Best Supernatural Anime of 2018

Within the rarely acknowledged realm of Puberty Syndrome, a strange ailment exclusive to teenagers, few believe in its existence because of its supernatural nature. Yet for high schooler Sakuta Azusagawa, the syndrome is a concrete reality frequently encountered among his classmates. Mai Sakurajima, a third-year student and former child actress whose career suddenly ended, stands as a figure of both fame and mystery. Her aloof nature keeps her isolated from peers until Sakuta spots her wearing a bunny girl costume in the school library. Despite her odd attire, she remains invisible to everyone else, marking her as another victim of Puberty Syndrome. As Sakuta attempts to aid Mai, he encounters other girls struggling with this enigmatic condition.

In Devilman: Crybaby, devils must possess a human vessel to appear in the physical world, yet an individual with a sufficiently strong will can dominate the demon and wield its power to become a Devilman. Akira Fudou, a gentle soul defined by deep empathy, eagerly agrees to help his childhood friend Ryou Asuka hunt devils. Their quest unexpectedly leads them to Sabbath, a hedonistic festival of excess. When violence breaks out, demons seize control of the attendees, transforming them into monsters and sparking chaos. In a desperate bid to save Ryou, Akira merges with the demon Amon, transforming into a Devilman and acquiring the strength to defeat the remaining beasts. This newfound power awakens a dangerous, primal aspect of Akira's personality. Nevertheless, despite his demonic form, he retains his compassionate nature and joins forces with Ryou to safeguard humanity and his loved ones from the demonic threat.

After pulling Rias Gremory from the Dimensional Gap, Issei Hyoudou, the Red Dragon Emperor and self-proclaimed Harem King, returns to his routine high school days with his Occult Research Club comrades: Yuuto Kiba, Asia Argento, Xenovia Quarta, and Irina Shidou. The club heads out on a school trip to Kyoto, only for their visit to a temple to be interrupted by an assault from local youkai. In the aftermath, they discover that the city's legendary nine-tailed fox guardian has been abducted, and the group is wrongly accused of the theft. Now, Issei and his friends must battle to vindicate themselves, salvage their excursion, and shield the city from looming catastrophe. Back in Tokyo, Rias remains with Akeno Himejima and Koneko Toujou, growing increasingly anxious about leaving the lecherous Issei unsupervised with the other female members. Underneath this worry, however, lies a more profound uncertainty: what are the genuine emotions Rias has been grappling with over the last several months?

In Zombie Land Saga, Sakura Minamoto, a former aspiring idol, perishes in a car crash. A decade later, she awakens as a zombie in Saga Prefecture with no recollection of her previous life. While adapting to her undead state, she encounters Koutarou Tatsumi, who has resurrected seven zombie girls from various historical periods. Koutarou aims to revitalize Saga's economy by assembling them into an idol group. Serving as their stern manager, he organizes their schedules as they form the group Franchouchou. The series humorously follows Franchouchou's efforts to energize Saga Prefecture while concealing their true natures and piecing together their forgotten pasts.

Yuragi-sou, once a lively hot spring inn, has become a nearly empty boarding house with suspiciously cheap rent. The low cost stems from a dangerous ghost that scares away potential tenants. This suits Fuyuzora Kogarashi perfectly—a broke, homeless psychic who needs affordable lodging and wants to face supernatural threats. Expecting a fight with an evil spirit, Kogarashi instead meets Yuuna, a beautiful silver-haired girl who remembers nothing from her past life except her name. Surprisingly, the other odd residents of Yuragi-sou can also see Yuuna, each possessing their own unique supernatural abilities. As he deals with the chaos from his unusual roommates, Kogarashi works to uncover the unresolved feelings keeping Yuuna bound to the living world, hoping to prevent her from becoming a malevolent spirit doomed to eternal suffering.

