20 Best Anime About Ghosts & Spirits Every Horror Fan Needs to Watch

With spirits playing such a prominent role in Japanese culture, it’s no wonder that many fans want to know what the best anime about ghosts are. The supernatural occupies a popular spot in pop culture for good reason. Audiences love to explore the world of the occult, whether to get some good, old-fashioned scares or out of genuine interest. Whatever the reason, ghosts and spirits are never far away from the entertainment industry.

Some of the most iconic anime in history deal with the supernatural. Stories like Death Note and Jujutsu Kaisen take audiences into the dangerous world of the supernatural in a way that’s both fun and easily accessible. Sometimes the ghosts are friendly allies in the protagonist’s battle; other times, they are the cruelest of villains, but that’s what makes them fascinating. The best anime about ghosts show how truly diverse stories about the restless dead can be.

21 Shaman King

Animated By Xebec & Based On The Manga By Hiroyuki Takei

Shaman King is a special case for fans growing up just as Shonen Jump magazine was publishing volumes in North America, with many seeing its starkly manga’s gore compared to the toned-down anime. However, in 2021, Shaman King received a fresher treatment from Studio Bridge released on Netflix. The series features a mashup of spiritual anime elements, including ghost possession, jiang shi and daoshi, necromancy, and more, to create a diverse and fascinating array of characters with vastly different fighting abilities.

Fans excited by Shaman King’s concept will also be delighted to know that the series continues the adventures of the original protagonist, Yoh Asakura’s offspring. Yoh is a slacker protagonist and his family’s heir, whose fiancée trains him to help him achieve his goal of becoming the titular Shaman King, the champion of the story’s Shaman Fight. The characters Yoh meets along the way in this inaugural series of the franchise branch across international spiritual customs and even modern spins on classic macabre tales such as Faust himself.

20 Blue Exorcist

Animated By A-1 Pictures & Based On The Manga Kazue Kato

Blue Exorcist has continuously built out its presence as a popular yet approachable shōnen anime, with new content continuing to be released in 2024. Rin Okumura is the series’ protagonist, who discovers he is one of the sons of Satan and must train at the True Cross Academy to defeat this powerful adversary. The anime’s world is split between the realms of human-inhabited Assiah and Gehenna, the land of demons, as part of a visually engaging and compelling adaptation of the long-running Shueisha manga.

Blue Exorcist began its run in earnest in 2011, animated by A-1 Pictures, alongside its 2017 follow-up, Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga. Beginning with Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga, the anime changed hands to Studio VOLN, animators of 2024’s Beyond the Snow Saga and 2025’s The Blue Night Saga. For viewers looking to latch onto a long-running series that’s persistently adding new anime content, Blue Exorcist is an increasingly strong value proposition.

19 Ghost Stories

Animated By Pierrot & Based On The Novel Series By Tōru Tsunemitsu

Absolutely iconic in the early days of anime fandom, Ghost Stories remains popular today. The plot concerns a group of schoolchildren who, with the help of a demon trapped inside a cat, encounter numerous ghosts throughout their town and use a book to exorcise them.

Ghost Stories works as a familiar child adventure and a subtle commentary on urbanization and the disregard for traditions. What made the series so iconic though was its irreverent dub, which absolutely skewered and mocked the series. The anime became successful in Western territories after this official parody dub was released, with fans and critics praising its dark humor and animation. Today, many consider Ghost Stories a cult classic and one of the best examples of ghosts in anime.

18 Yu Yu Hakusho

Animated By Pierrot & Based On The Manga By Yoshihiro Togashi

Though Yu Yu Hakusho might appear to casual viewers as another typical shonen battle series, its supernatural themes make it a perfect anime for any fan who wants a little action with their ghosts. The story follows a young man named Yusuke who tragically loses his life to save a child. Fortunately for Yusuke, this last act of heroism bought him some favor with the spirit world, eventually leading him to returning to life. However, as payment for his second chance, Yusuke is tasked with investigating supernatural activity.

While Yusuke’s time as a spirit detective is short-lived, Yu Yu Hakusho still deals with all kinds of supernatural threats, making it a perfect introductory ghost anime.

17 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Original Anime Created By A-1 Pictures

Though the unrestful dead are often portrayed as villains, series like Anohana prove they don’t always have to be. The series focuses on a group of friends reeling from the childhood loss of their friend Menma. Six years later, the ghost of Menma reappears to the group’s former leader, Jinta, in order to encourage the dispersed friend group to reconnect and reforge the bond broken by grief.

One of the best sad anime, Anohana is about the grieving process and how that can often last a whole lifetime. Few ghost anime are as heartwarming and heartbreaking as Anohana, making it a must-watch.

