Feeling Dark? Explore Top 25 Best Emo Anime

(Last Updated On: December 19, 2022)

If you’re in the mood for something emotionally intense and introspective, then emo anime might be just what you’re looking for. From heart-wrenching tales of love and loss to character-driven stories of self-discovery and growth, these shows are sure to appeal to fans of the emo subculture and those who appreciate a more nuanced and complex approach to storytelling.

Whether you’re looking for a new show to watch or just want to add some depth and emotion to your anime collection, these top 25 best emo anime recommendations are sure to have something for everyone. So if you’re feeling dark and looking for a way to explore your emotions, these shows are a great place to start.

25. Akame Ga Kill

The story of Akame ga Kill! follows the character of Tatsumi, a young man who sets out on a journey to join the revolutionary army and help bring down the corrupt empire. Along the way, he meets a group of skilled assassins known as Night Raid, who are fighting against the empire’s tyrannical rule. Tatsumi joins Night Raid and becomes embroiled in the ongoing battle against the empire and its deadly agents.

Akame ga Kill! is known for its action-packed sequences and fast-paced plot, as well as its well-developed characters and engaging storylines.

23. Your Lie In April

Your Lie in April follows the story of Kousei Arima, a former child prodigy and talented pianist who becomes emotionally distant after the death of his mother, a famous musician who was also his strict piano instructor. Kousei’s life begins to change when he meets Kaori Miyazono, a talented violinist with a free-spirited personality. Despite being in a fragile state, Kousei is drawn to Kaori and her music, and through their interactions, he begins to heal and come to terms with his past.

Your Lie in April is known for its emotional and poignant story, as well as its beautiful and expressive animation. The series explores themes of loss, love, and the power of music to heal and bring people together. It has gained a large and devoted fanbase and has received critical acclaim for its storytelling and character development.

22. Myself; Yourself

The story follows the life of a high school student named Sana Hidaka, who returns to his hometown five years after moving away and reunites with his childhood friends. As they reconnect and reminisce about the past, the group is forced to confront the changes and personal struggles that have occurred in their lives in the intervening years.

Myself; Yourself explores themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery, as the characters grapple with their own emotions and relationships with each other. The series is known for its complex and emotionally charged storytelling, as well as its beautiful and expressive animation. It has gained a dedicated fanbase and has received positive reviews for its character development and handling of sensitive themes.

21. Black Butler

Black Butler is really cool anime about a rich kid named Ciel who has a demon servant named Sebastian. They solve mysteries and stuff, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Ciel is on a mission to get revenge for something super messed up that happened to him, and Sebastian is all about fulfilling his contract and helping Ciel achieve his goal.

But as they work together, they start to learn more about each other and their motivations. It’s a pretty dark show, but also has some funny moments and epic battles. If you like supernatural stuff and complex characters, you’ll probably dig Black Butler.

20. Psycho Pass

Psycho Pass is set in a messed up future world where AI decides if people are fit to live in society or not. There are these special inspectors who have to detect humans who might be a threat to society. The main character, Akane, is a new inspector and she works with Shinya and the rest of the team.

But then Akane gets caught up in some drama and Shinya has to save her from the bad guy, Shogou. They have this mental battle and it’s intense. Anyway, Psycho-Pass is known for exploring some deep themes like psychological trauma and how society can mess with your head.

19. Charlotte

Charlotte is an emo anime about a dude named Yuu who has special powers that allow him to do things like control people’s memories. But the catch is that he can only use his powers for a certain amount of time before he starts losing his own memories. So he has to be careful about how he uses them. Anyway, there’s this organization called Hoshinoumi Academy that’s dedicated to finding and helping kids with special abilities like Yuu’s, and Yuu ends up joining them.

But as he gets deeper into the organization, he starts to realize that not everything is as it seems and he has to make some tough decisions. It’s a pretty intense show with lots of twists and turns. If you’re into emo anime and shows with complex characters and lots of drama, you might like Charlotte.

18. Hell Girl

Hell Girl, also known as Jigoku Shoujo in Japanese, is a horror/mystery anime that centers around a mysterious website called the “Hell Correspondence,” which allows people to seek revenge on those who have wronged them by sending their tormentors straight to hell.

The website is managed by a young girl named Ai Enma, who serves as the titular “Hell Girl.” Each episode of the show follows a different set of characters as they grapple with feelings of anger and resentment, and decide whether or not to use the Hell Correspondence to seek revenge. While Hell Girl does deal with some dark and emotionally charged themes.

