Best Supernatural Anime of 2016

Shigeo Kageyama, an eighth-grader known as Mob, discovered his immense psychic abilities early in life. Recognizing the inherent dangers of such power, he chose to suppress it, using his talents solely to woo Tsubomi, a girl he has long admired, though her interest quickly fades. Seeking guidance, Mob joins the agency of Arataka Reigen, a fraudulent psychic who manipulates Mob’s powers for small profits. This arrangement turns the exorcism of spirits into a routine part of his dull existence. Yet, the energy Mob releases is merely the surface; if his overwhelming emotions and latent potential go unchecked, they will trigger a catastrophic explosion that will transform him beyond recognition. The countdown to this explosion continues relentlessly, and halting it seems impossible.

The mysterious immortal entities known as Ajin first appeared in Africa seventeen years ago. Because their indestructible bodies pose a threat to humanity and they could be exploited for malicious purposes, they are immediately detained upon discovery. Kei Nagai, a hardworking high school student with aspirations of becoming a doctor, largely ignores the school curriculum concerning these beings, having only seen them occasionally in the news. Although he is taught that Ajin are not human, his ignorance proves irrelevant when he survives a fatal accident that triggers his transformation into an Ajin, plunging him into intense suffering. As he flees alone from a world that hunts him, Kei learns that other members of his kind might be hiding in plain sight.

While in his second year at Naoetsu Private High School, Koyomi Araragi happens to meet Tsubasa Hanekawa, the top student in his class. During their chat, she shares a disturbing rumor about a vampire with stunning blonde hair and icy eyes haunting the area. Araragi dismisses the tale as he enjoys the company of a new friend. Later, on his way home, he notices bloodstains leading down to the subway stairs. Intrigued, he follows the trail deep into the station. There, he discovers the source: the blonde vampire mentioned in the rumor, torn apart. When she asks for his assistance, Araragi faces a choice that could alter his fate forever.

Koyomi Araragi, now no longer fully human, sets out to recover the severed limbs of Kiss-shot Acerola-orion Heart-under-blade, stolen by three powerful vampire hunters. Standing in his way are Dramaturgie—a vampire who hunts his own kind; Episode—a half-vampire capable of turning into mist; and Guillotinecutter—a human priest who is the most dangerous of the trio. Unbeknownst to Araragi, each moment he spends chasing down Kiss-shot's body parts pushes him further from humanity and deeper into vampirism. Can he hold onto his hope of becoming human again by the time his battles come to an end?

Mikado Ryuugamine continues to purge the Dollars from within, driven by his distorted sense of justice. Masaomi Kida hopes to bring his friend back to his senses by reuniting the Yellow Scarves. Neither is aware that a far more powerful force is about to enter their power struggle—one their friend Anri Sonohara knows all too well. Meanwhile, the group gathered at Shinra Kishitani's apartment senses they are on the verge of a life-changing event that will plunge Ikebukuro into chaos. Their fears are confirmed when reports of Celty's head being found in public begin appearing across the news, as Kasane Kujiragi starts making her move. The brief moments of peace are gone, and the current turmoil sets the stage for one final act in this thrilling conclusion to the story of Ikebukuro's finest.

Having survived their narrow escape from death, Kei Nagai and his new ally Kou Nakano scheme to take vengeance on Satou, a fellow Ajin obsessed with ruling the world. While Satou carries out a series of public executions, humanity scrambles to find a way to halt the immortal threat. Kei finds unexpected support from former enemies: Yuu Tosaki, a high-ranking government official whose deep knowledge of Ajin provides a strategic edge against Satou, and Tosaki’s Ajin subordinate, Izumi Shimomura. As Kei’s group expands, he must act quickly to halt Satou’s campaign before it destroys civilization.

Mahiru Shirota believes that keeping things simple is best and that anything troublesome should be avoided. But he also thinks it's troublesome to do nothing and later regret it—a philosophy that leads the fifteen-year-old to take in a stray cat he finds on his way home from school. He names the feline Kuro, unaware that this encounter will completely change his ordinary life. One day, Mahiru comes home to find a strange young man he has never seen before. In his panic, the uninvited guest gets exposed to sunlight and, to Mahiru's shock, turns into Kuro! After revealing himself as nothing more than a lazy vampire who just wants to stay indoors, Kuro promises to leave once night falls. But one mishap after another causes Mahiru to accidentally form a contract with his new freeloader, dragging him into a life-or-death struggle involving supernatural servants and bloodthirsty beings—anything but simple.