16 Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits

Animated By Gonzo, Based On The Light Novel Series By Midori Yuuma & Laruha

An excellent josei anime in its own right, Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits follows Aoi Tsubaki as a young college student who is soon kidnapped by Ayakashi, a form of yokai including a particularly handsome ogre, Odanna. With Aoi being an unusual case in how she can perceive yokai like Odanna, her sudden change in living arrangements is a clear precursor to clashes with the Ayakashi. Still, the tension eases over time as she works at Odanna’s inn, the Tenjin-ya. Soon enough, Aoi grows closer to the inhabiting spirits, namely Odanna.

Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits is among multiple anime featuring ghosts and spirits with a romantic edge, including Kamisama Kiss, which represents a more charming rather than spooky supernatural element. The josei element results in a more nuanced portrayal of a budding romance and some general romantic wish-fulfillment. Despite the series finishing its first season in 2018, there was a seven-year wait for new content, with a new season coming in 2025.

15 Death Note

Animated By Madhouse, Based On The Manga By Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata

Death Note is a massive anime franchise that’s still popular to this day. The series follows Light Yagami, a teenager who discovers the mysterious “Death Note,” previously owned by the demon Ryuk, and gains the power to kill anyone whose name is written on the notebook’s pages. The anime features themes of justice, limits, and escalation against a background of increasingly blurry moral boundaries.

Light is one of the most complicated and fascinating protagonists in anime, balancing his newfound responsibility with his connection to the worlds of humans and the supernatural.

14 Pokémon

Animated By OLM & Based On the Video Game Series Created By Satoshi Tajiri & Game Freak

While Pokémon might not feature ghosts or spirits every episode, it offers more than a few episodes based around the supernatural. More so than most other anime, Pokémon offers a family-friendly way for younger fans of anime to engage with ghosts and even some light horror without having to worry about seeing anything too horrific or gruesome. Particularly strong ghost episodes include episode 20 The Ghost of Maiden’s Peak, episode 23 Tower of Terror, and Black & White episode 26 Scare at Litwick Mansion, though even that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

13 Dark Gathering

Animated By OLM & Based On The Manga By Kenichi Kondo

Dark Gathering nails down the modern J-horror vibes of its gimmick and can be shockingly intense despite its macabre yet cute promotional veneer, which is practically part of its sales pitch. This anime follows Keitarō Gentōga, whose traumatic past left him with a visibly cursed arm and a particularly potent fear of the supernatural, knowing its potential. When he becomes a tutor to the precocious Yayoi, a young girl whose polycoria-afflicted eyes resemble small skulls, hinting at her immense grasp on everything spiritual, Keitarō’s life is changed immensely.

Keitarō’s not the only one with a traumatic past, with Yayoi’s particular quest driving her to capture and collect the spirits she encounters to track down the ghost who abducted her mother. With the series expertly animated by OLM, the same studio behind Pokémon, it’s got a darkly similar premise for Yayoi’s journey. However, the horror elements include immensely creepy vibes and spine-chilling yet terrific applications of its gory moments, perfect for a Halloween anime binge.

12 Corpse Party: Tortured Souls

Animated By Asread & Based On The Video Game Series By Team GrisGris

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Corpse Party: Tortured Souls lives up to its creepy title. The plot follows a group of students who, after performing a seemingly harmless friendship charm, get transported to an alternate dimension haunted by vengeful ghosts out to get them. Gruesome barely begins to describe Corpse Party: Tortured Souls.

The series takes gore to the next level, exploiting the advantages of animation to create terrifying scenes that could haunt anyone’s dreams for life. Horror fans should come out of the four-episode series satisfied, as the graphic content and eerie setting make for a genuinely horrific experience.

10 Noragami

Animated By Bones & Based On The Manga By Adachitoka

With Studio Bones behind Noragami’s production, it’s no surprise that it’s a popular and unique anime featuring spirits and the afterlife. However, the anime has a significantly more fun appeal than many other contemporary additions, with a dedicated following and particular praise heaped on its protagonist, Yato Noragami. Yato is a minor deity with great aspirations, deeming himself as the “Delivery God” until a chance encounter with a human girl named Hiyori changes the trajectory of his fate.

Noragami is a beloved anime for those seeking a fun and concise supernatural experience with a balance of humor and action. The series’ second season, Noragami Aragoto, leans further in the direction of Yato’s continuous growth and is a worthwhile experience for viewers wanting a satisfying 25-episode show. The series is frequently discussed as one of the best anime of its decade.

