The Darkest Anime Movies According to Fans

Anime is a form of entertainment that has the uncanny ability to deliver mind-blowing stories that push the boundaries. Whoever said that "anime is for kids" hasn't really explored the richness of this medium's content. The world of anime is known for pushing boundaries that filmmakers rarely cross in live-action content. When it comes to dark stories, anime movies take the cake for being incredibly unsettling and tackling soul-disturbing topics.

Anime has offered audiences several masterpieces, from depicting the horrors of war in great detail to unraveling the human mind as if it were a jigsaw puzzle. Viewers who don't mind their soul taking a trip down the lane of darkness can tune in to these perfectly terrifying movies.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

When the only daughter of a wealthy family is kidnapped, D is called in to save her from the powerful vampire named Baron Meier Link. D embarks on a perilous journey with another vampire hunter named Leila, but they soon realize there's more to the story than meets the eye. It turns out that Charlotte wasn't actually kidnapped, and she had her own reasons for running away from home.

Ghost in the Shell

Set in a futuristic world, "Ghost in the Shell" dares to question the very existence of human consciousness and what it means to have autonomy to make decisions. The story begins with a cyborg public security agent named Motoko Kusanagi, who is tasked with stopping the illegal hacker The Puppet Master. The hacker intends to infiltrate the system and take control of the brains of all human-robot hybrids.

Akira

"Akira" is another mind-boggling story about the aftermath of a global catastrophe, especially the effects it has on the masses because of authoritarian bodies seeking control. "Akira" is set in Neo-Tokyo, where secret government experiments are conducted with candidates to ignite their latent psychic powers. However, unable to control a savage soul, the authorities have a case on their hands in which the powers of a man named Tetsuo run amok.

Empire of Corpses

Death has a very tangible concept in the steampunk, zombie-ridden setting of "Empire of Corpses." In a world where corpses have been denied their right to remain in perpetual peace, there can be no shortage of problems. "Empire of Corpses" follows Frankenstein-inspired John H. Watson who reanimates the dead using a technology called Necroware to use them as labor. It's a perfect plan, since newborn "people" have no souls and no human needs.

paprika

"Paprika" and "Perfect Blue" go hand in hand when it comes to exploring the malleability of the human mind. However, "Paprika" explores the more gullible side of human psychology and tells how easy it is to control people through their dreams. The story begins with a device called the DC Mini that has allowed therapists to treat patients more accurately through the introduction into their dreams. A certain Dr. Chiba uses an alter ego named Paprika to help patients, but this world soon begins to unravel when the device falls into the wrong hands.

Belladonna of Sadness

"Belladonna of Sadness" is not for the faint of heart, especially for its themes of sexual assault and torture. The anime film is a revenge story and depicts the reality of being a woman in medieval times. The story revolves around the tormented and tragic life of a beautiful woman who is repeatedly desecrated and assaulted in the name of tradition. Tired of the horrors she faces, Jeanne makes a deal with a literal devil who grants her unprecedented powers in exchange for her soul.

Vampire Hunter D

In modern fiction, vampires have been transformed into handsome bloodsuckers straight out of a Colleen Hoover novel. However, in the times of "Vampire Hunter D," vampires were dark characters who wreaked havoc on the human world and tortured their very existence. "Vampire Hunter D" is an absorbing dark fantasy about a woman named Doris who has been bitten by the notorious Count Magnus Lee.

Barefoot Gen

No anime film has been able to capture the undeniable chaos that followed the devastating bombing of Hiroshima. Although the historical incident has been depicted and perceived differently countless times, the way "Barefoot Gen" does it is simply heartbreaking. The most heartbreaking aspect of the film is the detail that depicts the reality of what happened during and after the explosion. "Barefoot Gen" is unflinching and unflinching in its depiction of the immediate aftermath of the Hiroshima tragedy, especially in the life of Gen Nakaoka.

Perfect Blue

"Perfect Blue" is a perfectly balanced story about the realities of being in the public eye, especially the darkness that haunts the lives of celebrities. A movie ahead of its time, "Perfect Blue" took celebrities' worst nightmares and gave it an animated twist that's a hard pill to swallow. The film follows the glamorous life of a singer named Mima Kirigoe, who wishes to broaden her horizons into the world of acting. However, he receives harsh criticism from his fans for his decision.

Grave of the Fireflies

Studio Ghibli has a long history of stories based on the effects of war or its aftermath. Most of Ghibli's films have this impressive ability to connect with the effects of war in one way or another. "Grave of the Fireflies" is not for the faint of heart, especially those who are sensitive to the atrocities caused by war. The film unfolds the horrors of war about two young brothers struggling to survive the onslaught of World War II on Japan.