College student Zhang Chulan returns to his ancestral village only to be horrified by the news that his grandfather Zhang Xilin's tomb has been violated. While searching the graveyard for evidence, he is ambushed by a grave robber impersonating Zhang Xilin's granddaughter. Left for dead amid a horde of undead raised by the one who made off with his grandfather's corpse, Zhang Chulan escapes thanks to the qi his grandfather taught him to control. Back in his mundane student life, Zhang Chulan is stunned to encounter the same tomb raider—Feng Baobao—who once left him to a terrible fate. Baobao is part of a government agency that polices outcasts known as qi users, and forces Zhang Chulan to join a courier company that serves as a cover for their real missions. With multiple factions warring over the mysterious power Zhang Chulan supposedly inherited from his grandfather, the young man must learn to pick his allies carefully if he hopes to survive this perilous world of outcasts.

In the modern, well-developed city of Kazamatsuri—famous for its growing greenery and deep-rooted Japanese traditions—lives Kotarou Tennouji, a high school student who doesn't quite share the city's common values. This proud and nosy boy spends his days seeking amusement, bothering his self-proclaimed delinquent friend Haruhiko, and nurturing his romantic feelings for the eccentric Kotori. Kotarou possesses a superhuman ability to permanently rewrite any part of his body, enhancing his strength or speed, which draws him naturally toward the supernatural. A special encounter with Akane Senri—the lone member and president of the Occult Research Club, known as the "Witch"—leads Kotarou to revive the Occult Club. He recruits Kotori and three other members: Chihaya, a clumsy transfer student; Lucia, a strict class representative; and the unassuming Shizuru. As Kotarou uncovers the hidden secrets of each Occult Club member through their shared adventures, he will inevitably face a fate that only he might be able to rewrite.

Takashi Natsume possesses the rare ability to see youkai that remain hidden from most people. To preserve the peaceful life he now shares with his new family and friends, he keeps this power a secret. Still, Natsume extends the same compassion to friendly spirits, diligently giving back their names using the Book of Friends left to him by his late grandmother, Reiko. Meanwhile, the exorcist Matoba clan continues to pursue Natsume because of his exceptional talent. But Natsume turns down their offers, aware that not all exorcists share the understanding of his ally Shuuichi Natori—many recklessly seal away any youkai that crosses their path. Unhappy with this refusal, Seiji Matoba pressures Natsume into attending a major assembly of influential exorcist families. Surrounded by dangerous humans and youkai alike, Natsume stands firm, opposing the exorcists' heavy-handed methods and holding onto his belief that coexistence between the two worlds is achievable.

Escaping the busy life of Tokyo, Souta Tawara goes back to his childhood home in Kagawa Prefecture. Although his parents have passed away, his old house and the family udon shop remind him of the days when his family was whole. While remembering his youth, Souta steps into the udon restaurant and finds a dirty little boy sleeping there. At first, Souta doesn't think much of the meeting and gives the boy food and clean clothes. But to his shock, the boy suddenly grows furry ears and a tail! Souta soon discovers that this nameless child is actually the legendary shape-shifting tanuki that has lived in Kagawa for a long time. Believing the boy has been lonely, Souta decides to take him in and names him Poko. Udon no Kuni no Kiniro Kemari follows the touching bond between Souta and Poko. Through their time together, Souta reflects on his own past, the home he left behind for the city, and the connection he once had with his father.

The beginning of Hanae Ashiya's high school life hasn't gone smoothly; he has spent the entire first week in the school infirmary, and his mysterious condition keeps worsening. The source of his suffering is a strange fuzzy creature that latched onto him after he accidentally encountered it the day before classes started. As his health deteriorates and the creature grows larger, Hanae notices a flyer advertising an exorcist who deals with youkai. Out of options and growing desperate, he phones the number and is directed to the Mononokean, a tea room that materializes next to the infirmary. A gloomy-sounding man named Haruitsuki Abeno reluctantly assists Hanae but insists on payment afterward. To Hanae's dismay, he can't afford the fee and is forced to work as an employee at the Mononokean to pay off his debt. To make matters worse, his new boss turns out to be one of his classmates. If Hanae ever wants to clear his debt, he must collaborate with Abeno to guide a host of dangerous, bizarre, and fascinating youkai back to the Underworld.

Continuation of Ushio to Tora TV series.

