AnimeSuki Forums

Senden · 2012-10-19, 15:53

With Halloween around the corner, I've decided to watch some horror animes. As someone who used to be a big horror nut growing up, it's long overdue. Anyway, I started with Higurashi and just finished episode 3 and am already hooked and predict I'll be blowing through both seasons by the end of the weekend. I think the sort of camp start to it was absolutely perfect and it hits a nerve sort of with how uneasy it makes you feel with the way it is and as soon as it starts to ease up, something else hits another nerve.. never seen anything quite like it but needless to say I'm really impressed.

I'm mainly looking for a proper horror, not an action anime with minor horror elements such as say Claymore or the first few episodes of Hellsing. Probably seen a few people would recommend but am still open for suggestions.

jedinat · 2012-10-19, 16:19

Ghost Hunt is all I got. Since you seem to be looking for anime that are trying to be creepy rather than what might classify Hellsing as horror.

edit: There's also Another I guess. It was okay.

SeijiSensei · 2012-10-19, 16:22

Try Bakeneko, or for a lighter touch, Hakaba Kitarou.

synaesthetic · 2012-10-19, 16:26

Another.

10char

MisaoFan · 2012-10-19, 16:39

I second Another as well. How about giving one of the most obscure horrors called Pet Shop of Horrors a shot ?

SeijiSensei · 2012-10-20, 09:41

i forgot to mention Mouryou no Hako before. It's slow-going in the middle but very worthwhile overall. Watch the opening scene on the train for a taste, and stick around for the OP; it's one of my favorites.

Boy, Madhouse can do some remarkably beautiful shows when they put their minds to it. The opening close up on the fellow's glasses with the overlay of moving shadows from the passing scenery is just gorgeous. I also admired

Spoiler for What's in the box?:

Marui Bunta · 2012-10-20, 22:56

Um Elfen Lied its gory but good but I don't know if you want to call it horror bur it's still good to watch

creb · 2012-10-20, 23:27

Higurashi (well, at least the first season), is pretty much the one shining example of horror in anime, though I found it to be more lol-horror, than wet-my-pants-horror.

Since you're watching that already, I suspect anything else you try to watch to achieve a similar feeling will leave you disappointed.

Umineko: When They Cry was supposed to be a spiritual successor, I guess, but it doesn't come close to getting nearly the same reaction out of you as Higurashi did. But, your mileage may vary. Even without as much shock value as I'd have liked, I still enjoyed it.

There's plenty of anime who's atmosphere tilted towards the macabre/creepy, but I wouldn't say they were proper horror shows; rather, they tend to be psychological/mystery thrillers.

I'm actually kind of curious, as I think about this, as to why there are so few true horror anime. I wonder if it's a cultural thing?

wolfbankai · 2012-10-21, 10:40

Try Shiki - theres included vampires & werewolves.
if you liked Higurashi then give a shot to Umineko
edit: ah , i forgot Gai-Re-Zero

SeijiSensei · 2012-10-21, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by creb

I'm actually kind of curious, as I think about this, as to why there are so few true horror anime. I wonder if it's a cultural thing?

There is an trailer for the Paranormal Activity 4 movie right now that shows audiences at test screenings jumping out of their chairs and the like. One of them is filmed in Japan where there were lots of teen-aged girls showing the same reactions as the ones in the US and Australia.

Images

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

Still, as you say, horror is just not a genre that appears very often in anime. It also rarely appears on American network television. Maybe horror just doesn't work well on television where you are watching alone or in a small group in a safe surrounding like your living room. Watching horror in theaters with large numbers of similarly screaming patrons is part of the genre's appeal.

gsilver · 2012-10-21, 19:30

Ghost Hound
Serial Experiments Lain
Thriller Restaurant

Lost Cause · 2012-10-22, 12:38

3x3 Eyes! Lots of blood, demons, paranormal stuff, psychic powers, and immortal beings.
And I'll second Ghost Hunt, the doll episode had me on the ceiling!

boomerangnizorro · 2012-10-23, 04:24

Uhmm, Jigoku Shoujo maybe?

KholdStare · 2012-10-23, 04:50

How about Mononoke? It's not like, extremely scary, but it has that horror "feel" if you know what I mean.

