The Best Lovecraftian and Cosmic Horror Anime
Descriptions
H.P. Lovecraft's stories have a timeless quality due to the very nature of the horror he was conveying. Lovecraftian horror is about the sense of existential dread humans get when they realize that the universe is a lot bigger than they could ever imagine. It's a form of cosmic horror that focuses on entities so complex and timeless that humans cannot even fathom their natures.
With that sense in mind, Lovecraftian horror is a kind of larger-than-life dread that is not easily replicated in any medium, let alone anime. While not many series even attempt this, some have come closer than others to reminding anime fans that, not only are they not alone, but loneliness would be far less terrifying.
Updated on October 28th, 2023 by Chelsea Steele: Lovecraftian horror is a unique genre that emphasizes fear of the unknown and the vastness of the universe. While this type of cosmic horror is often rare in anime, some of the best horror titles have managed to replicate the existential fear of the genre. This list already covers many terrifying series that perfectly portray Lovecraftian horror, but we've updated it with even more titles Lovecraft fans are sure to enjoy.
15 Puella Magi Madoka Magica's Heroines Are Trapped In A Bleak Cycle Of Hopelessness
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
A creature named Kyubey offers Madoka and Sayaka a wish if they agree to become 'magical girls' and fight abstract beings called 'witches'. However, a magical girl named Homura is, for uncertain reasons, determined to stop this agreement.
- Release Date
- January 7, 2011
- Cast
- Aoi Yuki , Chiwa Saitô , Emiri Kato , Cristina Valenzuela
- Genres
- Anime , Action , Adventure
- Rating
- TV-14
- Seasons
- 1
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a subversive dark magical girl series, following a group of young girls who gain the power to transform into heroines after forming a contract with a mysterious creature named Kyubey. Though the chance to become a magical girl seems like a dream come true, Madoka and her friends soon learn that it's nothing short of a nightmare.
Themes
- Hopelessness
- Existentialism
- Eldritch Horrors
The girls then find themselves forever trapped within the magical girl cycle, creating an overwhelming sense of hopelessness as they remain powerless to stop their fate. Madoka Magica features Lovecraftian themes of existential dread and the "larger-than-life" horror experienced by humans when they discover they're but a spec in the vast universe and have no power to speak of.
14 Housing Complex C Combines Traditional Japanese Mythos With Lovecraftian Horror
Housing Complex C is a 2022 psychological horror miniseries that takes direct inspiration from Lovecraft's works and even references them throughout the series. The story centers around a young girl named Kimi, who lives in a low-cost housing complex where terrifying events haunt the tenants on a regular basis.
Themes
- Existentialism
- Eldritch Horror
- Lovecraftian-style Monsters
Throughout Housing Complex C, Kimi and her neighbors are terrorized by a slew of horrific entities that overpower them, leaving them helpless to their fate. The series is an interesting combination of traditional Japanese mythology and Lovecraftian lore. It features many creatures similar to those in Japanese folklore, including a sinister entity fashioned after the famous Cthulhu. This blend of Japanese culture and classic Lovecraftian themes has set the series apart as one of the most unique in the genre.
13 The Junji Ito Collection's Stories Feel Straight Out Of A Lovecraft Novel
The Junji Ito Collection is an anthology horror series made up of some of Junji Ito's most famous works. Each story centers around various horrors and the mystery that surrounds them. These horrific frights affect the lives of humans and often leave them trapped in an utterly hopeless situation.
Themes
- Existentialism
- Hopelessness
- Cosmic Horror
- Eldritch Monsters
The famed horror mangaka himself cites Lovecraft as the inspiration for many of his stories. This inspiration can often be seen clearly in his works, from his use of existentialism and body horror to the many Eldritch monsters that terrorize humanity in each tale. The Junji Ito Collection features many of these horrific stories, bringing them to life in a way that feels purely Lovecraftian.
12 Sonny Boy Touches On The Vastness Of The Universe & Humanity's Insignificance
Though nowhere near as horrific as most Lovecraftian horrors, Sonny Boy touches on many themes found within Lovecraft's works, especially the existential fear of facing humanity's insignificance within the universe. This psychological isekai series follows a group of students after they find themselves trapped in a void-like dimension far from Earth.
Themes
- Existentialism
- Fear of the Unknown
- Otherworldly Horror
With no visible way home, the group must come to terms with their situation and try to survive in this strange reality. Though not a traditional horror series, Sonny Boy still touches on the terror of the unknown and how it affects the human psyche. The series uses traditional Lovecraftian cosmic horror to tell an emotional and thought-provoking tale of the unknown and the vastness of reality.
11 Made In Abyss Takes Place In A Mysterious & Dark Realm Filled With Horrific Creatures
Made in Abyss
A girl and her robot companion search for her mother, who's lost within a vast chasm.
