TOP DARK PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER ANIME THAT WILL HAVE YOUR SKIN CRAWLING -[I]-

Dark psychological Anime travels through often unfamiliar territories of the psyche, delving into the perceptions, beliefs, thoughts, and attitude that makes us Human. The stories depicted by this genre borrow dystopian, horror, and thriller elements, incorporating them in enthralling ways, twisting parts and notions of Japanese animation, shaping them to give birth to morbid, bleak, and often violent atmospheres. Some adaptations go the opposite way, creating pleasant ambiances, which only ends up emphasizing the eerie, unsettling feeling of these often cerebral viewing experiences. The darkness varies in this list, sometimes unfathomable, other times only lurking, but always present.

+PART II+

1.monster

“If you don’t want to be betrayed anymore, then start by doubting the person you want to doubt the least.”

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Madhouse
Trailer: Link
Average episode length: 24m
Number of episodes: 74
Number of seasons: 1

2.erased

僕街 - BokuMachi

“Believing in someone. That’s a weird phrase, isn’t it? After all, if you truly believed in a person, you wouldn’t need to say, I believe you. It’s like saying, I believe in air. I don’t mean to say that believing in something is like a lie. Believing is really a term of hope of wanting to believe.”

Studio + Other Works by Studio: A-1 Pictures
Trailer: Link.
Average episode length: 22m
Number of episodes: 12
Number of seasons: 1

3.Serial Experiments Lain

“The body exists only to verify one’s own existence.”

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Triangle Staff
Trailer: Link
Average episode length: 24m
Number of episodes: 13
Number of seasons: 1

4.Death parade

デス・パレード -Desu Parēdo

“Humans all behave the same way, like idiots. They all forget that someday, they’re gonna die, so the moment they come face to face with death, they cling to life.”

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Madhouse
Trailer: Link
Average episode length: 25m
Number of episodes: 12
Number of seasons: 1

5.Aoi Bungaku Series

青い文学シリーズ - Blue Literature Series

“Is it painful to be the person who waits? Or is it more painful to be the person who makes others wait? Either way, there’s no need to wait anymore. That’s what is most painful.”

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Madhouse
Trailer: Link
Average episode length: 22m
Number of episodes: 12
Number of seasons: 1

6.steins gate

シュタインズ・ゲート - hutainzu Gēto

“Remembering something that no one else can is a painful thing. You can’t talk to anyone about it. No one will understand you. You’ll be alone.”

Studio + Other Works by Studio: White fox
Trailer: Link
Average episode length: 24m
Number of episodes: 24 + 1 OVA
Number of seasons: 1

7. THE promised neverland

約束のネバーランド - Yakusoku no Nebārando

“It’s not just words that provide information. Humans give away a lot of information just by standing there. Attitude. Gaze. Blinking. Sweat. Gestures. Pupils. Pulse. All of these are hints to find out what you’re really thinking.”

Studio + Other Works by Studio: CloverWorks
Trailer: Link
Average episode length: 23m
Number of episodes: 12 - ongoing
Number of seasons: 1 [ongoing, season 2 should be released in January 2021]

8.flowers of evil

惡の華 - Aku no Hana

“Fear and laughter both come from the notion of surprise.”

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Zexcs
Trailer: Link
Average episode length: 24m
Number of episodes: 13
Number of seasons: 1

9.ergo proxy

エルゴプラクシー - Erugo Purakushī

“We are the sum of our memories. Erasing the memories edged in oneself is the same as losing oneself.”

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Manglobe
Trailer: Link.
Average episode length: 25m
Number of episodes: 21
Number of seasons: 1

10.Ajin: Demi-Human

亜人 - Ajin

“Personal feelings just complicate matters. You cant rely on them to turn your situation around. I’ve known that.. people destroy themselves when they get carried away with their emotions.”

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Polygon Pictures
Trailer: Link.
Average episode length: 23m
Number of episodes: 26
Number of seasons: 2

11.psycho pass

サイコパス - Saiko Pasu

“In order to measure a person’s worth, you must do more than push them. The real way to test their worth is to give them power. When they gain the freedom to act outside the boundaries of law and ethics, you can sometimes see their souls.”

Studio + Other Works by Studio: Production I.G + Tatsunoko Production
Trailer: Link.
Average episode length: 24m for the first 2 seasons. The 3rd’s seasons episode are 45 minutes long each.
Number of episodes: 41
Number of seasons: 3