9 Jujutsu Kaisen

Animated By MAPPA and Based On The Manga By Gege Akutami

Another spookier take on the typical shonen battle formula, Jujutsu Kaisen is a hit anime series that isn’t afraid to dip into horror. Jujutsu Kaisen is about a world where cursed spirits haunt people and places, prompting special individuals known as Jujutsu Sorcerers to fight back. Though the heart of the series is as a shonen battle anime, that doesn’t mean its cursed spirits can’t be downright horrifying. With fun action and terrifying spirits, Jujutsu Kaisen is a perfect ghost anime series.

8 Death Parade

Original Anime Series Animated By Madhouse & Created By Yuzuru Tachikawa

Featuring one of the most singular premises of any anime, Death Parade is truly one-of-a-kind. The show follows Decim, a bartender working at the Quindecim bar, where people who died simultaneously arrive. In this middle stage of the afterlife, the deceased compete in the Death Games, determining whether they’ll reincarnate or have their souls sent to the void.

Death Parade is a unique take on the ghost genre. It features a clever version of the afterlife that allows it to explore themes of repentance and metaphysical ideas like reincarnation and immortality. The animation is top-notch, adding a somber vibe to an already gloomy storyline.

7 Another

Animated By P.A. Works & Based On The Novel By Yukito Ayatsuji

The plot for the Another anime concerns Koichi Sakakibara, a new student who becomes involved with a mystery upon arriving at his new school. Drawn to a silent girl, Mei Misaki, and sensing a dangerous vibe, Koichi soon learns of a string of gruesome murders around the school. Like the best murder mysteries of all time, Another takes its time with the story.

The show’s unnerving vibe dominates every episode, introducing an ever-present sense of fear. It features the right balance between horror, gore, and tension, delivering a show that will keep audiences at the edge of their seats.

6 Bleach

Animated By Studio Pierrot & Based On The Manga By Tite Kubo

One of the biggest shonen battle series of all time, Bleach takes the classic battle anime formula and adds a supernatural spin. The series focuses on a young man named Ichigo who becomes a soul Shinigami, or Soul Reaper. As a Soul Reaper, Ichigo is tasked with taking out dangerous spirits known as hollows who pose a danger to humans. Though hollows are mostly the biggest threat in the series’ shorter first arc, elite hollows known as Arrancar become the focus of a later one.

With the series’ conclusion Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War recently bringing the hit shonen series back to the forefront of popular culture, it’s never been a better time to rewatch this spirited take on shonen battle anime.

5 Hell Girl

Original Anime Series Animated By Studio Deen & Created By Hiroshi Watanabe

Fans of unsettling anime stories will hit the jackpot with Hell Girl. The show centers on a mysterious website that people can only access at midnight. Entering the name of a particular person will cause the titular Hell Girl and her associates to torture and kill that person, sending them to hell. In exchange, the person who requests the action will also go to hell at the end of their life.

Juggling themes of revenge and repentance, Hell Girl is genuinely creepy. The visuals, accompanied by the eerie atmosphere, succeed in creating a series that carries a terrifying punch. Horror fans will be greatly satisfied watching Hell Girl.

4 Mob Psycho 100

Animated By Studio Bones & Based On The Manga By ONE

Esper abilities are a favorite of the supernatural genre, but few shows use it as effectively as Mob Psycho 100. It centers on Mob, a powerful esper struggling to live a normal life in spite of his tremendous psychic powers. As one of the anime with a unique and eye-catching visual style, Mob Psycho 100 is unforgettable from the get-go.

The premise successfully balances themes of the supernatural and the occult with an otherwise conventional story of self-discovery. Mob Psycho 100 is among the best anime, and one of the few completely committed to presenting its themes in the most unadulterated and honest way possible.

3 Mononoke

Original Anime Series Created By Toei Animation

Mononoke is one of the highest-rated horror anime in history, and it’s easy to understand why. The plot concerns the “Medicine Seller,” a mysterious man who travels around Feudal Japan hunting dangerous spirits known as “Mononoke,” who are responsible for violent deaths.

Combining traits of the crime procedural with the intriguing lore of Japanese mythos, Mononoke is the perfect horror anime. It delves deep into each Mononoke’s backstory while maintaining its distinctive avant-garde animation, crafting a unique series that is as visually striking as it’s enthralling.

2 Ghost Hound

The spirit world takes center stage in Ghost Hound. The plot follows three boys with severe childhood traumas living in a small, spirit-plagued town in a remote mountain region. The boys enter the spirit realm, the Unseen World, discovering more about their pasts and the spirits’ mysterious appearances.

Ghost Hound works as both a dramatic character study and a great horror story. It also serves as a coming-of-age story, using the protagonists’ traumas to explore deeper ideas about the balance between the spiritual and the material worlds.