New Horror Anime 2025

Horror anime did not have a memorable 2024, at least not in a positive sense. The genre’s biggest release, Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror, ended up being a bit of a disappointment, and no other show stood up to carry the weight in its place. Fortunately, 2025’s horror anime lineup has been better, mostly due to the quality of a single show. In terms of quantity, the year has not exactly produced constant scares, but every season except Spring has included at least one series that fits the genre.

Horror tends to be something of an afterthought in anime, so expectations should be kept relatively low. If you are craving a fright or some nightmare fuel, these 2025 horror anime might just be able to deliver.

Updated on September 13, 2025, by Mark Sammut: The Summer 2025 season is nearly done, and The Summer Hikaru Died has carried the horror genre on its back. Although not as stacked, Fall 2025 has one upcoming horror anime that is fairly similar to Netflix’s fantastic show. Hopefully, This Monster Wants to Eat Me will be just as good.

Winter 2025

Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai 14

In terms of seasonal shows, Winter 2025 had almost nothing to offer horror fans, with the main exception being another entry in Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai. Just to be clear, this series is one of the greatest horror anime of all time, and there have been plenty of months when Yami Shibai carried the genre on its back solo. At this point, it is a staple of the industry, and most episodes are watchable since they are just 5 minutes long.

That said, Theatre of Darkness lost steam quite a long time ago and has been running on fumes ever since. While nearly all the more recent episodes are fine, they are rarely anything more than just that. Season 14 continued that trend with no variation.

Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning

• Release Month (Korea): February 21, 2025
• Studio: Locus Corporation
• Based On: The Soul Guardians, aka Toemarok, by Lee Hyeop (Manhwa)

Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning is still a bit unknown, with most of the information being based on a trailer and the source material. Technically, the movie has made its debut in some regions, but it is not widely available at the moment. The manhwa lasted for roughly three years and 131 chapters, but it is not extremely well-known compared to some other stories that have managed to crossover into Western nations. A lot of manhwa are popular only in South Korea, and a lack of exposure in North America does not reflect their quality.

Going by the trailer, which showcases pretty good animation, Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning seems to focus more on action than horror, although the latter will be represented through various supernatural entities. While there is a good chance it will not receive an official release in the United States or Europe, this movie is still worth keeping an eye on for anyone craving something similar to horror anime. The few impressions available suggest this could be a pretty good film and, perhaps, one of the better 2025 horror anime.

Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II – Fire Rat

OK, this one was not truly a Winter 2025 anime, even if it will debut during this period in Japan. Mononoke the Movie: Phantom in the Rain came out in July 2024 in Japan, but it did not become widely available until its international Netflix debut on November 28, 2024.

The sequel is following a similar release schedule, so it will likely arrive on a streaming platform a few months following its cinematic launch. Still, Mononoke the Movie: Chapter II – Fire Rat should be great, as this series has yet to produce anything underwhelming.

Lockdown Zone: Lv. X Season 2

Lockdown Zone: Lv. X ended its first season in October 2024, releasing six half-length episodes in the process. As the Fall 2024 anime flew under the radar compared to nearly everything else released during that quarter, there is a good chance not too many people are aware that a sequel will be coming out in Winter 2025. While not amazing, Lockdown Zone: Lv. X is more than watchable and gets pretty intense at times. The story has a cosmic horror twist and leans heavily into mystery, with the main characters being very much in the dark during the earliest episodes.

Ryouka and Shuuhei are trapped in a building that has been quarantined due to the presence of Sai, an unknown creature. They have to stay quiet, not leave their rooms, and avoid looking outside. The anime gradually pulls back the curtain, all the while introducing a few fun shifts that move the story in an unexpected direction. Lockdown Zone: Lv. X is fun, and the sequel mostly maintains the quality of its predecessor. Unfortunately, the anime has largely flown by without attracting any attention, but it is one of the only 2025 horror anime to debut so far.

Newcomers who are planning to watch the first season should be aware that the animation can be a bit off-putting at first. The animation is quite similar to Theatre of Darkness, albeit with a bit more movement.

