Best Anime About Serial Killers

Some of anime’s darkest and most complex stories feature serial killers, who are so well-crafted that they can make viewers shiver with a single look. Some of these terrifying stories can easily make it to any scariest horror anime list. However, those who prefer detective and sci-fi stories can just as easily find a thrilling anime story with a diabolical serial killer lurking in the midst.

While most popular anime characters are powerful heroes and warriors, these creepy serial killer anime stories will prove that one can make the whole world live in fear without superpowers or exceptional physical strength. Some of these stories became so popular over the years that creators re-visited them and brought to life some of the most riveting movies based on anime that viewers will ever have the pleasure of experiencing.

Updated October 2, 2024 by David Heath: Serial killers can be versatile characters, as they can be the central villains, surprise side characters, or even the protagonists of horror stories, psychological thrillers, crime dramas, and more. They could be broken humans, supernatural monsters like demons or vampires, or victims driven to kill or be framed for other people’s deaths by their circumstances.

Though overall, they won’t be particularly cheery tales for happy people. If viewers fancy getting into some murder-themed darkness for the Halloween season, this list has been updated with a few more notable anime with serial killers as their leads, supporting cast, or as a key part of their plot.

27 Magical Girl Site

MyAnimeList Score: 6.52

Despite the innocent-sounding name, Magical Girl Site is an anime with a psycho killer that explores many complex themes, like trauma and abuse. It’s a dark take on the popular magical girl anime trope and its heroine, Aya Asagiri, is one of the magical girls in anime who suffered the most. Bullied and abused at home and school, Aya suddenly finds a website that mysteriously gives her a magic gun.

When used, it punishes its targets lethally. However, she soon discovers she’s not the only one given magical abilities, and that it’s all building up to a mysterious event called “the Tempest.” Aya has to see it through to the end, lest she fall victim to the show’s other threats, like a terrifying serial killer who targets magical girls specifically.

26 Happy Sugar Life

MyAnimeList Score: 6.77

With a title like Happy Sugar Life, it’s either a cutesy adventure or an ironic title for an otherwise grim series about murder, abduction, and abuse. It follows Sato Matsuzaka, a high-school student who, despite having a reputation for being “loose,” didn’t know what love felt like. Not until they met Shio Kobe, an innocent girl Sato can’t bear to be without.

Sato takes Shio to her apartment to live with her, where she falls so badly for her that she’ll go to any lengths to protect her “happy sugar life.” Even if it means not telling others where Shio is, killing people who snoop around, or blackmailing others into helping her dispose of evidence. That’s only the tip of the iceberg, as the series reveals how Sato developed her twisted views on love and her growing list of victims.

25 Delico’s Nursery

MyAnimeList Score: 6.90

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Some vampires try to be good and find ways to get blood without taking lives, but for the most part, their lives rely on killing a series of humans for their fix. Delico’s Nursery turns things around by making vampire society the victim of a serial killer that threatens to upturn the delicate balance keeping it in check. The only clue to its perpetrator is a card saying “True of Vamp”- the title of the progenitor of all vampires.

The VIA (Vlad Intelligence Agency) arranges to have Dali Delico lead the investigation into the murders, albeit at a cost. His task force – Gerhard, Henrique, and Dino – have to look after his children as well as aid in Delico’s search for the killer. It’s an odd mix of criminal drama, murder, and grand conspiracy with family matters.

24 Angels Of Death

MyAnimeList Score: 6.96

Serial killers are often antagonists in stories for obvious reasons. Not everyone they meet is keen on being killed horribly. But Angels of Death decided to do something different by introducing Rachel Gardner, a thoroughly depressed woman trapped in a basement whose only wish is to die. Fortunately(?) she’s joined there by Zack, a murderer looking for a way to escape.

He promises to kill Rachel if she helps him find a way out of the strange building they’re in. They’re able to escape the basement and move up its floors, where they come across increasingly more twisted figures, each of whom seems to recognize Rachel. Based on the RPG-maker game of the same name, the show is a neat, bloody romp, despite its slow pacing.

