Best Supernatural Anime of 1997

Evil Shinma—shape-shifting monsters and vampires—roam the Earth, seeking to spread their darkness among humanity. Miyu, a royal princess from the realm of darkness, is the Chosen One, the sole being fated to banish these Evil Shinma from the world. She possesses the power to grant humans eternal happiness, yet remains trapped between two worlds, doomed to perpetual solitude and inner turmoil. Her only companion is Larva, once an evil Shinma himself, now her loyal guardian. Together, they traverse a dark odyssey through the frailty of the human heart and the sorrowful loss of innocence. Cut off from humanity by the burden of knowing what she truly is, Miyu endures an endless quest as both hunter and hunted, forever standing at the edge of darkness.

Catholic schoolgirl Inaho finds out that a vampire named Mosquiton has been preying on her classmates. She stakes him, but he is resurrected when her blood touches his remains. Mosquiton ends up as her slave and also works as a history teacher. Along with Yuuki and Honou, the mismatched pair get into various escapades and adventures. One of Inaho's primary objectives is to locate the legendary O-Part so she can make some money.

At Saito High, a school filled with supernatural entities and led by a principal obsessed with collecting occult artifacts, the Holy Student Council—chosen by prophecy—acts as the primary line of defense. Each council member struggles with their own unique issues. Haruto Houjo, the council president, has the power to call forth spirits but yearns for an ordinary life, a desire constantly undermined by the principal's schemes. Kazumi Ryodo possesses the unusual ability to let spirits take control and holds a secret crush on Hanako. The third member, Mutsuki Asahina, specializes in exorcisms and has a preference for young boys. Despite their individual quirks, the three must maintain order at the school and protect the world from supernatural threats, frequently ending up in bizarre situations.

Takeo Nanachi and his companions journey to a secluded village seeking inspiration for their next theatrical performance, where they encounter a sorrowful festival held only on rare occasions. Takeo intends to purify an ancient sword inherited from his grandfather during this event, but the locals forbid outsiders from joining. After his car breaks down, Takeo becomes stranded and finds himself drawn into the villagers' eerie yet captivating customs. Through these encounters, he forges a bond with Kuraki Fuzuchi, the son of the chief priest.

A school is plagued by spirit infestations, and the captivating student Kocho Enoki employs her alluring charm and supernatural abilities to defend it. Alongside her sister and Kosaku, who serves as their human shield, Kocho strives to rid the school of the ghostly onslaught. But they come across a female spirit who remains unaffected by Kocho's seductive tactics.

Nube and his class travel to a small island for beach activities, where an elderly local tells them an ominous story. According to the legend, a creature called the sea spider dwells in the waters surrounding the island, and once it surpasses 200 years of age, it transforms into a monster that feasts on humans to satisfy its hunger. Driven by curiosity, Yukime sets out to verify whether the legend holds any truth. Shortly afterward, a mysterious girl appears on the shore, and her eerie allure immediately captivates Hiroshi, overpowering him. Before long, strange occurrences begin affecting the group, with Kyoko and Ritsuko-sensei coming under attack in inexplicable circumstances. As suspicion grows around the girl's true nature, the legend of the sea creature appears to be more than just a myth.

A new student named Jun, who keeps to themselves and is fascinated by clowns, arrives in Nube's classroom. Jun's sole friend is Pierre, a clown that lives inside a mirror. One night, Pierre gives Jun a mysterious mask that grants strange powers. After this, Jun's behavior becomes odd, and a series of unfortunate incidents begin to happen throughout the school.

Once every sixty years in Kanoesaru village, a string of baffling murders occurs, killing seven girls each of them seventeen years old. The inhabitants attribute these deaths to a demon that once protected the community, staying silent about the events. Nevertheless, the present leader of the Ibuki clan decides to call upon an exorcist to protect her two daughters. What lies behind the series of murders in Kanoesaru village?

The Spooky Kitaro short film follows the tradition of other 1990s Kitaro mini-movies by reimagining a previously adapted anime storyline. Each remake presents a distinct interpretation of the original tales, and this film is no exception. It revisits the baseball-themed narrative that was first featured in the inaugural episode of the 1968 series.

This film merges elements from "Ghost Train" (episode 7) and "Great Yokai War" (episodes 10-11) of the original 1968 series, updating them to match the modern tone of the 1996 adaptation, creating a completely original and distinct story.