Best Supernatural Anime of 2012

In 1868, English aristocrat George Joestar and his son Jonathan owe a debt to Dario Brando after being rescued from a carriage accident. However, the Joestars remain unaware that Dario never intended to help them—he thought they were dead and was merely looting their possessions. Twelve years later, following Dario's death, George adopts his son Dio as a way to repay the supposed debt. Though Dio outwardly acts affectionate toward his new father, he secretly plots to seize the Joestar wealth. His initial move is to drive a wedge between George and Jonathan. By consistently outshining his foster brother, Dio solidifies his position in the Joestar household. But when Dio pushes Jonathan too far, Jonathan bests him in a physical confrontation. As the years pass, the two appear to have become close friends to outsiders. Yet trouble stirs again when George falls ill, and Jonathan suspects Dio is somehow responsible—and that he has further schemes in motion.

High school student Issei Hyoudou is a typical pervert who spends his days peeping on girls and fantasizing about having a harem. Things take a turn when a beautiful girl asks him out, only for her to reveal herself as a fallen angel and brutally murder him. But he gets a second chance when Rias Gremory, a beautiful senior and top-class devil, revives him as her servant and recruits him into the school's Occult Research club. Now adjusting to his new existence, Issei must train and fight to survive the violent world of angels and devils. Each adventure brings hilarious and risqué moments with his new comrades, all while keeping his secret life hidden from his friends and family in High School DxD.

Five students at Yamaboshi Academy find themselves without a club that suits them, so they create the Student Cultural Society, nicknamed StuCS. The members are Taichi Yaegashi, a devoted wrestling enthusiast; Iori Nagase, a cheerful but perpetually uncertain girl; Himeko Inaba, a level-headed computer expert; Yui Kiriyama, a small but skilled karate user; and Yoshifumi Aoki, the group's joker. One day, Aoki and Yui are suddenly forced to swap bodies without warning, leaving them bewildered. As this bizarre supernatural occurrence keeps happening at random among the five friends, they realize it is far more serious than simple fun. Compelled to grow far closer than they ever intended, they gradually uncover each other's hidden secrets and emotional wounds, threatening to shatter both the StuCS and their bond.

Hana, a diligent college student, falls in love with a mysterious man who attends one of her lectures but is not officially enrolled. He is not fully human either: on nights with a full moon, he transforms, revealing himself to be the last living werewolf. Despite this, Hana's devotion remains unwavering, and they decide to build a family together. She gives birth to two healthy children—Ame, born during rainfall, and Yuki, born during a snowfall—both inheriting the ability to turn into wolves from their father. However, the sudden death of her partner shatters Hana's world, leaving her to raise this extraordinary family entirely alone. The strain of bringing up her wild-natured children in a crowded city while keeping their secret hidden eventually drives her to move to the countryside, where she hopes Ame and Yuki can live free from society's prejudices. Wolf Children is a heartwarming tale of the struggles faced by a single mother in a harsh modern world.

Koyomi Araragi has only recently recovered from a vampire assault and encountered multiple girls plagued by supernatural afflictions. On top of everything else, he wakes up one morning to find himself abducted and bound by his girlfriend Hitagi Senjougahara. Araragi's sister Karen has gotten into trouble with Deishuu Kaiki, a con artist who once swindled Senjougahara's family. Consequently, Senjougahara has trapped Araragi to protect him from the cunning Kaiki. Yet when Araragi receives a desperate message from Karen, he leaves to save her. Beyond Karen's predicament, Tsukihi, Araragi's other sister, is dealing with her own problems. And when two enigmatic women enter their lives, not even Araragi can foresee their real intentions or the devastating secrets about his family that are soon to be uncovered.