23 Descendants Of Darkness

MyAnimeList Score: 7.02

ANN described Descendants of Darkness as “a gateway drug into shonen-ai and yaoi” despite not strictly being about such. But it is a shōjo tale that’s largely about handsome men and their complicated interconnected relationships, so it’s not a world away from BL. It doesn’t help that Tsuzuki, a shinigami, refers to his work partner’s brief kidnapping by the villain Dr. Muraki as “a date.”

In the show, shinigami are more like beat cops, and Tsuzuki has been stuck in the same dead-end job for seventy years. He’s never been able to keep a partner, but he’s now been assigned Hisoka, a particularly stubborn teen with an attitude, as his new accomplice. Together, they have to make sure the dead stay dead, while drawing the net closer on Dr. Muraki, a serial killer to who Tsuzuki has a connection. But that’s one secret Hisoka will have to pry out of Tsuzuki, no matter how close they get.

22 Boogiepop Phantom

MyAnimeList Score: 7.15

Anime fans who love urban legends just as much as terrifying stories about serial killers should check out Boogiepop Phantom. This underrated anime is about a dark legend called Boogiepop, aka the Angel of Death, a mysterious figure who’s said to protect people from enemies, though he’s just as likely to whisk them away.

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Boogiepop Phantom has various haunting stories, but each is connected by the haunting presence of Boogiepop. Viewers are kept guessing from beginning to end, trying to figure out if Boogiepop is the real villain or if other evil beings are responsible for the mysterious deaths. This anime isn’t just about a single serial killer but about an entire city filled with mysteries, fear, and the unknown.

21 B: The Beginning

MyAnimeList Score: 7.16

B: The Beginning is an anime series more directly about serial killers, with some surprising plot twists. At first, it seems straightforward as “Killer B,” a vigilante who kills his targets, has been running rampant in the city-state of Cremona. The Royal Investigation Service, or RIS, call in the famous but eccentric Keith Flick to help bring him to justice.

However, that turns out to be just one of B: The Beginning‘s stories. Keith’s attempts to find “Killer B” and solve the murder of his little sister get intertwined with those of Koku, a demihuman who can form wings and blades with his body, and the Market Maker, a criminal organization that secretly controls Cremona, knows how Koku got his abilities, and who “Killer B” really is. So, there’s more to the plot than blood and murder.

20 Talentless Nana

MyAnimeList Score: 7.17

Talentless Nana is one of the most underrated anime with decoy protagonists and a seemingly cute but deadly serial killer. This suspenseful thriller is a one-of-a-kind story about a group of students with supernatural powers who attend a special school on a deserted island. Soon, the students realize that they are targeted by a mysterious murderer who kills them off one by one.

Talentless Nana‘s story not only offers a unique take on the superhero genre but its super-powered students are made truly vulnerable for the first time in their lives. But it also has beautiful animation, well-developed characters, and surprising twists that keep the viewers hooked until the very end.

19 Danganronpa: The Animation

MyAnimeList Score: 7.20

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Based on the popular visual novel series, Danganronpa: The Animation deals with mature themes like the nature of justice, the consequences of violence, and the value of human life. It also features multiple terrifying and violent serial killers who not only murder without remorse but do so with pleasure.

The story follows Naegi, a high school student, and his classmates, who find themselves imprisoned in their academy by its principal, a robotic teddy bear called Monokuma. He says he’ll let the students go free if they kill one student without getting discovered, and get away with it in a trial. Naegi and co soon learn what their true colors are, along with their darkest secrets when their freedom relies on committing murder.

18 Future Diary

MyAnimeList Score: 7.39

Future Diary is a fitting anime for Squid Game fans, as it also places its leads into a deadly game of survival. Only here, it follows Yukiteru and his friend Yano as they learn their cellphones feature a digital diary that preemptively displays near-future events. But they come with a twist, as they have to compete against 10 other “Future Diary”-owning kids to win and succeed Deus Ex Machina as the new God of Time and Space.

These aren’t kid’s games either, as each child has their problems, from abusive households to being part of a cult. Not even Yukiteru’s friends in the game are what they seem to be, with one being an obsessive serial killer who’s since become a notorious example of the yandere trope. She plots meticulously and kills mercilessly, making an already dark show darker and more shocking.

