Halloween Anime You Should Watch This Year!
Devon Lord-Moncrief
It’s that time of year again! The nights are growing chilly, the sun sets a little earlier every day, and there’s an unmistakable sense of spookiness. You know what that means: it’s time for Halloween! And of all the ways to celebrate the best season of the year, there are few ways as fun and exciting as watching some good spooky anime. There’s a ton to choose from, so we did our best to highlight five anime you must watch this Halloween. So grab some snacks, turn out the lights, and get ready to dive in!
Darkstalkers
Originally entitled Vampire Hunter: The Animated Series, and also known as Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge, Darkstalkers (as its known in the West) is a four-part OVA series based on Capcom’s popular fighting game series. Set in the Demon World, Darkstalkers follows the exploits of the succubus Morrigan Aensland and the vampire Demitri Maximoff as they battle for control over the world.
But when the alien entity known as Pyron crashes into the Demon World, the battle for survival begins! And with werewolves, aliens, spirits, and zombie rockstars tossed into the mix, too, Darkstalkers is absolutely packed with ghoulish action. The best part is that you don’t need quarters to keep the action going with this video game story!
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
The second film starring Hideyuki Kikuchi’s famous slayer of vampires, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, is based on the third novel of the same series, “Demon Deathchase”. When the young woman, Charlotte Elbourne, is kidnapped by the vampire lord, Baron Meier Link, D is drawn into a perilous journey to rescue her.
And with hordes of zombies, canyons full of demons, and rival monster hunters getting in the way, D will undoubtedly have his work cut out for him. The action and imagery can become quite intense at times, but the film never becomes too graphic, making it a solid watch for older teenagers. Fans of slick and suave vampire action have plenty to sink their teeth into with this one.
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Nyanpire: The Animation
One night, a vampire happens to discover an abandoned little kitten. Feeling sorry for the little cat, the vampire turns the kitten into a vampire, as well! Now, the kitten, known as Nyanpire, can experience the world as a creature of the night and an adorable kitten.
Originally a manga series, Nyanpire received a twelve-episode anime series in 2011, making it a perfect watch for those who want the silly antics to last a little longer than a single viewing. While Nyanpire might not appeal to those seeking the ultimate spooky experience, it’s perfect for younger viewers.
Yokai Watch
Based on the popular video game series created by Level-5 for the Nintendo 3DS, Yokai Watch follows the adventures of the young boy, Keita Amano, as he discovers many spirits around his town. Two of the most famous yokai he meets are Whisper, a ghost trapped for over a hundred years, and Jibanyan, a cat spirit that his past owner left behind. Unlike many other depictions of yokai, Yokai Watch’s spirits are mostly silly and mischievous, oftentimes causing problems that are easily fixed around town.
While not a Halloween-themed show per say, and not necessarily a spooky show, Yokai Watch’s entire premise surrounding spirits and ghosts makes it a fantastic show to watch throughout the Halloween season. And with three seasons and eight movies to its name, there is enough Yokai Watch to last for years!
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei
The beginning of the entire Shin Megami Tensei series and all the subsequent series that have spawned from it, Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei, started it all. When high schooler Akemi Nakajima develops a means of conjuring and summoning devils and demons through his school’s computer, events quickly spin out of control.
With the powerful demon Loki plunging the school and Akemi’s life into chaos, it’s up to Akemi and his fellow student, Yumiko Shirasagi, to end the devilish chaos. The OVA can sometimes become quite intense, with a handful of scenes containing intense content, but the OVA never crosses the line into mature territory. It’s a scary anime, but an excellent ride for older viewers interested in seeing the birth of the Shin Megami Tensei series.
Why should I watch these anime during Halloween?
Halloween is the season of embracing and having fun with all things spooky and scary. We all know vampires, mummies, and zombies aren’t real, but watching movies and reading stories about them is still fun. And seriously, who doesn’t love filling up a giant bowl with candy and getting away with eating chocolate every night for a month?
There are simply too many anime to list that are worth watching during the scariest time of the year, but these five are a great way to get into the festive spirit. Some are certainly more mature than others, but nothing ever becomes overly graphic and too hardcore to watch.
Even though it can be hard to decide the right movie to watch when it’s time to settle down, hopefully, this list will make your Halloween even better! What are your favorite spooky anime? Did we cover any of them here? Please let us know in the comments below! We’d love to learn about your favorite shows.
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