10 Dark Anime Shows That Are Definitely Not for Kids
There used to be a common misconception that anime — and the animated medium as a whole — was for kids, mainly because Western cartoons were primarily a children's medium. While views have mostly shifted, there are more than a few who still believe anime is just for kids. Fans could argue that some anime is for everyone, like Dragon Ball or One Piece, but more than enough shows are proving the medium can be dark and meant strictly for adult audiences.
Some viewers don't realize how dark and gruesome anime can get, which is why this list will be ranking ten dark anime shows that are not for kids. It will rank the entries based on how dark they are, including elements such as goriness, gruesomeness, themes, maturity, violence, sexual content, and general darkness. While there are more than ten dark shows, these highlight the variety of dark shows anime can provide.
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10. 'Serial Experiments Lain' (1998)
Studio: Triangle Staff
Kicking off this list is a bit of a weird entry since it isn't dark in the traditional or expected sense. Serial Experiments Lain is a sci-fi series that follows the titular character entering the World Wide Web after receiving an email from her deceased classmate. The mystery only deepens, as she seems to be the key behind the dark world of the internet and all of its hideous crimes.
Most dark anime are bloody and gruesome, but Serial Experiments Lain uses a psychological approach to instill darkness into its viewers. While children likely won't understand anything about this anime, it is still deeply unsettling, from its atmosphere to its themes and story. Serial Experiments Lain is one of the best avant-garde anime series that will force viewers to think about its dark and twisted reality.
9. 'Chainsaw Man' (2022)
Studio: MAPPA
Shōnen is a demographic aimed at male teenagers. However, it has become skewed, with darker shows falling under this demographic, including Chainsaw Man, the recent anime phenomenon that made waves throughout 2022. After becoming a chainsaw devil-human hybrid, Denji cleans the streets of other devils to earn a living. Fans should get excited because the Chainsaw Man sequel movie is set to come out in 2025.
While some shōnen aspects may be appropriate for kids, the vast majority of Chainsaw Man is completely unsuitable for that age range. It is a gory and gruesome mess with immature and dark characters who are horrible role models. The show's unserious nature provides some hilarious dark humor, but overall, Chainsaw Man is a messed-up battle shōnen with plenty of blood and gore.
8. 'Dorohedoro' (2020)
Studio: MAPPA
If fans enjoyed Chainsaw Man, then they should check out Dorohedoro, which includes many of the best elements and is also definitely not for kids. Set in a fictional world where mages live in one half and humans live in a grimy place known as The Hole, wizards experiment on humans for fun. Caiman is a product of experimentation and makes it his mission to regain his memories and remember what his old face looked like.
Like Chainsaw Man, Dorohedoro includes many comedic, unserious, and goofy moments, but that shouldn't fool fans, as the rest of the show is a twisted masterpiece. The gruesome experiments are horrifying, and the grimy setting is disgusting and unnerving to look at. Dorohedoro is an immersive anime that forces viewers into a dark story and world, making it one of the most underappreciated anime series ever.
7. 'Attack on Titan' (2013)
Studios: Wit Studio and MAPPA
Fans wouldn't think that dark anime would be so popular since it halves its potential viewers, but Attack on Titan proved otherwise. The now-iconic show follows Eren Yeager, who vows to kill all Titans after they destroy his village. Still, when he gets the ability to transform into one, he uses his newfound ability to help humanity fight for survival and freedom against their true enemies.
Despite its mass appeal, everything about Attack on Titan is dark, from its horrific creatures to the fate of countless characters, to the situations they face, to the underlying truths. On its surface, the Titans' eating humans is dark enough, but the deeper fans go, the more they uncover dark, mysterious, and heinous deeds. Attack on Titan is a modern classic because of this unrelenting and fascinating darkness that hooks every fan.
6. 'Mononoke' (2007)
Studio: Toei Animation
Mononoke is one of the most original anime ever made, and it defines the horror genre through its unconventional editing and art style. Each arc depicts a traveling merchant exorcising the demons and spirits he encounters, from a former brothel to a ship on the sea. After years without a sequel, they recently released a new Mononoke movie, with two others on their way.
