What is Dark Fantasy anime?

Focus set on darker themes in a fantasy setting, sometimes leaning towards horror elements. Bleak and pessimistic tones often dominate. Dark supernatural beings like vampires may play a significant role.

Random Dark Fantasy Anime You might like

Youjuu Toshi

(Wicked City)

6.29

Description:

There is Earth, our familiar world, and then there is the Black World, a parallel dimension that very few people are aware of. For centuries, a pact between the two worlds has been observed to maintain peace, and terms must be negotiated and renewed soon to continue relative harmony. This time around, there is a militant faction that will stop at nothing to prevent the signing of a new treaty for inter-dimensional peace. Two agents of the elite organization known as the Black guards—defenders of the balance between the two worlds—are charged with insuring the success of the treaty. Director Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Ninja Scroll) blends stylish eroticism, graphic horror and pulse-pounding action as these two race to consummate the peace treaty in time. (Source: AniDB)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

82 Min

Rating

Nudity

Status

finished

Aired

1987-04-25

Kyougoku Natsuhiko: Kousetsu Hyaku Monogatari

(Requiem from the Darkness)

6.93

Description:

Tired of writing riddles for children, Yamaoka Momosuke plans on gathering spooky and gruesome stories and publishing them in an anthology called Hyakumonogatari ("One Hundred Tales"). While researching these old myths and legends he comes across a mysterious trio who call themselves the Ongyou. They are detectives who are investigating the legends to reveal their truths...and bring those in the wrong to justice. Each time Momosuke meets the Ongyou he must face horrible truths and battle with his morals, but he's seeing things he shouldn't be seeing... (Source: ANN)
Type

TV

Episodes

13

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2003-10-04

Majutsushi Orphen

(Orphen)

6.94

Description:

Six years ago at the magic school known as the Tower of Fang, a grave accident happened involving the magical sword Baltanders and the magic user Azali. Unable to control the sword's power, Azali was transformed into the shape of a great dragon who since that day became known as Bloody August. Krilancelo, a young magician at the Tower who cared greatly for Azali found much to his disgust that the elders of the Tower of Fang were less than willing to save Azali and wanted rather to pretend the accident never happened. Angered by their stand, Krilanceloa swore that he would find a way to return Azali to her former self. Thus he forsook the name Krilancelo and declared himself Orphen, leaving the Tower and his magical studies behind to wander the world... (Source: ANN)
Type

TV

Episodes

24

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

1998-10-03

Kishin Houkou Demonbane (TV)

6.48

Description:

Kurou Daijuuji is a poor detective living in Arkham City. One day, he was requested by Ruri Hado of Hado Financial Group, to search for a magic book. While he initially refused, Ruri offered him a large sum of money upon completion of her request, in which bribed Kuro to accept. As Kurou searches for the book, he unexpectedly runs into Al, a pretty girl that is actually a powerful grimoire. They forge a contract with each other, bestowing Kuro with powerful magic. Soon afterwards, Al also activates Demonbane, a deus machina owned by the Hado Financial Group, to combat the mechanical menace from the Black Lodge. With this, the war between the Hado Financial Group and the Black Lodge begins.... (Source: ANN)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

25 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2006-05-19

Gilgamesh

(Gilgamesh)

6.45

Description:

The half-divine King of Uruk, Gilgamesh, was considered but a paltry legend... until his majestic tomb was discovered in the Middle East. This imperial crypt drew scientists from across the globe to the land, and with that came recognition of their fame. In a joint effort, they built Heaven's Gate in pursuit of advancing human knowledge. One day, a group of terrorists driven by greed attack Heaven's Gate, causing an explosion within the facility for archaeological excavation. The resulting phenomenon had much more impact than anyone could have imagined. More specifically, it triggered the birth of supernatural beings. In the midst of this mess, two siblings by the names of Kiyoko and Tatsuya encounter mysterious men with supernatural powers who, despite the scientific crisis around them, claim the ability to restore good to the world. Nevertheless, these seemingly heroic and all-powerful creatures act under the rule of factions. Are they here to save the world, or destroy it?
Type

TV

Episodes

26

Ep.Length

23 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2003-11-02

Juubee Ninpuuchou: Ryuuhougyoku-hen

(Ninja Scroll: The Series)

