Top 20 Animated Psychological Thrillers
Top 20 Animated Psychological Thrillers on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation and Hulu (2023)
The thriller genre is pretty self-explanatory. Thriller anime are filled with cutting suspense and puzzling mysteries, often with high-tension sequences and complex characters.
The psychological thriller is a suspense-driven subgenre that has more to do with the psychological aspects of the characters than situation-based mysteries. Here are psychological thriller anime about , , & .
Contents
Top 20 Animated Psychological Thrillers on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation and Hulu
Best Animated Psychological Thriller on Netflix
5) Alice in Borderland
| Anime Name | Imawa no Kuni no Alice |
| IMDb rating | 6.8 |
| Number of episodes | 3 |
| Genres | Action, Supernatural, Suspense |
| Studio | MONEY LINK., Connect |
| Broadcast | 2014 – 2015 |
High school student Ryouhei Arisu goes through life bored and without ambition. One evening, while out with his friends, the three boys find themselves transported to another world where they find themselves stuck in a deadly game.
To survive, they must complete certain tasks like the rest of the participants. Facing death around every corner, Arisu feels alive for the first time in his life.
4) Paprika
| Anime Name | Paprika |
| IMDb rating | 7.7 |
| Number of episodes | 1 movie |
| Genres | Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Science fiction, Suspense |
| Studio | Crazy's house |
| Broadcast | 2006 |
Atsuko Chiba and Kosaku Tokita developed a device that allows someone to immerse themselves in other people's dreams. This device, DC Mini, is intended to help psychiatrists treat patients' psychological disorders.
But when this device that can just as easily be used for mental terrorism is stolen, Agent Toshimi Kanokawa sets out to find the thief, whether in the real or dream world.
3) Perfect Blue
| Anime Name | Perfect blue |
| IMDb rating | 8.0 |
| Number of episodes | 1 movie |
| Genres | Drama, Horror |
| Studio | Crazy's house |
| Broadcast | 1998 |
Like Paprika, Perfect Blue also comes from the famous Satoshi Kon and is one of the best psychological thrillers of all time. It follows Mima Kirigoe, a famous idol who retires from this profession to make her film debut.
But when Mima joins a crime drama series, her life starts to get weird. Although being an actress takes its toll on Mima, she finds a website where someone is pretending to be her. Very quickly, the distinction between reality and fantasy blurs for her.
2) Neon Genesis Evangelion
| Anime Name | Neon Genesis Evangelion |
| IMDb rating | 8.5 |
| Number of episodes | 26 + 1 movie |
| Genres | Action, Drama, Science fiction, Suspense |
| Studio | Gainax, Tatsunoko Production |
| Broadcast | 1995 – 1997 |
When the nefarious beings known as the Angels begin to invade Tokyo-3, the responsibility of saving humanity falls to NERV, who possess the only weapon to combat the Angels: the Evangelions robotic weapons.
is a traumatized teenager who is summoned to pilot Evangelion Unit-01 by his father. As Shinji fights the Angels alongside other pilots, he succumbs to depression.
1) Monster
| Anime Name | Monster |
| IMDb rating | 8.7 |
| Number of episodes | 74 |
| Genres | Drama, Mystery, Suspense |
| Studio | Crazy's house |
| Broadcast | 2004 – 2005 |
Monster is not only a great psychological thriller but one of the most underrated masterpieces of all time.
It all begins with a promising young neurosurgeon, Dr. Kenzou Tenma, who chooses to save the life of a young boy rather than the town mayor.
Little did he know that this boy, Johan Liebert, would become a killer whose intent was nothing but death and chaos.
Best psychological anime on Crunchyroll
5) School-Live!
| Anime Name | Gakkougurashi! |
| IMDb rating | 7.1 |
| Number of episodes | 12 |
| Genres | Horror, Mystery, Slice of life, Suspense |
| Studio | Lerché |
| Broadcast | 2015 |
Megurigaoka Private High School is all about living life to the fullest without worry. However, among all the freedoms, there is only one rule: club members must live their entire lives within the school grounds.
Members Yuki, Miki, Kurumi, and Yuuri, along with the president teacher, Megumi Sakura, and club pet Toranosuke, try to make the most of life while refusing the rule.
