For decades, animation has been a medium for kids, with cartoons highlighting creativity and childlike aspects. However, as time went on, animation is now enjoyed by all ages, from profound and complex animated series to action-packed and weird anime shows. However, mature animation only scratches the surface, as the medium has produced some of the darkest shows imaginable.
It is strange that people enjoy watching dark shows, but there is something about the gruesomeness, depressing nature, and maturity it presents. That is why this list ranks the darkest animated series of all time based on fan opinions of gore, depressing material, themes, messages, animation, explicit content, reliability, and maturity. There isn’t a single defining characteristic that makes a show dark, but these series undoubtedly qualify as dark.
10
‘Courage the Cowardly Dog’ (1999–2002)
Created by John R. Dilworth
Kids’ cartoons aren’t usually the darkest, and even when they include some dark material, it isn’t too much to handle. However, Courage the Cowardly Dog is another story. Courage (Marty Grabstein) has the task of protecting his elderly owners, but his cowardly nature makes it harder, especially when he is faced with monsters, aliens, and evil beings.
He may be cowardly, but no one can blame him for the things he has to face. Courage the Cowardly Dog employs conventional horror tropes and themes, already making the plot dark, but takes it a step further with its surreal and off-putting atmosphere. It isn’t the darkest show, but for a kids’ cartoon, it is plenty traumatizing.
9
‘Rick and Morty’ (2013–)
Created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland
Adult animation is spearheaded by numerous comedies, many of which are dark, including Family Guy. However, Rick and Morty is arguably the darkest because of the creator’s sense of humor and the sci-fi focus. The series follows a mad scientist (Justin Roiland and Ian Cardoni) and his grandson (Roiland and Harry Belden) as they embark on twisted and bizarre sci-fi adventures.
Rick and Morty is nihilistic, absurd, bizarre, and surreal, leading it to become a fairly dark animated series with plenty of comedy, so it doesn’t go too deep. Dan Harmon‘s twisted sense of humor brings a lot of darkness into the show, from gory moments to profound themes and disturbing thoughts, making this dark comedy live up to its name.
8
‘Berserk’ (1997–1998)
Created by Kentaro Miura
There are plenty of dark anime, including Attack on Titan, but the most critically acclaimed is Berserk. Born from a hanging corpse, Guts walked through hell at an early age, but joining the Band of the Hawk finally changed his life. That is, until one betrayal would ruin his life again, sending him on a path of blood-fueled revenge.
Everything about Berserk is dark, but because it features some optimistic moments and wholesome humor, it ranks lower than some fans might imagine. However, that doesn’t take away from the gruesome art and bloody moments, not to mention the sexual assault themes and mature subject matter. Berserk is the best manga, and it has achieved this status by telling its amazing story through disturbingly detailed art and a dark narrative.
7
‘Primal’ (2019–)
Created by Genndy Tartakovsky
Genndy Tartakovsky is a genius in animation, and his latest masterpiece, Primal, is set to receive a third season in 2026. As a Neanderthal (Aaron LaPlante) and his dinosaur roam the prehistoric world trying to survive, they face many enemies and obstacles, such as other creatures and more advanced races.
Fans wouldn’t think Primal is sad just from the visuals, but this action-packed series hits hardest in the feels, with plenty of emotional moments and tearjerking scenes. The grief and trauma-bonding make it a relatable dark animated show that can connect and traumatize viewers through its powerful lack of dialog.
6
‘Scavengers Reign’ (2023)
Created by Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner
Some of these series have lasted years with no end in sight, while others received the perfect number of episodes to cover the story and then concluded. However, Scavengers Reign left too soon, as HBO canceled the series after only one season, despite critical acclaim. Stranded on an alien planet, the three groups slowly merge towards the crash site.
While it’s a shame fans didn’t get to experience this dark adventure more, they can at least enjoy this brilliant sci-fi series and the horrors it presented. Scavengers Reign is primarily dark due to its intense violence, gore, and body horror, creating a visual terror that captivates audiences.
Created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha
Bands and singers reach a level of fame thought unobtainable to the ordinary person, but Metalocalypse takes it a step further. Following the most popular band on Earth, this group of metalheads is too famous for the world to handle, with people obeying all their commands, putting the world on the path to a metal apocalypse.
A majority of the animated shows on this list focus on the seriousness of darkness, but not Metalocalypse, which mostly aims to deliver a comedic and satirical take on it. This animated series is both a parody and a pastiche of heavy metal, leaning into the overly dark and scary themes of violence, death, and some more nuanced ones such as success.
4
‘Texhnolyze’ (2003)
Created by Chiaka J. Konaka
No one knows what the future holds in store for everyone, but people can at least expect it won’t turn out as bad as it did in Texhnolyze. The procedure of adding cybernetics to one’s body has stirred up countless problems in the city of Lux, but things seem to be speeding up towards disaster.
One aspect that makes a show dark is bleakness, and Texhnolyze is the bleakest anime imaginable, focusing on themes such as nihilism, hopelessness, and humanity’s failure. This anime doesn’t give any chance for the audience to hope or dream, crushing them with despair and darkness with its themes, animation, moments, and overall message.
Texhnolyze
- Release Date
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2003 – 2002
- Network
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Fuji TV
- Directors
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Nanako Shimazaki, Toshiharu Sato, Yasuhiro Matsumura
- Writers
-
Noboru Takagi, Shin Yoshida
3
‘Moral Orel’ (2005–2008)
Created by Dino Stamatopoulos
Claymation is a wonderful form of animation that has provided some of the most wholesome series, including Wallace and Gromit. However, on the other side is Moral Orel, a satirical black comedy that slowly evolves into a psychological drama. The titular protagonist (Carolyn Lawrence) lives by the code of his abusive father and the church, but this only causes disastrous results.
Moral Orel is surprisingly sad and gruesomely realistic, getting its darkness from the horrors and atrocities of the world. Covering themes such as abuse, racism, abortion, depression, addiction, suicide and so on, it tackles everything through a depressing lens that makes it a hard watch.
Moral Orel
- Release Date
-
2005 – 2008
- Network
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Adult Swim
- Directors
-
Chris McKay, Ethan Marak, Duke Johnson, Savelen Forrest, Sihanouk Mariona, David Tuber, David Cromer
- Writers
-
Nick Weidenfeld, Mark Rivers, David Agosto, Scott Aukerman, Mathew Harawitz, Paul Rust
2
‘BoJack Horseman’ (2014–2020)
Created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg
One of the best animated series in recent years has to be BoJack Horseman; coincidentally, it is also one of the darkest. A washed-up movie star (Will Arnett) is hoping to break out again with his new novel, but addiction, depression, and a variety of other issues restrict him from reclaiming the glory days.
Moral Orel and BoJack Horseman are fairly similar series, but the latter is more popular and has more fans backing its darkness, which is why it earns the number two spot. The realistic approach to depression is one of the best in fiction, but this realism adds a weight or darkness too heavy for most fans. BoJack Horseman is one of the best sitcoms due to its complex portrayal of worldly darkness.
1
‘Devilman Crybaby’ (2018)
Created by Go Nagai
Anime has become darker recently, with the most popular shows, such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, featuring mature themes and intense violence. However, Devilman Crybaby takes it a step further. When Akira helps his friend investigate a devil, he himself becomes one, trying to use it for good, but only achieves the opposite.
Unlike some of the shows on this list, Devilman Crybaby doesn’t attempt to convey important messages or life lessons through its dark content. Instead, it hopes to traumatize the audience with as much mature content, including violence, gore, sexual assault, abuse, and the end of humanity. This uncomfortable orgy of everything evil coalesces into the darkest anime of all time.