6.74

Description:

Fourteen years after defeating the immortal warrior Himuro Genma and thwarting the Shogun of the Dark's evil plans, Kibagami Jubei continues to roam all over Japan as a masterless swordsman. During his journey, he meets Shigure, a priestess who has never seen the world outside her village. But when a group of demons destroys the village and kills everyone, Jubei becomes a prime target after acquiring the Dragon Jewel—a stone with an unknown origin. Meanwhile, Shigure—along with the monk Dakuan and a young thief named Tsubute—travels to the village of Yagyu. And with two demon clans now hunting down Shigure, Dakuan must once again acquire the services of Jubei to protect the Priestess of Light. (Source: ANN)
Type

TV

Episodes

13

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2003-04-15

Attack on Titan: The Final Season PV

(Attack on Titan: The Final Season PV)

8.2

Description:

Preview of the final season with original animation that was either not used in the main series or was redone for the main series.
Type

ONA

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

2 Min

Status

finished

Aired

2020-05-29

Supernatural The Animation

6.79

Description:

Based on the live-action CW show Supernatural, the anime will be a 22-episode season that will cover the storyline of the live-action version's first two seasons. The anime project will not only remake the best episodes from the live-action version, but also depict original episodes not seen in the live-action version. Those original episodes will include prologues of the Winchester brothers' childhood, anime-only enemies, and episodes featuring secondary characters from the live-action version. (Source: ANN)
Type

OVA

Episodes

22

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2011-02-23

Kyuuketsuhime Miyu

(Vampire Princess Miyu)

7.28

Description:

A quiet gothic horror story about a vampire girl, Miyu, whose destiny it is to hunt down murderous demons known as Shinma and return them to their land of origin, the Dark. Miyu is pursued by the Spiritualist Himiko, determined to find out who Miyu is and to stop her from sucking the life blood from helpless humans. Each of the four episodes chronicle one of Miyu's encounters with a Shinma and the humans that it is affecting, from the perspective of Himiko's pursuit of Miyu. (Source: AniDB)
Type

OVA

Episodes

4

Ep.Length

30 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

1988-07-21

BASTARD‼ -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy-

(BASTARD‼ -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy-)

6.14

Description:

In a post-apocalyptic world of heavy metal fantasy, the only thing able to save humans from orcs, lizardmen, and other monsters is something even MORE evil. Sealed within a 14-year-old boy, the chaotic wizard Dark Schneider is unleashed to fight four mighty generals and their plot to resurrect the evil god Anslasax! (Source: Viz Media)
Type

TV

Episodes

13

Ep.Length

24 Min

Rating

17+

Status

finished

Aired

2022-06-30

Devilman Lady

(The Devil Lady)

6.89

Description:

Fudo Jun is a beautiful supermodel who is idolized by many. She also has a dark secret that not even she knows about at first, for within her veins run the genes that hold the next step in the evolution of mankind. The same blood as the beastlike superhumans that terrorize the city. Unlike the rest of them, though, Jun has managed to hold a tenuous grip onto her humanity, and she is recruited by the mysterious Asuka Ran, member of a secret organization within the government, aimed at controlling, if not eliminating, these berserk destroyers of mankind. Jun, as Devilman Lady, must now exterminate her own kind, but how much longer can she keep her sanity in a situation she never chose in the first place? (Source: ANN)
Type

TV

Episodes

26

Ep.Length

25 Min

Rating

Mild Nudity

Status

finished

Aired

1998-10-10

Totsukuni no Shoujo

(The Girl from the Other Side)

7.65

Description:

In a world split between two realms, its habitants were told never to cross to the other side, lest they be cursed. A little girl from the inner land named Shiva and a demon from the outer land simply known as “Teacher” initiate a quiet coexistence on the same side of the forest. But when Shiva leaves Teacher’s care to seek out her grandmother, their secret comes to light. (Source: Crunchyroll) Note: Originally released as a movie-length OVA. As streaming on Crunchyroll, it is split into 3 ‘normal’ length episodes.
Type

OVA

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

70 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2022-03-10

Sword Gai: The Animation Part II

6.03

Description:

Part 2 of Sword Gai: The Animation.
Type

ONA

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

22 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2018-07-30

Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-hen

(Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact!)