- Release Date
- July 7, 2017
- Cast
- Luci Christian
- Genres
- Action , Adventure
- Rating
- TV-14
- Seasons
- 2
- Creator
- Akihito Tsukushi
Made in Abyss is a dark fantasy series centered around a group of young explorers who enter into the mysterious Abyss, an endless chasm in the ground filled with mystifying realms and terrifying creatures. Those who enter never come out, forever trapped inside the maze of neverending underground levels.
Themes
- Eldritch Monsters
- Body Horror
- Themes of Hopelessness
Like many other Lovecraftian-inspired anime series, Made in Abyss features many of Lovecraft's themes of hopelessness and existentialism. The series plays up the uneasiness and discomfort of the unknown, as well as the horror of creatures beyond human comprehension. With its use of gore, body horror, and Eldritch monsters, Made in Abyss is classic Lovecraft in its purest form.
10 Berserk Shows How Greed & The Pursuit Of Power Can Turn Anyone Into A Monster
Part of what makes Berserk Lovecraftian is the sheer sense of hopelessness Guts and the Band of Hawks face during the eclipse. They are utterly destroyed and there is no hope as the group remains powerless to their fate. When the eclipse is over, Griffiths's reign presents a new level of power that introduces even further insurmountable odds for Guts to overcome and the existential dread that comes with these new challenges.
Themes
- Existentialism
- Otherworldly Horror
- Dark Fantasy
Berserk deals heavily with the idea that the pursuit of power leads to corruption and can turn people into monsters, and many of these monsters bear strong resemblance to the horrific creatures of Lovecraftian lore. Equal parts adventure, love story, and horror, Berserk is often as difficult to define as the term "Lovecraftian" itself.
9 Parasyte's Use Of Body Horror Is Heavily Inspired By Lovecraftian Monsters
Parasyte is the strange tale of Shinichi Izumi, who is infected by a strange parasitic alien whom he names Migi. The series raises questions of morality and psychology as Shinichi becomes acquainted with the creature as it takes over his body as a host.
Themes
- Body Horror
- Eldritch Monsters
It's clear that the series takes a great deal of inspiration from Lovecraft, especially in its use of body horror. The parasitic creatures found throughout the series all strongly resemble the terrifying Lovecraftian monsters in both looks and power. Much like the Eldritch monsters of Lovecraft's works, these alien creatures render humanity helpless to their control and leave their hosts completely unable to resist their horrific fates.
8 Neon Genesis Evangelion's Shinji Ikari Discovers A World Beyond His Comprehension
Neon Genesis Evangelion
A teenage boy finds himself recruited as a member of an elite team of pilots by his father.
- Release Date
- October 4, 1995
- Cast
- Megumi Ogata , Kotono Mitsuishi , Megumi Hayashibara
- Genres
- Action , Adventure
- Rating
- TV-MA
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Gainax, Tatsunoko
- Creator
- Hideaki Anno, Masayuki, Kazuya Tsurumaki
While not ordinarily seen as a horror anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion has many components of the genre within it that have set it apart from other mecha series. One of the strongest horror themes present within the series is its use of "larger-than-life" Lovecraftian elements that are especially prominent in the story's final arc.
Themes
- Cosmic Horror
- Body Horror
- Existentialism
Evangelion's Shinji Ikari is a complicated, immature character who is potentially the most polarizing protagonist in anime history. Though controversial, his collapse into solitude and loneliness in the face of a world beyond his comprehension is characteristic of cosmic horror and shows much Lovecraftian influence. As the series progresses, this existential dread only worsens and Shinji is helpless to stop it as the Third Impact begins.
7 Claymore's Story Shows That Sometimes Being Human Isn't Enough
Claymore tells the story of Clair, a half-human, half-Yoma hybrid who works for a secretive organization to fight the Yoma. Throughout Claymore's story, there is the constant sense that humans are nothing more than weak, secondary beings that require a greater power to protect them.
Themes
- Existential Dread
- Otherworldly Monsters
- Hopelessness
As the Yoma become "Awakened Beings," the truth of human frailty becomes even more apparent. There is also a theme of the ease with which humans succumb to their base desires when presented with power, as is the case in Lovecraft's "The Haunter of the Dark." Overall, the series presents strong themes of human weakness and hopelessness as Yoma reign over humanity and control their fates.
6 Blue Gender Reminds Viewers That Humanity Is Not Alone In The Universe
In Blue Gender, the human race is doomed to be eradicated after a strange alien species colonizes the Earth. The most terrifying part of this is that the show's protagonist, Yuji Kaido, had been in cryogenic sleep for 22 years before he woke up to this horror, showing that the sense of security humanity feels has always been false.