17 Beautiful Bones -Sakurako’s Investigation-

MyAnimeList Score: 7.42

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Compared to the other entries, Beautiful Bones-Sakurako’s Investigation- is a light, even funny tale. But it remains a great mystery anime with an artistic animation style, unique characters, and a strong story. It follows Sakurako Kujo, a morbid young woman with a fascination for bones. At first, she is blamed for a disappearance in the area, but she soon reveals herself to be a forensic osteologist- an expert who analyzes bones.

As the bodies start piling up, providing more bones, she discovers that all the clues point to one main serial killer. Fans who love detective anime series will surely enjoy Sakurako’s analytical approach as much as her chemistry with her partner Shōtarō. The character development and the story were praised by fans and critics alike, all of whom loved how the anime handles death and its mysteries.

16 Another

MyAnimeList Score: 7.47

Another is one of the earliest and most exciting horror anime shows that takes viewers on a twisty mystery adventure. This atmospheric anime is set in Yomiyama North Middle School, and its story revolves around a cursed classroom and the strange deaths that occur because of it. After a student named Misaki suddenly dies, her classmates refuse to accept her death, and they continue to act as if she is still alive.

Unfortunately, this denial triggers a series of bizarre and terrifying events. Thanks to Another‘s ghostly atmosphere and its suspenseful story, anime fans get to go on an intense journey while trying to find out who the “extra” person is. While it may not have a typical knife-wielding maniac, the series weaves an intricate tale of deaths that’ll make viewers question if the supernatural is scarier than a human serial killer.

15 Electromagnetic Girlfriend

MyAnimeList Score: 7.49

Electromagnetic Girlfriend won’t keep people hanging around too long. It’s an OVA with two episodes of 42 minutes each and offers an intriguing story about love and the worth of others. It follows Ju Juzawa, a delinquent who shuns others, as he ends up catching the attention of Ame Ochibana. She claims they were lovers in a previous life, while he thinks she’s full of it and gets especially concerned when she says she wishes to be his servant.

At first, Ju tries to keep well away from her. But when a student is murdered, he thinks Ame’s the most likely suspect and closes the distance, so he can nab her in the act. Instead, she soon proves she’s got the wits and talent to figure things out as, with each murder that occurs, she’s more able to figure out the killer’s methods and motives. Past lives or not, the two make an effective duo.

14 Neuro: Supernatural Detective

MyAnimeList Score: 7.58

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Fans of Black Butler might like to give Neuro: Supernatural Detective a shot as it has a similar premise, only it’s set in modern-day Japan. High schooler Yako Katsuragi has devoted herself to solving crimes and hopes to track down her father’s killer, despite the police writing his death off as a suicide. However, her crime-solving isn’t solely down to her detective skills, as she’s aided by a demon called Neuro Nōgami.

Having already solved every mystery in the demon world, Neuro travels to the human world in search of negative energy to feast on. Particularly the kind given off by criminals when they commit crimes. He formed an agreement with Yako to help solve her father’s murder without drawing attention to himself. That way, he can feast in peace while she takes the limelight…and the responsibility of keeping their detective agency going. The original manga tells stronger stories, but the anime is still a solid watch for crime media fans.

13 Akudama Drive

MyAnimeList Score: 7.58

Based on a concept developed by Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka, Akudama Drive also sees its leads get roped into a mastermind’s scheme. Only this time, they’re all expert criminals called “Akudama,” known only by their titles like Swindler, Hoodlum, Doctor, Hacker, etc. Their job is to help free Cutthroat, an infamous killer with 999 victims, from prison before he’s due to be executed.

That’s just the beginning too, as their client wants them to work with Cutthroat to lift some precious cargo from a bullet train. All while avoiding the Kansai Police’s Executioners who, as the name suggests, aim to carry out the Akudamas’ death sentences on sight. The story is more Reservoir Dogs meets The Usual Suspects rather than a direct serial killer story, though with serial killers like Cutthroat and the Doctor in their midst, things aren’t going to go so well for the Akudamas either way.

