Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]

People looking at anime for the first time often consider it childish. Anime can have moments where characters are lighthearted, goofy, and carefree, especially among certain genres. However, we at Honey’s Anime know for a fact that anime is for everyone, and that is evidenced by the much darker, terrifying moments found in anime.

What makes a moment in anime horrifying is its ability to immerse the viewer in the world, make you feel that moment is real, and then cause you to feel the fear that particular character is feeling. An anime can do that in many ways – through psychological fear, through blood and gore, or through fear of a particular character. While there are many ways to frighten an audience, some anime do a better job of evoking powerful emotions than others.

While we’ve already addressed the scariest moments in anime before, we felt that there are plenty more scenes deserving of recognition. Here is our updated list of the 10 scariest anime moments!

Warning: SPOILERS ahead!


10. Death Note – Episode 7: Naomi Misora’s Death

  • Episodes: 37
  • Aired: Oct. 2006 – Jun. 2007

Light Yagami is not your typical high school student. When he finds a notebook called the Death Note, he discovers that by writing someone’s name within the pages, he can kill that person. Light believes that he can rid the world of its devious criminals by killing them off with the Death Note, creating a new world where he is protector and god. Accompanied by Ryuk, the Shinigami who owns the Death Note, Light sets out to make his world a reality. But can he outsmart the police out to catch him, as well as the mysterious investigator known as L?

Not only is Light a genius, he is also a sociopath, killing off criminals and anyone who stands in his way without a second thought. It is due to this ruthless and ingenious manner of destruction that Light is able to continue for so long without being caught. Light instigates truly gruesome murders throughout the series, but one of the most disturbing happens in the seventh episode, with a woman named Naomi Misora.

After her fiancé Ray Penber is murdered while investigating the Kira case, Naomi deduces that Kira must have been with Ray before his death. She decides to give this information over to the investigating team, and it is only by happenstance that she runs into Light before she is able to meet with L. Light and Naomi walk together, with Light trying to learn the woman’s name so he can kill her off. Finally, Light wins her over, obtaining her driver’s license and writing her name out in front of the police team headquarters. Naomi is unable to do anything as she is forced to walk away by the powers of the Death Note, under which she is forced to commit suicide. This moment is terrifying because Naomi is shown as a bright and competent character, one who almost got the best of Light. Yet, even she is unable to do anything while under the Death Note’s power, simply following its instructions for her death.


9. Fullmetal Alchemist – Episode 7: Nina

  • Episodes: 51
  • Aired: Oct. 2003 - Oct. 2004

Edward Elric is not your traditional state alchemist. After Edward and his brother Alphonse lost their mother at a young age, they tried to recover her through a forbidden form of alchemy known as human transmutation. Their efforts failed, leaving Edward with two missing limbs and Alphonse with no physical body, only a soul attached to a suit of armor. It is only by the brothers’ determination to reclaim their bodies that they are able to continue on alone. Yet, as they search for some way to take their bodies back, the Elric brothers will uncover a dark government conspiracy, one that could change their notion of what it means to truly be human…

Fullmetal Alchemist is an anime full of dark moments, ones that cause the viewer to examine their own morality as they watch. The Elric brothers’ tale, from the beginning, is sad and disturbing. Other than the attempted resurrection of their mother, which was downright horrifying, there is one other moment that stands out as the most upsetting in the series. You guessed it – we’re talking about the Nina incident.

In Fullmetal Alchemist, Ed and Al stay at the home of Shou Tucker, a state alchemist specializing in chimera research. The brothers are staying with Shou while they prepare for the State Alchemy Exam, but soon become attached to Shou’s little girl, Nina. Ed and Al begin to become suspicious about Shou’s research, and they sneak into the Tucker house one day. They find Shou in a back room working with a new chimera. However, the brothers soon realize that Shou has fused together his daughter Nina and their dog Alexander, just as he had done two years previous with his own wife. When Ed and Al try to free Nina from captivity, she runs into Scar, who kills her in an alleyway with graphic blood splatter. While this episode isn’t scary in the traditional sense, it is extremely disturbing. Shou Tucker cared more for his funding and his title than his own family, using their bodies for his research when times got desperate. This is a moment that will emotionally scar you forever!


