Anime is really bad at being scary, even when it’s based off a well-made horror manga. I think the only one I’ve seen that does it well is The Summer Hikaru Died.
Agreed. The anime directors rarely understand what makes a story scary. The Summer Hikaru Died was an exception. Mieruko-chan had some really well made scary scenes too, better than most other shows of this kind, but this is a comedy at its core, not a full-blown horror
I think Parasyte The Maxim was more effective at conveying that kind of terror and existential dread. The Summer Hikaru Died made me empathize too much with the eldritch horror.
I dunno about truly like super scary, but if you wanna be shook to your core go watch Urotsukidoji. And not for the sex mind you. It has such a great very raw, primal energy to it. The music is great too. I can’t explain it, if you haven’t seen it: go watch it. Thank me later.
Honestly, attack on titan really got me. That look of satisfaction they have after eating people really struck a nerve. Such a horrifying reality to imagine
I don’t think I’ve ever found them scary, tbh. There was this guy from the 1996 Birdy the Mighty OVA who ate a bunch of dogs and two robots:
And then theres the entirety of Elfen Leid:
Mostly though I just consider it all as cartoon violence, you know?
wth, the first one is a genuine jumpscare lol
Amending this scene from Higurashi where a chick repeatedly leans into a knife held against the wall for support:
Hmm. Not sure I’ve ever actually managed to be properly scared by an anime, but Shiki is probably up there as far as apprehension from atmosphere + concern about what my subconscious might recycle and throw at me at weird hours of the night…
The only thing that’s coming to mind right now for media that properly scared me is Subnautica – particularly a certain predator in Below Zero that triggered a panic attack. That’s not an anime though…
i found lain to be kinda scary as a kid
Maybe more anxiety inducing than scary but Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji
Try reading Seeds of Anxiety
Many, many years ago, when I was first getting into anime, the fourth Vampire Princess Miyu OAV managed to give me the cold creeping weirds while I was watching it at around 2AM. I don’t think any other anime has managed that since.
