10 Best Anime With Body Horror

Horror is a rather interesting genre within the anime community. It has a long history with many iconic entries into the medium but also some that haven’t meshed too well with the platform of anime. However, if there is one thing anime has been more than capable of depicting in all its visceral glory, it’s body horror.

So, since it’s Halloween season, it only seems fitting to list the best of the best anime featuring body horror. It should be noted that this list isn’t necessarily going to be populated with horror anime only, but shows and movies that feature body horror and mutilation as a central part of their storytelling. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

The Summer Hikaru Died (2025)

Released in 2025 and streaming on Netflix, the anime wastes no time in delving into the creepy. Within the first five minutes, we already know that whatever is inhabiting the body of Hikaru isn’t him and his best friend, Yoshiki, has to deal with this and the complicated feelings around their friendship.

This anime utilizes the small-town horror trope really well with a setting that feels cozy yet mysterious. Some of the sequences with Hikaru’s body are genuinely unsettling. They work well with the story which is one that explores loneliness and a lot of the complexities and compromises it could bring up.

Blood-C (2011)

Blood-C is from 2011 and is a mix of genres, one of them being horror. The show is a little light on scares, but it more than makes up for it with some visceral gore. This is particularly front and center in the infamous 12th episode which features some pretty gnarly deaths.

The body horror of Blood-C comes largely from the antagonist creatures known as the ‘Elder Bairns’ who come in different forms but all contort their bodies in one way or the other. There’s a lot of mutilation in this show, so much so broadcasters had to censor it back when it aired.

Parasyte: The Maxim (2014)

The very first scene of this iconic show features a brilliant and gory depiction of body horror that immediately tells the viewer what they are in for. The anime follows Shinichi Izumi, a high school student who comes under attack by an alien parasite species, of which has already taken over the brains of many earthlings. He somehow resists his brain being taken over and he and the parasite must help one another survive the existential threat looming over them.

Parasyte is a show I would highly recommend. It blends suspense, great storytelling with some moments of true horror. It is a thought-provoking show with excellent animation and memorable characters that stay with you long after your multiple viewings.

Akira (1988)

Few movies have the cultural relevance of Akira. However, while many people remember the movie for the iconic motorcycle slide, the body horror element in the third act is most likely more memorable for just how grotesque it was.

The movie sees two friends Shotaro Kaneda and Tetsuo Shima pitted against one another when the latter suddenly develops psychic abilities that start to make him a lot more dangerous to be around. Akira isn’t primarily a horror movie, but a lot of its imagery is consistent with the more edgy anime of the 80s. For those who have never experienced Akira, it is certainly a bucket list movie.

Ninja Scroll (1993)

Another movie, this time from the early 90s. Ninja Scroll is a dark historical thriller/horror where a wandering swordsman named Jubei, must go up against a mysterious group of Ninjas called the ‘Eight Devils of Kimon.’ Jubei has no interest in fighting, but a government spy who wants his help at any cost poisons him and forces his hand.

Ninja Scrollfeatures a lot of great action, and it pairs that with body horror specifically from the ninja’s Jubei has to face. Each one has unique abilities, many of which transform their bodies in grotesque ways. There are many uncomfortable scenes, so some fair warning if you want to give this a watch.

Inuyashiki (2017)

Ichiro Inuyashiki is a 58-year-old man who is dying of stomach cancer, living a life he regrets with a family that doesn’t value him. All this changes when he encounters an alien life force that transforms him. The only problem is that the alien life force changed someone else too and that person isn’t as charitable as Inuyashiki.

This is more firmly in the thriller/sci-fi genre, but as a story that deals with the fusion of man and machine, there are a lot of sequences of body horror here; Inuyashiki has new powers, and his body is not what it used to be. There’s also a fair amount of violence in this show and the animation utilized for the show makes a lot of the body horror feel more stark.

Dorohedoro (2020)

Dorohedoro is a dark fantasy starring Caiman, a burly resident of the underworld known as the Hole. He has a lizard’s head and is on the hunt to regain his memories. Chaotic is perhaps a good word to describe what Dorohedoro is and it manages it excellently.

When I say Dorohedoro is dark, it is quite dark and the many mutilations, transformations, and scenes of body horror are a testament to the show’s grit. However, in all the magical violence, Dorohedoro tells an intriguing story and has a world filled with vibrant characters that aren’t easily forgotten.

Made in Abyss (2017)

Made in Abyss is another entry in the ‘cutesy but disturbing’ catalogue of anime that shocks fans when they see it. It features one of the most traumatic body horror scenes and also has a villain that is… terrifying.

What makes it hit so hard also is how young a lot of the cast is. Riko, the protagonist of the story is just 12, not even a teenager. So, the horrific things they face, including what happens to their bodies, have a bigger impact. A brilliant show all things considered, but definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Deadman Wonderland (2011)

There are a litany of anime that have iconic opening scenes or first episodes and this is another for the list. Ganta Igarashi was set to go on a field trip with the rest of his class, but things get grimy when a mysterious entity massacres Ganta’s entire class. The authorities frame him and send him to ‘Deadman Wonderland,’ a prison disguised as an amusement park and filled with heinous villains.

This is as edgy as they get and deals more in gore and shock rather than suspense. The power system of the anime, which deals in blood, is a perfect vehicle for body horror and there are gnarly scenes aplenty for this 2010s gem.

Devilman Crybaby (2018)

2018’s Devilman Crybaby sent Masaaki Yuasa’s international profile into the stratosphere as it told a story of young Akira Fudo who after a hellishly memorable night out with his old friend, Ryo, gains the powers of a devil.

The show dealt with themes of otherness, and it soon became clear that the humans were as much monsters as the devils. The ending is unforgettable in its nihilism, but before you get there, there’s a lot of killing, mutilation and death. The art style gives the show this trippy vibe which made the violence even more powerful in its execution.

So, if you are a body horror fan, you have a decent list of shows to check out this Halloween.