8. Naruto – Episodes 68 to 80: Orochimaru

  • Episodes: 220
  • Aired: Oct. 2002 – Feb. 2007

In a world where ninjas are the main defense force, young Naruto Uzumaki dreams of becoming his village’s Hokage, the leader of Konohagakure. There’s just one problem – Naruto is the pariah of the village. At Naruto’s birth, a huge fox demon (known as Kyuubi, the Nine-Tailed Fox) was destroying the village and everything in sight. To protect the village, the Fourth Hokage gave up his life and sealed the demon inside baby Naruto. Now, Naruto is struggling against all odds to fulfill his dreams. Can this hyperactive, knuckleheaded ninja ever achieve his goal?

Some of the enemies Naruto must face have crazy strong and deadly abilities. Being infused with the power of the Nine-Tails’ chakra himself, Naruto is able to overcome unspeakable odds and talk down a number of deadly foes. The most notable of these being Gaara, the Sand ninja who also has a beast sealed inside of him. However, while characters like Gaara have their scary moments, one character stands out above the rest as consistently disturbing – Orochimaru. Although we see Orochimaru throughout the Chunin Exam arc, the unsettling truth is revealed about him during the Konoha Crush arc of episodes 68 to 80.

Orochimaru is terrifying both because of his abilities and his evil mindset. Before he left Konoha, Orochimaru had been performing experiments on people in order to achieve his own version of immortality. He sees a person as just another test subject, and has no qualms about killing off those who no longer serve any purpose. One of the three legendary Sannin, Orochimaru summons snakes to do his bidding and often appears snakelike himself. Because of his extensive experimentation on other humans, this deadly foe can retake his shape over and over again, granting him a kind of immortality. He can even shed his own skin, allowing him a way to rid himself of wounds mid-battle – and yes, it is just as sickening as it sounds. One of Naruto’s most terrifying foes, Orochimaru is certainly a character for nightmare fuel!


7. Monster – Episode 42: Grimmer’s Torture

  • Episodes: 74
  • Aired: Apr. 2004 – Sep. 2005

One day, renowned brain surgeon Dr. Kenzou Tenma is faced with a terrible decision. He can either operate on a small boy or the town mayor, saving one life and ending the other. When Tenma chooses to operate on the boy rather than the mayor, he saves the boy’s life – but at what cost? A series of murders occur that indicate ties to the very boy Tenma saved, and as the surgeon tries to uncover the truth behind it all, his belief that all life is equal will be tested.

We have already included Monster on our previous list, but felt it was worth mentioning again. While the whole premise behind Monster is a psychological nightmare, one specific scene that made our skin crawl was in episode 42. Wolfgang Grimmer, a freelance journalist who is researching Kinderheim 511, is captured by some men who want a key Grimmer was recently given. Though their interrogation starts out pretty simply, it quickly becomes more graphic, with one man using nail clippers to chip away at Grimmer’s fingernails, causing him to bleed and cry out in pain. Later, after Grimmer is saved by a mysterious woman, he recalls that the woman only shot one man, but there were two others dead. He deduces he beat the other men to death himself.

This scene isn’t the scariest on our list, but it is one of the most horrifying. Fingernails are a very sensitive part of the human body, and watching Grimmer’s be torn apart gradually is disturbing because we can easily imagine that pain ourselves. In addition, Grimmer’s inability to remember savagely beating two men to death is a small hint of the disturbing future to come.


6. Ajin (Ajin: Demi-Human) – Episode 11 and 12: Satou’s Rampage

  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: Jan. 2016 – Apr. 2016

When the first immortal human was discovered 17 years ago, they were called “Ajin” and labeled as a threat, something that governments should capture immediately upon finding. Flash forward to Kei Nagai, a practical high school student who cares only about his future. One day, Kei is in an accident that should have claimed his life – but it didn’t. Now known as an Ajin and on the run, Kei will need to decide where he stands quickly if he wants to survive…

Ajin is another dark series with plenty of terrifying scenes, mostly involving the Ajin’s “black matter” monsters. The scariest part of Ajin is actually one specific character – the mysterious and ever-cheerful Satou. Satou has the personality of a psychotic killer, and he uses his Ajin immortality to help himself succeed. He is also surprisingly charismatic, getting several other Ajin to join him and Koji Tanaka. He can make his followers believe whatever he wants, although his true intentions are shrouded.

Satou desires chaos, much like Batman’s Joker. He fights merely for the enjoyment of the game, something that is clearly seen in episodes 11 and 12 of the series. Satou rides a building down to the ground, then fights off a group of SWAT members and police. As an Ajin, he can regenerate himself quickly, so whenever he is hit by a sleeping dart, he merely hacks off a limb or kills himself in order to keep fighting. Not only is this scene one of the most epic from the anime, it is also the most terrifying. You never know what Satou might do next!



5. Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan) – Episode 5: The Battle of Trost

  • Episodes: 25
  • Aired: Apr. 2013 – Sep. 2013

When Titans first appeared, humans retreated behind their walls, where they have lived in safety for a long time. However, when a colossal Titan destroys a portion of the wall and allows Titans inside, humanity is once again forced to flee. Eren Yeager has particular reason to hate the Titans, as he witnessed the destruction of his family firsthand on that fateful day. Eren vows to destroy all Titans, joining the military along with his friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert. Along the way, they will discover that not everything is as it seems, and sometimes humanity’s greatest enemy is not always clear…

Shingeki no Kyojin is well-known as a horrifying anime, with characters constantly dying at the hands of the monstrous Titans. The first few episodes set the tone for what is to come, with the smiling Titan graphically eating Eren’s mother as he flees. However, among all of the gore and horror of Titans eating humans, the worst scene in the whole series comes in the fifth episode. Titans have once again broken through the wall, but this time Eren and the other squad members have been trained – they are confident they can make a difference.

But Squad 34, with Eren and Armin, is quickly decimated. Eren saves Armin and gets himself eaten in the process. This is perhaps the most disturbing episode of Shingeki no Kyojin because of its abrupt revelation that no matter how much the characters train, they are still outmatched by the Titans. And, in a horrifying realization for the viewer, any character has the possibility of dying.


4. Another – Episode 3: Umbrella Scene

  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: Jan. 2012 – Mar. 2012

When a popular student passed away in Yomiyama’s North Middle School class of 3-3, it led to a disturbing curse on that particular class. Years later, Kouichi Sakakibara is the newest member of 3-3 and curious about the darkness that hangs over his fellow classmates. He is also curious about Mei Misaki, a girl with an eye patch who seems to be ignored by the rest of the class. Kouichi determines to get closer to discovering the truth, although it could cost him his life…

This anime is full of horrific deaths, often due to average situations. There are plenty of scenes that could make our list, from the unexpected beach scene to the graphic teacher suicide. However, the one we find the scariest is also the one we included on our previous list – the umbrella scene. As Kouichi’s classmate rushes down the stairs, she trips and falls, landing unluckily right on the tip of her umbrella, which pierces her throat and kills her instantly. Infamous for its gore and unexpected simplicity, this scene is remembered long after the rest of Another. Beware of umbrellas when there is a curse around!


3. Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu (Parasyte -the maxim-) – Episode 5: Shinichi’s Mother

  • Episodes: 24
  • Aired: Oct. 2014 – Mar. 2015

Parasitic aliens have descended upon Earth, and they are burrowing into the brains of humans, using the human bodies for further growth on the planet. High school student Shinichi Izumi is one of the victims of these aliens – but instead of infecting his brain, the alien takes over his hand. This parasite named Migi and Shinichi must now work together if they hope to survive the coming invasion!

Shinichi and Migi are seen as a threat to the rest of the parasites, and so they are often a target. The parasites themselves are terrifying, manifesting in a variety of horrific ways and causing many gruesome deaths. Perhaps the scariest moment in the series is when Shinichi’s own mother is taken over by a parasite. In episode five, Shinichi’s mother and father go on a trip, and the mother is killed by a parasite. When the parasite returns to Shinichi’s house, Shinichi refuses to believe that his mother is dead, being stabbed through the heart as a result. Although Shinichi is able to later defeat the parasite using his mother’s body, this moment of death and horrific disfigurement will forever remain burned into our minds.


2. Psycho-Pass – Episode 14: Public Assault

  • Episodes: 22
  • Aired: Oct. 2012 – Mar. 2013

The Sibyl System controls justice in Japan by checking citizen’s mental states and judging them accordingly. Inspectors take the role of police, working with Enforcers, who do the dirty work of the job as latent criminals. Enter Akane Tsunemori, a new Inspector with an honest desire to seek out justice. However, as she sees more cases and hunts down a devious criminal, Akane begins to see that the Sibyl System is not as perfect as it appears, and she questions what justice truly is.