In a world where vampires secretly coexist with humans, these beings do not require blood for survival but can succumb to a powerful bloodlust driven by intense emotions, turning them into savage creatures. Tsukasa Taira, a 22-year-old university student, uncovers the truth about vampires when she learns that her childhood friend is one after a tense confrontation with Yuuki Anzai, a human-vampire hybrid. Following her friend's arrest, Tsukasa develops a deep connection with Anzai, who gradually reciprocates her feelings despite his inner struggle against the urge to prey on her. Their unique bond is tested by the constant battle Anzai wages against the vampire part of himself that craves Tsukasa's blood.

In 1930, Tokyo experiences a rise in vampire attacks as the creatures infiltrate the city undetected. With the attacks escalating, the authorities call upon the Jaegers—a diverse group of mercenaries employed by the V Shipping Company to combat vampires worldwide. The Jaegers conceal their weapons inside musical instrument cases and confront the vampires with equal brutality. Leading the Jaegers is Yuliy, a skilled fighter who is the sole survivor of a vampire attack that destroyed his hometown. Using his werewolf heritage, Yuliy works with his team to assist Tokyo's police in dealing with the vampire threat. While they appear to be supporting law enforcement, the Jaegers are involved in a hidden struggle with the vampires over the mysterious Ark of Sirius. This artifact has the power to change the course of history, and Yuliy and his companions must locate it before the vampires can use it for their destructive goals.

Whether under the sun or cloaked in darkness, unspeakable horrors lurk in the shadows, poised to strike. These terrors cannot be dodged or overcome—only endured. Stay alert, or you may become their next victim. Step into a collection of bone-chilling tales that will leave you trembling: a cursed jade statue that impales its victims; a nightmare that haunts across generations; a spectral figure at a foggy crossroads offering doomed directions; and a slug growing inside a young girl's mouth. Proceed with caution, for the supernatural dreads within the Junji Ito Collection are too harrowing for the faint of heart.

After yet another failed job interview—her nineteenth, it seems—Juri Yukawa has all but given up on escaping the cramped household she shares with her working mother Nobuko, her NEET brother Tsubasa, her recently fired father Takafumi, and her single sister Sanae. The only real hope for the family to raise a successful adult rests on her young nephew Makoto. Just as their already tense situation hits a breaking point, Makoto and Tsubasa are snatched by a mysterious group demanding a ransom. With only thirty minutes to scrape together five million yen and deliver it to the kidnappers, Juri's grandfather reveals a dangerous secret to her and Takafumi. By offering blood to a mystical stone, the three gain entry to "Stasis"—a dimension where time stands still for everyone except the stone's users. When they reach their destination, the rescue mission goes wrong as they stumble upon others who can also move freely through Stasis. In the ensuing confusion, a colossal being called the Herald appears, its purpose and identity as enigmatic as the timeless world it inhabits.

In "How to Keep a Mummy," high school student Sora Kashiwagi is accustomed to receiving unusual gifts from his father, who travels the world. These presents often come with a shock, but when a large package arrives from Egypt, it contains Mii-kun, a tiny and adorable mummy. Though initially cautious, Sora soon learns that Mii-kun is gentle and longs for companionship. The two navigate everyday life together, meeting others who also have extraordinary pets along the way. As their bond grows, Sora faces the difficulties of caring for Mii-kun but remains dedicated to nurturing the affectionate mummy.

In "Dropkick On My Devil!", Yurine Hanazono, a skilled practitioner of the occult, accidentally summons the demon Jashin-chan to Earth and cannot send her back to the underworld. As a result, Jashin-chan is forced to live in Yurine's apartment as her familiar. The only way for Jashin-chan to return home is by killing her summoner, but this proves extremely difficult for the clumsy demon. Because Jashin-chan is immortal and can regenerate, Yurine uses various weapons and inflicts harsh punishments whenever Jashin-chan tries to carry out her evil schemes. Jashin-chan often meets her demon friends, the kind Gorgon Medusa and the lively Minotaur Minosu, who are both much better-behaved and oppose Jashin-chan's plans to harm Yurine. This comedy focuses on the strange daily lives of these unwilling roommates as they play their unique game of cat and mouse.

