Summary
When things go bump in the night, some might be inclined to call the Ghost Busters.But sometimes,the supernatural threat isn’t as etherealas it seems. Instead, it’s more demonic in nature, possessing the strength and ferocity to make Bill Murray run home crying.
Luckily, in anime, there are people who hunt demons down. These are folks who will unabashedly face evil while putting their lives on the line for the greater good or to, rather selfishly, fulfill their own goals. Regardless, their respective worlds would be a lot less safe without them around. For those looking to find out more about characters and stories like this, here are some of thebest anime about demon hunters.
Rin and Yukio are sons of the Devil, much to their chagrin. Upon learning this truth, Rin enrolls in True Cross Academy to hone his demonic skills, vowing to become strong enough to take him down.
This series is teeming with hunters-to-be, all with the goal of protecting the human realm from the demons threatening it. So, of course, while attending school, students are expected to take on some on-the-job training, exorcising demons. At the end of the day, though,Blue Exorcistis a shonen anime, so viewers should go in expecting some intense laughs to go along with the high-octane action.
Claymores are powerful female warriors who roam the land with the duty of destroying the demonic Yoma. At the show’s core is a classic revenge tale, with main character, Clare, using her immense strength to get revenge for the death of a former ally and friend.
Viewers quickly learn that being a Claymore comes with a host of sacrifices that must be made. In particular, they have to live with the constant threat of “awakening” (i.e., when they succumb to the destructive power oftheir demonic half and transform). This truth leads the show into some of its most tragic (albeit gripping) moments as the heroes of this world struggle against their dark sides.
Hyakkimaru is on a quest to regain his body parts that were sacrificed to demons, regaining a piece of himself with each one he slays. Along the way, he meets Dororo, a child just trying to survive. This child then joins him on his journey and provides valuable aid in battle, as well as in his everyday life.
Dororocan be heartbreaking, with the show’s unlikely duotraveling throughout feudal Japanand experiencing the tragic lives of its citizens. But it also knows when to get the adrenaline pumping, showcasing some brutal fights between Hyakkimaru and the demons he seeks to put down.
After his family is massacred by a demon and his sister is turned into one, Tanjiro Kamado joins the Demon Slayer Corp, dedicating his life to protecting humanity from this all but unseen force. As the story progresses, Tanjiro gains the help of Zenitsu and Inosuke, as well as the demon-hunting elites known as the Hashira, to help rid the world of demons once and for all.
Demon Slayeris pretty straightforward; it essentially documents a classicclash between good and evil, but that doesn’t stop the series from making the most out of its blood-pumping battle sequences and heartbreaking beats of drama. It also doesn’t hurt that the animation from studio Ufotable is some of the best that anime fans can get in this day and age.
While saving the life of a young boy from an oncoming truck, Yusuke Urameshi perishes. Upon reaching the afterlife, he learns that this selfless act has given him the opportunity toundo his untimely demise.
After further proving his worth, Yusuke is given the unique job of an underworld detective, which puts him in conflict with a number of malevolent foes, including spirits and demons. Some of these demons reveal themselves to be powerful allies, like Hiei, but others go on to truly test his newfound spirit powers.
Denji’s goals are simple ones, and he’ll do just about anything in order to achieve them. So, after he is killed and reborn withthe help of the chainsaw devil, he joins Public Safety as a devil hunter, mainly to survive.
This series gained massive popularity when it was released within the pages ofWeekly Shonen Jumpin 2018, and it only gained more fans once it was brought to life by the now legendary Studio MAPPA. Of course, beyond the devilishly slick animation resides one of the freshest takes on demon hunting in the medium. This is mainly due to the fact that devils inChainsaw Man, and their horrifying abilities, are simply a way of life in the shows' depiction of late 90s Japan.
Jujutsu Kaisenfollows Yuji Itadori afterhe is enrolled in Jujutsu High Schoolagainst his will as a way of keeping an eye on him, since the ridiculously powerful (and evil) Sukuna has taken root inside his body. He and his fellow students are then sent on all manner of missions to mitigate the presence of demons throughout Japan. Of course, with Yuji’s presence at the school, things get dicey pretty fast.
Studio MAPPA strikes again here, creating an anime, as well as an absolutely integral-to-the-story movie,Jujutsu Kaisen 0, that begs to be devoured as fast as possible. Of course, it’d be for naught if the story being adapted wasn’t bonkers in all the best ways, as proven by the recently adapted “Shibuya Incident.”
It’s an evil world that Guts and his companions inhabit. It’s one that is punctuated by the storied Eclipse, a terrible cosmic event that sees the death of most of the infamous Band of the Hawk. The event also sets Guts on a mission to defeat the God Hand, a powerful legion of demons, and enact revenge on his former comrade, Griffith, for his part in the terrible event.
Along the way, Guts has to cut down all manner of lesser demonic beings called Apostles, which are humans who have gained the ability to channel demon powers for their own ends. Most of these hybrids have gained some horrific forms and have done some unforgivable things in their time, but in the end, they’re no match forGuts and his sword, the Dragon Slayer.Berserk’s story has been adapted into two anime and a series of movies, all varying wildly in quality. Wherever anime fans choose to start, though, they should always circle back to the excellent manga at some point.
