Updated March 23, 2022 5.3k votes 2k voters 103k views
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Vote up the dark fantasy anime that deserve more recognition.
Some of the most popular anime in recent years have been dark fantasy. If you're loving the newest seasons of Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan but are craving more from the genre, don't despair - there are plenty of amazing underrated dark fantasy anime that you can check out. From newer shows like Dorohedoro to old-school series like Wolf's Rain, the genre is a gold mine of some of the best anime out there.
Want a dark fantasy anime with an OP MC? Check out Vampire Hunter D. Looking for something a little more down to earth? Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash might be more your speed. No matter what you're looking for, if you're a dark fantasy fan, you'll find something here you'll love.
After perishing in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Toyohisa Shimazu is dragged through a strange door that leads to a fantasy world. There, he meets warriors from different places and time periods on Earth, as well as fighters from fantasy worlds.
These fighters, called Drifters, have been summoned to take on the Ends - the creators of the Orte Empire and the force behind the rampant persecution of elves, demi-humans, and the Drifters themselves. He soon teams up with warlord Nobunaga Oda and the archer Yoichi Suketaka Nasu - allies he'll need if he means to survive.
Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions is technically an isekai, but it doesn't feel like a typical isekai. After being transported to a new world with only hazy memories of their old one, the protagonists must figure out how to survive. With few skills, no social standing, and no money, their only choice is to join the Reserve Army.
Though this world resembles a fantasy world, it's frighteningly real. If they want to survive, they're going to have to take lives.
If you're looking for a combination of zany humor and disturbing moments, Dorohedoro is it. The citizens of Hole are seen as expendable fodder for magical experimentation. This, of course, makes life a living hell for anyone who isn't a magic-user.
After Kaiman is transformed into a lizard-headed beast, his one goal is to find the magic-user who did this to him and make them change him back. With restaurant owner and chef Nikaidou by his side, he heads out on his dangerous quest.
Originally a manga, Vampire Hunter D has spawned two animated films, Vampire Hunter D and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. Both are worth a watch if you can get your hands on them - they're classics for a reason.
They center around the titular D, a dhampir (half-vampire, half-human) who has dedicated himself to protecting humans from vampiric attacks.
Other than suffering from both anemia and amnesia, Saya Otonashi is living an ordinary life - or so she thinks. When a creature that feeds on human blood attacks her at school, a man named Haji appears and fights the creatures. But he's not just there to rescue her - he's there to feed her his blood and unlock Saya's latent abilities.
After this event, Saya starts working with Haji at the Red Shield, an organization dedicated to destroying these creatures. Along the way, she discovers clues that might lead her to the memories she's lost.
The world may be about to end, but there is a legend that provides hope - a legend about a gateway to paradise. But the legend states that the only ones who can access this paradise are wolves. In this world, wolves are thought to be extinct. They still exist, but they survive by transforming into humans and blending into human society.
Kiba, along with a small group of other wolves, has been drawn to a destitute town called Freeze City by the mythical Lunar Flower. This flower is said to be the key to paradise. But their journey won't be easy, because they aren't the only ones trying to get their hands on the Lunar Flower.