Its bright colors and vibrant art style may attract kids to watch this show, but the content is too dark even for some adults. Mononoke is mainly dark and unsuitable for kids because of its content, ranging from dead children to vengeful spirits and monstrous creatures. However, its darkness stems from actual events leading to the spirits, dealing with heavy topics through its unsettling and unique editing style.
5. 'Made in Abyss' (2017)
Studio: Kinema Citrus
Many anime have great music, but Made in Abyss has one of the best soundtracks, fantastic world-building, and fascinating plots. However, its dark nature overwhelms Riko and Reg as they descend into a horrific and twisted world. Riko enters the hole in search of her mother, and Reg in search of his creator, but all they find are dark, mysterious secrets that traumatize them every step of the way.
On the surface, Made in Abyss looks like it would be perfect for kids: a wholesome art style, kid protagonists, and an adventure series to find someone close to them. However, this is one of the most unsettling anime series anyone could watch, especially because it looks so wholesome. From children dying in gruesome experiments to uncomfortable sexual content, younger viewers shouldn't go anywhere near Made in Abyss. The show also has Bondrewd, the darkest TV anime villain, so there's that.
4. 'Tokyo Ghoul' (2014)
Studio: Pierrot
Tokyo Ghoul used to be one of the most popular anime series during its time, and while it still is widely famous with its dedicated fanbase, it isn't what it used to be. In a world where ghouls look like humans and feast on them, Kaneki becomes one of these creatures in a freak experiment. He must now integrate into the dark and twisted world of ghouls to survive.
Tokyo Ghoul isn't the darkest anime, but it is an unsettling shōnen that will illicit fear in any fan who watches it. Ghouls munching on humans is a terrifying and bloody sight, and the show isn't afraid to do these scenes justice. It features some of the most disturbing torture scenes and generally dark content that kids shouldn't watch. While Tokyo Ghoul fumbled its ending, the majority of the show is a dark, gory, and psychological show.
3. 'Another' (2012)
Studio: P.A. Works
Anime shows generally aren't the scariest because the horror genre relies on gore and shocking events, something Another does perfectly. After returning from the hospital, Kouichi befriends the new girl despite others telling him not to. However, unexplained deaths begin to happen to the class, and they must investigate and fix this curse before it claims everyone.
It may not be scary, but Another is one of the darkest anime series. Its school setting might trick fans, but the gruesome deaths are horrific and extensive in number. This show may be a one-trick pony, but the content is quite dark, regardless, providing some of the most elaborate and unique scenes that can traumatize any fan. Another is one of the best horror anime, mainly because of its dark and gruesome deaths.
2. 'Banana Fish' (2018)
Studio: MAPPA
Most of the anime on this list weren't realistic because the creators could create an imaginative and dark series from scratch. But what makes Banana Fish so dark is the realistic portrayal of some of humanity's darkest activities. When a journalist from Japan researches gangs in America, the young reporter and the young gang leader get involved in a dark drug conspiracy involving the government.
There isn't any gushing blood or explicit content, but the darkness is implied through the detestable things the characters do. Banana Fish has one of the most unsettling depictions of sexual assault and how it affects the victim, as it hangs over them throughout the show. What's more is the constant death and violence and mature themes, from testing drugs on soldiers to forcing people to be comatose. Banana Fish is a must-watch anime, but fans should be warned of its dark content.
1. 'Devilman Crybaby' (2018)
Studio: Science Saru
Netflix is one of the biggest anime providers that isn't dedicated to the medium, and it proved its credentials by producing original anime, including Devilman Crybaby. Based on an older manga, this reimagination brought the story to the modern audience, and they weren't ready for how dark it was. Despite having a heart of gold, a demon possesses Akira, who must now fight the supernatural and protect his friends.
Devilman Crybaby sets the tone right from the beginning with a blood-soaked orgy where demons possess sexually charged corpses. This anime dials it up to eleven with sexual content, blood and gore, and dark themes. It is a mature show, too much for even the most hardened anime fans, and will have viewers desensitized to any series except this one. This anime is darker than its manga counterpart, creating a sexual, gruesome, mature, heavy, and depressing series that is arguably the darkest anime ever.
Keywords: Dark Animes | Animes | Adult animes | Adult audiences | Western cartoons | Asian cinema