12 Inuyashiki: Last Hero

MyAnimeList Score: 7.63

On the face of it, Inuyashiki: Last Hero is more of a twist on the superhero formula. Stuck in a rut in life, 58-year-old Ichirō Inuyashiki’s only solace from his cancer diagnosis and indifferent family is looking after Hanako, a stray dog he adopted. It was while looking after this dog that he was caught in an explosion caused by aliens. They save his life by replacing his body with a mechanical one, which he uses to help others.

But he wasn’t the only one struck by the explosion and given the same life-saving treatment. Hiro Shishigami also received a lifelike mechanical body, but he uses his abilities to do whatever he wants. He murders his classmates for annoying him and kills women and children for fun. The police figure out who he is, but can do nothing to stop him. Only Inuyashiki can stand up to him, but can his age overcome Hiro’s youth?

11 Black Butler

MyAnimeList Score: 7.65

Speaking of Black Butler, it’s a classic gothic anime series set in a beautifully designed, fictional version of Victorian-era London where demons and angels walk the streets with humans. The story follows a young boy named Ciel Phantomhive who, despite his age and thanks to his rank, becomes the ‘Queen’s Watchdog’- Queen Victoria’s personal problem solver. Ciel and his demon butler, Sebastian, solve all kinds of deadly and supernatural mysteries while hunting down multiple serial killers, including the ones who killed Ciel’s parents.

However, once Ciel gets his revenge, his soul will be forfeited to Sebastian. Provided he still wants to take it as they get to know each other. Aside from having some of the scariest and most repulsive anime serial killers of all time, it has engaging characters in Ciel and Sebastian. Their darker moments are peppered with funny scenes and tender moments to pull viewers in before facing them with horror.

10 Paranoia Agent

MyAnimeList Score: 7.66

Satoshi Kon’s movies tend to be trippy, twisty, and thought-provoking. So, it’s no surprise Paranoia Agent, his only TV series (bar three episodes of the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure OVA), follows suit. Thanks to the show’s unique art style and intriguing messages, it quickly gained a large cult following. It’s an unnerving watch with a heavy atmosphere and features one of the most recognizable anime serial killers around.

Not that it’s exclusively about murder, as it follows the investigation into, and consequences of, a series of attacks carried out by a baseball bat-wielding, rollerskating young boy. Nicknamed ‘Li’l Slugger’, his attacks didn’t always kill, but they were enough to plunge Tokyo into hysteria, and affect many people’s lives. The final twist is particularly shocking, as it proves being an agent of paranoia can be just as dangerous as being an angel of death.

9 The Kubikiri Cycle

MyAnimeList Score: 7.75

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NisioIsiN is famous for multiple reasons. He created the Monogatari series, including Bakemonogatari. He also created popular side stories for manga like Death Note, xxxHOLIC, and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, on top of making his own manga like Medaka Box. But one of his earliest works was the Zaregoto series, where the unnamed narrator gets pulled into different adventures. He can’t avoid it, nor do any of his actions affect its events.

The first story in the series was adapted into an OVA called The Kubikiri Cycle, where the sickly genius Iria invites other esteemed scholars to stay with her as guests on her island retreat. All seems well until one of them turns up dead, killed brutally, and with no clues to the killer’s identity. What ensues is an ironic murder mystery where the geniuses lose their heads, and it’s up to the humble assistant, Tomo, to sort things out.

8 Tokyo Ghoul

MyAnimeList Score: 7.79

Tokyo Ghoul is not for the faint of heart. While it’s a fantasy story at heart, it still deals with serious themes and gets more than violent in most episodes. The series’ protagonist, Ken, has famously been put through hell by his creator, as he gets killed by a ghoul. They’re monsters that resemble humans, but have special abilities and feed on human flesh. He’s brought back to life, but only after he receives organ transplants from the ghoul that attacked him.

As a human-ghoul hybrid, he now has to survive in a human society that wants to murder him, and the ghoul society that wants to dissect him to see how he works. That’s not to mention the many ghoulish serial killers that lurk in the shadows, like Yamori. Not only does he look just like a creepy horror movie character (he wears a hockey mask, roams Tokyo’s 13th ward, and is nicknamed “Jason”), but he lives up to the likeness too.