Reigen Arataka, acclaimed as the greatest psychic of the 21st century, reveals the 100% genuine, never-before-heard accounts behind his most impressive supernatural exploits. This globally renowned psychic narrates his tell-all book, offering a retelling of the events from Mob Psycho 100. This OVA was presented at the Maihama Ampitheater in Chiba on March 18, 2018.

Rumors persist about a girl who never ages and only emerges after dark, living in a secluded mansion deep within the forest. Some whisper she is a doll infused with a soul. Drawn by these tales, Akari Amano ventures into the woods to find this mysterious figure, only to become lost as night falls. The subject of these rumors is Sophie Twilight, a vampire who rescues Akari. Unlike the predatory vampires of legend, Sophie obtains her blood supply through online orders. Captivated by Sophie's doll-like appearance, Akari impulsively decides to move in with her, beginning their shared daily life together.

The cast takes a vacation after resolving the conflict in the demon world.

In "Natsume's Book of Friends Movie: Ephemeral Bond," Takashi Natsume and his feline spirit companion Nyanko continue their task of returning the names of spirits recorded in the Book of Friends, an inheritance from his late grandmother, Reiko Natsume. One afternoon, Takashi encounters a wandering spirit named Monmonbou, who recognizes his grandmother's name and shares memories of her. Driven by curiosity, Takashi travels to a secluded town linked to his grandmother's history. There, he forms a bond with Yorie Tsumura, one of his grandmother's old acquaintances, and her son Mukuo, gaining insights into Reiko's past. Meanwhile, Nyanko wanders off in search of food and discovers a peculiar "Spirit Seed." Overnight, the seed grows into a fruit-bearing tree, and unable to resist, Nyanko eats the fruit, resulting in his split into three separate entities. To reverse this unusual transformation, Takashi and his new companions work together, unraveling further mysteries within the town.

During humanity's most desperate hour, with no divine aid arriving, they called upon a demon for help, who brought the sword Zsoltgewinn. But this blade, driven by an endless craving for blood, turned against its summoners, leading to its eventual confinement. Centuries later, the Shoshidai, an organization dedicated to collecting cursed artifacts, uncovered Zsoltgewinn. Its overwhelming power proved impossible for humans to control, corrupting administrator Takuma Miura, who then escaped with the sword. Meanwhile, Gai Ogata's existence is forever altered by another cursed blade, Shiryu. His father is killed, and his mother takes her own life shortly after Gai's birth. Left in the forest with the sword in his grasp, Gai is found by blacksmith Amon. Over time, Gai becomes deeply fixated on the sword and grows into a master craftsman. After losing his arm in an accident, he receives a new one, which is actually the reforged Shiryu. Now wielding a cursed sword as his arm, Gai must learn to tame its savage nature. At the same time, Zsoltgewinn continues its violent path, spreading destruction wherever it goes.

The Yuragi-sou no Yuuna-san OVA series is included with the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, and twenty-fourth manga volumes. The initial OVA episode covers the twelfth manga chapter. The final OVA episode features adaptations of the ninety-ninth chapter, "Noroware no Kogarashi," and the one hundred and forty-first chapter, "Giri Giri!? Onsen Happening."

As the 21st century enters its third decade, the realm of youkai has become largely forgotten by most people. When a series of mysterious incidents throws the adult world into chaos, thirteen-year-old Mana turns to the Youkai Post for answers and unexpectedly meets Gegege no Kitarou.

Muhyo and Roji are specialists in supernatural law enforcement, offering services to those dealing with unwanted spiritual possession or seeking to either send a ghost to heaven or condemn it to eternal torment. Their expertise lies in delivering justice to malevolent spirits.

The second season of Spiritpact (Ling Qi) continues the story, with its Japanese dub debuting at the same time as the original Chinese version and airing on Tokyo MX.