Themes
- All-Powerful Otherworldly Beings
- Elements Of Cosmic Horror
- The Helplessness Of Humanity
Overcome by the fearsome power of their invaders, the humans of Blue Gender are completely and utterly helpless in this situation, with no sign of hope or salvation. The series is also not afraid to kill off its main characters, lending itself to the kind of disorienting quality inherent in much of Lovecraft's own work. It also demonstrates the frailty of the human condition, which is a mere speck of the vast infinity of the cosmos.
5 Angel's Egg Takes Place In A Surreal Setting Beyond Human Understanding
Angel's Egg is a haunting OVA about a mysterious girl who protects a strange egg with everything she has. This mysterious OVA has beautiful visuals that are psychologically jarring and unpredictable. Taking place in a surreal, otherworldly setting inhabited by bizarre creatures, everything about Angel's Egg is completely mind-bending.
Themes
- Existentialism
- Hopelessness
- Otherworldly Horror
The strange architecture and odd setting of the film are unquestionably Lovecraftian in nature. A big part of Lovecraft's work has to do with putting the character in a situation that is horrifying precisely because it is beyond their comprehension. Angel's Egg makes that its central premise, taking place in a world far beyond anything mere humans could imagine.
4 Terra Formars Emphasizes The Danger & Terror Of Ignorance
Terra Formars centers around a future reality where humans attempt to colonize Mars in a very problematic way. After leaving both algae and cockroaches on the red planet in hopes of kickstarting its habitability, they find that the cockroaches evolve to the environment much better than anyone would have hoped, with terrifying results.
Themes
- Otherworldly Monsters
- Fear of the Unknown
Terra Formars demonstrates just how easy it would be for humans to get displaced from the top of the food chain. The human race in Terra Formars finds itself trapped in helplessness caused by its own ignorance and thirst for power. Lovecraft's stories often deal with similar themes of ignorance of even the very inner workings of the human mind.
3 Devilman Crybaby Focuses On The Meaninglessness Of Human Life Compared To A Deity
Devilman Crybaby
With demons reawakened and humanity in turmoil, a sensitive demon-boy is led into a brutal, degenerate war against evil by his mysterious friend, Ryo.
- Release Date
- January 5, 2018
- Cast
- Koki Uchiyama , Ayumu Murase , Megumi Han
- Rating
- TV-MA
- Seasons
- 1
In Devilman Crybaby, Akira's world is turned upside when he becomes a Devilman, and only his friend Ryo seems to have any idea how to help him. Little does he know, Ryo has a dark secret that slowly begins to reveal itself as Akira struggles with his new life.
Themes
- Existentialism
- Human Insignificance
- Eldritch Horrors
The God in Devilman Crybaby is a lot like the God of Lovecraft's mythology, Azathoth. He is both chaotic and amoral and ultimately seems to create the cycle of human life and death as little more than a passing whim. This emphasis on the insignificance of human life is pure Lovecraftian horror at its finest and is one of the best examples of modern cosmic horror in anime.
2 Paprika Blurs The Lines Between Dreams & Reality
From the genius of Satoshi Kon, Paprika is a psychological thriller starring the titular heroine, a psychologist who gets a hold of a revolutionary technology that allows her to enter other people's dreams. This mind-bending film follows her journey as she passes through reality and dreams, much like how dreams in Lovecraftian stories are presented.
Themes
- Fear of the Unknown
- Terror of the Subcionscious
Like Randolph Carter, who explores the deepest recesses of Kadath in his dreams, Paprika dives into the dreams of her patients in hopes of understanding them better. Like Unknown Kadath, Paprika addresses the thin line between dreams and reality as viewers begin to question what is real. Paprika confronts the viewer with the terrifying truth that the very laws of nature may not even be secure.
1 The Promised Neverland Takes Place In A Terrifying World Ruled By Horrific Monsters
The Promised Neverland
When three gifted kids at an isolated idyllic orphanage discover the secret and sinister purpose they were raised for, they look for a way to escape from their evil caretaker and lead the other children in a risky escape plan.
- Release Date
- January 11, 2019
- Rating
- TV-14
- Seasons
- 2
- Studio
- CloverWorks
- Creator
- Kaiu Shirai
The Promised Neverland follows the harrowing story of a group of sheltered orphans who discover the world outside their orphanage is ruled over by horrific monsters. These creatures raise up human children in farms posed as orphanages, only to later purchase them as food. This premise is a perfect example of Lovecraft's horror and existential dread in anime, and the monsters have a classic Lovecraftian appearance that fits right in with the theme.
Themes
- Eldritch Horrors
- Otherworldly Monsters
- Existential Dread
The Promised Neverland's monsters are distinctly inhuman with strange features that seem to defy the conventions of what life forms possess in nature. These qualities make them look like something straight out of the Cthulhu mythos.
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