Looking for an anime to marathon for Halloween or in the days leading up to it? Check out my recommendations below, each offering its own interpretation of both spooky and cute. Whether you prefer lighthearted stories with supernatural characters or seemingly adorable series with darker undertones, these shows are worth giving a whirl.
Creepy & Whimsical Paranormal Adventures
These anime series feature spooky, supernatural elements, but come with wholesome stories and a cute cast of characters.
Little Witch Academia is a coming-of-age magical story about Akko and her friends Lotte and Sucy, a ragtag trio of student witches at Luna Nova Academy. With Akko’s impulsiveness, Sucy’s sarcasm, and Lotte serving as the voice of reason, every day is a new escapade for these girls. Stream it on Netflix.
Don’t let these horrifying creatures fool you (you can always cover your eyes if it gets too creepy!)—Mieruko-chan is a horror-comedy that pretty much personifies the “I pretend I do not see it” meme. Follow hapless heroine Miko Yotsuya as she tries to live a normal life while ignoring the ghosts that just won’t leave her alone. You can stream the show on Crunchyroll or Netflix.
A fantasy comedy with a majority supernatural cast and one human boy, Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun isa wholesome story about Iruma Suzuki, the only human enrolled in a school for demons. Iruma’s uncanny adaptability, endearing personality, and humorous misadventures help him make a lot of friends at school, all while keeping his true nature hidden. With the fourth season having just finished airing last month and the manga still ongoing, there’s plenty of content to catch up on. Stream the latest season or start from the very beginning via Crunchyroll, Netflix, or Prime Video.
Cute on the Outside, Dark on the Inside
On the other hand, these anime series have seemingly cute stories and characters, but actually deal with much darker and serious themes.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica has pretty much cemented its status as the quintessential dark magical girl anime at this point. It seems like your typical mahou shoujo series at a glance, but it actually explores philosophical & psychological themes, such as the burden of fate, the true meaning of selflessness and self-sacrifice, and what a single wish truly costs. It’ll leave you with plenty of questions to ponder long after you finish the last episode. Stream PMMM on Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, or Prime Video.
The Promised Neverland introduces a seemingly wholesome story set in the Grace Field House orphanage. Every child is lovingly raised by their “Mother” Isabella and enjoys a cozy life with farm-fresh food, soft linen beds, and afternoon playtime. However, three of Grace Field’s brightest: Emma, Norman, and Ray, discover that a much darker fate awaits them upon their “adoption.” Along with Iruma-kun, this is one of my personal favorites from the list, so take my advice if the first season leaves you wanting more: pretend the second season does not exist and head straight to the manga instead. You can stream TPN on Crunchyroll, Netflix, or Prime Video.
Last but not least is Made in Abyss, a dark fantasy adventure centered on cave diving—and if you’ve seen the cave-diving memes, you already have an inkling of what you’re getting into. The series focuses on Riko, who dreams of following the footsteps of her mother, a legendary Cave Raider who earned the highest rank of White Whistle. As Riko prepares for her descent into the mysterious chasm in the middle of her hometown, she meets Reg, a robot boy equipped with a powerful energy beam, who accompanies her. While I won’t spoil anything, just know that the warnings in the earlier episodes about the Abyss being more dangerous the deeper you go should be taken seriously—the show takes a very dark turn around episode 10. Stream Made in Abyss on Crunchyroll, Netflix, or Prime Video.
Which anime are you marathoning for this spooky cute season?
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