The story is set in London, at "Café Forbidden," a mysterious café that only opens at night. The protagonist is a girl who is studying abroad in London. She encounters the handsome men who work at this establishment, a place where the guardians of the boundary between the human world and the shadow world gather.

High school memories, whether happy or sad, stay with everyone. But at one particular school, a dark event overshadows those memories: the brutal murder of a student. The victim, Tomie Kawakami, was a widely admired girl whose beauty seemed beyond this world. Her body was cut apart and scattered in pieces. As the students struggle to cope with the horror, they are stunned to hear a familiar voice from the classroom door, apologizing for being late. The newcomer has jet-black hair and a beauty mark under her left eye, exactly like the dead classmate. But how can this be Tomie?

In an extended Taishō era that lasted twenty-five years rather than the usual fifteen, a young woman agrees to marry a stranger in order to secure her family's future. On the night before her wedding, her younger brother sets himself on fire and dies while holding an ancient book. Confused and grieving, she is approached by agents from the Imperial Library Intelligence Asset Management Bureau, known as Fukurou. They explain that Maremono exist—books that can deeply influence their readers—and that after her brother's death, she has gained the ability to see Auras, the emotional radiations from Maremono that appear as glowing lights invisible to most. It seems fate is pulling her in. Despite her fears, she decides to break free from her confinement. She will encounter envy, hatred, scorn, compassion, and love, along with a dangerous darkness that begins to enchant the imperial city. As she is swept up in this darkness, will she uncover the truth through her trials, or...?

Following Ren Amamiya's apparent suicide, the rest of the Phantom Thieves are left heartbroken and adrift. As Sae Niijima rushes to Cafe Leblanc, she delivers a shocking revelation that drives the team to execute one final spectacular heist. The hardened warriors of the metaverse make a last attempt to show the world that they fight for justice—and to take down their former teammate turned traitor, Gorou Akechi. Watch them closely, or they might just steal your heart.

In Episode 12, Jashin-chan comes back from space with her objective to eliminate Yurine Hanazono and return to Hell still intact still intact. However, her schemes are put aside when Yurine talks her into joining a beach trip with their circle of friends. Instead of concentrating on her assassination plan, Jashin-chan ends up joining in different activities like swimming, eating shaved ice, battling a Kraken, and taking part in a barbecue, much like her summoner and close friends.

Part II of Sword Gai: The Animation.

This special unaired episode is included with the limited edition of the manga's 12th compiled volume. It focuses on Yuuki visiting his mother Midori, who then recounts how she met and fell in love with Tamaki two decades earlier.

Butlers are protectors bound by a thousand years of history and a fated purpose. Jay lived a peaceful life with his younger sibling Tenna and a fellow Butler named Hayakawa. That tranquility ended when Tenna disappeared into a void, and Jay was thrown a century into the future. Waking up in that new era, he discovers that Koyomi Academy now stands where his home once was. Adopting the alias Jinguji Koma, he becomes the student council president at the school while secretly searching for answers about his lost past. His journey will ultimately uncover the hidden truths of this transformed world.

In a fog-shrouded forest at night, a kamishibai stage stands alone in a clearing. As someone draws near, the mist parts to reveal the enigmatic, masked Storyteller, who continues to relate eerie, somber tales. These stories depict terrifying situations that could befall anyone, even those close to us. A group of girls bullying a classmate in a cave falls prey to a sinister presence. A boy suffering from scopophobia moves to the countryside but still feels the unsettling stare of unseen beings. Another person struggles with a window that refuses to stay shut and with strange phone calls. A businessman who takes an umbrella on a rainy day faces unexpected repercussions. Though the Storyteller's narratives may be entertaining, listeners must be cautious not to become the next chilling subject of his legends.

This special is part of the 25th anniversary Blu-ray box set. It adapts the "Two Shot" extra chapter from the manga's seventh volume, detailing the first meeting between Kurama and Hiei, and also includes the manga's second-to-last chapter, "All or Nothing," where the main characters come back together to resolve a hostage situation in the spirit world.