17. Elfen Lied

Elfen Lied is anime emo anime about a group of people with special powers called “Diclonii,” and one of them is this girl named Lucy who’s kind of a badass. She escapes from a facility where they were experimenting on her and ends up at this beach house with a dude named Kouta and his cousin Yuka.

But things get complicated because Lucy has multiple personalities and one of them is super violent. Plus, the government is after her because they think she’s dangerous. There’s a lot of gore and messed up stuff that happens, but also some heartwarming moments.

16. The Perfect Insider

The Perfect Insider is an anime series that follows two main characters, Moe Nishinosono and Professor Souhei Saikawa, as they become involved in a complex and mysterious murder case. Moe is a computer science student who is interested in artificial intelligence, and Souhei is a mentor and researcher in the field of computer science.

Together, they set out to solve the murder and uncover the truth behind the crime. The show explores themes of psychology, technology, and human nature, and features a mix of mystery, drama, and suspense. If you enjoy shows that involve intellectual puzzles and characters who are smart and resourceful, you might enjoy The Perfect Insider.

15. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 is an emo anime series that follows the story of two siblings, Mirai and Yuki, who are struggling to survive in the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake in Tokyo. The show deals with themes of loss, survival, and the importance of family, and follows the siblings as they try to navigate the challenges of living in a city that has been devastated by the disaster.

The show is known for its compelling characters and realistic portrayal of the aftermath of an earthquake, and has received widespread critical acclaim for its emotional depth and powerful storytelling. If you enjoy anime that deals with themes of loss and survival, and has strong character development and compelling storytelling, you might enjoy Tokyo Magnitude 8.0.

14. Death Parade

The story of Death Parade follows the lives of Quindecim, a mysterious bar in which people who die are sent to be judged. The bar is run by a bartender named Decim, who determines the fates of the souls that come through his establishment. Each episode follows a different set of characters as they are sent to Quindecim and must participate in various games or challenges in order to determine their ultimate fate.

Death Parade is known for its dark themes and atmosphere, as well as its complex and thought-provoking story. It is one of the best gambling anime.

13. Tokyo Ghoul

It’s about this dude named Kaneki who’s a pretty average teenager, except he’s kind of introverted. So one day he goes on a date with this girl Rize and she’s super hot, but then she attacks him and he realizes she’s actually a ghoul. Kaneki ends up getting some of Rize’s organs transplanted into him after she dies in an accident, and now he’s a half-ghoul. It’s crazy, right?

Anyway, he has to try to keep living his normal life while also dealing with being a half-ghoul. The second season isn’t as good as the first, but I’d recommend checking out the manga too if you’re into it.

12. Another

Another is a horror anime series. The story follows a group of high school students who become embroiled in a mysterious and deadly curse that has plagued their class for decades. As the students try to uncover the truth behind the curse and find a way to break it, they are faced with increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events that threaten their lives.

Another is known for its atmospheric and suspenseful storytelling, as well as its eerie and unsettling atmosphere. The series explores themes of death, grief, and the power of memory, as the characters grapple with the legacy of the curse and the secrets it holds. It has gained a large and dedicated fanbase and has received positive reviews for its engaging plot and well-developed characters.

11. Serial Experiment Lain

Serial Experiments Lain is a psychological horror and science fiction series that explores themes of identity, reality, and the nature of consciousness. The story follows Lain Iwakura, a shy and introverted high school student who becomes obsessed with the “Wired,” a virtual reality network that connects people’s minds and allows them to communicate with each other in a virtual space. As Lain delves deeper into the Wired, she begins to experience strange and unsettling events that blur the line between the virtual world and the real world.

Serial Experiments Lain is known for its unique and surreal storytelling, as well as its trippy and atmospheric animation. The series has gained a large and devoted fanbase and has received critical acclaim for its thought-provoking themes and innovative approach to storytelling.

10. Clannad

Clannad is an anime series that follows the story of a young man named Tomoya Okazaki, who is struggling to find purpose and meaning in his life. He meets a variety of colorful characters at his school, including a girl named Nagisa who is trying to revive the school’s drama club, and becomes involved in their lives. As he gets to know each of these characters, he begins to understand the struggles and hardships they are facing, and learns to value the importance of human connection and the power of friendship.

The show explores themes of family, love, loss, and the importance of finding one’s place in the world. It has a strong emotional core and is known for its well-developed characters and poignant storytelling.

9. Shiki

The story of Shiki takes place in a small village where a series of mysterious deaths and disappearances occur. As the village’s residents begin to suspect that the deaths are being caused by supernatural forces, they are forced to confront the possibility that they may be living amongst vampires. The series follows a group of characters as they try to uncover the truth behind the deaths and protect themselves and their loved ones from the threat of the vampires.