Sixty years ago, a strange insomnia epidemic struck the population, forcing people to remain awake for over a week until they all went mad from sleep deprivation. To treat this illness, a new drug was created, but its side effects transformed patients into vampires. Humanity waged war against these new beings and emerged victorious, yet some vampires survived. Born from both a human and a vampire, Mi Liu—known as "The Child of Hope"—is meant to symbolize a new bond between the two races. After masterminding a bank robbery, Mi Liu is captured and transferred to a special prison operated by the National Defense Agency, which keeps vampires under surveillance. While trying to escape alongside Anji, Mi Liu is attacked by mysterious monsters and learns that the prison sits on the site of the vampires' origin: the old capital of Blue Town. Why are vampires confined in Blue Town? What are those strange creatures attacking them? The heroes must fight to uncover these secrets.

A young boy quietly draws the terrifying images residing within his imagination. As he delves into the occult and the unknown, he shares stories about a figure with a muscular arm that must not be viewed, a hospital room hiding a dark secret, and a chilling trip to a silent taxidermy museum. These narratives and others are collected in Yami Shibai 3. Rendered in a style reminiscent of traditional kamishibai street theater, this horror series maintains the gruesome and unsettling atmosphere characteristic of Yami Shibai and its second season.

High school student Sakura Mamiya and destitute death god Rinne Rokudou keep dealing with the supernatural. Drawn into the troubles of their eccentric acquaintances, the pair once again end up in hot water. Ageha's black cat Oboro seeks revenge for claimed mistreatment and demands that Ageha void their contract. When she refuses, a fierce argument erupts between them. Meanwhile, the underhanded Damashigami Company shows no sign of stopping its misdeeds, and the bat-like demon Masato continues carrying out sneaky acts to achieve his long-awaited vengeance against Rinne. For Sakura and Rinne, these paranormal issues never seem to end. As their story continues to develop, they must handle these unusual situations as they come up, all while dealing with their own personal problems.

This work serves as a visual record of Kiitarou’s encounters with youkai. Possessing a powerful spiritual sensitivity, he was expelled from his home after entering a restricted storage area. He eventually settled in a new residence where he encountered Suzu, a zashiki warashi. Together, they began drawing in various supernatural entities, including a nurikabe, which manifests as an impassable wall, and a mokumokuren, appearing as eyes within a damaged paper screen. Which folkloric entity will cross their path next?

Matoi Sumeragi desires nothing more than to live a quiet, ordinary existence far from public attention. She is content with her daily routine of attending school and working part-time at the shrine owned by her best friend, Yuma Kusanagi. However, this peaceful life is shattered when a Night, a malevolent entity from another dimension, assaults the shrine. Matoi manages to repel the creature by accidentally tapping into the power of a god, the natural adversaries of the Nights. Soon, Matoi and Yuma are joined by Claris Tonitolus, a seasoned exorcist from the Vatican, and Haruka Luciela, an operative for the clandestine Night defense organization known as IATO. Although the identity and motives of the attackers remain unknown, Matoi must master her new abilities to safeguard those around her and preserve the normal life she values so deeply.

Having endured the assault on Sarugaku headquarters, Sousuke Banba continues his pursuit of the Kagewani monster hybrids. Now possessing the capacity to channel Kagewani energy, he has found a way to destroy these beasts. However, this ability comes at a steep cost: Sousuke faces an ongoing battle to preserve his sanity, as the power threatens to devour his physical form. New and familiar dangers emerge as Sarugaku’s leadership reactivates and an assassin driven by personal vengeance targets Sousuke. Undeterred, he presses forward with his mission, resolved to uncover the origins of the Kagewani and permanently neutralize the threat they pose.

Presents the game characters in chibi form, telling a completely new story built around the theme: "A normal everyday that might have existed."

The daily lives and life stories of Sengoku warriors are depicted through animals. Popular young actors and a distinctive cast are brought in to voice these warriors while adding humorous commentary. This is an anime that playfully mocks Japan's history and Sengoku warriors; that's "Sengoku Choujuu Giga."

Two siblings solve spooky mysteries and handle ghosts with assistance from a 102-year-old goblin living under their haunted apartment building.

Taking place around 3000 BCE along the Nile in Egypt, Kamigami no Ki ("Chronicles of the Gods") follows the humorous misadventures of Bastet, Anubis, Ra, and the enigmatic ghost Medjedo, together with their caretakers, Iabi and Ahkeu.

Kimoshiba is a peculiar life form shaped like an oversized shiba inu. It loves curry, particularly curry breads, and works at a funeral home. Other similar life forms include yamishiba and onishiba.