Accompanying her parents to a celebration in their rural hometown against her will, Oriko "Okko" Seki confronts a tragic truth: soon after they arrive, her parents die in a car accident. Forced to live at her grandmother's traditional hot springs inn, Okko finds an unexpected presence—a barefoot ghostly child. This spirit urges Okko to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and take charge of the inn. At first, Okko finds the inn's duties and catering to guests overwhelming. But recalling her parents' conviction that an inn ought to welcome everyone, she commits to upholding their memory. Encountering various other spirits in the village, Okko comes to realize that despite losing her parents, she is not alone.

In the historic city of Edo, known today as Tokyo, two adopted siblings manage a rental business meant to support locals who frequently encounter disasters like fires and floods. Their offerings include both practical goods for speedy evacuations and ancient objects that have gained spirits over the years, called Tsukumogami. These spirit-inhabited items listen in on conversations and share the information as gossip across the town. The kind-hearted siblings strive to settle the troubles caused by this rumor-mongering, harnessing the special powers of the Tsukumogami to restore harmony to the community.

During the sweltering summer, five university students break into a library's storage room hunting for hidden treasures. Inside, they find two antique mummies of young Italian women, ages 14 to 20. Sayaka, one of the group, cuts open a mummy to extract a "stone of life," a gem that grants incredible strength and immortality. With the stone taken, the mummies awaken as merciless zombies after a hundred years of sleep, desperate to recover it by any means—shattering skulls and eating flesh to grow stronger. The students must find a way to stop these zombie girls to survive. Can they make it through this ordeal?

The second installment in a trilogy of anime film adaptations based on the Donten ni Warau Gaiden spinoff manga. The Fuuma ninja clan operates as a secret tribe, awaiting the revival of the "Orochi" that occurs once every three hundred years. Within this clan reside the twin brothers Isuke and Isame, who endure a cursed existence after being ostracized by their own tribe for being twins. Their misfortune intensifies when Isuke is confronted with a harrowing ultimatum during the clan's twisted initiation ritual.

This is the third installment in an anime film trilogy that adapts the Donten ni Warau Gaiden spinoff manga. One day, Soramaru is ambushed by a stranger covered in large snake scales. The man bears a strong resemblance to Tenka and demands to know his whereabouts. Soramaru later discovers that this attacker was created through an experiment using Orochi cells. As Soramaru and the Yamainu members investigate, they unearth hidden secrets and are forced to battle former allies on their journey to uncover the truth.

After losing her parents in a car accident, 12-year-old Oriko Seki moves into her grandmother's traditional Japanese inn, Haru no Ya. Living alongside the spectral entity Uribou and encountering numerous strange occurrences, Oriko begins her journey to become a young innkeeper. Though she is initially reluctant to take on her training, she gradually develops respect for her role and dedicates herself fully to her duties. Through these experiences, Oriko matures into a capable young warrior.

The story follows Ai, an ordinary girl who is also a dancer. Her friend Machi is a dancer too, but Machi is a genius. Seeing Machi's talent often makes Ai feel discouraged. However, one day Ai discovers Machi's secret: the existence of the Aguu, palm-sized entities that bestow genius talent on those who hold them. To save Machi, who has become a "Seamstress" that produces Aguu, Ai becomes a "Savior." The Saviors are a group that has fought the Seamstresses for generations.

While sorting through old files, Roberto Nicholas comes across a curious document detailing a pact made with a witch. The record shows that the witch brewed an elixir that granted extended life to each subsequent pope, in exchange for having her cleared of the accusations brought during the witch hunts. Captivated by the Vatican's strict secrecy surrounding this document and the possibility that the elixir might be genuine, Roberto, along with his colleague Josef Kou Hiraga, sets out to duplicate the witch's formula.

