Best Supernatural Anime

Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of the supernatural? From demons to vampires, the human race has been fascinated by stories of unseen and unknowable forces since the dawn of storytelling itself. These entities appear in every medium, be it games, books, comics, TV shows, or live-action movies. They are always in vogue.

Anime is no exception, with many incredible stories focused on supernatural themes. While there are many shows for fans to choose from, some stand out above the rest as must-watch entries in the genre. What are the best supernatural anime ever?

11 Dororo

MyAnimeList: 8.25

When a samurai lord will do anything to make his prefecture prosper, he makes a deal with twelve demons that leave his firstborn son born horribly with no eyes, limbs, or even skin. Tossed into a river to die and be forgotten, the baby is found by a medicine man who creates prosthetics so that the young Hyakkimaru can live.

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Dororo follows his story as he tries to kill the demons that cursed him and regain parts of his true self as he does so. Along the way, Hyakkimaru meets the titular Dororo and the two become fast friends and traveling companions. An impressive adaptation of an influential manga, Dororo blends its supernatural premise into its historical setting very well. The lead characters also go throw quite a lot of growth throughout the season.

10 To Your Eternity

MyAnimeList: 8.35 (Season 1)

To Your Eternity was one of the biggest hits to come out of the Spring 2021 anime season and its opening episode is fantastic enough to justify earning a place as one of the best supernatural shows out there. Thankfully, the rest of the series is also pretty good. It was written by Yoshitoki Ooima, the mind behind A Silent Voice, so viewers need to be ready for a powerfully emotional affair.

The story is about an immortal being who experiences humanity and slowly learns about people and life. With greater dark powers at play, this supernatural drama is worth watching to see how it all unfolds. To Your Eternity packs an emotional punch since death is a central theme, which makes sense since the protagonist will outlive basically everyone else. Although losing some steam toward the end, season 1 is generally great, while its sequel is decent but lacks the same weight. Season 3 is confirmed to be in the works.

9 Mononoke

MyAnimeList: 8.42

No anime fan can deny the breathtaking visuals found in Mononoke. The story is just as incredible as the animation, following the mysterious Medicine Seller, Kusuriuri, as he deals with angry spirits disturbing various people. Its combination of classic Japanese horror with the supernatural will keep fans at the edges of their seats until the end.

The Medicine Seller is an enigmatic figure, a person seemingly separate from time and space as they roam through the land looking for Mononoke to exorcise. The spirits might be the disruptive force; however, all of these stories come with a strong human element, exploring the characters who have been dragged into the supernatural entity’s influence.

8 Death Note

MyAnimeList: 8.62

A shinigami can kill anyone and steal the remainder of their years alive — as long as they can write their name in their notebook called a Death Note. One such titular notebook falls into the hands of Light Yagami who begins using it to try and create his ideal version of the world.

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This leads to an intense psychological anime as a secret group of police led by the mysterious genius only known as L tries to track him down as while he is mostly killing terrible people, he’s still breaking the law by committing murders. The supernatural abilities of the shinigami often come into play as Light has one with him at all times.

7 Jujutsu Kaisen

MyAnimeList: 8.63 (Season 1)

Yuuji might have enjoyed his time as a member of the Occult Club at his school but he wasn’t prepared for what happened when he came to possess a real cursed item. From here he learns about Curses — supernatural beings born from human negativity and malice.

Jujutsu Kaisen was one of the most hyped-up shows of 2020 and managed to deliver on all it promised. Heart-racing action combined with challenging typical shonen genre tropes is what makes this series special, although it is also elevated by a strong roster of characters and a fun power system. The prequel movie and season 2 arguably managed to surpass their incredible predecessor, raising the bar in terms of action, shocks, and world-building.

6 Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files

MyAnimeList: 8.46

Yu Yu Hakusho is a shonen battle anime classic. Yuusuke Urameshi goes against what was foretold for his future when he jumps in front of a car to push a young boy out of the way, causing the protagonist to unexpectedly die. Because of this surprising act of kindness, Yusuke is given another chance to return to life by the ruler of the spirit world.

Yu Yu Hakusho is divided into four main arcs, all of which prominently involve the supernatural. The first section is largely devoted to Yusuke taking on cases, and while these episodes are generally weaker than the subsequent arcs, they do a solid job of expanding upon this anime’s world. The Dark Tournament and Chapter Black saga are far superior and the reason Yu Yu Hakusho is considered one of the best supernatural anime ever.

5 Natsume’s Book Of Friends

MyAnimeList: 8.31 (Season 1)

Most young boys are busy focusing on school and everyday life but Takashi Natsume has something else to worry about — youkai are out to get him to regain their freedom. The story of Natsume’s Book of Friends follows his adventures as he’s hunted down by these youkai with only a cat spirit named Madara as a bodyguard.

This supernatural anime is unique for being less about horror and more about interesting slice-of-life moments. Natsume inherits the titular book from his grandmother, and its pages contain the names of youkai. This gives its owner control over the spirits, making Natsume a target for not only entities looking to regain their names but also villains desperate to possess the book. Rather than fighting them off, Natsume decides to just give these names back to their rightful owners.