Akane’s status as an Inspector has her seeing all kinds of dark and gory cases. We could put any number of specifics from the anime on this list, including the girl who makes her victims’ limbs into public art or the man who hunts his victims for sport. Yet the most disturbing scene in all of Psycho-Pass is in episode 14, where a man in a helmet brutally murders, and most likely rapes, a woman in front of a crowd. Due to their society’s reliance on the Sibyl System, no one steps in to help. And because the man’s mental state is not raising any red flags, the AI nearby don’t do anything to help either. This is certainly a moment that makes you question society and experience the character’s fear.


1. Shiki – Episode 4: Under the Bed

  • Episodes: 22
  • Aired: Jul. 2010 – Dec. 2010

A murder mystery about vampires, Shiki has something for everyone. When the young Megumi Shimizu dies unexpectedly, it begins an epidemic in the quiet village of Sotoba. A doctor named Toshio Ozaki and a boy named Natsuno Yuuki join forces to uncover the mystery behind this rampant disease among the villagers. As Toshio and Natsuno struggle to stop the town from being overrun by vampires, they will discover that the line between good and evil is not always clear. The Shiki, as the vampires call themselves, may not always be the monster… Thus begins a battle for survival!

Not only do the Shiki have terrifying features, their mannerisms are extremely disturbing as well. The scariest moment comes during the fourth episode, when Megumi is watching Natsuno as he sleeps. Natsuno feels the watchful eyes, making it hard for him to sleep. Megumi continues to act creepily, even crawling from underneath the bed while Natsuno sits, horrified. With music to perfectly fit the atmosphere and a disturbing style of animation to back it up, this scene takes the first spot on our list, simply for pure horror factor.


Final Thoughts

The terrors found in each of these scenes will stick with us no matter how long ago we watched them. This speaks to the quality of these moments, as they are able to evoke true emotions of fear from the audience. Were you scared by any of these moments? Are there others you find more terrifying? Let us know in the comments!

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]

Writer

Author: Meghan May Dellinger

Konnichiwa! I'm a writer/daydreamer who gets a little lost along the path of life from time to time. I love watching anime and playing all kinds of video games - everything from RPGs to first-person shooters. I hope to be an author someday, but until then, I'll share my words with the world any way I can! I love making new friends, so don't be afraid to leave a comment!

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Top 5 Anime by Meghan May Dellinger



Original Article Below

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]

It’s that spooky time of year again when the temperature drops and pumpkin spice is literally floating in the air. Hot apple cider welcomes those returning from a long hayride or a difficult corn maze, but once the sun sets a different mood is struck and the bonfire gives off an eerie glow as tales of shock and horror are told.

Those who love good scare actively seek out the adrenaline rush that accompanies the thrill of being spooked. While Hollywood keeps pumping out crappy Saw and Paranormal Activity sequels, I’ll introduce you to some of the scariest moments in anime around. Gather round, children, and listen to the tales I have to tell!

10. Pokemon: The First Movie

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: ?
  • Aired: July 18, 1998

Ash Ketchum is a kid from Pallet Town whose sole mission is to become a Pokemon Master. To fulfill his dreams, he sets off to challenge the world’s Pokemon Gym Leaders in order to obtain badges and eventually be recognized. Together with his best friend (and pokemon) Pikachu, Ash is able to overcome almost any obstacle that has been laid in his path.

That is until Mewtwo showed up. Everything was just fine until Mewtwo crapped in everyone’s ice cream with his gloom and doom attitude. Ash, being the naïve child that he is, basically gave up battling by the rules and instead decided to join the fight himself despite KNOWING that his opponent is one of the most powerful psychic pokemon in the world. So Ash just runs straight towards Mewtwo and…is turned to stone.

Pikachu runs to his aide and cries in a very Pikachu like way and everyone watching is holding their collective breath. The entire scene is heartbreaking, sad, and also scary because as a child watching this movie it is hard not to think that Ash is dead and that the entire series is over.
The fear is short lived though as everyone’s collective tears bring Ash back to life. If only that were true in real life.

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]


9. Amnesia

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: January 8, 2013

A college student suddenly loses all of her memories and is thrust into multiple worlds where she dates a different man each time. She is accompanied by a strange spirit who wishes to help her regain her lost identity after causing all of her turmoil. At the end of her journey she must choose only one of the worlds to stay in with the guy that she likes the most.

This anime is based on an otome game of the same name and while a good portion both of the anime and the game are filled with romantic and light-hearted fun to make girls’ hearts soar, one of the potential suitors has a really twisted idea of love. Toma may look like a harmless kid, but his intentions and possessiveness lead to some extremely alarming behavior.

