Anime is known for having a wide variety of genres to choose from. There are amazing anime in every genre and that gives fans great options to choose from. One genre that has been getting popular lately is fantasy. In addition to fantasy, the fans are also looking for recommendations about anime that are dark.
Better yet, they want an anime that is dark fantasy, checking both of the boxes at the same time. Here is a list of the top 10 dark fantasy anime that every fan must watch.
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10) Chainsaw Man
‘Chainsaw Man’ follows the story of a young boy named Denji. Denji sold many of his organs and fought devils along with his companion Pochita, who is the Chainsaw devil. Denji’s father owed a great debt to the Yakuza which was then passed on to Denji. He was unfortunately betrayed by the Yakuza and left for the dead. He was revived when Pochita merged with him. Afterward, he was recruited to be a part of a devil-fighting government organization.
9) Made In Abyss
This anime is one of those shows that seem cute by their animation but are quite disturbing. It is based on a group of people who live on the corner of an abyss. The white whistles, a group of explorers, are the only ones who know the truth about what lies in the abyss. A girl named Riko enlists the help of a boy named Reg to get her mother out of the abyss. Her journey and the things she goes through make this anime very disturbing. This is why it is one of the must watch dark fantasy anime.
8) Claymore
Claymore is another anime that is set in a dystopian world and has quite a dark setting. The anime is set in a world where the land is overrun by horrific shape-shifting monsters that devour flesh. Raki, the main character, finds himself in the care of Clare, who is a Claymore, after his home is wiped out. The anime follows Raki and Clare’s journey as they try to find the one Claymore she’s been looking for.
7) Demon Slayer
‘Demon Slayer’ is one of the most popular anime currently. Its first episode alone was enough to prove just why it is a part of the dark fantasy category of anime. Demons destroy Tanjiro’s entire family when he goes out to collect wood. Only his sister is alive and unfortunately, is turned into a demon. The anime follows Tanjiro’s journey as he tries to find Kibutsuji Muzan, the demon king, and find a cure for his sister. This is why it is one of the must watch dark fantasy anime.
6) Hellsing
‘Hellsing’ is one of the most popular vampire-centric anime of all time. The anime is set in a dystopian world where vampires exist. The anime follows the story of a group of vampire hunters called the Hellsing. Their main weapon against the blood-sucking creatures is a member of their species. Alucard is a very strong vampire who joins the group. He joins the group to destroy whoever he wishes and not get in trouble for that.
5) Tokyo Ghoul
‘Tokyo Ghoul’ is another anime where things go from 0 to 100 in the first episode itself. Kaneki goes on a date with a girl he likes only to find that she is a flesh-eating monster called a ghoul. Kaneki and the girl get into an accident and Kaneki gets rushed to the hospital. Upon waking up he finds out that he has turned into a half-ghoul. This is because the girl’s organs were put in his body. The anime follows his journey as he navigates through his new reality and all the suffering he goes through.
4) Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
‘Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood’ is one of the most popular shonen anime of all time. The anime follows the journey of Edward and his brother. Edward and his brother try to bring back their dead mother through alchemy but are unsuccessful and pay the price. Whilst the anime is mostly shonen, there are most definitely some disturbing scenes that have shocked the viewers. This is why it is one of the must watch dark fantasy anime.
3) Dororo
‘Dororo’ is an anime that follows the journey of a young boy named Hyakkimaru. Before Hyakkimaru was born, his father prayed to the demons to make his land fertile to get a better profit. The demons fulfilled his wish, but they took Hyakkimaru’s body parts in return. His father abandoned him, but a samurai raised him. The anime follows Hyakkimaru’s journey as he kills all the demons that hold his body part to get his body back.
2) Attack On Titan
This anime has taken the entire anime world by storm. ‘Attack On Titan’ is set in a world where humanity is trapped within three walls. Giant humanoid monsters called the Titans live outside the walls. The anime follows the story of Eren Jeager who loses his mother and home in an attack. He joins the survey corps to get revenge and kill all the Titans. However, the anime becomes so much more complex than it originally seemed and there were very gruesome moments in the series.
1) Berserk
‘Berserk’ is an anime that is known for being a dark fantasy anime. The story follows a mercenary named Guts, whose life seems to be a big horror movie. Guts goes through a lot in the anime. His adoptive father abuses him, his friend betrays him and more. The anime is amazing but quite dark. It is perfect for people who prefer an anime with a dark storyline but still enjoy the thrill of a good fight. This is why it is one of the must watch dark fantasy anime.
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