Best Horror Anime of 2018

Two years have elapsed since the CCG's assault on Anteiku. While the atmosphere in Tokyo has shifted considerably with the CCG's heightened presence, ghouls remain a persistent issue as they have grown more cautious, particularly the terrorist syndicate Aogiri Tree, which recognizes the CCG's escalating danger to their survival. The formation of a specialized unit called the Quinx Squad could give the CCG the advantage needed to eliminate Tokyo's unwanted inhabitants. These are humans who have undergone surgery to harness the unique abilities of ghouls, and they take part in missions to eradicate these perilous creatures. The squad's leader, Haise Sasaki, is a half-ghoul, half-human trained by the renowned special class investigator Kishou Arima. Yet there is more to this young man than appears, as buried memories claw at his mind, gradually recalling the person he once was.

Following the Tsukiyama Family Extermination Operation, the Commission of Counter Ghouls (CCG) has become significantly stronger and continues its mission to wipe out all ghouls in Japan. Having left the Quinx Squad, the now apparently emotionless Haise Sasaki takes on increasingly difficult assignments from the CCG without concern for their danger. Despite his blank expression, Ken Kaneki's memories are slowly resurfacing within Haise, causing him inner turmoil. At the same time, his newly cold demeanor affects those around him. The Quinx Squad is left in disarray, struggling to cope with the loss of one of their members while lacking their former mentor's support. Amid this chaos, both the Quinx Squad and Haise must continue carrying out their duties for the CCG, whether they want to or not. However, Haise has become aware of a mysterious group operating behind the CCG, and the Quinx Squad has also caught wind of certain whispers about corruption.

Rachel Gardner, her eyes hollow and empty, wishes only for death. She regains consciousness in the basement of a building with no recollection of how she got there. There, she meets Zack, a killer wrapped in bandages who is trying to escape. He vows to end her life once he obtains his freedom, and the two form an agreement to ascend the building floor by floor in search of an exit. As they climb higher, they face increasingly unhinged individuals who all appear to recognize Rachel. The puzzle deepens around her link to the facility and why she is held captive. Facing a new boss on every level, Rachel and Zack must figure out whether both of them can achieve their respective goals.

Satou Matsuzaka is a beautiful high school student known for being easygoing with guys. But a chance meeting with a young girl named Shio Koube makes Satou realize this is her first ever true feeling of love. While telling others she lives with her aunt, Satou secretly shares an apartment with Shio. Despite her innocent looks, Satou will do anything to protect her beloved, going to desperate lengths to keep their "happy sugar life" intact.

Every day, Aya Asagiri contemplates suicide. She faces relentless bullying at school, and at home, her older brother Kaname physically abuses her to vent the academic pressure their father places on him. One night, while lying awake wishing for death, a mysterious website named Magical Girl Site appears on her laptop, offering to grant her magical powers. Initially, she dismisses it as a creepy prank, but when she discovers a magical gun in her shoe locker the next day, she is uncertain what to believe. Deciding to take it with her, she soon encounters her bullies again. This time, desperate for anything to rescue her, she uses the gun—and her attackers are teleported to a nearby railroad crossing, where they are struck by a train. Aya's conscience cannot bear the fact that she killed two of her classmates with magic, and she frantically tries to make sense of the situation. However, when she finds herself in danger once more, she is rescued by Tsuyuno Yatsumura, a classmate who can stop time using magic. This duo has much to accomplish: not only must they fight alongside and against other magical girls, but they also need to uncover the truth behind the website and the impending apocalyptic event known as "The Tempest."

Both day and night, unexplainable horrors lurk in the darkest corners, waiting to strike. They cannot be escaped or defeated—only endured. Prepare yourself, or you might be their next victim. Settle in for a collection of chilling tales that will leave you horrified: a cursed jade figurine that bores holes into its victims' bodies; a nightmare that stretches across decades; a beautiful spirit at a foggy crossroads who offers cursed advice; and a slug that grows inside a girl's mouth. Tread with caution, for the supernatural terrors of the Junji Ito Collection are not meant for the faint-hearted.

As the 21st century approaches its third decade, humans have mostly forgotten the existence of youkai. When a series of inexplicable phenomena sows confusion and chaos among the adult world, thirteen-year-old Mana writes to the Youkai Post seeking answers, and is met by none other than Gegege no Kitarou.

Deep within a forest shrouded in thick fog, a kamishibai storyboard sits alone in a clearing during the late hours. As a visitor draws near, the mist parts to reveal the masked Storyteller, who resumes narrating tales of dread and despair. These macabre stories depict scenarios that could befall anyone, including acquaintances and peers. A group of girls bullying a member in a cave become prey to a sinister entity. A boy suffering from scopophobia relocates to the countryside but remains haunted by unseen watchers. A man deals with a stubbornly open window and unsettling phone calls. A salaryman’s theft of an umbrella on a rainy day triggers unforeseen repercussions. While audiences may find entertainment in the Storyteller’s narratives, they must remain cautious to avoid becoming the next subject of his chilling tales.

The sequel to <i>Oretacha Youkai Ningen</i>.