Summer 2025

Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube

One of the more exciting 2025 horror anime, Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube has made its big return, receiving a reboot/remake that will freshly adapt Shō Makura’s classic shonen manga. The source material was turned into an enjoyable anime during the ’90s, but that version is quite hard to track down legally in this day and age. Consequently, the 2025 show will likely be most people’s introduction to this universe.

Nube is an elementary school teacher who frequently has to step up to protect his students from supernatural forces, and he accomplishes this task by using his Demon’s Hand. Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube is not 100% horror, as the story is more of an action-comedy that incorporates scary themes and imagery.

To be honest, Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube has not been that great so far. Don’t get me wrong, it is more than watchable, but the new version has done very little to justify its existence.

Nyaight of the Living Cat

Oh, here is some silly fun. Nyaight of the Living Cat delivers exactly what its title offers: a post-apocalyptic setting with cats instead of zombies. A virus spreads throughout the world, transforming victims into adorable felines.

Sure, they might look cute, but infected cats are dangerous, as a wayward scratch could leave someone crawling on all fours. “Horror” does not always have to be terrifying, and Nyaight of the Living Cat serves as a prime example of that. The anime is nothing special by any means, but it is fine. Honestly, the story takes itself a bit too seriously.

The Summer Hikaru Died

A frontrunner for the definitive 2025 horror anime, The Summer Hikaru Died has been brilliant. An unsettling psychological mystery with a gripping premise that is executed well, this is one of those stories that newcomers should try to experience as blindly as possible. That said, the anime revolves around a close friendship between two teenagers that gradually morphs into something else after one of the boys changes.

CygamesPictures has adapted the manga, a studio has produced good stuff, like Brave Bang Bravern!, but is more known for lighthearted shows. The Summer Hikaru Died is anything but lighthearted, telling a character-driven story with some genuinely intense moments, all the while not indulging too much in things like gore. This Netflix exclusive will likely be remembered as the best 2025 horror anime, and by quite a margin.

Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai 15

• Start Date: July 14, 2025
• Streaming Service: Crunchyroll

Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai is also part of the Summer 2025 lineup, with season 15 airing another batch of horror anime shorts. Like all recent entries, this sequel has not attracted too much attention, but the episodes themselves are fine.

Fall 2025

This Monster Wants to Eat Me

While Summer 2025 has a horror anime with boys love subtext, Fall 2025 has a series that is unabashedly a girls love story. Sai Naekawa’s This Monster Wants to Eat Me debuted in 2020 and has produced 10 volumes since then, establishing itself as a great manga that combines a few genres that rarely overlap.

So, what is the story? Well, Shiori is a mermaid who really wants to eat Hinako, as she is simply delicious. However, she wants to wait until she is at her peak of exquisiteness, so she decides to protect the human from other monsters who also want to eat her. As she struggles with depression and has a death wish, Hinako is more or less happy to keep Shiori around, all with the hope that she will eventually be killed by the mermaid.

Now, I should set expectations, as This Monster Wants to Eat Me is fairly light on scares. The manga is more a supernatural drama than a full-blown nightmare, but it does have enough horror elements to warrant a recommendation for fans of the genre.

2025 Horror Anime With No Release Season

Dorohedoro (Zoku-hen)

“Horror” does not accurately describe Dorohedoro, but no single genre encapsulates the glorious chaos that is Mappa’s bizarre epic. This is a show that primarily revolves around an amnesiac with a lizard head who is searching for the sorcerer responsible for his predicament. To find his target, Caiman bites sorcerers so they can then be interrogated by a head that exists within him.

Also, Dorohedoro takes place in a grungy post-apocalyptic world filled with colorful characters and nightmarish backdrops. This series is a fever dream in the best possible way, and season 2 cannot come soon enough since its predecessor dropped more than 5 years ago. While not that scary, season 1 is packed with intense imagery and gore, so it can scratch a similar itch to conventional horror anime.

2025 Anime That Might Have Some Horror Elements

Kaiju No. 8, Chainsaw Man, & More

2025 horror anime are in short enough supply that die-hard fans of the genre should, at least, consider loosening their criteria for what qualifies as a must-watch. While scares might not be the main focus, some anime incorporate ideas from horror and warrant a quick mention. The upcoming series are not part of the genre, but they might still entertain folks who want to get their fill of gruesome battles or monster mayhem.