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The 40 Darkest Anime That Only Get Darker
Jun 4, 2025
This article discusses sensitive topics like extreme violence, abuse, and suicide.
Anime can be highly inspirational or deeply pessimistic, and some of the most fascinating are the ones that don't shy away from dark impulses. Sometimes an anime needs to ease into its wicked nature, while other series start in bleak places and only drag audiences further down into darkness. It's a delicate balance, but there are some exceptional anime that aren't afraid to push boundaries and leave the audience stranded in the pitch.
Anime continues to ambitiously evolve as audiences develop higher tolerances for violence and darkness in a medium that's no stranger to subversive storytelling. A gutting betrayal or an admission of hatred can cut much deeper than any flesh wound. There are a myriad of ways that anime can get under the audience's skin, but there are certain series that start off in a rough place and only get much darker as they progress.
Updated by Daniel Kurland on June 3, 2025: This list has been updated to incorporate five new entries, and the list's ranked order has also been slightly amended to include more recent selections. Additionally, CBR’s latest style changes are also reflected when it comes to the list’s formatting and presentation, so that it’s more informative and visually dynamic, with updated links that feature CBR’s most up-to-date content
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