Anime has given fans some of the very best dark fantasy stories ever. From retro tales of dark and disturbed swordsmen fighting for survival in gritty, expansive fantasy settings, to newer takes on the genre focusing on underpowered heroes being transported to other worlds, dark fantasy has always been one of anime’s most popular genres.
Fans searching for their next favorite show might not know where to start, considering just how many titles have become instantly available thanks to anime’s ongoing boom in popularity. Fortunately, Crunchyroll has a deep catalog of both popular and niche shows, and these 10 currently streaming dark fantasy series are the best.
Claymore
Animated by Madhouse, Based on the Manga by Norihiro Yagi
Medieval dark fantasy is, and always has been, one of the most popular subgenres of fantasy, and Claymore is packed with all the gritty violence fans would want, while offering the classic medieval aesthetic. The series is set on an island where humanoid creatures called Yoma threaten the lives of its inhabitants.
However, a mysterious organization creates human and Yoma hybrids in an effort to combat the monsters. Claymore is action-packed and though it isn’t finished, the series offers enough to keep fans highly entertained. Unfortunately, unfinished stories aren’t uncommon in the dark fantasy genre.
Re:Zero
Animated by White Fox, Based on the Novel Series by Tappei Nagatsuki
Re:Zero is the face of a new era of dark fantasy stories in anime and manga, shifting away from many of the tropes of the past and instead embracing new popular trends. The series comfortably falls under the isekai label, but incorporates a far darker setting and narrative than most other shows in the genre.
The series follows teenage shut-in Natsuki Subaru, who, like many other isekai protagonists, is a bit pathetic in his introduction. However, where other characters would be transported and gain unreasonable power-ups, Subaru remains just as weak as he was, and is forced to survive a dangerous world while having the ability, or curse, to start over each time he dies.
Basilisk
Animated by Gonzo, Based on the Manga by Masaki Segawa
As far as staple dark fantasy anime titles go, Basilisk is one of the most underappreciated and underrated anime series ever. Set in 16th century Japan, the series makes use of the unease and infighting that ran rampant throughout the Tokugawa Shogunate, and paints an action-packed, often moving picture.
Though Basilisk is now 20 years old, it hasn’t aged poorly in the slightest, and features a visual style that dark fantasy fans, or fans of 2000s anime in general will likely enjoy. The series is a concise 24-episode affair, and is worth checking out for anyone searching for a tight, quick viewing experience.
Attack on Titan
Animated by Wit Studio and MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Hajime Isayama
Attack on Titan is arguably the most popular anime series of the last decade, becoming a front-runner in the movement that turned anime from a niche interest into a mainstream form of entertainment in the West. And its dark nature makes its overwhelming success a bit puzzling.
Attack on Titan is often dark, gritty, and violent, and it never hesitates to jump into complex subjects like revenge, the nature of freedom, and war. The tragic downfall of Eren Yeager has captivated anime fans for over a decade, and will continue to do so for years to come.
Vinland Saga
Animated by Wit Studio and MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Makoto Yukimura
Of the titans in the seinen action genre, which most fans typically regard to be Berserk, Vagabond, Kingdom, and Vinland Saga, the historical epic written by Makoto Yukimura is the only one to have come to a proper finale. Though the anime adaptation hasn’t quite reached that point yet, there’s at least a bit of hope that one day it will.
Vinland Saga follows Thorfinn, who embarks on a revenge quest following the death of his father. However, after some time and much bloodshed, he decides to change, and embraces a peaceful lifestyle along with all the difficulties that come along with refusing violence.
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokurako
Animated by MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Yuji Kaku
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokurako is a bit of a different, modern take on the dark fantasy genre, implementing psychological thriller elements to get under the skin of the audience. The series follows a ninja named Gabimaru, who is captured during an assassination mission and sentenced to death.
However, he simply cannot die, no matter what method is used, and is instead sent on a mission to retrieve the elixir of life with other death row convicts. The series is dark and often disturbing, and if any skeptical anime fans need convincing, the series creator Yuji Kaku worked as an assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto during the serialization of the wildly depraved Fire Punch.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Animated by Bones, Based on the Manga by Hiromu Arakawa
Very few titles have achieved shōnen anime royalty, but Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one that undeniably has. In the 16 years since its release, the series has remained one of the most popular and acclaimed in the industry, and for good reason. With a unique style of its own, the series blends action, adventure, and human drama into shōnen anime perfection.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood faithfully adapts the story of the Elric brothers, who, after a tragedy involving alchemy, embark on a journey to regain their bodies. The series packs quite the emotional punch in many moments throughout its 64 episodes, eventually coming to what many consider one of the greatest anime endings ever.
Chainsaw Man
Animated by MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto
As arguably the darkest series to ever wear the battle shōnen label, Chainsaw Man is one of the weirdest, most exciting, often disturbing, and grittiest anime and manga series of the modern era. The series follows 16-year-old Denji, who, after a traumatizing and brutal childhood, gains the heart of his best friend, the Chainsaw Devil.
Now classified as both human and devil, Denji is forced to work for Public Safety as a Devil Hunter, and embarks on a quest to find and kill the Gun Devil. Chainsaw Man absolutely refuses to play the book, and will shock, but also move its audience. The series is set to return with its first theatrical movie this October.
Hellsing Ultimate
Animated by Satelight, Madhouse, and Graphinica, Based on the Manga by Kouta Hirano
What could be better than a dark fantasy anime series in which humans fight supernatural creatures like vampires in an effort to save an alternate London? A dark fantasy anime series in which vampires fight other supernatural creatures for the same purpose would work fine, and that’s just what Hellsing Ultimate offers.
The series is action-packed, full of attitude, and features an undeniable, irresistible style. Alucard is the very definition of ‘cool’, and the brutal violence throughout the show is very likely to scratch an itch for any dark fantasy fan. Hellsing Ultimate was created with care over the course of six years, in an effort to accurately adapt the manga.
Berserk: The Golden Age Arc – Memorial Edition
Animated by Studio 4C, Based on the Manga by Kentaro Miura
Dark fantasy anime and manga simply cannot be discussed without mention of Berserk. The masterpiece series by Kentaro Miura is one of the most popular and influential manga titles in history, and though the series has a rocky history with anime adaptations, Berserk: The Golden Age – Memorial Arc is absolutely worth a watch.