Everyone has heard a joke fall flat or seen a jumpscare that jumped no one. Of all the genres, comedy and horror are arguably the most delicate. It takes a lifetime of practice to hone one’s skill to the point that laughs and scares come easily, and accomplishing either in an anime is quite the feat.
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Mieruko-chanis one such anime, funny and haunting, and upon completing it fans may well wonder where to turn for their next taste of horror or unexpected laugh. Taste may be subjective, but a handful of anime rise above the rest to become easy recommendations for fans.
Updated July 02, 2025 by Patrick Armstrong:The blend of horror and comedy inMieruko-chanis an uncommon one, and fans of the series in search of another anime that can replicate its particular brand of greatness may find themselves floundering. WhileMieruko-chanmay not have any identical twins, it has some excellent thematic siblings. Some are new additions to the genre while others are beloved classsics. Each, in their own way, captures some of that same magic: the shiver of horror, the shudder of laughter, or maybe a bit of both. In these anime, ghosts and good times are both right around the corner.
14Ghost Stories
LikeMieruko-chan,Ghost Storiesis an unusual blend of comedy and horror centered around ghosts. After bombing upon its debut in Japan, the series received an English dub as controversial as it is hilarious.
IfGhost Storiesis known for anything, it’s likely this dub. It’s inappropriate and offensive, but arguably one of the funniest dubs in existence. That such comedy coexists with horror elements in a story that is, ultimately, supposed to be about ghosts, makes things that much funnier and more surreal. On their own, the characters and artwork leave something to be desired, butwith voice lines like these,that can be forgiven.
13Psychic Detective Yakumo
Yakumo and Haruka are detectives, and Yakumo’s detective work is made easier by his enigmatic scarlet eye which allows him to both see and communicate with the dead. Yakumo is a complex and engaging protagonist, driven but not defined by his difficult past.
Unlike other series with a similar premise,Psychic Detective Yakumodoesn’t featureoutlandish special attackswith which Yakumo and Haruka battle ghosts. In the end, their ability to crack a case and win the day comes down to solid detective work, which makes the series feel more natural than most in the genre.
12Dusk Maiden Of Amnesia
It’s tough to tell a good ghost story, and it’s even tougher to tell one complicated by extra elements.Dusk Maiden of Amnesiaadds mystery. Then, for good measure, it adds romance. Then, perhaps because it’s having a bit of an identity crisis, it throws in some school hijinks.
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Dusk Maiden of Amnesiabenefits from strong animation throughout. Its backgrounds and characters are both lovingly rendered, with strong color choice and solid direction. The characters may not always be the deepest, but one can at least admire the artistry that went into bringing them to life.
11Gakkou Gurashi
At a glance, horror looks like the last thing that would appear inGakkou Gurashi(School Live!). Like other chibi and kawaii anime,Gakkou Gurashiis a “cute girls doing cute things” series, but it also happens to be one about the zombie apocalypse. Its opening leans into its cuteness to make it all the more jarring when it kicks viewers' legs out from under them.
It’s funny, sad, and sometimes even scary, which judging by visuals alone should be impossible.Gakkou Gurashiis proof that judging an anime by art alone can be misleading. Viewers that give this series a pass based solely on its art are only depriving themselves of an anime as good as some ofthe best anime of the season.
10Ghost Hunt
Ghost hunting is a premise ripe with humorous potential, and whileGhost Huntmay not bea comedic anime, it’s a horror story that delivers plenty of laughs along the way. First-year high school student Mai joins Shibuya Psychic Research and helps the organization research supernatural occurrences around Japan.
The SPR’s investigations are aided by Mai’s latent psychic abilities, allowing the research team to confront and deal with a variety of specters. Its name may not be inventive, but its storytelling often is, makingGhost Hunta great anime to experience when the goal is to pair laughter with the occasional shriek.
9Higurashi: When They Cry
LikeMieruko-chan,When They Crycould be mistaken for a typical, warm and fuzzy shojo at first blush. With a young cast as vibrant as those in any ofthe best school anime,Higurashi:When They Crycan lull viewers into a false sense of security, dropping their guard just in time for the horror to come slashing in.
Keiichi moves to the small village of Hinamizawa in time for the annual summer festival, which is troubled by murders every year. The characters may be young, but that in no way excludes them experiencing, or performing, terrible acts.The youth of these characters is a boon to the horror, as viewers can’t help but want the best for them, making each calamity all the more impactful.
8Shiki
The vampires ofShikiare as persistent a threat as anysurvival horror anime monster,and though dozens of anime have tackled the subject of vampires, none do so with quite the aplomb and style asShiki.
When murders rock a small town, the finger of blame points at a suspicious clan that has just moved into a nearby castle. Stellar character designs help elevate this tale of monsters that lurk on the edge of society. With a stellar soundtrack and the patience to build its horrors slowly rather than rushing and diluting them,Shikispins a disconcerting web around its audience.
7Yami Shibai
There are many great anime andhorror movies without jumpscares,but jumpscares are exactly what makesYami Shibaigreat. Its rough art style brings to mind paper dolls and children’s doodles, which only makes the scares that much more disconcerting.
Told as a series of short stories,Yami Shibaiembraces horror’s roots as a storyteller’s medium, concentrating its attention on the small details necessary to disconcert viewers before moving to the next tale. Though its art style and anthology structure will not be to every viewer’s taste,Yami Shibaiputs a decidedly different and worthwhile spin on horror.
6Hell Girl
For its unrelenting creepiness, fantastic lead characters, and solid pacing,Hell Girlranks amongstthe best horror anime.It would be hard to find a more interesting lead than Ai Enma, a girl on a mission from hell to deliver retribution to wrongdoers.
Hell Girlis a fantastic revenge tale, and were that its only saving grace, it would still deserve a watch. Thankfully,Hell Girlhas much more in its favor, including a deep exploration of just what deeds deserve punishment and what form that punishment can take and still be considered justice. Ai is an iconic horror character,Hell Girlthe horrific stage where her devilish performance may be savored.
5Corpse Party
Heavenly Host Academy is well-named, considering it now plays host to beings trapped in the afterlife. Unfortunately, those beings are murderers and other assorted menaces. More unfortunate, it is upon the site of the demolished academy that another school, Kisaragi, is built, ensuring a terrible time for the students that attend.
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Corpse Partydeserves its name. Bodies pile up like cut logs in this horror anime, often killed in gruesome fashion with the killers taking obvious delight in their misdeeds. This anime is a rough gem of horror cinema, jagged and gleaming.