4)Tomodachi Game
| Anime Name | Tomodachi game |
| IMDb rating | 7.6 |
| Number of episodes | 12 |
| Genres | Suspense |
| Studio | Okuruto Noboru |
| Broadcast | 2022 |
follows Yuuichi Katagiri and his close friends, Shiho Sawaragi, Makoto Shibe, Yutori Kokorogi and Tenji Mikasa. When money for the next school trip is stolen, tension rises between the friends.
Soon after, they are kidnapped by a mugger and wake up knowing that one of the five is behind the kidnapping. They must go through several psychological games in order to repay their enormous debt to this person.
3) Id:Invaded
| Anime Name | Identifier: Invaded |
| IMDb rating | 7.6 |
| Number of episodes | 13 |
| Genres | Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense |
| Studio | NAZ |
| Broadcast | 2020 |
The police have found a new way with the Mizuhanome system, which allows people to enter the human mind.
A special task force, Kura, uses the "cognitive particles" left behind by the criminal to recreate his mind and reveal his identity.
The protagonist, Akihito Narihisago, masters this art but has a mysterious past that pushes him to leave the police force.
2) Moriarty, the Patriot
| Anime Name | Yuukoku no Moriarty |
| IMDb rating | 8.0 |
| Number of episodes | 24 (2 seasons) |
| Genres | Mystery, Suspense |
| Studio | GI production |
| Broadcast | 2020 – 2021 |
Set in 19th century Britain, Moriarty the Patriot is the reimagining of James Moriarty, the criminal mastermind created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
In this story, he is the second son of the noble Moriarty family, who hates a society where the rich are favored over the poor and powerless. He is determined to change society, even if he has to shed blood to do so.
1) Parasyte: The Maxim
| Anime Name | Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu |
| IMDb rating | 8.3 |
| Number of episodes | 24 |
| Genres | Action, Horror, Science Fiction |
| Studio | Crazy's house |
| Broadcast | 2014 – 2015 |
When a parasitic alien species invades the world, humanity is suddenly thrown into chaos. The parasitic creatures invade a person's body before taking over their brain.
Shinichi Izumi is a gentle teenager who finds his right hand invaded by a parasite. is a high-voltage sci-fi horror tale and incredible animated psychological thriller.
Best psychological thriller anime on Funimation
5) Classroom of the Elite
| Anime Name | Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e |
| IMDb rating | 7.7 |
| Number of episodes | 25 (2 seasons) |
| Genres | Drama |
| Studio | Lerché |
| Broadcast | 2017 – 2022 |
Koudo Ikusei High School may be a top school, but it maintains a discriminatory environment as students are divided into four classes: A to D, based on merit, with A being the smartest and D having the rejects.
Additionally, students from higher classes are favored over Class D. Kiyotaka Ayanokouji is a Class D student who will use everything to his advantage to climb to Class A.
4) Paranoia Agent
| Anime Name | Mousou Dairinin |
| IMDb rating | 8.0 |
| Number of episodes | 13 |
| Genres | Drama, Mystery, Supernatural, Suspense |
| Studio | Crazy's house |
| Broadcast | 2004 |
We already have two great Satoshi Kon anime on this list of the best psychological thriller anime; now we have another one: .
It begins with Tsukiko Sagi, a character designer, who is suddenly attacked by a young man on roller skates with a baseball bat. Soon, other victims of the attacker appear, terrorizing the town of Musashino with frightening paranoia.
3) Serial Experiments Lain
| Anime Name | Lain serial experiments |
| IMDb rating | 8.1 |
| Number of episodes | 13 |
| Genres | Drama, Mystery, Science fiction, Supernatural |
| Studio | Triangle stick |
| Broadcast | 1998 |
He will always be remembered for the accuracy with which he predicted the Internet and its influence on humanity. The story follows Lain Iwakura, an introverted middle school student with distant parents and a bullied older sister.
When she receives an email from a deceased classmate, Lain finds herself entangled in the virtual world of Wired, and ends up learning the ultimate truth about herself.
2) Puella Magi Madoka Magica
| Anime Name | Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica |
| IMDb rating | 8.2 |
| Number of episodes | 12 |
| Genres | Drama, Suspense |
| Studio | TREE |
| Broadcast | 2011 |
begins as a cute magical girl anime that soon upends viewers' expectations with a horrific event.
