While most shojo anime are cheerful and have upbeat and laugh-out-loud funny characters, shojo fans can also find surprisingly dark shojo series with terrifying characters, heartbreaking moments, and chilling stories. Anime lovers can watch all types of dark shojo anime and explore dystopian sci-fi worlds and all kinds of magical realms.
Some of the darkest anime girls are also the creations of dark shojo anime writers who managed to give viewers one-of-a-kind characters and stories. Thanks to these heartbreaking and spooky anime, fans can explore excellent horror shojo, dark magical shojo, and all types of shojo stories that put a spin on this traditionally feel-good genre while taking their fans on unforgettable and emotionally devastating adventures.
7 Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is one of the most popular magical girl anime shows and one of the darkest magical shojo anime shows. This seemingly cute anime deals with heavy and dark themes and its characters go through some devastating things after becoming magical girls.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica's dark fantasy world is filled with deadly battles, murderous witches, and heroic magical girls who sacrifice their lives to fight against these evil creatures. Its story follows the adventures of Madoka and a group of other magical girls who try to find a way to stop their agreement with Kyubey.
6 Vampire Knight
Vampire Knight is a beautifully animated shojo vampire story with some of the most powerful vampires in anime. It's a perfect choice for those anime lovers who are looking for a dark shojo anime but don't want to watch anything too gory or bloody.
While Vampire Knight doesn't have many brutal fight scenes or terrifying monsters, it's still atmospheric and spooky, and its story is filled with lots of twists. It's also one of the best dark anime that managed to brilliantly mix various genres creating a unique experience for fans. Its story follows Yuki's adventures at the Cross Academy where she and his childhood friend Zero try to maintain the peace between vampires and humans.
5 Natsume's Book Of Friends
Natsume's Book Of Friends is one of the most charming shojo anime with a slice-of-life feel that gets surprisingly heavy and dark from time to time. Thanks to this beautiful yet heartbreaking anime, fans can also learn about Japanese folklore. It's another anime that doesn't have gore in it, but fans can expect to see some intense moments and emotionally challenging storylines.
Its story follows Natsume's adventures as the young boy tries to free spirits who were defeated and bound by his grandmother many years ago. Anime lovers who are looking for dark shojo stories and enjoy touching slice-of-life anime series with serious themes about death, the afterlife, and loneliness should definitely check out Natsume's Book Of Friends.
4 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day is one of the darkest and most heartbreaking shojo anime series around, with brilliantly crafted characters and a highly emotional story about childhood trauma and grief. With its tear-jerking story and relatable characters , Anohana manages to take its viewers to dark places but also helps them to get out of these emotionally challenging situations.
For those who are looking for dark shojo anime about grief and loss, Anohana is an excellent choice, since although they'll be immersed in a painful story, they'll also get inspiration for healing. The story follows the adventures of five friends who reunite after their childhood friend's ghost appears and asks them to make her final wish come true.
3 No. 6
No. 6 is one of the most underrated shojo sci-fi anime series that transports its viewers into a dystopian city named No.6. This thought-provoking sci-fi shojo deals with a deep theme about the dark sides of society and has a touching romance story.
No.6 riveting story also has powerful action scenes as well as well-crafted characters including its two leads, Rat and Shion. Its story follows their adventures after the two young boys embark on a journey to uncover the dark secrets of their seemingly ideal city, No.6, while also discovering themselves and the love they have for each other.
2 Junji Ito Collection: Tomie
Tomie is shojo horror at its very best. The Junji Ito Collection features some of the manga artist's scariest works and anime fans can meet a new terrifying character in each episode. However, its most popular and spookiest one is Tomie.
This dark and violent omnibus anime is a great choice for shojo fans who love horror and gore anime and want to watch a new story with a beautiful and mysterious girl. While Tomie might seem like a sweet and kind person, viewers will soon find out that she's actually a selfish and highly manipulative girl who enjoys torturing others, seducing men, and making them do terrible things.
1 Banana Fish
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Banana Fish is an extremely violent and heartbreaking shojo anime that follows the adventures and the budding romance between a young gang leader, Ash, and his new friend Eiji. Anime fans can not only enjoy great action scenes and shocking plot twists but also explore a heartbreaking and realistic romance story.
Banana Fish's dark world is filled with brilliantly crafted characters who make the story feel more absorbing. Its story follows Ash's dangerous journey after he accidentally uncovers a conspiracy involving a mysterious drug called Banana Fish that somehow brainwashes its users.