Anime is a form of entertainment that has the incredible ability to tell mind-blowing stories that push boundaries. Whoever said “anime is for kids” didn’t really explore the rich content of this medium. The world of anime is known for pushing boundaries that filmmakers rarely do in live-action content. When it comes to dark stories, anime films take the cake for being incredibly disturbing and dealing with soul-crushing themes.

Anime has offered audiences several masterpieces, from the detailed depiction of the horrors of war to the unraveling of the human mind like a puzzle. Viewers who don't mind the soul traveling down the dark road can tune in to these perfectly terrifying films.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

When the only daughter of a wealthy family is kidnapped, D is called upon to save her from the powerful vampire Baron Meier Link. D embarks on a dangerous journey with another vampire hunter named Leila, but they soon realize there is more to the story than meets the eye. It turns out that Charlotte was not kidnapped at all and had her own reasons for running away from home.

Ghost in the Shell

Set in a futuristic world, “Ghost in the Shell” dares to question the very existence of human consciousness and what it means to have the autonomy to make decisions. The story begins with a cyborg law enforcement officer named Motoko Kusanagi, who is tasked with stopping the illegal hacker The Puppet Master. The hacker intends to infiltrate the system and take control of the brains of all human-robot hybrids.

AKIRA

“Akira” is another mind-bending story about the aftermath of a global catastrophe, especially the effects it has on the masses due to authoritarian bodies seeking control. “Akira” is set in Neo-Tokyo, where secret government experiments are being conducted on candidates to awaken their latent psychic powers. However, unable to control a wild soul, the authorities take on a case where a man named Tetsuo’s powers spiral out of control.

Corpse Empire

Death is a very tangible concept in the steampunk, zombie-infested setting of “Empire of Corpses.” In a world where corpses have been denied the right to perpetual peace, there can be no shortage of problems. “Empire of Corpses” follows the Frankenstein-inspired John H. Watson, who reanimates the dead using a technology called Necroware to use them as labor. It’s a perfect plan, since the newly born “people” have no souls or human needs.

Paprika

“Paprika” and “Perfect Blue” go hand in hand when it comes to exploring the malleability of the human mind. However, “Paprika” explores the more gullible side of human psychology and shows how easy it is to control people through their dreams. The story begins with a device called the DC Mini that has allowed therapists to treat patients with greater precision by entering their dreams. A certain Dr. Chiba uses an alter ego called Paprika to help patients, but this world soon begins to fall apart when the device falls into the wrong hands.

Belladonna of Sadness

“Belladonna of Sadness” is not for the faint of heart, especially with its themes of sexual assault and torture. The anime film is a tale of revenge and depicts the realities of being a woman in medieval times. The story revolves around the tormented and tragic life of a beautiful woman who is repeatedly defiled and assaulted in the name of tradition. Tired of the horrors she faces, Jeanne makes a deal with a literal demon who grants her unprecedented powers in exchange for her soul.

Vampire Hunter D

In modern fiction, vampires have been transformed into beautiful, blood-sucking entities straight out of a Colleen Hoover novel. However, at the time of “Vampire Hunter D,” vampires were shadowy characters who wreaked havoc on the human world and tortured their very existence. “Vampire Hunter D” is a dark and gripping fantasy about a woman named Doris who was bitten by the notorious Count Magnus Lee.

Barefoot Gene

No anime film has been able to capture the undeniable chaos that followed the devastating bombing of Hiroshima. While the historic incident has been portrayed and perceived differently countless times, the way “Barefoot Gen” does so is simply heartbreaking. The most moving aspect of the film is the detail with which it depicts the reality of what happened during and after the explosion. “Barefoot Gen” is unflinching and unflinching in its depiction of the immediate aftermath of the Hiroshima tragedy, especially in the life of Gen Nakaoka.

Perfect Blue

“Perfect Blue” is a perfectly balanced story about the realities of being in the public eye, especially the darkness that haunts the lives of celebrities. A film ahead of its time, “Perfect Blue” took celebrities’ worst nightmares and gave them an animated twist that is a tough pill to swallow. The film follows the glamorous life of a singer named Mima Kirigoe, who wants to expand her horizons into the world of acting. However, she receives harsh criticism from her fans for her decision.

Grave of the Fireflies

Studio Ghibli has a long history of telling stories based on the effects of war or its aftermath. Most of Ghibli’s films have this uncanny ability to connect with the effects of war in one way or another. Grave of the Fireflies is not for the faint of heart, especially those who are sensitive to the atrocities caused by war. The film unfolds the horrors of war through two young brothers who struggle to survive the World War II attack on Japan.