While the fantasy genre may be quite popular, given the medium’s ability to immerse and transport viewers to any world, no matter how mythical, dark fantasy anime unfortunately not nearly as common. Everyone knows the best fantasy anime, but very few of them can be said to be truly dark, leaving audiences who prefer a more cynical and mature story dissatisfied.
While some fans may look to the fantasy genre in hopes of finding exciting worlds they want to inhabit, others prefer the complex and sad worlds of dark fantasy, in which survival is rarely guaranteed and humanity’s worst horrors are revealed. The best dark fantasy anime aren’t afraid to subject their characters to tragedies and traumatic events, instead asking how those events might affect them.
10 people drifted
An isekai with a unique premise, Drifters follows three important historical figures as they are summoned to another world to fight against “Ends”, other historical figures whose tragic lives make They are reincarnated as distorted versions of their former selves, possessing strange powers. New supernatural abilities. While all three were great warriors known as some of the strongest in their respective time periods, that didn’t necessarily translate into an easy victory when fighting in a world anonymous magic. The ferocity and brutality of the battles they engage in is palpable, proving that this isn’t a typical case of an overpowered isekai protagonist going easy.
9 Claymores
Not too different from other dark fantasy anime, Claymore’s protagonist Clare’s story is one of loss and revenge. After her family is attacked by youma, mysterious flesh-eating demons, and she herself becomes a victim of abuse and trauma inflicted by the demons, she is eventually rescued but a Once again she lost everything she loved. This is when she decided to become a Claymore and began fighting again, driven by nothing but pain and a desire for power. The world she lives in is a dangerous and terrible one, where tragedy and massacre are always guaranteed, and even the strongest are never truly safe.
8 final hells
More of an urban fantasy than anything, the world of Hellsing Ultimate may not be as fantastical as others, but it’s still clearly defined by its supernatural elements and dark atmosphere. Hellsing is officially a secret organization that works to keep ordinary people safe from terrifying creatures, and protagonist Alucard is their strongest ally, an unimaginably powerful vampire. is searching for and taking down other vampires that pose a threat to society. Alucard’s methods are brutal and merciless, and while not everyone may appreciate the film’s excessive gore, those looking for dark and dirty action certainly will. Enjoy the bloodbath.
7 Promised Land
Similar to other anime series that want to shatter expectations with a surprising episode 1 reveal, The Promised Neverland begins by giving viewers the image of a seemingly peaceful orphanage where the the children meet and their loving caregiver Isabella as family, living a comfortable life. , study, and play comfortably only for this image to soon be shattered. When they learn that the supposed regular adoptions are actually times when children are sold to cannibal demons, they decide to find a way to escape their fate, even if they don’t. there is no guarantee that there will be any safety in this dark fantasy world for them. Surname.
6 Lord
Although the stakes of Overlord may not seem as high as other dark fantasy anime, due to the events taking place in the video game world, this world is completely real and serious for its inhabitants. it, including Ainz Ooal Gown, a former player. who somehow got stuck here the day VRMMO shut down. Now having to live as the most powerful skeleton mage, commanding various fearsome minions, he has no choice but to play the role of a ruthless villain. While this series may be a great dark fantasy, it also differentiates itself from the others with its occasional moments of comedic relief.
5 Castlevania
While Castlevania’s status as an anime may be debatable, its quality as a work of dark fantasy is not. Inspired by the beloved classic video game series that bears its name, Castlevania follows members of the Belmont and Alucard families as they fight against Dracula and his henchmen, in an effort to protect the nation Wallachia. Boasting a complex, dark story, with a background that many viewers may already be familiar with, as well as a striking art style reminiscent of typical anime, this series is more than just a movie. a must see for video game fans but also truly a must see movie. Fun for any fan of the sub-genre.
4 Created from the abyss
Although Made in Abyss begins innocently enough, presenting itself as a mysterious fantasy world waiting to be explored, it gradually reveals itself to be much darker and more terrifying than viewers would suspect. can expect. The titular Abyss refers to a vast, largely unexplored abyss in which strange creatures roam freely and relics of long-lost civilizations await. Riko, an orphaned aspiring diver, and Reg, a robot of unknown origin, team up and choose to brave the depths of the Abyss together, each for their own reasons, but nothing can be right. for them or the viewers who are following their journey of events that is to unfold.
3 Fate/No
Fate/Zero follows the events surrounding the Fourth Holy Grail War, the winner of which is said to grant any wish, even if the wish is impossible. Corresponding to the potential benefits, this war is also extremely dangerous, the survival of the participants is not guaranteed. There are seven participants in this fierce game, each commanding a different powerful familiar, whose origins are often inspired by real-life history. Although they all have their own circumstances and desires, no one is willing to give up easily, making their battles truly tense and epic, with scenes of shocking violence almost guaranteed, always makes viewers restless.
2 Dorohedoro
While most magical worlds tend to be bright and positive, seemingly inviting viewers to imagine the possibility of living a life enhanced by the possibilities of magic, Dorohedoro is completely different in terms of there. Here, ordinary people without magic are not only shunned by witches but also used by them in experiments and even killed, despite living separately, in a sad and cruel place called is “Hole”. Furthermore, even magic users live dangerous lives, as their places of residence are also lawless. No matter how strong, no one is truly safe in the dark fantasy world of Dorohedoro.
1 madness
Berserk 1997/OLM, Inc.
No dark fantasy anime list would be complete without Berserk, one of the most influential dark fantasy works ever created. The world of Berserk doesn’t hesitate to show how dark it can be, with abuse and slaughter being the order of the day. However, it’s also complex and absolutely fantastic, with goblins and demons also very common. Guts’ journey is filled with trauma, tragedy, and betrayal, leaving him and his loved ones with deep psychological terror. Truly, no story epitomizes the dark fantasy genre like Black Swordsman, and that’s exactly what makes it one of the best. Even though the 1997 Berserk anime had a surprising ending, it still doesn’t rank as the best dark fantasy anime.
Dark anime shows come in many different forms, but fantasy shows are often the most engaging and captivating, as their settings allow them to tell unique stories that couldn’t be told otherwise. Even within a sub-genre like this, there can be considerable diversity, with some series being darker in terms of action and brutality in scenes, while others emphasize strong on the brutality and tragedy of their stories, even as their images may subvert expectations. . For viewers looking for maturity, gore, and overall realistic struggles, dark fantasy anime are the people who should watch.