Last Sinner · 2012-10-23, 08:22

Your criteria cut out a lot of midway titles. Mononoke and Ayakashi are the only two I could recommend as being 'proper horror'. Umineko could work since you like Higurashi, but that is on troll hyper-steroids mode, even by Higurashi standards.

White Manju Bun · 2012-10-23, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Cause

And I'll second Ghost Hunt, the doll episode had me on the ceiling!

You and me both!

I second nearly everything in this thread, epsc Ghost Hunt, Shiki, Another, Mouryou no Hako and Mononoke For more subtle horror you might want to try Bokurano and the currently airing Shinsekai Yori. Also a few epis of xxHolic sent shivers done my spine, epsc the 100 stories epi from s1.

. Also Highschool of the Dead was pretty good. Nice action and zombies.

james0246 · 2012-10-23, 11:20

How about:
Boogiepop Phantom
Shigofumi
Kara no Kyoukai

Seconded:
Jigoku Shoujo
Bokurano
Ghost Hunt
Mouryou no Hako

NinjaRealist · 2012-10-23, 14:55

Dunno if you read manga but Gyo is one of the most horrifying things I've ever read. Actually I can't even recommend this one because I found it so unsettling. Read at your own risk.

EDIT Apparently there i an anime adaptation of this that just came out. I'm too afraid to watch it anytime soon. EDIT

Anyway my favorite horror anime is definitely Higurashi. This one is hard to beat.

Some great horror movies are Kakurenbo and Perfect Blue .

Most of the horror in anime is mixed with action. Examples of this include (I enjoyed all of these):

Berserk
Fate/Zero
Chrono Crusade
D. Gray-man

and my all time favorite action/horror anime:

Soul Taker

If you want more psychological horror, I'm always quick to recommend Narutaru and Bokurano but these are not quite horror in the traditional sense either.

Kirito · 2012-10-26, 11:02

I don't know if you've seen this but why don't you give Cossette no Shouzou a shot if you're interested.

2012-10-19, 15:53	Link #1
Senden Member Join Date: Mar 2006	Good horror recommendations? With Halloween around the corner, I've decided to watch some horror animes. As someone who used to be a big horror nut growing up, it's long overdue. Anyway, I started with Higurashi and just finished episode 3 and am already hooked and predict I'll be blowing through both seasons by the end of the weekend. I think the sort of camp start to it was absolutely perfect and it hits a nerve sort of with how uneasy it makes you feel with the way it is and as soon as it starts to ease up, something else hits another nerve.. never seen anything quite like it but needless to say I'm really impressed. I'm mainly looking for a proper horror, not an action anime with minor horror elements such as say Claymore or the first few episodes of Hellsing. Probably seen a few people would recommend but am still open for suggestions.

2012-10-19, 16:22	Link #3
SeijiSensei AS Oji-kun Join Date: Nov 2006 Age: 74	Try Bakeneko, or for a lighter touch, Hakaba Kitarou. __________________ Taking Anime Seriously - Politics by the Numbers - Sports by the Numbers - MAL List - Avatars - Images

2012-10-19, 16:26	Link #4
synaesthetic blinded by blood Author Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Age: 39	Another. 10char __________________ Indie science fiction author and all-around weirdo: Check out my original fiction here! Read an excerpt from my sci-fi novel Binary System!

2012-10-20, 09:41	Link #6
SeijiSensei AS Oji-kun Join Date: Nov 2006 Age: 74	i forgot to mention Mouryou no Hako before. It's slow-going in the middle but very worthwhile overall. Watch the opening scene on the train for a taste, and stick around for the OP; it's one of my favorites. Boy, Madhouse can do some remarkably beautiful shows when they put their minds to it. The opening close up on the fellow's glasses with the overlay of moving shadows from the passing scenery is just gorgeous. I also admired Spoiler for What's in the box?: the subtle change in the girl's smile before she sings the second time. <p>No iframe support, please <a href="http://youtu.be/kaGsOaWt-dQ">watch on YouTube</a>.</p> __________________ Taking Anime Seriously - Politics by the Numbers - Sports by the Numbers - MAL List - Avatars - Images Last edited by SeijiSensei; 2012-10-20 at 09:58.