At the beginning, Toma finds the main character passed out in the street and takes her to the hospital for an examination. Once she is given the all clear, Toma takes her home where she notices that she is being bullied though she does not know why (because no memories). Toma continues to check up on her giving the main character the impression that they are dating. At one point she even asks Toma if they are dating and he confirms this.

Once the bullying begins to escalate, Toma suggests that she stay at his place until everything dies down. She agrees and stays for a few days before becoming restless. She leaves Toma’s house to investigate her apartment. Toma discovers she has left and brings her home. From here on out begins the really frightening part. Toma begins to DRUG her food in order to keep her “safe” at his home. When she finally realizes what is happening, he LOCKS HER IN A DOG CAGE. At one point he even threatens to RAPE her so that she would “truly become his” because he would never leave her mind after such an act. The worst part is that after all this happens, she still dates him. Truly a nightmare.

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]


8. Cowboy Bebop

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: April 3, 1998 – April 23, 1999

A spaceship name the Bebop carries around a group of misfit bounty hunters who have a knack for getting themselves into horrible situations with no payoff. The crew’s most prominent member, Spike Spiegel, is an eccentric guy who loves meat and can beat anyone in hand to hand combat. He’s a risk taker whose past eventually catches up to him.

Toys in the Attack is one of the most memorable episodes the series has to offer. A mysterious illness plagues the crew after a long forgotten fridge is opened. A mysterious creature is unleashed upon the ship and begins to infect each crew member one by one. The ship’s navigator Jet is struck first, followed by Faye, Ed, and Ein. Spike is left to fend for himself while also managing the rest of the crew’s sickness. Eventually he remembers what he left in that lone fridge many moons ago and begins his mission to destroy whatever has become of it.

This episode takes a lot from old-school Hollywood horror films. Faye’s shower scene in particular is reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. In fact, the entire episode is quite similar to the plot of The Thing. For horror buffs, it really is a pleasure to see an anime nod to the horror genre so much as well as give some fun scares.

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]


7. Monster

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 74
  • Aired: April 6, 2004 – September 27, 2005

Naoki Urasawa’s manga Monster is a masterpiece and so is its anime adaptation. Urasawa insisted on taking as long as possible for the anime so that the story could be told as well as the manga. The entire plot focuses on a promising young surgeon who chooses to save the life of a young boy over a rich hospital donor due to the fact that the child arrived first. After such a decision, his career begins to slip and he is passed for an important promotion. To make things worse, the boy he saved is a psychopathic murderer. In order to fix his mistakes, he sets out to right his wrongs by killing the boy who is even worshipped as a demon.

The young boy, Johan, is the perfect representation of evil. He is good looking, charismatic, and cold blooded. He was raised at an orphanage aimed at reviving the Third Reich by finding a boy Hitler. Johan actually incited a riot which caused the deaths of all of his fellow orphans as well as the caregivers. Johan was the only one who made it out alive.

Johan is the scariest thing about this anime because everyone knows someone like Johan. He can be anyone. A neighbor. A classmate. A coworker. He’s personable and well-liked. He’s basically the antichrist and no one would ever suspect him.

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]


6. Hellsing Ultimate

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 10
  • Aired: February 2, 2006

The protestant organization named Hellsing was established by the Queen of England in an attempt to fight off paranormal threats (mainly vampires) that roamed the streets of England. After a long rest, someone has begun to create an army of vampires for no other reason than to start a war of chaos. The leader of Hellsing, Integra, summons their ultimate weapon, the vampire Alucard, to eliminate the problem.

The main antagonist of the series are Nazis. Or to be more precise, Nazi vampires. And their leader is none other than a crazy Hitler wannabe who only wishes for war because apparently that is his thing. When a man like this is adored by bloodsucking demons of the night, nothing is too gruesome. The only thing scarier than a horde of vampire zombies is Alucard, an evil count in his past life who put spikes through the heads of his enemies and displayed them in front of his castle. When he releases all of his abilities he takes the shape of the famous Cerberus, the dog who guards the gates of hell.

In fact, one of the most memorable and scariest scenes in the series appears when a “worthy” opponent finally confronts Alucard in the basement of Hellsing’s headquarters. After fighting in his regular form and having his attacks be blocked and even countered, he finally acknowledges his opponent by released his true power. His body is then slowly transformed into the stuff of nightmares. He is no longer a solid being and his shape and presence fills the room with an overbearing sense of horror. Even the man that had challenged Alucard backs down and declares the vampire a monster deeply disappointing him. Just the vision of Alucard’s amorphous body can give anyone nightmares.