High school student Nanami Momozono is facing a string of troubles, starting with her absent father racking up so much debt that they lose everything. Left homeless and dejected, she encounters a man being harassed by a dog. After she helps him and shares her predicament, he surprisingly offers her his home as thanks. However, when she arrives and finds the place is a rundown shrine, she tries to leave, but is stopped by two shrine spirits and a fox familiar named Tomoe. They mistake her for the man she rescued—Mikage, the land god of the shrine. Realizing Mikage must have sent her as a replacement deity, Tomoe storms off, refusing to serve a human. Rather than return to homelessness, Nanami throws herself into her divine responsibilities. But to keep things running smoothly, she needs the assistance of a certain hot-tempered fox. In a clumsy attempt to find Tomoe, she gets into trouble and ends up forming a contract with him. Now the two must navigate the path of godhood together as deity and familiar, though it won't be easy—new dangers emerge in the form of a youkai who wants to devour her, a snake who wants to marry her, and Nanami's own unexpected feelings for her new familiar.

Since childhood, Chihiro Furuya has been obsessed with zombies, dreaming of having an undead partner. His fascination becomes practical when his cat, Baabu, is hit by a car, prompting Chihiro to create a resurrection elixir in hopes of reviving the pet. While experimenting, he meets Rea Sanka, a wealthy girl who releases her frustrations about her oppressive home life by shouting into an abandoned well. After bonding with her, Rea encourages Chihiro to continue his work, and he eventually succeeds using poisonous hydrangeas from her family’s garden. Unaware that the potion works, Rea drinks it hoping to end her suffering, believing it will kill her. Instead, the potion’s magic interacts with a fatal accident, causing her to rise as a zombie. With Chihiro’s help, she tries to navigate her new existence. Though this might seem perfect for a boy seeking a zombie girlfriend, life in Sankarea becomes increasingly strange as Chihiro must manage Rea’s unusual new appetites and the unexpected consequences of her transformation.

Ririchiyo Shirakiin, the coddled daughter of a distinguished family, has lived her whole life as a weak and dependent girl. Wanting to escape her overprotected existence, she strives for self-reliance, but her abrasive way of talking and lack of social skills create obstacles. Following advice from a childhood friend, she takes up residence at Maison de Ayakashi, a secluded apartment complex with tight security that houses a variety of eccentric tenants. Ririchiyo soon discovers these odd residents are more than just peculiar; she and her neighbors are all half-human, half-youkai hybrids. Her difficulties intensify when she is assigned a Secret Service agent as a requirement for living there. Her partner, Soushi Miketsukami, is attractive and quiet but excessively clingy and disturbingly obedient. As she deals with high school life alongside Soushi and her strange supernatural neighbors, Ririchiyo faces a complicated path ahead.

Seikyou Private Academy, a school steeped in the allure of traditional occult legends, conceals a grim history—for six decades, it has been stalked by a ghost named Yuuko, a girl who met an unexplained death in the basement of the old school building. Unable to recall either her life or her passing, Yuuko secretly establishes and leads the Paranormal Investigations Club in her quest for answers. When she encounters the bright freshman Teiichi Niiya, who can see the peculiar specter, Yuuko latches onto him. The two quickly bond, and Teiichi resolves to assist her. Together with Kirie Kanoe, a relative of Yuuko, and the unaware second-year student Momoe Okonogi, they plunge into the notorious Seven Mysteries that haunt the storied campus.

Ryousuke Kaga comes across as nothing more than a typical perverted teenager, spending his time ogling women and lost in erotic daydreams, which causes his classmates to avoid him. But his childhood friend Mina Okura sees the truth: underneath that lecherous exterior is a kind-hearted boy who is dedicated to protecting girls, viewing them as precious treasures. His life takes a turn when he meets Lisara Restall, a Soul Reaper from a noble family. She is looking for a powerful being called the One to power her movement’s magic. To achieve this, she proposes a temporary contract with Ryousuke, using his sexual desires as a source of energy. As Ryousuke navigates this strange arrangement with Lisara, he encounters various people and begins to uncover the mysterious and dark secrets hidden within his world.