2012-10-20, 23:27	Link #8
creb Hiding Under Your Bed Join Date: May 2008	Higurashi (well, at least the first season), is pretty much the one shining example of horror in anime, though I found it to be more lol-horror, than wet-my-pants-horror. Since you're watching that already, I suspect anything else you try to watch to achieve a similar feeling will leave you disappointed. Umineko: When They Cry was supposed to be a spiritual successor, I guess, but it doesn't come close to getting nearly the same reaction out of you as Higurashi did. But, your mileage may vary. Even without as much shock value as I'd have liked, I still enjoyed it. There's plenty of anime who's atmosphere tilted towards the macabre/creepy, but I wouldn't say they were proper horror shows; rather, they tend to be psychological/mystery thrillers. I'm actually kind of curious, as I think about this, as to why there are so few true horror anime. I wonder if it's a cultural thing? __________________ http://myanimelist.net/animelist/creb http://myanimelist.net/mangalist/creb It feels like years since they've been updated, btw. Also, cake.

2012-10-19, 16:19	Link #2
jedinat Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 38	Ghost Hunt is all I got. Since you seem to be looking for anime that are trying to be creepy rather than what might classify Hellsing as horror. edit: There's also Another I guess. It was okay.

2012-10-20, 22:56	Link #7
Marui Bunta Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2012	Um Elfen Lied its gory but good but I don't know if you want to call it horror bur it's still good to watch

2012-10-21, 10:40	Link #9
wolfbankai Junior Member Graphic Designer Join Date: Jun 2012	Try Shiki - theres included vampires & werewolves. if you liked Higurashi then give a shot to Umineko edit: ah , i forgot Gai-Re-Zero

2012-10-21, 19:30	Link #11
gsilver Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007	Ghost Hound Serial Experiments Lain Thriller Restaurant __________________ ◕‿‿◕

2012-10-22, 12:38	Link #12
Lost Cause Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Virginia Age: 46	3x3 Eyes! Lots of blood, demons, paranormal stuff, psychic powers, and immortal beings. And I'll second Ghost Hunt, the doll episode had me on the ceiling!

2012-10-23, 04:24	Link #13
boomerangnizorro Member Join Date: Jul 2008	Uhmm, Jigoku Shoujo maybe? __________________ ...life is difficult...

2012-10-23, 04:50	Link #14
KholdStare ISML Technical Staff Graphic Designer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Age: 35	How about Mononoke? It's not like, extremely scary, but it has that horror "feel" if you know what I mean. __________________ Kholdy's MAL, ISML Chat, Saimoe Blog, Saimoe Wiki

2012-10-23, 08:22	Link #15
Last Sinner You're Hot, Cupcake Join Date: Aug 2008 Age: 42	Your criteria cut out a lot of midway titles. Mononoke and Ayakashi are the only two I could recommend as being 'proper horror'. Umineko could work since you like Higurashi, but that is on troll hyper-steroids mode, even by Higurashi standards. __________________

2012-10-23, 11:20	Link #17
james0246 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: East Cupcake	How about: Boogiepop Phantom Shigofumi Kara no Kyoukai Seconded: Jigoku Shoujo Bokurano Ghost Hunt Mouryou no Hako

2012-10-23, 14:55	Link #18
NinjaRealist Battoru! Join Date: Sep 2012	Dunno if you read manga but Gyo is one of the most horrifying things I've ever read. Actually I can't even recommend this one because I found it so unsettling. Read at your own risk. EDIT Apparently there i an anime adaptation of this that just came out. I'm too afraid to watch it anytime soon. EDIT Anyway my favorite horror anime is definitely Higurashi. This one is hard to beat. Some great horror movies are Kakurenbo and Perfect Blue . Most of the horror in anime is mixed with action. Examples of this include (I enjoyed all of these): Berserk Fate/Zero Chrono Crusade D. Gray-man and my all time favorite action/horror anime: Soul Taker If you want more psychological horror, I'm always quick to recommend Narutaru and Bokurano but these are not quite horror in the traditional sense either. __________________

2012-10-26, 11:02	Link #19
Kirito Enjoying Snack Time! Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Where It's Legal to Marry Clara and Alice Age: 35	I don't know if you've seen this but why don't you give Cossette no Shouzou a shot if you're interested. __________________