In this comedic manga, the demon Memumemu-chan appears before high school student Hyouta. Although her mission is to seduce men and steal their souls, Memumemu has neither the motivation nor the capability to carry it out. The narrative revolves around Memumemu, Hyouta—who is frequently mislabeled as a lolicon because of her presence—and the attractive mother-daughter pair that manages the apartment building where Hyouta lives.

The courtyard is covered in cherry blossom petals, looking especially beautiful under the moonlight. Kagura wakes up and sits in the hallway facing the courtyard, thinking, "At night, the courtyard feels like something could happen at any moment..." Suddenly, a butterfly flutters by, its scales shimmering—Kochou no Sei. Indeed, nighttime is the perfect time for telling stories. Kagura grows drowsy under the effect of the dust from Kochou no Sei. And once Kagura-sama falls asleep—that will be the start of the story within the dream!

Following the fourth movie, the story follows 11-year-old Keisuke Amano, younger sibling of Natsume and child of Keita Amano and Fumika Kodama from the original Youkai Watch series. Keisuke remains skeptical about supernatural beings. However, he becomes curious when he notices his sister frequently returning home later than usual. After following her, he discovers she is exorcising evil Youkai with her friends Touma and Akinori, while also running a Youkai detective agency. Once this truth comes to light, Natsume lets him join their work, dealing with Youkai-related crimes and confronting harmful Youkai to protect the city.

In a world where humanity has developed a culinary appetite for zombies—whether stewed, sautéed, or squeezed—the Japanese corporation Flesh Inc. has successfully manufactured the undead on domestic soil during the economic boom of the roaring Sixties, using voodoo techniques imported from Africa. The company has since amassed a fortune by selling a vast array of zombie-derived products: instant noodles, soft drinks, hamburgers, pet food, and cosmetics. When three self-centered millennials find themselves trapped on their first day of work inside a fully automated zombie farm alongside their old-school, technotard supervisor—and a horde of undead running loose—bridging the generation gap becomes a matter of life and death.

Music Video of Kitsunetsuki's First Song Kedamonodamono used as the Ending Theme of the Anime Killing Bites.

The film weaves together the friendships of three children and various yo-kai. Set in the 1960s, in the Sakura Motomachi district of Tokyo, the story follows a boy named Shin, who lives a poor yet content life. After his mother—his only remaining family member—passes away, Shin's sorrow reaches its lowest point. At that moment, another boy named Itsuki comes to Shin's rescue; Itsuki has also lost his older sister. Shin, Itsuki, and a young girl named Tae, who has the ability to see yo-kai, become friends. Shin's guardian spirit, a Nekomata cat named Suu-san, along with other new yo-kai, join their circle. Together, the group rediscovers what it means to have a precious family. But this newfound family must confront a mysterious incident, and a shocking truth awaits them.

A "deleted scene" from Chainsaw Bunny, where the monster becomes a giant pink faceless looming creature.

Gegege no Kitarou: Tamashii to Art is a VR/3D film series from Toei Animation and Dynamo Pictures (Dynapix), created for the franchise's 50th anniversary. The first film features okuribi, large bonfires that mark the spirits' return to the spirit realm at the end of Obon, leading viewers into the world of youkai. In the second installment, you become lost in the youkai world and must find your way back home with help from Medama Oyaji. These films have been shown at various expos and film festivals. By March 2019, their screenings expanded to VR-equipped theaters, including the Lina World amusement park in Yamagata. The films are reportedly designed for the Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream standalone VR headset, with plans for rental availability to owners of this device starting autumn 2019.

Based on Tochigi TV's original idol group "Marronni ☆ Yell."

A promotional trailer released on Kadokawa's official anime channel, presenting exclusive footage from the 2019 reimagining of Boogiepop Phantom that was not included in the television series.

On April Fools' Day, a series of pranks linking Gegege no Kitarou (2018) and Fuji TV were produced, in which Medama Oyaji interacts with the Fuji TV mascot. This mirrors the common broadcasting network between the anime and these joke shorts. Toei Animation later assembled all three segments and uploaded them to their official YouTube channel.