If there’s one thing anime hasn’t been short on over the years, it’smonsters. Unsurprisingly more prevalent in the fantasy genre than anywhere else, monstrous entities have frequently been used for startling, dramatic, and often frightening effect.
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From demons to cryptids to interdimensional menaces, anime’s provided all matter of imaginative horror for protagonists to butt heads with over the years. While there are plenty of perfectly human antagonists out there, a monster is often unmatched in potential when it comes to the anime medium. Limitless in potential scope and scale, fantastical beasts can drastically elevate the sense of urgency in a story.
6Noragami’s Phantoms Are Amongst The Strangest Anime Monsters Out There
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The high-concept adventures of high schooler Hiyori Iki make for a fascinating blend of urban fantasy and high-octane action. Everything kicks off for the protagonist when she suffers through a bus accident. The ordeal leaves her in a bizarre situation where her soul is constantly hopping in and out of her body.
From there, the viewer’s introduced to two very different worlds: the Near Shore and the Far Shore. The Far Shore is where the monstrous elements of this series come into play, with phantoms serving as hellish beasts that negatively influence humanity. The phantoms' bizarre appearances, often enormous with glowing coloring, make them a stand-out threat among the many monsters to have cropped up in anime over the years. With surprisingly human takes on incredibly inhuman figures, a sympathetic lead character, and beautifully rendered, precise animation,Noragamiis a strange but high-level piece of monster-centric anime funthat leaves the viewer wanting more.
5Goblin Slayer Highlights The Dark Side Of The Monster Hunter Lifestyle
Check it out on Crunchyroll!
Goblins may not be the most fearsome of monsters out there, but they can still cause a good deal of grief.Goblin Slayerfollows the titular protagonist’s ongoing quest to rid the world of the pointy-eared menaces.
A dark fantasy anime with a curious, often bleak take on character development,Goblin Slayerbenefits greatly from a troubled, mysterious lead. Even when the titular hero’s predictably horrible origin is revealed, he loses none of his potency as a menacing protagonist. Instead, understanding the childhood tragedy that forged his hatred of goblins adds a sharper, bloodthirstier edge. A surprisingly grim series, its deconstruction of monster-hunting tropes is a must-watch for fans of such themes.It’s also influenced some unexpected sectors in the gaming world in years gone by.
4Demon SlayerUses Monsters For A Highly Effective Take On The Hero’s Journey Template
The aptly-titledDemon Slayerfollows the trials and tribulations of Tanjiro Kamado, a slayer in training. Kamado’s family were butchered by demons and, in what becomes a key plot point, his sister Nezuko is transformed into a demon.
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Many of the demons on offer in this series are monsters inspired by Japanese folklore. The Spider Family, for example, are modeled on the Tsuchigumo, and live up to their name, with many of the sporting grotesque spider-esque facial features. The series is chock-full of such colorful entities, and many of its plots revolve around ruthlessly taking them down. Coupled with the frenetic action andvast array of murderous characters on offer, this is essential viewing for monster anime fans.
3BerserkLives Up To Its Name With Ultra-Violent Monster-Slaying
One of the grisliest anime out there,Berserkfocuses primarily on the aptly named Guts.A bloodthirsty warriorborn straight out of a hanged corpse, Guts' early years are horrendously grim and abusive. His rough coming-of-age journey plants seeds for the ferocious fantasy journey viewers are taken on.
There’s everything from trolls to the Beast of Darkness, a diabolical canine-like monster stemming from Guts' own rage and hatred. Considering the diverse array of monstrous entities on offer, coupled with the blood-and-guts action that frequents the series,Berserkis among the most thrilling, and unpleasant, series to highlight monster slaying out there.
2Attack On TitanTakes Us To A World Where The Monsters Already Won
This iconic series sees the world horrifyingly overrun by human-eating giants. By the time the series starts, what little is left of humanity lives behind enormous walls guarding them against the titular Titans.
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Unsurprisingly, a large portion of the seriesrevolves around surviving, and taking down, the gargantuan Titans. Monstrous and destructive, the beasts are essentially piloted by Intelligent Titans, and used to destroy and conquer any and all human settlements they encounter. While the ending to the series drew a polarized response, its apocalyptic action and emphasis on never giving in to adversity make it a seminal classic.
1Jujutsu Kaisen’s Curses Offer A More Personal Approach To Monsters And Possession
For protagonist Yuji Itadori, the aptly-named Occult Club’s decision to unseal a rotten finger talisman has life-altering consequences. Itadori,who swallows the finger to protect a sorcerer, finds himself living as the host of Ryomen Sukuna, an especially powerful Curse.
The quality of the animation on offer inJujutsu Kaisenis arguably one of the best of all time. Offering high-intensity action sequences, breathtaking landscapes, and elite-level use of sakuga, the series is a visual treat that more than delivers in bringing its source material to life. Itadori’s grim journey through demonic possession, war with cursed spirits and similarly demonic entities, and the consumption of Sukuna’s 19 other fingers makes for bizarre but thrilling fare.