The gods of the world are not just stories or myths—they are real, hidden from human sight, and their battles devastate the land and its people. Humans witness these clashes between Heretic Gods as inexplicable natural disasters. High school student Godou Kusanagi, age sixteen, travels to Italy at his grandfather's request to return a specific tablet to an acquaintance for safekeeping. There, he unexpectedly becomes involved in a fight between two Heretic Gods alongside Erica Blandelli, a self-proclaimed witch who protects people. After defeating the war god in mortal combat, Godou becomes a Campione, or God Slayer, charged with fighting Heretic Gods to save humanity. His new status attracts many gods seeking to challenge him, as well as a group of devoted followers—mostly women—who aid him in battle. Campione!: Matsurowanu Kamigami to Kamigoroshi no Maou follows Godou as he faces off against rival deities in a conflict between Heaven and Earth.

Takashi Natsume, the timid expert on youkai and holder of the Book of Friends, keeps moving forward on his path to self-discovery and acceptance, aided by companions both familiar and fresh. His most crucial ally remains his gluttonous, sake-loving guardian, the arrogant yet fiercely protective wolf spirit Madara—who goes by Nyanko-sensei when disguised as a harmless, chubby cat. When Natsume is briefly separated from Nyanko-sensei, he is ambushed and taken captive by a strange group of masked, monkey-like youkai, who drag him into their forest as they frantically hunt for the Book of Friends. Realizing his "servant" has been snatched away from under his watch, Nyanko-sensei rallies Natsume's youkai friends and organizes a rescue mission. But the monkey spirits' forest is filled with dangerous foes, including the Matoba Clan, Natsume's longtime adversary. Spanning from the Matoba's formidable stronghold to Natsume's own childhood home, Natsume Yuujinchou Shi is a sweeping yet familiar return to a world of peril and camaraderie, where Natsume will finally face the ghosts of his own past.

Ichiko Sakura has always had life handed to her on a silver platter. Endowed with extraordinary good fortune, she possesses everything she could desire: beauty, intelligence, and wealth. In complete opposition stands Momiji Binboda, a goddess of poverty, who suffers from relentless bad luck—a perpetual arm cast, a flat chest, and a cardboard box under a bridge for a home. Their worlds collide when Momiji fulfills her divine duty by delivering grim news to Ichiko: her immense luck comes from unconsciously draining the fortune of everyone around her. Momiji’s mission is to reclaim Ichiko’s luck before she leaves others with none to survive. However, with aid from the wandering monk Bobby Statice, Ichiko manages to repel the poverty goddess. This defeat forces Momiji to call on reinforcements: her teddy bear familiar Kumagai and the masochistic dog deity Momoo Inugami. Chaos erupts as Ichiko’s tranquil existence is replaced by daily skirmishes over her fortune. To weather the pandemonium, Ichiko will need every bit of luck she can muster in Binbougami ga!!

High school girl Tamaki Kasuga thinks gods and ghosts are nothing but fairy tales—until she moves to live with her grandmother in the remote village of Kifumura. Shortly after arriving, she is attacked by strange creatures and learns that the women in her family carry the blood of the Tamayori Princess, granting them the power and duty to seal away gods and ghosts so they cannot harm the public. Tamaki struggles to believe it at first, but the constant presence of five handsome young men acting as her guardians does a lot to convince her. However, this role involves far more than she initially realizes, and the road ahead is filled with peril and danger. Can she successfully bear the heavy burden that has been placed on her shoulders?

Ryousuke Hazuki has fallen deeply in love and visits a local flower shop every day just to catch a glimpse of its beautiful owner, Rokka Shimao. Hoping to get closer to her, he takes a part-time job at the shop. But before he can make his move, he encounters a major obstacle: a ghost living in Rokka's apartment, who claims to be her late husband. Atsushi Shimao has quietly watched over his widowed wife ever since he passed away three years ago. However, Hazuki is the first person to ever notice him, and the two quickly become rivals. The jealous Shimao tries to sabotage the suitor's advances and even attempts to possess his body, while Hazuki simply wants the ghost to move on for good, so Rokka can let go of the past and he can be with the woman he loves. As both men refuse to give up their desires, an unusual bond forms between a troubled woman, a relentless ghost, and a stubborn man in love.