The art style of Hellsing Ultimate really enhances the gritty mood of the plot. The thick outlines juxtaposed with such muted colors really gives a feel of darkness and loss of hope. The character designs are amazingly detailed as well as the blood and gore of combat.

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]


5. Another

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 12
  • Aired: January, 9 2012 – March, 26, 2012

Koichi, having transferred to a new school, befriends the quiet and mysterious Mei who attempt to solve the mystery of “Misaki of Class 3-3” a student who died decades before while halfway through the school year. In their grief, the class decided to pretend Misaki was alive for the rest of the school year leading to an eerie class photo. In present day, the students of class 3-3 begin to die one by one and
Mei’s quiet nature makes her a prime suspect for the murders, but Koichi and Mei attempt to clear her name by solving the mystery and proving otherwise. Every episode involves strange deaths made to look natural and that prey on real fears such as drowning in an undertow. A curse cannot be seen which makes it all the more deadly. The only way to fight curse is to confront the source itself, forcing the two main characters to face their enemy head to head.

Several of the deaths in Another are quite bizarre and unbelievable, but many do stick out for being grounded in reality. In fact one of the worst and scariest deaths occurs within the school and in a situation that most people have faced. One of the young girls begins rushing down the stairs with her umbrella when she begins to lose her footing and falls down the stairs. Falling down the stairs can be lethal enough in certain situations, but the umbrella adds an entire new level because as she falls down the final stair her umbrella is waiting for her with its tip facing up and towards her throat. When she is found, she is on her knees twitching and propped up by the umbrella with a pool of blood surrounding her, Every episode is unpredictable, making Another a thrill ride for those watching and waiting for another death. Likable characters will be killed off. No one is safe.

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]


4. Paranoia Agent

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 13
  • Aired: February 2, 2014 – May, 17, 2004

A young illustrator under extreme pressure to create a new mascot character as successful as her last one, falls victim to an assault by a mysterious suspect only known as “Shounen Bat”. Soon the entire city reports attacks by the golden roller blading boy who knocks out his victims with a baseball bat. The only thing connecting each of the victims are that each is suffering from depression and anxiety, which “Shounen Bat” seems to take away. He becomes the perfect scapegoat and soon everyone wants a piece of him.

The entire series Paranoia Agent is a psychological thriller where the attacker is created in one young woman’s mind and spreads into something bigger and more tangible. The series is more of a critique on modern day society and people’s inability to accept responsibility for their own mistakes and shortcomings. Instead, they look for an easy excuse and “Shounen Bat” provides the perfect answer to all of their problems.

Perhaps the real scare happens once realization hits and viewers can’t deny that this is a real problem in everyday life. While “Shounen Bat” won’t come to kill everyone in the city with a problem, the lack of honesty and trustworthiness in the world currently certainly makes others wary of human interaction, something necessary to survive

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!! The most terrifying part of the series happens when the entire town begins to pin their problems on “Shounen Bat” and he begins to manifest as a real living and breathing being instead of an urban legend only much like the game telephone, he is now much larger and stronger as a result of each person exaggerating the original story. As people become more and more aware of him he begins to terrorize the city more until he becomes similar to Godzilla and devours the city. This is the end of the series and it is really poignant. Was “Shounen Bat” real or was it all a result of people’s carelessness?

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]


3. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: October 4, 1996 – March 27, 1996

Shinji is summoned by his father, Gendou, who is the leader of a private weapons company called NERV, to operate a giant robot which may or may not be harboring the soul of his dead mother. He is forced to fight against aliens from another planet nicknamed “angels” that wish to cause “Third Impact” and force the planet to be reborn according to the wishes of one person. He sets out with two other pilots, Asuka and Rei, to protect the Earth, but ultimately fail.

While the “angels” in Evangelion are quite terrifying, the actual horror comes in the form of one man: Gendou. Gendou is soulless and uncaring with the exception of his long, lost wife. The audience only knows this because Rei is discovered to be an exact clone Shinji’s mother from her younger days. In fact, Gendou has a basement full of Rei’s growing at his disposal. Shinji even develops feelings for Rei, who is a CLONE OF HIS MOTHER.

