Highlights

• Corpse Party: Tortured Soul, Devilman, and Blood C are some of the most brutal and violent anime shows.
• These shows feature gruesome killings, violent scenes, and unsettling imagery that will disturb the faint-hearted.
• Despite the gore, these anime series offer engaging stories, great animation, and elements of horror and thriller genres.

Not everyone is capable of easily digesting anime shows full of violence, bloodshed, and brutal killings. Maybe that's the reason why people take a liking to romance and comedy series so much. Even the most action-packed shows like Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan aren't a match for some of the anime when it comes to brutal and sadistic killings.

If you think these shows won't disturb your peace of mind, then we've got the perfect list of anime shows just for you. Interestingly, most anime on this list were released quite a few years back, some of which even date back to the 1980s and 1990s. This goes to show how modern anime series are trying to keep their distance with brutal and gore content. So, without further ado, here are our recommendations for some of the most brutal and violent anime shows.

Updated by Daksh Chaudhary on December 26th, 2023: We have added five new anime that depict the most brutal and violent scenes, making them a kind of horror that not everyone can handle.

15 Corpse Party: Tortured Soul

MAL Rating: 6.43

Why watch Corpse Party: Tortured Soul?

• Based on a popular videogame.
• Great for binge-watching.

The name of this anime stands true to what it actually delivers. For the lovers of brutal shows with a lot of bloodbaths, the only bad thing about Corpse Party: Tortured Soul is that the show only has four episodes in total, released in July 2013. You'll definitely ask for more episodes after watching them.

In a seemingly ordinary school, a group of friends found themselves trapped in a cursed dimension after a misguided ritual. As they explored the haunted corridors, they encountered vengeful spirits and struggled to find a way out. Amidst their attempts to escape, they faced terrifying deaths and discovered dark secrets hidden within the school's walls.

14 Devilman

MAL Rating: 6.50

Why Watch Devilman?

• One of the first shows to depict such gruesome and violent scenes.
• A series with great lessons despite the violence.

Whether it's innocent children or women, no one is safe from the ruthlessness of the evil monsters in this series. The anime series ran from 1972-1973, so it doesn't promise a great animation, but what it does promise is truly monstrous killings, including demon cannibalism that everyone wouldn't be able to handle.

Akira, a kind-hearted boy, merged with a demon to become Devilman, a being with demon powers but a human heart. He fought to protect humanity from invading demons. Amid battles, he struggled with his identity and the world's fear of him. As the series progresses, he falls in love with Maki. Watching Devilman distracted, the demon lord sends other demons to kill Maki while Devilman saves her.

13 Blood C

MAL Rating: 6.53

Why watch Blood-C?

• You don't need to watch the other parts of the franchise to understand the story.
• Great twists and turns.

The violent and brutal scenes in this anime are truly spine-chilling; the great animation makes them even more terrifying. There's a scene in the series where a giant dog smashes a boy under his giant paw, then gets hold of a girl and smashes her multiple times on the floor and eats her. Finally, it takes hold of another girl and tears her apart by expanding both her legs in the opposite direction. This is just one of the many gore scenes this 12-episode action, thriller, and horror-fantasy series has.

Blood-C is about Saya, a high school girl who seems normal but secretly fights creatures called Elder Bairns. She protects her village with a sacred sword. Her life changes when she discovers her true identity as a powerful warrior destined to battle these monsters. As she fights, shocking truths unfold about her past and the village.

12 Terra Formars

MAL RATING: 6.99

Why Watch Terra Formars?

• Great mix of sci-fi with action and violence.
• Great plot.

The introduction of the cockroaches ensures this series triggers an "EWWW" response due to its gruesomely violent scenes. From unsettling body mutations and transformations to unexpected deaths, Terra Formers isn't for the faint-hearted. Its brutal battles resulted in numerous casualties, making it unsuitable for everyone.

In a future where Earth seeks to colonize Mars, scientists sent cockroaches genetically modified to survive the harsh planet. Unexpectedly, the roaches evolved into human-sized creatures, hostile and powerful. To counter this threat, a team of specially enhanced humans, including Shokichi and Michelle, embarked on a mission to exterminate the evolved roaches.

