Hell Girl (Jigoku Shoujo) stands out for its episodic tales of vengeance, moral grayness, and haunting atmosphere. Blending supernatural folklore with psychological torment, it explores the price of revenge, often subverting viewer expectations.
Fans drawn to its slow-burn narratives, mysterious protagonists, and moral ambiguity may find these 15 lesser-known anime series deeply satisfying. Each shares thematic or narrative DNA with Hell Girl—and they’re well worth discovering.
1. Shigofumi: Letters from the Departed (2008)
Streaming: HiDive, Amazon Prime Video
Episodes: 12
MAL Rating: 7.36
Studio: J.C. Staff
After death, some souls send a final letter—delivered by a stoic girl named Fumika. Each episode unpacks a different character’s final words.
Similarities: Like Hell Girl, this series follows episodic stories of emotional catharsis and features a quiet, emotionally detached female protagonist with a hidden backstory.
2. Mouryou no Hako (2008)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 13
MAL Rating: 7.45
Studio: Madhouse
Notable Staff: Directed by Ryosuke Nakamura (Aoi Bungaku Series)
A journalist and occult detective investigate a series of gruesome murders involving dismembered schoolgirls. The mystery deepens with supernatural implications.
Similarities: Psychological horror, slow pacing, and dialogue-driven narratives echo Hell Girl’s mature storytelling.
3. Petshop of Horrors (1999)
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Episodes: 4 (OVA)
MAL Rating: 7.05
Studio: Madhouse
An enigmatic pet shop in Chinatown sells rare creatures with life-altering consequences. Each customer meets a mysterious fate.
Similarities: Episodic morality tales with a mystical overseer and a dark twist in every story, much like Enma Ai’s role.
4. Aoi Bungaku Series (2009)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 12
MAL Rating: 8.04
Studio: Madhouse
Awards: Japan Media Arts Festival Jury Recommended Work
Adaptations of classic Japanese literature, each arc dives into human psychology, crime, and self-destruction.
Similarities: Grim aesthetic, literary storytelling, and psychological torment mirror Hell Girl’s themes of despair and retribution.
5. Boogiepop Phantom (2000)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Episodes: 12
MAL Rating: 7.15
Studio: Madhouse
After a strange event, high school students experience supernatural phenomena tied to a shinigami-like figure.
Similarities: Non-linear storytelling, dark themes, and a mysterious female figure align closely with Hell Girl’s atmosphere.
6. Mononoke (2007)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 12
MAL Rating: 8.44
Studio: Toei Animation
Notable Staff: Directed by Kenji Nakamura (Kuuchuu Buranko)
A medicine seller hunts malevolent spirits called mononoke, solving spiritual mysteries using truth, form, and reason.
Similarities: Supernatural justice, stylized visuals, and episodic tales dealing with guilt and karma make this a thematic cousin to Hell Girl.
7. Shiki (2010)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Episodes: 22
MAL Rating: 7.76
Studio: Daume
A remote village faces a wave of mysterious deaths as vampires rise.
Similarities: Slow-burn horror, questions of morality, and the price of vengeance parallel Hell Girl’s tone and pacing.
8. Ghost Hound (2007)
Streaming: HiDive
Episodes: 22
MAL Rating: 7.39
Studio: Production I.G
Notable Staff: Created by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell)
Three boys experience out-of-body phenomena and unravel hidden traumas in their town.
Similarities: Psychological tension, layered storytelling, and supernatural horror echo Hell Girl’s atmosphere and themes.
9. Kurozuka (2008)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 12
MAL Rating: 6.74
Studio: Madhouse
A man falls for a mysterious woman who grants him immortality—leading to centuries of war, betrayal, and loss.
Similarities: Dark aesthetics, tragic romance, and existential themes align with Hell Girl’s narrative style.
10. Requiem from the Darkness (2003)
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Episodes: 13
MAL Rating: 6.92
Studio: Studio Deen
A writer encounters yokai and eerie crimes while gathering ghost stories in Edo Japan.
Similarities: Japanese folklore, justice served through the supernatural, and unique visual styles mirror Hell Girl’s formula.
11. Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales (2006)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 11
MAL Rating: 7.02
Studio: Toei Animation
Three classic Japanese ghost stories animated with bold visuals and rich period detail.
Similarities: Supernatural horror rooted in folklore, featuring grim consequences and eerie resolutions.
12. Kaidan Restaurant (2009)
Streaming: N/A (DVD available)
Episodes: 23
MAL Rating: 7.15
Studio: Toei Animation
Each episode tells a spooky story introduced by a ghostly hostess.
Similarities: Episodic horror, morality tales, and youth-focused scares in the same vein as Hell Girl‘s anthology format.
13. Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories (2013–Present)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 10 seasons, 5 min. per episode
MAL Rating: Varies (7.0–7.5)
Studio: ILCA
Short urban legends narrated in kamishibai (paper theater) style, offering eerie bite-sized chills.
Similarities: Flash-horror format, folklore-based tales, and twists reminiscent of Hell Girl‘s compact moral storytelling.
14. Midori: Shoujo Tsubaki (1992)
Streaming: Not officially available (underground cult classic)
Episodes: 1 (film)
MAL Rating: 6.51
Studio: Hiroshi Harada (Independent)
A young girl joins a grotesque freak show, enduring abuse and finding temporary refuge in magic.
Similarities: Disturbing visuals, tragic fate, and social cruelty reflect Hell Girl‘s bleak narrative themes.
15. Narutaru (2003)
Streaming: N/A (fan sub only)
Episodes: 13
MAL Rating: 6.88
Studio: Planet
Notable Staff: From the creator of Bokurano
What begins as a whimsical tale of a girl and her dragon turns into psychological horror involving abuse, suicide, and manipulation.
Similarities: Bait-and-switch storytelling, moral decay, and children dealing with cruel realities—all present in Hell Girl.
Why These Anime Work for Hell Girl Fans
Fans of Hell Girl are drawn to morally complex, haunting stories wrapped in supernatural horror. Each anime above shares a piece of that psychological depth—whether it’s episodic justice (Shigofumi, Petshop of Horrors), folkloric vengeance (Mononoke, Ayakashi), or gut-punch narratives about human darkness (Narutaru, Boogiepop Phantom). Their lower mainstream visibility doesn’t reflect their storytelling power. If you loved Hell Girl’s mix of eerie beauty and emotional weight, these series deserve a spot on your watchlist.
