Halloween season is officially in full swing, and if you’re anything like me, that means it’s time for nonstop spooky entertainments–books, movies, shows and, of course, movies and shows based on books (this IS Booked & Screened, after all).
While the good ol’ USofA has given the world some of its finest horror adaptations, both classic and modern, it isn’t the only game in town. Horror storytelling has just as proud and varied a tradition in Japan, and nowhere is this more evident than in the mediums of comics and animation.
If you’re interested in expanding your horror horizons this Halloween, I’ve dutifully compiled for you a list of some of the best places to start if you’re ready to be spooked, scared and downright disturbed by sequential art and the animation it inspired.
‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba‘ – based the manga by Koyoharu Gotouge
Tanjiro Kamado is a kind-hearted boy who returns home one day to find his family has been slaughtered by demons. His sister, Nezuko, is the sole survivor, but has been transformed into a demon who retains her human mind and refuses to feast on human flesh.
Tanjiro joins the elite Demon Slayer Corps and the siblings travel together with their allies to avenge their family and find a cure for Nezuko.
How spooky is it?
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” veers closer to the dark fantasy adventure genre than straight-up horror, but it involves quite a bit of gore, horrifying villains, atmospheric dread and some truly gross body horror transformations. If you like your horror to be packaged with adventure, humor, heart and stunningly beautiful animation, this series is a great place to start.
‘Chainsaw Man‘ – based on the manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto
Denji is a poor teenager struggling to pay off his deceased father’s enormous debt to the yakuza. His only companion is Pochita, a small dog-like devil who takes the form of a chainsaw. After a betrayal leaves Denji on the brink of death, Pochita merges with him, granting him the ability to transform into the terrifying Chainsaw Man.
Recruited by a government organization of devil hunters, Denji fights monstrous devils in exchange for food, shelter and the chance to experience a normal life.
How spooky is it?
While “Chainsaw Man” adds plenty of black comedy into the mix, the story is peppered with graphic violence, copious blood and gore, grotesque monster designs, disturbing body horror and psychological trauma. The series also explores death, manipulation and existential dread, making it a particularly bloody and unsettling watch.
‘Tokyo Ghoul’ – based on the manga by Sui Ishida
Ken Kaneki is a Tokyo college student whose life takes a horrifying turn after a date with a mysterious woman named Rize, who turns out to be a flesh-eating ghoul. A violent accident leaves Kaneki on the brink of death and he receives organ transplants from Rize, which transform him into a ghoul.
Kaneki soon finds himself embroiled in the conflict between humans and ghouls, plunging him into a world of brutal violence and moral ambiguity.
How spooky is it?
“Tokyo Ghoul” blends supernatural action, psychological drama and disturbing horror elements. Expect graphic violence, blood-soaked fights, cannibalism, gruesome torture scenes and deeply unsettling body horror.
‘Devilman Crybaby’ – based on the manga ‘Devilman’ by Go Nagai
The most recent anime version of the oft-adapted 1972-1973 manga series is also its most horror-forward. While the first adaptation, a 1970s anime titled “Devilman,” took an all-ages, super hero-style approach to the subject matter, “Devilman Crybaby” takes a more unflinching eye to the story of Akira Fudo, a sensitive and compassionate (or, as the title says, “crybaby”) teenager who discovers that demons are real and secretly living among us.
After a childhood friend reveals the existence of these creatures, Akira becomes involved in a dangerous ritual that merges him with a powerful demon named Amon. Although he gains incredible strength and terrifying abilities, Akira retains his human heart, becoming the humanity-defending Devilman.
How spooky is it?
“Devilman Crybaby” combines grotesque creature designs and depictions of extreme gore with the psychological horror of mass hysteria, mob mentality, religious fanaticism and humanity’s capacity for cruelty. If supernatural action and apocalyptic horror appeal to you, this is a must-watch–but, be advised, this one is strictly for adults.
‘Parasyte: The Maxim’ – based on the manga ‘Parasyte’ by Hitoshi Iwaaki
Shinichi Izumi is an ordinary teenager whose life changes forever when parasitic alien organisms invade Earth and secretly take over human bodies. One of these parasites attempts to enter Shinichi through his hand, but fails to reach his brain, leaving the two sharing a single body. The parasite, which Shinichi names Migi, develops its own intelligence and personality, forcing the unlikely pair to learn to coexist.
As more parasites emerge and begin preying on humans, Shinichi and Migi must work together to survive encounters with increasingly dangerous creatures. But as Shinichi becomes entangled in the battle between humans and parasites, he begins to question what it truly means to be human—and whether he is slowly becoming a monster himself.
How spooky is it?
In addition to the expected violence, gore and horrific body horror transformations, the parasites’ ability to disguise themselves as ordinary people creates an unsettling sense of paranoia, while the series’ exploration of humanity, survival and the nature of evil adds a psychological edge.
‘Uzumaki’ – based on the manga by Junji Ito
Junji Ito has often been called Japan’s master of horror–and with this anime, it’s easy to see why. Kirie Goshima is a high school student living in a quiet coastal town where a mysterious curse begins to take hold. The town’s residents become increasingly obsessed with spirals, a seemingly harmless shape that soon begins to manifest in horrifying and unnatural ways.
As the curse spreads, the town descends into chaos, with its inhabitants suffering bizarre physical transformations and becoming consumed by inexplicable obsessions. Trapped in a place where reality itself seems to be twisting out of shape, Kirie and her boyfriend struggle to survive as the spiral’s influence grows ever more terrifying.
How spooky is it?
“Uzumaki” is unique among the entries on this list, as it eschews typical monster story conventions for Lovecraftian psychological horror. While it features plenty of body horror imagery, the real terror at the heart of the story comes from the cosmic evil and inescapable madness represented by the spiral.
About the author:
Ben Hooper got into anime for the bright colors, big punches and pew pew laser guns, but now he can never go back to the person he was before he watched “Uzumaki.” He remains, to this day, unsure of whether this is a good thing.
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