Spooky, scary, gory: Anime selection for the season

Devilman Crybaby,” director Masaaki Yuasa’s modern adaptation of Go Nagai’s “Devilman,” centers on a young man who has the power to transform into a demon. | ©GO NAGAI /DEVILMAN CRYBABY PROJECT

Oct 29, 2026

Japan’s cinematic horror output is so famous it can be identified with just the letter “J.”

The anime industry, too, has produced plenty of hair-raising titles, from folklore-heavy narratives such as the many adaptations of Shigeru Mizuki’s “GeGeGe no Kitaro,” a manga about a mischievous spirit boy, to shows featuring spooky tropes from abroad including vampires, devils and Halloween.

Here are some titles to get you into the animated spirit of the season — and maybe even inspire your Halloween cosplay.

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