4 Mushi-Shi

MyAnimeList: 8.66 (Season 1)

Winner of the 2006 Tokyo Anime Award, Mushi-Shi is a story that follows Ginko as he tries to uncover the secrets of the Mushi. Mushi are strange supernatural entities that can mimic the form of anything from diseases to a literal rainbow. The Mushishi are those that try to study these strange entities and Ginko is among them.

The show has incredible visuals and strong storytelling that doesn’t rely on action to be spectacular. Although quite slow-moving in places, Mushi-Shi is a mesmerizing experience, the type of anime that can teleport viewers to another world through both its art and atmosphere.

3 Bungo Stray Dogs

MyAnimeList: 7.82 (Season 1)

Despite being fairly popular, Bungo Stray Dogs deserves more attention than it tends to receive. For instance, during Summer 2023, the anime’s fifth season was largely overshadowed by Jujutsu Kaisen and Bleach, two other supernatural-themed shows that are also fantastic; however, an argument could be made that Bungo Stray Dogs is better than either of those series. Set in a universe where some people have unique powers, the story centers around the Armed Detective Agency as they take on cases in Yokohama city.

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On paper, this premise might sound rather run-of-the-mill, but it does not really capture the show’s brilliance. After season 1, Bungo Stray Dogs begins to really dissect its heroes’ backgrounds, abilities, and personalities, all the while introducing memorable villains who can more than hold their own against the Armed Detective Agency. New viewers might be tempted to drop the anime during its weak opening season, but they should try to hold out until the sequel.

2 Monogatari Series

MyAnimeList: 8.33 (Season 1)

Koyomi Araragi’s adventures through life after encountering a vampire have led to one of the most iconic supernatural anime series of all time. Monogatari can be summarized as a show about a male protagonist who goes around saving girls inflicted with some sort of supernatural struggle, perhaps due to the influence of a spirit or another type of being. However, while this premise somewhat describes the show’s general plot, it is by no means an accurate reflection of Monogatari‘s storytelling style and characterization.

There is nothing ordinary or familiar about this anime; consequently, Monogatari is a singular beast and an acquired taste, albeit one that can be absolutely addictive when it strikes a chord with a viewer.

1 Mob Psycho 100

MyAnimeList: 8.49 (Season 1)

It’s hard not to be excited about a story from the creator of One Punch Man. Mob Psycho 100 has a lot of that show’s same energy but instead tells the story of a young psychic named Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama. He keeps trying to live a normal life, but his ESP keeps managing to get him into more and more outlandish and dangerous situations.

The show’s visual style is instantly recognizable and something wholly unique to the series. The show is humorous, charming, and incredibly thoughtful. It’s a must-watch for anyone who enjoys supernatural anime, especially now that Mob Psycho 100 is complete.

Exciting Winter 2024 Supernatural Anime

Winter 2024 has been a pretty good season so far, with multiple genres receiving representation. Supernatural is a vague enough term that many series can be somewhat recommended, including heavyweights like Solo Leveling, Blue Exorcist, and The Witch and the Beast. That said, these anime slot better into the fantasy descriptor rather than supernatural, although they are still worth mentioning for action fans.

When it comes to more conventional entries in the supernatural anime genre, most of the season’s picks are deep cuts. The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil focuses on the ultimate spiritual odd couple, and the show has been OK so far. Shaman King: Flowers is still finding its feet, while The Way of Pon is difficult to recommend due to its inaccessibility. The Demon Prince of Momochi House is lackluster but watchable, and Yami Shibai 12 is another forgettable entry in a series that is running on empty. Still, Winter 2024 has some interesting supernatural shows.

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Undead Unluck (Fall 2023 Continuation)

Undead Unluck deserves more attention; unfortunately, shows released on platforms like Hulu and Disney+ tend to fall by the wayside compared to anime available on Crunchyroll or even HIDIVE. One of the better Fall 2023 series, David Production’s adaptation is a treat for the senses, delivering gorgeous and energetic animation that really brings to life the story’s many fight sequences. Narratively, Undead Unluck features a unique power system that directly impacts its world’s past, present, and future.

In this universe, God sets certain rules that determine how everything functions, and these can be introduced at a moment’s notice; however, a select group of people known as Negators have unique abilities to allow them to counter these rules. Andy and Fuuko are two such people, and they happen to find each other when the latter is at her lowest point. Before long, the protagonists join Union, an organization that must complete missions to avoid the introduction of new rules.

Andy and Fuuko are a delight, both as individuals and as a unit. The former is charismatic, powerful, funny, and refreshingly direct; meanwhile, the latter undergoes a surprising amount of development in a short time.

Cherry Magic! Thirty Years Of Virginity Can Make You A Wizard?!

Cherry Magic might not fit most people’s standard interpretation of a supernatural story since it doesn’t involve mythological beings at all. However, the show is framed around a mysterious ability that allows the protagonist, Adachi, to read people’s minds when he touches them.

Outside a brief explanation behind this ability’s existence, Cherry Magic does not dedicate too much time and effort into researching this mechanic, instead using it to fuel a slow-burn boys’ love romance. Adachi learns that Kurosawa, his popular coworker, has a crush on him, which causes the protagonist to reassess their interactions and also his own feelings. The anime handles this potentially uncomfortable situation well, and the characters’ insecurities are relatively realistic.

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