks who want to get their fill of gruesome battles or monster mayhem.
|
Anime |
Studio |
Based On |
Season (If Announced) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Season 2 |
Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun 2 |
Manga by AidaIro |
Winter/Summer 2025 |
|
Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 |
Production I.G |
Manga by Naoya Matsumoto |
Summer 2025 |
|
Dekin no Mogura |
Brain’s Base |
Manga by Natsumi Eguchi |
|
|
Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc |
MAPPA |
Manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto |
September 19, 2025 |
|
The Chosen One |
N/A |
Manhua |
September 30, 2025 |
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