Madoka and Sayaka, two middle school girls, have the opportunity to become Magical Girls and protect people from witches. However, the darkness lies within the very fate of the Magical Girls themselves.
1) Psycho-Pass
| Anime Name | Psycho-Pass |
| IMDb rating | 8.2 |
| Number of episodes | 41 (3 seasons) + 1 film |
| Genres | Action, Science fiction, Suspense |
| Studio | GI production |
| Broadcast | 2012 – 2019 |
In the future, Japan will use a very advanced technology called the Sybil system, which monitors the mental state of citizens to assess their criminal intentions, that is, the mental state of citizens.
An idealistic recruit believes in the system and justice and joins the police department as an inspector and joins forces with Enforcer.
Psycho-Pass is a high-voltage animated psychological thriller that will not only make you bite your nails, but also give you plenty of food for thought.
Best psychological thriller anime on Hulu
5) Future Diary
| Anime Name | Mirai Nikki |
| IMDb rating | 7.5 |
| Number of episodes | 26 |
| Genres | Action, Supernatural, Suspense |
| Studio | read. |
| Broadcast | 2011 – 2012 |
Yukiteru Amano is an introverted teenager who suddenly finds himself caught in a battle royale with twelve other participants in the race to become the next god of time and space.
The current god of time and space, Deus Ex Machina, gives Yukiteru and the other participants different powers based on the future on their cell phones.
Frightened by his situation, he meets another participant and partners with her, unaware that the person he should be most wary of is Yuno herself.
4) Ergo Proxy
| Anime Name | Ergo Proxy |
| IMDb rating | 7.9 |
| Number of episodes | 23 |
| Genres | Mystery, Science fiction |
| Studio | Manglobe |
| Broadcast | 2006 |
Ergo Proxy is a science fiction psychological thriller about an Earth that faced a massive catastrophe in the past, leaving the last survivors of human civilization in the city of Romdo. The last humans go about their daily lives with the help of AutoReivs robots. When the AutoReivs begin to gain consciousness due to a virus, Re-I Mayer is tasked with investigating with her AutoReiv partner, Iggy.
3) The Promised Neverland
| Anime Name | Yakusoku in Neverland |
| IMDb rating | 8.3 |
| Number of episodes | 23 (2 seasons) |
| Genres | Mystery, Science Fiction, Suspense |
| Studio | Clover works |
| Broadcast | 2019 – 2021 |
In one of the most shocking debut episodes of all time, it establishes itself as one of the best animated psychological thrillers of all time. It begins with the orphans of Grace Field, cared for by their loving mother, enjoying a peaceful and idyllic life.
This illusion is shattered when Emma and Norman, two of the oldest children, discover that the orphanage is actually a breeding operation and that the children are being raised to be sold as food for monster-like creatures.
2) Erased
| Anime Name | Boku dake ga Inai Machi |
| IMDb rating | 8.5 |
| Number of episodes | 12 |
| Genres | Mystery, Supernatural, Suspense |
| Studio | Photos A-1 |
| Broadcast | 2016 |
When 29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma finds himself gifted with the ability to rewind time, he uses his "Rebirth" powers to help people.
However, accused of murdering his mother, Satoru discovers that his current situation is linked to a murder committed in the past. He must go back 18 years and save to protect his loved ones.
1) Death Note
| Anime Name | Death threat |
| IMDb rating | 9.0 |
| Number of episodes | 37 |
| Genres | Supernatural, Suspense |
| Studio | Crazy's house |
| Broadcast | 2006 – 2007 |
Death Note is not only one of the greatest psychological thrillers of all time, but also one of the greatest anime, period. It revolves around , who finds a Death Note that kills anyone whose name is written on its page.
With this powerful power, Light sets out to kill criminals all over the world. Soon, her vigilant actions bear Kira's name, and the world's greatest detective, L, sets out to find Kira's true identity.
And it was the top 20 psychological thriller anime on Netflix, and Hulu. All of these anime are awesome and provide enough thrills to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Check them out on your favorite platform, and when you're done, visit some suggestions for great anime from different genres.
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