There are few mediums of entertainment that have as much versatility as anime. The medium has an incredible capacity to tackle any genre imaginable and push the material to surprising and unique places. Anime series that focus on explosive action or magical transformations can sometimes dominate the medium, but there is also a healthy relationship between anime and horror that’s only become stronger over time.
Some of the most creative anime series of the decade are set within the horror genre, which can inevitably be alienating when it comes to younger audiences. That being said, there are some delightful anime series that dabble in dark places, but are still suitable for children.
10 Yo-Kai Watch Turns Supernatural Spirits Into Friendly Allies
Pokémon’s rampant success has led to a number of imitators that replicate its monster-hunting formula but still attempt to do new things with the material. Yo-Kai Watch has found a devoted audience in both anime and video games, and it fills the world with hundreds of yo-kai that are just hiding out of plain sight. Much like the creatures in Pokémon, Yo-Kai Watch domesticates these spirits and presents them as helpful, powerful creatures. There is plenty of more malevolent yo-kai in the series, but there’s usually a method to their madness in a way that makes sense to children.
9 GeGeGe No Kitaro Shows That Monsters Can Be Misunderstood
GeGeGe no Kitaro has been around since the 1960s, and it’s a series that’s adapted into an anime every few years. The reason that GeGeGe no Kitaro is returned to so often is because there’s such an effortless quality to this supernatural shonen story. Kitaro is naturally predisposed to seeing spirits and other creepy creatures. The anime does get into a more serialized nature, but it’s largely episodic, which benefits its approach to the many monsters that Kitaro and company encounter. Some yokai are more nightmarish than others, but Kitaro’s ability to handle every situation should leave children feeling safe.
8 The Vampire Dies In No Time Subverts The Standard Rivalry Between Vampire And Hunter
The Vampire Dies in No Time has already shown great promise and looks like the perfect entry point for young anime fans who are interested in vampires.
The series follows Vampire Hunter Ronaldo and notorious vampire Draluc who become unlikely partners after the latter loses his castle. The Vampire Dies in No Time is filled with satisfying stereotypes from this subset of horror, but there’s immediate chemistry between Ronaldo and Draluc, which helps demystify these monsters. The anime is more likely to make kids laugh than scream.
7 Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories Is Just Creepy Enough To Keep Kids On Their Toes
Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories has become a bit of an anime institution at this point with nine successful seasons under its belt. Yamishibai benefits from bite-sized scary stories that pull from Japanese folklore and urban legends for inspiration. Yamishibai isn’t made for kids, but the brevity of the episodes and the low-budget style of animation makes it a relatively safe entry into the horror genre. Some ideas still might give children anxiety, but Yamishibai is quite sanitized and leaves a lot up to the viewer’s imagination.
6 Interviews With Monster Girls Looks At The Similarities Between Man And Monster
Interviews with Monster Girls’ inquisitive and tender approach to monsters is exactly the sort of story that can give a child confidence and eliminate their fear. Interviews with Monster Girls is set in a world where supernatural demi-humans have become the norm and largely accepted by society, even if they're not completely understood. The anime focuses on a human teacher who has three unique demi students that he's eager to learn more about. This contrast between humans and monsters is well-handled and acceptance is always the anime's goal. It creates a very pleasant world to introduce kids to horror.
5 Digimon Ghost Game Pushes The Long-Running Franchise Into Dark Territory
The Digimon franchise has been a favorite among anime fans for more than two decades, but its most recent installment takes some major risks to distance itself from the past. Digimon Ghost Game doesn’t stray from the core concept of the Digimon series, but it’s set in a slightly more sinister world where these digital monsters are treated like apparitions.
Freaky characters like “The Mouth-Sewn Man” and riffs on popular Japanese horror icons are much more frightening than past Digimon villains, but the young cast guarantees that the series stays safe for kids.
4 Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation Combines Mystery With Monsters
Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation is an addictive anime series that's the perfect way to introduce children to horror material like ghosts and possession. Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau embraces an episodic detective angle where Toru and Jiro investigate possessions and exorcisms to ultimately determine if the spirit deserves to be sent to heaven or hell. The laid-back nature of Toru and Jiro should quickly connect with younger audiences, but the series also attempts to apply reason to these malicious elements, which can make them seem less frightening than if they're just uncontrollable spirits that attack without reason.
3 Kaidan Restaurant Is A Light-Hearted Ghost Story Anthology For All Ages
Kaidan Restaurant, also known as Thriller Restaurant, earns its name from the episodic anthology approach that it applies to its ghost stories. Each episode is broken up into an "appetizer," "main dish," and "dessert," referring to the three different ghost stories it tells. The anthology nature of the series makes it easy for children to enjoy without worrying about a deeper serialized storyline. The characters in Kaidan Restaurant are also all in elementary school, so the horror never gets too aggressive for the demographic of children that are featured in the series.
2 Yuuna And The Haunted Hot Springs Proves That Opposites Can Attract Beyond Life And Death
Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs is an entertaining twist on a standard ghost story. Kogarashi is a listless teenager who takes up residence in a shifty, cheap boarding house and hot springs that is evidently haunted by one of its deceased guests, Yuuna. It takes some time for Kogarashi to warm up to Yuuna, but it turns into a sweet scenario. Yuuna introduces Kogarashi to life’s supernatural side and the many spiritual secrets that are tied to the hot springs. The anime puts death and unfinished business front and center, but it makes it feel quaint and relatable.
1 Hell Teacher Nube Brings Exorcism To The Classroom
There are countless anime series that examine school life and attempt to combine the genre with something more supernatural in nature. Hell Teacher Nube looks at a dedicated elementary school teacher who just so happens to also be a legendary exorcist. Nube is content to just teach his class, but his students constantly come under attack by demons. Nube attempts to maintain a status quo of normalcy at his school. The spirits in Hell Teacher Nube can be intense, along with the action sequences, but Nube's control over his students guarantees that kids can also appreciate this series without nightmares.
0 Comments