5 Best Supernatural Anime About Yokai, Demons, and Evil Spirits, Ranked by IMDb
From light comedies to blood-curdling horrors.
Japanese animation has long drawn inspiration from the country's rich folklore and yokai – spirits, demons, and mysterious creatures – hold a special place in these stories.
From ancient legends to modern urban myths, these beings have captivated the imagination for centuries. The anime industry has transformed them into a source of inspiration for a wide variety of genres.
5. 'Hozuki's Coolheadedness', 2014-2018
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
Hozuki oversees the paperwork in Hell: passionate about discipline, he brings order to chaos, disciplines the imps, and skillfully handles demonic grievances. Beneath his stern demeanor lies a dark sense of humor, a love for goldfish, and an ability to put even the most insolent demons in their place.
Even ghosts work tirelessly here, and encounters with representatives from Western Hell sometimes feel like corporate meetings with colleagues.
If you think eternity is boring, then you simply haven't seen Hozuki put the Devil himself in his place.
4. 'A Letter to Momo', 2011
IMDb Score: 7.2/10
After her father's death, 11-year-old Momo moves with her mother to a remote island. There, she finds an old, unfinished letter with just two mysterious words in it.
Soon, three creatures identifying themselves as yokai appear in Momo's life, but no one else can see them. Momo tries to find common ground with her new friends, but instead of offering support, the creatures cause chaos.
Eventually, it's revealed that the trio are not ordinary yokai, but rather mysterious messengers of the gods who have emerged from an ancient book of spirits. Their mission is to protect Momo and her mother until her father's soul finds peace.
3. 'Ghost Hunt', 2006-2007
IMDb Score: 7.4/10
The story centers on Kazuya Shibuya, the head of the Shibuya Psychic Research, and Mai Taniyama, an ordinary high school student who becomes his assistant after an unusual incident occurs.
Together with a team of psychics, including monks, priests, and sorcerers, they investigate paranormal phenomena. In the spirit world, Mai uses her psychic abilities to discover the key to her past.
Each episode presents a new supernatural mystery inspired by Japanese folklore.
2. 'Mononoke', 2007
IMDb Score: 8.1/10
In feudal Japan, where spirits and humans coexist, a mysterious traveling merchant known as the Medicine Seller appears. He battles creatures of darkness known as mononoke, which emerge from human passions.
Born of violence, murder, vengeance, and moral degradation, these entities are living manifestations of the crimes that spawned them. Armed with a magical sword, the Medicine Seller investigates their nature, uncovering the shape, truth, and reasoning behind their appearance.
Each case is a puzzle in which the Medicine Seller must heal the body and unravel the mystery behind the wrath of these otherworldly forces.
1. 'Natsume's Book of Friends', 2008-2025
IMDb Score: 8.1/10
Takashi Natsume is a young orphan who's been able to see yokai since childhood. One day, he inherits an old notebook from his late grandmother. The notebook contains the names of numerous spirits who had made pacts with her.
The spirits begin to pursue Takashi, demanding the return of their names and freedom. As he uncovers the notebook's secrets, he learns more about his grandmother's past, specifically the loneliness she concealed behind a facade of strength and independence.
Accompanied by his loyal cat-yokai companion, Madara, the main character sets out to return the names to the spirits, encountering stories filled with both sorrow and joy along the way.
