Who doesn't enjoy a bit of the supernatural? From demons to vampires, the human race has been fascinated by stories of unseen and unknowable forces since the dawn of storytelling itself.
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Anime is no exception to this either with many incredible stories focused on supernatural themes. While there are many shows for fans to choose some, some stand out above the rest at must-watch shows of the genre.
10 Dororo
When a samurai lord will do anything to make his prefecture prosper, he makes a deal with twelve demons that leaves his firstborn son born horribly with no eyes, limbs, or even skin. Tossed into a river to die and be forgotten, the baby is found by a medicine man who creates prosthetics so that the young Hyakkimaru can live.
Dororo follows his story as he tries to kill the demons that cursed him and regain parts of his true self as he does so. Along the way, Hyakkimaru meets the titular Dororo and the two become fast friends and traveling companions.
9 Mononoke
No anime fan can deny the breathtaking visuals found in Mononoke. The story is just as incredible as the animation, following the mysterious Medicine Seller, Kusuriuri, as he deals with angry spirits disturbing various people. Its combination of classic Japanese horror with the supernatural will keep fans at the edges of their seats until the end.
8 Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files
Yu Yu Hakusho is a shonen battle anime classic. Yuusuke Urameshi goes against what was foretold for his future when he jumps in front of a car to push a young boy out of the way of being injured. Because of this surprising act of kindness, he's given another chance to return to life by the ruler of the spirit world.
With a live-action series in the works, it's worth it for anime fans to check out the original.
7 To Your Eternity
To Your Eternity was one of the biggest hits to come out of the Spring 2021 anime season and has already gotten itself a permanent place as one of the best supernatural shows out there. It was written by Yoshitoki Ooima, the mind behind A Silent Voice, so viewers need to be ready for a powerfully emotional affair.
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The story is about an immortal being that experiences humanity and slowly learns about people and life. With higher dark powers at play, this supernatural drama is worth watching to see how it all unfolds.
6 Death Note
A shinigami can kill anyone and steal the remainder of their years alive — as long as they can write their name in their notebook called a Death Note. One such titular notebook falls into the hands of Light Yagami who begins using it to try and create his ideal version of the world.
This leads to an intense psychological anime as a secret group of police led by the mysterious genius only known as L tries to track him down as while he is mostly killing terrible people, he's still breaking the law by committing murders. The supernatural abilities of the shinigami often come into play as Light has one with him at all times.
5 Natsume's Book Of Friends
Most young boys are busy focusing on school and everyday life but Takashi Natsume has something else to worry about — youkai are out to get him to regain their freedom. The story of Natsume's Book of Friends follows his adventures as he's hunted down by these youkai with only a cat spirit named Madara as a bodyguard.
This supernatural anime is unique for being less about horror and more about interesting slice-of-life moments.
4 Mushi-Shi
Winner of the 2006 Tokyo Anime Award, Mushi-Shi is a story that follows Ginko and he tries to uncover the secrets of the Mushi. Mushi are strange supernatural entities that can mimic the form of anything from diseases to a literal rainbow. The Mushishi are those that try to study these strange entities and Ginko is among them. The show has incredible visuals and strong storytelling that doesn't rely on action to be spectacular.
3 Jujutsu Kaisen
Yuuji might have enjoyed his time as a member of the Occult Club at his school but he wasn't prepared for what happened when he came to possess a real cursed item. From here he learns about Curses — supernatural beings born from human negativity and malice.
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Jujutsu Kaisen was one of the most hyped-up shows of 2020 and managed to deliver on all that it promised. Heart racing action combined with challenging typical shonen genre tropes is what makes this series special.
2 Monogatari Series
Koyomi's adventures through life after encountering a vampire has become one of the most iconic supernatural anime series of all time. It has spawned countless spinoffs and retellings, including the highly acclaimed Owarimonogatari. Any fan of vampire stories should be sure to seek it out.
1 Mob Psycho 100
It's hard to not be excited for an anime from the creator of One Punch Man. Mob Psycho 100 has a lot of that show's same energy but instead tells the story of a young psychic named Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama. He keeps trying to live a normal life but his ESP keeps managing to get him into more and more outlandish and dangerous situations.
The show's visual style is instantly recognizable and something wholely unique to the series. The show is humorous, charming, and incredibly thoughtful. It's a must-watch for anyone that enjoys supernatural anime.