Stripped of his possessions and left for dead, Ryuunosuke Ibuki is taken in by Kamo Serizawa, who offers him a position as a personal assistant. Though Ibuki believes he has escaped his grief, he quickly discovers that this new existence reduces him to a mere servant for one of Kyoto’s most powerful figures. As ronin attacks against civilians increase, the shogunate dispatches the Roshigumi to Kyoto to restore order. Led by the gentle yet honorable Isami Kondou, the group consists of capable samurai but lacks the political influence needed to establish themselves in the crime-ridden city. With no other option, Kondou forms an alliance with the arrogant Serizawa, trading his men's combat prowess for political backing. Despite his deep-seated hatred for the samurai class, Ibuki becomes entangled in the Roshigumi’s affairs. Through his interactions with Kondou’s team, he gradually comes to realize that not all samurai are as cruel or dishonorable as he previously believed. Hakuouki Reimeiroku delves into the period preceding the formation of the Shinsengumi, highlighting the instability and uncertainty fueled by political tensions in Kyoto.

Following her confrontations with legendary monsters, Princess Tamaki struggles to navigate an uncertain future as the new Tamayori Princess. Securing her role as the universe's guardian might make high school feel effortless, but surviving long enough to enjoy that normalcy is a different challenge entirely. Her five devoted guardians, who are both powerful and handsome, have pledged to give everything for her safety. However, the group faces the threat of a traitor among them, raising questions about whether they can remain vigilant while also maintaining high GPAs.

As life moves forward, people inevitably come and go, leaving behind farewells. This reality hits hard for childhood friends Natsumi Aizawa, Yuka Hanaki, and Rinko Tamaki, who learn that their fourth companion, Saki Mizukoshi, will be leaving at the end of the summer. Fearing this news will destroy their bond, the quartet searches for a magic stone mentioned in local legends, hoping its wish-granting abilities can keep them united. To their astonishment, they find the magic is genuine. As summer draws to a close, Natsumi and her friends utilize the stone to ensure they leave no regrets behind. No matter what the future holds, these four will never forget the vibrant miracles they share during what might be their last summer together.

The second season picks up directly from the previous one. Professor Itsuki's Fermentation Cellar and laboratory are now fully operational. With Sawaki Tadayasu's special ability to perceive and converse with microbes, Itsuki's diverse group of students starts producing various fermented goods such as soy sauce and sake.

Nanafa Kyan resides in Okinawa alongside her grandmother, who operates the "Kame Soba" noodle shop, her attractive older sister Nao—a high school student—and her younger sister Kokona, an elementary school student gifted with a keen sense for detecting the supernatural. One day, Nanafa sees a seal come off a Chinese banyan tree, releasing three spirits that dwell within it. Among them are Niina and Raana, both "jimunaa" spirits, and Iina, an embodiment of an Okinawan lion statue. As more and more spirits begin to appear, the peaceful existence of Nanafa and her family starts to transform.

In Japan, just like in any other culture, children grow up listening to tales passed down by their parents and grandparents. The boy born from a peach, the moon princess discovered inside a bamboo stalk, the old man who brings a dead cherry tree back to bloom—these short stories teach children about both the light and dark sides of life, passing traditional moral values from one generation to the next. Each half-hour episode of Folktales from Japan features three self-contained tales, some well-known and some obscure, with a special emphasis on heartwarming stories from Tohoku, the northern region that was severely affected by the 2011 earthquake. The hope is that this program can bring cheer to the earthquake victims and offer them a spark of hope.

Kurotori Chiyoko is a fifth-grader who has a deep fascination with the occult. When a friend asks for a love fortune-telling, Chiyoko attempts to summon Cupid—but a stuffy nose causes her to accidentally call forth a witch named Gyubid instead. From then on, Chiyoko begins learning magic from Gyubid, who claims to be the most alluring instructor in the entire magical realm. The training is brutal, and the punishments for slacking off are severe. Luckily for Chiyoko, no one else can see Gyubid, so she manages to keep her after-school studies a secret.