Cosmic horror is a term coined to describe horror birthed from otherworldly beings and the terror of the unknown. It is the sub-genre attached to Lovecraft’s work, which often contains alien creatures that human beings minds cannot comprehend and eroding sanity when exposed to these beings or their machinations.
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While cosmic horror anime series are rare, it is certainly not heard of, and there are parts of cosmic horror sprinkled through some series to often horrifying effects. These anime series definitely set themselves apart by not pulling their punches and including some truly horrifying aspects that will challenge the minds of any who behold it, like Cthulhu himself.
8Made in Abyss
Don’t be fooled by the cutesy artstyle that is shown in promotional work,Made in Abyssis a heart-breaking and horrifying trial to endure. Set in an original world that features a large abyss that dwells beneath a town named Orth, many daring Cave Raiders explore the abyss which is rumored to house artifacts and remnants that once belonged to a long gone civilization.
Main character Riko is orphaned after her mother descended into the Abyss one last time, and is thought to be dead since she has not returned. Not content with this answer, Riko herself descends into the Abyss with Reg, a half human half robot boy, and from there on they encounter the horrors within the Abyss, which houses many creatures that are not simple animals or humans gone insane, but beings of an entirely different caliber.No scene hits quite as hard as those featuring Mitty, which anime fans curious about her fate should watch for themselves.
7Parasyte
Body horror meets cosmic horror in one truly disgusting marriage inParasyte. In this anime, 17-year-old student Shinichi Izumi becomes infected by an alien parasite that takes over his arm. Ironically, he is the lucky one as most of humanity have their minds taken over by alien parasites. Shinichi, and his parasitic hand he dubs Migi, work together to destroy the infected humans.
But there is more toParasytethanmindless violenceand alien beings. It raises questions that align with some ideas of cosmic horror, such as human mortality, and humanities place in the universe.Parasyteexplores some of these questions in a very meaningful way, bringing classic Lovecraftian ideals to modern-day media.
6Claymore
In a world ravaged by inhuman creatures that hunger for the flesh, what can humanity do but fight fire with fire? This is what the Organization does inClaymore, creating half-human half-monster warriors to fight these creatures.
The truth is, that each human infected with yoma will eventually turn into an Awakened One, creatures with great strength and intelligence, some of which verge close to being Eldritch with their ghastly appearances. Turning is said to be a pleasurable experience for theClaymorewarriors, feeding into the Lovecraftian idea that humans will submit to their base desires when promised great power.
5Junji Ito: Tales of the Macabre/The Collection
Junji Ito is a renown mangaka known for his truly horrifying and gross words that constantly push the boundaries of horror. As expected, some of his work eventually got an anime adaptation, resulting in anthology series of Ito’s best hits.
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Layered with plenty ofgruesome body horrorthat would make Lovecraft himself recoil in disgust, Junji Ito’s work incorporates the grosses parts of cosmic horror into its stories in ways to invoke the same spine-chilling dread in its viewers. WithUzumakion the horizon, there only more cosmic horror Junji Ito goodness in the future for anime fans.
4Neon Genesis Evangelion
When there areplanet sized gods residing in the universe, what are humans but mere specks of dust upon the cosmic curtains? This idea of cosmic insignificance is a key part of Lovecraftian works, and it is one that is explored well inNeon Genesis Evangelion.
Shinji’s despair and fear at the thought of piloting the EVA unit is understandable given the dangers that they face, the unfathomable Angels that terrorize their planet. While the anime is not so overly cosmic, the theme of human insignificance when faced with otherworld creatures is excellently portrayed to horrifying effect. The viewers themselves will share Shinji’s dread whenever one of the unfathomable Angel’s appear on-screen.
3Death Parade
How does one weigh the worth of a soul? Place the heart on scales opposite a feather? Look at all the choices and things they did in a short movie when they reach the afterlife? How about forcing them into games against another to see who is the most deserving? The latter is the premise of deeming humanity’s worth inDeath Parade, an animedealing in humanity and the afterlife.
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The Celestial Bureaucracy are the ones running the show, and while they seem to look human enough, their actions and their thoughts on humanity show these beings go beyond mere humans, taking on the role of angels or even gods with their humanity rating system. This is where the cosmic horror ofDeath Paradecomes into view, as they ones who run things are so detached from humanity and their worth, yet they continue thinking they know what’s best.
2Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Ananime series that subverts the magical girl trope,Puella Magi Madoka Magicais a series not to be taken lightly. Though it features a cast of cute girls with an affinity for one color that undergo transformations to battle evil, there are twists simmering beneath the overly colorful palette ofMadoka.
The cosmic horror influences come during the battles against witches, eldritch creatures that defy all humans nature and knowledge, often made of different media than the base show to highlight their alien nature. As it turns out, these witches are actually magical girls of the past, and that every magical girl will eventually mutate into one of these monstrosities. This is done in an apparent effort to save the universe from impending doom, placing the stakes ofMadokaon a scale mere human minds would struggle to comprehend.
1Housing Complex C
Though a short show,Housing Complex Cstill packs plenty of cosmic goodness in its four episodes, all set in the titularHousing Complex C. What seems like an ordinary and calm Housing Complex becomes a place where strange things happen after a group of new tenants move in to the building, with a few cosmic horror experiences to surprise viewers along the way.
Unlike other anime series that incorporate a few themes or ideals of cosmic horror,Housing Complex Cis the most obvious with its Lovecraftian influences, from the visual references to Cthulhu and other monstrosities to the elusion of cultists worshiping otherworld, unfathomable beings as gods. But what the anime lacks in subtlety it makes up for in how masterfully it tells a chilling tale of cosmic horror.
