It’s October—a.k.a. Halloween month—which means it’s time to pre-game for the big day! Lots of us are spending the month watching our favorite creepy films, TV shows, and anime. If you’re in need of some big scares, we’ve got series for you!
Some are super-fresh, airing new this month. Others have been around for a while and are worth another look. Either way, these will keep you going ’til the end of the month!
Higurashi: When They Cry
Are you in need of a lot of Halloween watching? Then you’ll want to dive into everything Higurashi: When They Cry has to offer. The visual novel turned anime turned more anime is more than just a murder mystery. And it’s more than just a paranormal horror story. As of the latest anime installment, there are layers upon layers to peel back.
The story takes place in the 1980s in the village of Hinamizawa. For the last four years, the annual Watanagashi Festival has heralded a string of murders and disappearances. When Keiichi Maebara moves to town, everything seems fine at first in spite of this. But it isn’t long before his idyllic school life turns deadly. If you’re ready to explore the truth of the Oyashiro Curse, you can dive in now!
Junji Ito Collection
It’s taken a while, but horror master Junji Ito’s backlog of manga is finally getting multiple anime adaptations. While we wait for Toonami’s Uzumaki and Netflix’s Junji Ito Maniac, we’re rewatching the first of these: Junji Ito Collection. The anthology series, perfect for Halloween, dips into several of Ito’s works, both the well-known and the lesser-known.
There’s a look-in from Tomie, his legendary deadly beauty, including an episode too brutal for broadcast. You’ll also see other recurring characters from his many works. Among our favorites are the eerie “Long Dream” and the less horrific, more sentimental “Gentle Goodbye.”
Housing Complex C
Want something super fresh? Look no further than Cartoon Network. Adult Swim and Production I.G USA are teaming up to bring you Housing Complex C, a four-episode miniseries just in time for Halloween. The series hails from amphibian, creator of the visual novel Raging Loop, with original character designs by Serial Experiments Lain artist Yoshitoshi ABe.
Kimi is the youngest resident of a largely-elderly housing complex. But the nine-year-old soon befriends ten-year-old Yuri when Yuri’s family moves in… along with a whole lot of workers from overseas. What starts as a tense introduction quickly becomes friendly. But an otherworldly force seems to be stirring in the ancient ruins under the housing complex. Who will make it out alive?
Need something less scary instead? Chill out with these totally original fall anime titles.