Shiki is known for its suspenseful and atmospheric storytelling, as well as its complex and well-developed characters. It explore deeper themes of loss, grief, and the fear of death, and may appeal to those who enjoy more emotionally-charged and introspective storytelling.

8. Hellsing Ultimate

The story follows Alucard, a powerful vampire who serves as a loyal servant to the Hellsing Organization, a secret group that protects England from supernatural threats. Along with his assistant, Seras Victoria, a young vampire turned by Alucard, they face off against various supernatural enemies, including other vampires, werewolves, and ghouls.

Hellsing Ultimate is known for its dark and violent themes, as well as its complex and compelling characters. It is also notable for its high-quality animation and action-packed sequences.

7. Death Note

Death Note is a manga series about a high school student named Light Yagami who discovers a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing their name in it while picturing their face. Light uses the notebook to rid the world of criminals, but his actions draw the attention of the international police and a mysterious detective known as “L.” The series has been adapted into various forms of media, including an anime television series, and has received critical acclaim for its unique plot and characters. It has also generated controversy due to its graphic violence and moral ambiguity.

6. Darker Than Black

Darker Than Black is an anime series about people with supernatural abilities called “contracts,” who must complete tasks in exchange for using their powers. The series follows a contractor named Hei who works for a secret organization called the Syndicate and carries out missions while trying to uncover the truth about his past. The show is known for its action and complex plot, as well as its well-developed characters. It is not a particularly easy anime to follow, but it is highly regarded and worth watching for those who enjoy action and compelling characters.

5. Ergo Proxy

The story of Ergo Proxy takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity lives in domed cities to protect themselves from the outside world. The series follows the character of Re-l Mayer, an investigator for the city of Romdo, as she uncovers a conspiracy involving the titular “Proxies,” mysterious creatures that have begun appearing in the city.

Ergo Proxy is known for its complex and philosophical themes, as well as its dark and dystopian setting. It may be of interest to those who enjoy more introspective and thought-provoking storytelling.

4. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion is an iconic and highly influential anime series about a teenage boy named Shinji who is recruited to pilot a giant bio-machine to fight mysterious beings called “Angels.” The show explores themes of mental illness, identity, and the nature of humanity, and is known for its complex and thought-provoking storytelling, as well as its memorable characters. It is considered a deeply psychological and introspective series, and may be of interest to those who enjoy emotionally-charged and intellectually-stimulating storytelling.

3. March Comes in Like a Lion

March Comes in Like a Lion is an emo anime series that follows the story of a young man named Rei Kiriyama, who is struggling with depression and loneliness. Rei is a professional shogi player, and the show follows his relationships with a group of young sisters who help him find purpose and meaning in his life.

The show explores themes of depression, loneliness, and the importance of human connection, and features complex and relatable characters who are struggling with their own emotional challenges. If you enjoy anime that deals with themes of mental health and the importance of human connection, and has strong character development and compelling storytelling, you might enjoy March Comes in Like a Lion.

2. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Also known as Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai in Japanese, is an emotionally powerful emo anime series that follows the story of a group of childhood friends who are reunited after the death of one of their own. The show explores themes of grief, guilt, and the difficulty of moving on, and follows the characters as they try to come to terms with the past and move forward with their lives.

The show is known for its well-developed characters and poignant storytelling, and has received widespread critical acclaim for its emotional depth and resonance. If you enjoy anime that deals with complex and emotionally charged themes, and has strong character development and storytelling, you might enjoy Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day.

1. Grave of the Fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies is a heart-wrenching anime film that follows the story of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, who are struggling to survive in Japan during World War II. The film deals with themes of loss, survival, and the human cost of war, and follows the siblings as they try to navigate the challenges of living in a country that is being ravaged by conflict.

The film is known for its emotional depth and powerful storytelling, and has received widespread critical acclaim for its portrayal of the human cost of war and its compelling characters. If you enjoy anime that deals with themes of loss and survival, and has a strong emotional core, you might enjoy Grave of the Fireflies.

Conclusion

Yo, if you’re feeling down and want to watch something that’ll really get you in your feels, there are tons of emo anime out there that’ll do the trick. From shows that’ll make you cry your eyes out to ones that explore deep themes of self-discovery and growth, these emo anime are guaranteed to give you all the feels.

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Arjun Goyal

I love to watch anime, movies and read novels, mangas, webtoons. My first anime series was Bleach that's why favorite. Solo leveling is favorite webtoon and Dragon Rioting favorite manga.