If you've already watched the fifth season of You and are looking for another gripping tale of cunning maniacs, it's time to turn to anime – we've picked only the most tense titles to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Although most popular anime characters are powerful heroes and warriors, stories about serial killers prove that fear and terror can be instilled without superpowers or extraordinary physical strength.
Here are five intense series that will keep you glued to the screen from the first minute to the last.
1. Monster, 2004-2005
IMDb Score: 8.7/10
One day changed the life of Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a brilliant Japanese surgeon who came to Düsseldorf. That day, he saved a boy who had been shot in the head during the murder of his parents.
After some time, three more murders occurred, and Dr. Tenma became the head of the hospital's surgical department. In the chaos of those days, the boy who survived the operation and his twin sister disappeared from the hospital without a trace.
Nine years passed and the murders in Düsseldorf began again.
2. Psycho-Pass, 2012-2019
IMDb Score: 8.1/10
The anime is set in the year 2112. In this future, the mental state of every person and their likelihood of committing crimes can be instantly measured by a device called the Psycho-Pass, which is attached to the body of every citizen.
If the crime coefficient index is too high, the person will be forced to undergo compulsory treatment or, if necessary, be terminated.
This task is carried out by special teams of the Public Safety Bureau. The story follows Akane Tsunemori, who has to solve crimes in this dark future.
3. Pluto, 2023
IMDb Score: 8.1/10
The world-famous Swiss robot Mont Blanc dies under mysterious circumstances. His death is the first in a series of murders that Gesicht, a Europol robot, is assigned to investigate.
All evidence suggests that the crimes were not committed by a human. Gesicht encounters the mysterious Pluto, who seems to be behind the murders. The man must act quickly and decisively: if the crime is left unchecked, the fragile balance between man and machine may be upset.
4. B: The Beginning, 2018-2021
IMDb Score: 7.1/10
In the near future, a mysterious, brutal killer appears in the archipelago state of Cremona, leaving a B mark at the scene of the crime. Sometimes the killer's motive and style change dramatically, making it impossible to even characterize him.
Keith Flick, an experienced detective who has been retired for a long time, joins the investigation of a series of murders. He has an unusual way of thinking: when solving a problem, he can draw entire boards with huge formulas that only he understands.
5. Paranoia Agent, 2004-2005
IMDb Score: 8.0/10
Paranoia Agent is a remarkable achievement by Satoshi Kon, the creator of Paprika, which has become a cult classic over the years.
Just 13 episodes of 25 minutes each – the story of one very strange investigation: some guy with a baseball bat attacks seemingly random people. The detective intrigue, however, serves here only as a plot frame, a way to bring together completely different, experimental stories.