11 Gantz

MAL Rating: 6.99

Why watch Gantz?

• A show with great messages despite the gore and violence.
• Great for those who love fan service.

When humans face off against aliens, do you anticipate both species working together? Similar to other alien invasion narratives, Gantz presents a similar scenario: both species are now fighting for survival, willing to go to any lengths, even resorting to the most unimaginably heinous ways to eliminate the other.

Ordinary people are revived after death by a mysterious black sphere called Gantz. Forced to participate in lethal missions against aliens, they fight for survival. Kei Kurono and others struggle with fear, forming bonds amid the chaos. Gantz offers points for kills, promising freedom after 1000 points.

10 Deadman Wonderland

MAL Rating: 7.15

Why watch Deadman Wonderland?

• A show with a good and unique premise.
• Fun to watch despite an unsatisfying ending.

Deadman Wonderland was one of the most anticipated shows of 2011 and is still remembered for its disturbing scenes. It's really a wonder how the creators work on such scenes that the viewers are not able to see with their eyes fully opened. It's not just a visual spectacle for those looking for bloodshed and gore, but the story is pretty amazing, too.

Deadman Wonderland follows Ganta, a teenage survivor of a mass murder who's wrongly convicted and sent to a twisted prison where inmates fight in lethal games for entertainment. He discovers he has a mysterious power and meets others like him, called Deadmen, who possess abilities.

9 Another

MAL Rating: 7.47

Why watch Another?

• A show that will keep you guessing.
• Every character seems mysterious.

Another is one of the most renowned horror and thriller anime series of all time, also known for its brutal and violent scenes. The series has 12 episodes in total, but each one of them will keep you on the edge of your seat. This series is not just about bloodbaths and intense scenes, but the story is truly remarkable, which an actual lover of the horror and thriller genre wants.

Gruesome deaths take place in the Yomiyama North Middle School after an old curse residing in the school activates. Sakakibara, Mei Misaki, and other students of classes 3-3 will have to do something about the curse before it kills everyone in the class.

8 Elfen Lied

MAL Rating: 7.47

Why watch Elfen Lied?

• A show with a lot to learn.
• An emotional journey.

Barbarous slaughters of innocent humans are common in the place where the main character of the series, Lucy, lives. She escapes from an experimentation facility, and that's when the massacre in the city begins. While most people anticipate the series for its exceptional storyline, it's a treat for those who love to watch violence and killing sprees. High ratings on IMDB and MAL speak for the show's popularity.

In a secret lab, Lucy, a girl with horns and invisible arms called vectors, escaped. Wounded, she lost her memory and met Kouta and his cousin Yuka. Living with them, Lucy, known as Nyu, displayed childlike innocence but harbored a violent side. Other similar beings hunted her, and as memories resurfaced, she faced her tragic past and sought revenge.

7 Ninja Scroll

MAL Rating: 7.61

Why watch Ninja Scroll?

• Great animation for its time.
• Good for those who want to watch an action and violent movie instead of an anime.

Ninja Scroll is a Japanese movie released in 1993, directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, also known for other dark and horror works like Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Wicked City, and several others. The slaughter and killings in the movie look so common that it feels like natural death doesn't exist here.

The series's main protagonist, Jubei, a high-skilled warrior, is constrained to slay his own companions. Later, while Jubei is traveling, he comes across a demonic ninja organization planning to take over Japan's government. Now, Jubei must stop them by any means necessary.

6 Shiki

MAL RATING: 7.73

Why watch Shiki?

• The show doesn't get boring.
• A show with a great ending.

Shiki isn't the only anime that revolves around vampires, but is surely the one with the most atrocious deaths, enough to make your blood run cold. The series is based on a Japanese horror novel by Fuyumi Ono, known for several other horror, mystery, and thriller novels. So basically, watching Shiki means you are watching the work of someone with deep experience in the genre.

In a town named Sotoba, a strange family, the Kirishikis, moved in. They seemed different, pale and kept to themselves. People started getting sick and passing away mysteriously. As fear gripped the town, a boy, Natsuno, realized the Kirishikis were vampires. With his friends, they fought to save the town. However, the story takes a twist when they discover the villagers are turning into vampires as well.