7.48

Description:

Set in the near future, humanity enters another energy revolution following the discovery of Photon Power. Derived from the ore discovered under the foothills of Mt. Fuji, its intended use was to solve the world's energy problems with its unimaginable power. Seeking this energy is Dr. Hell, a madman craving world domination who with his subordinates Baron Ashura, Count Brocken and Viscount Pygman, commands an army of mechanical beasts excavated from the ruins of ancient Greece to seize the Photon Power Lab for himself. Meeting the attack head on is the hot-blooded teenager Kabuto Kouji, who pilots the Photon Powered robot built by his grandfather, Mazinger Z. But in this battle between Dr. Hell and the Kabuto family, many legends surrounding the Mycenaean Civilization and Bardos Island, as well as the secrets of Mazinger Z remain shrouded in mystery. A new series based on the mecha show that started it all, Mazinger Z. Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen starts over from the beginning with a new cast, to tell a new story unrelated to the original show. (Source: shin-mazinger.com)
Type

TV

Episodes

26

Ep.Length

23 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2009-04-04

Night Walker: Mayonaka no Tantei

(Nightwalker: The Midnight Detective)

6.91

Description:

Shido Tatsuhiko is not only a private eye... he is also a vampire with no real memory of his past. Joined by Yayoi Matsunaga, a female government agent, Riho Yamazaki, an orphaned teenage girl working as his girl Friday and Guni, a little green imp, Shido must face demonic creatures known as Nightbreed. Meanwhile, Cain, the vampire who made him what he is now, is seeking him... (Source: ANN)
Type

TV

Episodes

12

Ep.Length

25 Min

Rating

Mild Nudity

Status

finished

Aired

1998-07-09

Kyoushoku Soukou Guyver (2005)

7.07

Description:

Sho Fukamachi, a normal teenager accidentally found an alien object called Unit and thus, changed his life forever. The Unit bonded with Sho, resulting in an incredibly powerful life-form called Guyver. With this great power, Sho battles the mysterious Chronos organization and it's Zoanoids, in order to protect his friends and his world. Unknown to Sho, the battle against Chronos will lead to the discovery of the origins of human, their destiny, and the Creators... (Source: ANN)
Type

TV

Episodes

26

Ep.Length

23 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2005-08-06

Makai Toshi Shinjuku

(Demon City Shinjuku)

6.1

Description:

Kyoya's father was a great warrior, killed at the hands of the diabolical psychic, Rebi Ra, who has now opened a portal to hell in the city of Shinjuku. It falls to Kyoya to finish what his father started and battle his way through demons, while protecting a young woman from harm. The only problem is that he's not exactly your classic hero type, and his powers are still latent. (Source: ANN)
Type

OVA

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

79 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

1988-10-25

Blood of Zeus

(Blood of Zeus)

6.98

Description:

Set in the world of Greek mythology, the series revolves around the son of Zeus trying to save heaven and earth. (Source: Wikipedia)
Type

ONA

Episodes

8

Ep.Length

28 Min

Status

finished

Aired

2020-10-27

Hakaba Kitarou

(Graveyard Kitaro)

6.84

Description:

Kitarou is a youkai boy born in a cemetery, and aside from his mostly-decayed father, the last living member of the Ghost tribe. He is missing his left eye, but his hair usually covers the empty socket. He fights for peace between humans and youkai, which generally involves protecting the former from the wiles of the latter. This version of the Kitarou story is based on the original Hakaba Kitarou manga, the manga which inspired the popular Gegege no Kitarou series in the late 60's. (Source: Wikipedia)
Type

TV

Episodes

11

Ep.Length

25 Min

Rating

Teens 13 or older

Status

finished

Aired

2008-01-11

Dragon Age: Blood Mage no Seisen

(Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker)

6.05

Description:

In a time of darkness and barbarism, the Chantry has arisen - a religious order seeking to bring stability to a world corrupted by sinister magic. Led by the Divine, the Chantry's Templar warriors ruthlessly restrain the Mages and their magical cabals. But when the Templars fail, the most elite order of the Chantry takes charge - the Seekers! (Source: AniDB)
Type

movie

Episodes

1

Ep.Length

91 Min

Rating

17+ (violence & profanity)

Status

finished

Aired

2012-02-11

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