Gendou is even so cold as to sleep with Ritsuko’s mother in order to use her intelligence to create the super computer Magi. Once she has found that she was betrayed (she found out about Rei) she is STILL loyal to Gendou and even infuses a part of her soul into the Magi program which later turns on her only daughter Ritsuko.

The scariest moment involving Gendou is when he forces his son to kill his best friend. Shinji is alerted to fight a new angel and just as he is about to finish his mission with the final blow, he realizes that the “angel” is actually another Eva unit that has gone berserk. It dawns on him that his friend is the pilot inside and so he hesitates to crush the head housing the cockpit and his friend. Gendou ends up taking control of the unit and does the job for him. Talk about cold and uncaring.

Gendou shows no emotion to his son and doesn’t seem to care what happens to him, which is probably why after Third Impact, Shinji decides to wipe everyone out. With Gendou for a father, I suppose no one can quite blame him.

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]


2. Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (When They Cry)

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 26
  • Aired: April 4, 2006 – September 26, 2006

Keiichi has moved to a small town in the midst of their battle to prevent a major dam being built and covering the entire area with water. The town is small, but very active and on the surface quite friendly. He becomes fast friends with four of his female classmates of various ages and everyday becomes an adventure until he begins to inquire about the murders from years past. As he grows more suspicious, so do his friends.

The first episode of the series plays out as any slice of life series does. Friends spending their carefree school days playing games and having fun. It isn’t until Rika drags him to the dump that he discovers an old newspaper article describing some gruesome murders that had happened years ago. When he questions Rika, he seals his own fate in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

The episode involves Rika arriving at Keiichi’s house with a prepared bento for him. After he takes his first bite, he begins to choke and spits his food into the sink where needles are reveal. His onigiri are filled with needles. Later on, he looks outside his bedroom window only to find Rika standing outside in the rain repeatedly saying “I’m sorry.”

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]


1. Berserk

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]
  • Episodes: 25
  • Aired: October 7, 1997 – March 31, 1998

Guts, a talented, young mercenary with nothing to lose, is invited by the handsome Griffith to join The Band of the Hawk, a mercenary group. Guts initially refuses, but after a fight is forced to join. He begins to develop a relationship with Griffith and a strong one-sided bond of friendship is formed though Griffith’s feelings towards Guts may be a little different. After Griffith is kidnapped and tortured for having sex with the King’s daughter and after being saved by Guts, he can’t bear to face himself anymore so he makes a pact with the devil and becomes a demon. In order to fulfill his wishes though, he must abandon all emotion and destroy his company including Guts.

The ending of Berserk is visceral and raw. The ugliest and most terrifying monsters imaginable are summoned to rip apart every man in the area, but Guts manages to survive along with their fellow female captain, Casca, who Guts is romantically involved with. In a final act of severance, Griffith has Casca brought forth so that he may rape her in front of Guts. Guts, who now has his arm trapped in the mouth of a monster, rips off his appendage and loses an eye trying to save Casca. Miraculously, both of them survive.

Nothing is as horrifying as seeing the one you love be violated in front of you. Nothing can compare. The entire scene is gut wrenching and vomit worthy making it the number one scariest thing in anime so far.

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]


Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]

Some honorable Mentions: Full Metal Alchemist - Edward and Alphonse bring their dead mother back from the dead. Also, Nina. Elfen Lied - An alien woman goes berserk on a laboratory, leaving it a bloody mess.

While most of these anime are unconventional, each are spooky in their own way and cater to different types of scares. While the fear of the unknown can be quite terrifying, the fear of the familiar provides a bigger impact on those watching. The familiar is all around. It can be a loved one, a dear pet, or perhaps a place once thought to be safe. Have the safe feeling given off from these ordinary and every day routines be betrayed, perhaps, is the scariest feeling of them all. So don’t get too comfortable or you may be next!

Another-capture-2-Sentai-700x394 Top 10 Scariest Anime Moments [Updated Best Recommendations]

Writer

Author: Nikki Flores

You may know me by my witty and excellent prose, but I assure you there is a real person underneath this brilliant exterior. As a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in English Literature and a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies, I traveled to Okinawa, Japan in search of the One Piece. Together my crew consisting of a white dog named Yuki, an evil cat named Kyubei, the wise feline Pickles, and my ever supportive husband Aaron, we travel the globe seeking life’s greatest treasures. Oh, and I’m sure one day I’ll eventually meet Trafalgar Law in the New World. I hope. Please? *pout*

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