5 Higurashi When They Cry

MAL Rating: 7.88

Why watch Higurashi When They Cry?

• The series maintains the mystery.
• Good mix of violence and horror.

Trust us on this; if you face the slightest hesitation in watching the cruelty and slaughter, then skip Higurashi When They Cry. By the looks of the innocent-looking characters in the show, especially Satoko Hojo, it's hard to say if the anime is truly that violent or not. But there's hardly any other anime that can match the level of Higurashi. The best thing about the show is that it's not just about blindly killing people; the story of the show is quite amusing as well.

Higurashi When They Cry is about a small village where mysterious murders happen each year during a festival. Keiichi, a new kid, befriends Rena and others. They uncover dark secrets about the village and a mysterious curse related to it.

4 Akira

MAL Rating: 8.16

Why watch Akira?

• One of the most popular sci-fi and cyberpunk movie.
• Great visuals despite being an old movie.

Akira is a 1998 movie based on a manga of the same name written by Katsuhiro Otomo. The movie delivers a great story and a decent animation, and its gross body horror and violent scenes make it worth watching even twenty years after its release. Interestingly, the movie was released even before the manga was complete. However, the creators were able to give a satisfying ending to the film, although it was not decided firsthand.

Akira is set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo rebuilt after a mysterious explosion. Kaneda, a biker, and his friend Tetsuo encounter a secret government project involving psychic powers. Tetsuo gains immense psychic abilities but loses control, endangering everyone. As Tetsuo's powers grow, triggering chaos, Kaneda tries to stop him. Meanwhile, they uncover the project's dark history linked to a boy named Akira, whose immense powers caused Tokyo's destruction.

3 Parasyte: The Maxim

Mal Rating: 8.33

Why watch Parasyte: The Maxim?

• The battles are calculated and strategized.
• A unique take on the alien genre.

The gore battles in Parasyte: The Maxim echo those in the other entries on the list. What elevates these clashes is the inclusion of strategies and mental maneuvering in these fights. Occasionally, even when at odds, Migi and Shinichi devise tactics to overcome the scariest villains. And what do we have to say about those creepy body mutations? Well, they can just be too much sometimes.

High schooler Shinichi's life turned upside down when alien parasites invaded Earth, taking over human hosts. One parasite, Migi, failed to control Shinichi's body, forging an uneasy alliance after taking control of his hand. Now, in this new parasite-invaded world, they encountered other parasites, some seeking harmony, others bent on domination, while Shinichi battled to protect humanity.

2 Chainsaw Man

MAL Rating: 8.53

Why watch Chainsaw Man?

• Very unexpected twists.
• Very humorous despite the serious theme.

Chainsaw Man has been omnipresent in the anime community for many years now. Tatsuki Fujimoto's series has garnered immense adoration, particularly from action aficionados. Featuring a protagonist armed with Chainsaws sprouting from his body and a world teeming with eerie Devils, it promises some of the most gruesome battles imaginable. Moreover, MAPPA's animation perfectly justifies the raw violence portrayed in the manga.

Denji, a devil hunter burdened with debt, merged with his pet devil, Pochita, becoming Chainsaw Man. Employed by the Devil Hunter Organization, Denji fought devils for a better life. His world shifted when betrayed and killed by a devil. Revived through Pochita's sacrifice, Denji sought revenge, joining Special Division 4. Alongside newfound friends Power and Aki, he battled Devils while living a life he always dreamt of.

1 Berserk

MAL Rating: 8.58

Why watch Berserk?

• Amazing plot.
• Amazingly developed characters.

Berserk might be among the most unsettling anime shows around. It's not solely about violence and intense bloodshed; the series encompasses much more. The traumas, betrayals, and sufferings Guts endures can fray your nerves. Witnessing the torment of his loved ones, losing all he held dear, and becoming the true enemy of someone he once considered a friend, Berserk is simply overwhelming.

In a world of knights and monsters, Guts, a warrior seeking revenge, joins the Band of the Hawk led by his friend Griffith. Their bond fractures when Griffith sacrifices his friends for power, leaving Guts on a quest for vengeance. The story follows Guts battling demons, facing betrayal, and uncovering dark truths about the world he lives in.

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