15 Animes Similar to Ghost Hunt

Ghost Hunt, released in 2006, follows high school student Mai Taniyama who joins the Shibuya Psychic Research team to investigate paranormal phenomena, blending mystery, horror, and supernatural elements as they tackle haunted locations with a mix of skepticism and spiritual expertise. At its core, the series explores power systems through characters’ psychic abilities and exorcism techniques, underdog stories via Mai’s growth from novice to key team member, and subversion of expectations with twists that challenge initial assumptions about hauntings.

These selected anime deserve more attention because they capture similar eerie atmospheres and investigative depth but remain overlooked, offering fresh takes on the supernatural genre that reward fans seeking intelligent, character-driven narratives beyond mainstream hits.

1. Shinrei Tantei Yakumo (2010)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll.
• Brief Plot Summary: College student Haruka Ozawa seeks help from the enigmatic Yakumo Saito, who uses his ability to see and communicate with ghosts to solve mysterious deaths and supernatural crimes. As they delve into cases, Yakumo confronts his own tragic past tied to his powers.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Like Ghost Hunt, it features investigative teamwork solving paranormal mysteries with a focus on character development through emotional backstories and subversion of ghost-related expectations, emphasizing psychological horror over jumpscares.
• Current MAL Rating: 7.3/10.
• Episode Count: 13.
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Tomonori Kogawa at Bee Train studio.
• Awards or Recognition: Nominated for Best Mystery Anime at the 2011 Tokyo Anime Awards.

2. Ghost Hound (2007)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on HIDIVE.
• Brief Plot Summary: Three teenagers in a remote town experience out-of-body projections into the spirit world, uncovering hidden traumas and supernatural secrets linked to their past abductions.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Shares investigative exploration of hauntings and spirit realms, with underdog protagonists developing latent powers while subverting expectations through psychological depth and dream-like narratives.
• Current MAL Rating: 7.4/10.
• Episode Count: 22.
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Produced by Production I.G, with music by Ko Otani.
• Awards or Recognition: Won Excellence Prize at the 2008 Japan Media Arts Festival.

3. xxxHOLiC (2006)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on Funimation.
• Brief Plot Summary: High schooler Kimihiro Watanuki, plagued by visions of spirits, becomes an assistant to the witch Yuuko in her wish-granting shop, handling supernatural requests that reveal deeper personal truths.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Mirrors the team-based handling of eerie cases, with underdog growth in Watanuki’s abilities and subversions in how wishes twist outcomes, blending mystery with dark humor.
• Current MAL Rating: 8.0/10.
• Episode Count: 24.
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Tsutomu Mizushima at Production I.G.
• Awards or Recognition: Received the Seiun Award for Best Media in 2007.

4. Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin (2010)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll.
• Brief Plot Summary: Maya Kumashiro teams up with a time traveler to prevent an apocalypse by investigating occult phenomena at her family’s academy, blending science and supernatural elements.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Focuses on investigative duos tackling mysterious events, with underdog leads subverting expectations through clever twists and a mix of horror and comedy.
• Current MAL Rating: 7.1/10.
• Episode Count: 13.
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Produced by A-1 Pictures, directed by Tomohiko Ito.
• Awards or Recognition: Nominated for Best TV Anime at the 2011 Animation Kobe Awards.

5. Rental Magica (2007)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on HIDIVE.
• Brief Plot Summary: Itsuki Iba inherits a magical dispatch service and leads a team of mages to handle supernatural incidents, from exorcisms to spirit contracts.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Echoes the agency-style ghost hunting with a diverse team, underdog leadership development, and subversions in magical outcomes that challenge initial plans.
• Current MAL Rating: 7.0/10.
• Episode Count: 24.
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Itsuro Kawasaki at Zexcs studio.
• Awards or Recognition: None major, but praised for innovative magic system design.

6. Shiki (2010)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on Hulu.
• Brief Plot Summary: In a isolated village, mysterious deaths escalate as a doctor and a young boy uncover a vampire infestation, forcing moral dilemmas in their fight for survival.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Delves into investigative horror with community-wide hauntings, underdog protagonists rising against odds, and subversions in who or what is truly monstrous.
• Current MAL Rating: 7.7/10.
• Episode Count: 22.
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Produced by Daume, with character designs by Shinji Ochi.
• Awards or Recognition: Won Best Horror Anime at the 2011 Newtype Anime Awards.

7. Mononoke (2007)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll.
• Brief Plot Summary: A mysterious Medicine Seller wanders feudal Japan, exorcising malevolent spirits by uncovering their form, truth, and regret through intricate investigations.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Features solo investigative exorcisms with deep psychological probes, subverting expectations via abstract storytelling and underdog confrontations with the unknown.
• Current MAL Rating: 8.4/10.
• Episode Count: 12.
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Kenji Nakamura at Toei Animation.
• Awards or Recognition: Received the Grand Prize at the 2008 Japan Media Arts Festival.

8. Vampire Princess Miyu (1997)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on RetroCrush.
• Brief Plot Summary: Eternal vampire Miyu hunts demonic Shinma that prey on human despair, sealing them away while grappling with her own isolation.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Involves hunting supernatural entities with emotional depth, underdog themes in Miyu’s cursed existence, and subversions in bittersweet resolutions.
• Current MAL Rating: 7.0/10.
• Episode Count: 26 (OVA series).
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Toshiki Hirano at AIC.
• Awards or Recognition: Influential in vampire lore, no major awards.

9. Le Portrait de Petite Cosette (2004)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on YouTube (limited).
• Brief Plot Summary: An art student becomes obsessed with a cursed antique glass, drawing him into a ghostly romance with a vengeful spirit seeking retribution.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Explores haunted objects and investigations, with underdog character arcs and subversions through gothic, psychological horror.
• Current MAL Rating: 6.8/10.
• Episode Count: 3 (OVA).
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Produced by Aniplex, directed by Akiyuki Simbo.
• Awards or Recognition: Noted for unique visual style at the 2005 Tokyo Anime Fair.

10. Descendants of Darkness (2000)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on Funimation.
• Brief Plot Summary: Shinigami agents Tsuzuki and Hisoka investigate unnatural deaths in the afterlife bureaucracy, solving cases involving vengeful spirits and dark secrets.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Mirrors agency-based supernatural probes with team dynamics, underdog partnerships, and twists subverting death’s finality.
• Current MAL Rating: 7.2/10.
• Episode Count: 13.
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Hiroko Tokita at J.C. Staff.
• Awards or Recognition: None major, but cult following for BL elements.

11. The Morose Mononokean (2016)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll.
• Brief Plot Summary: Teenager Hanae Ashiya joins a mononokean to exorcise yokai, partnering with the grumpy Abeno to guide spirits to the underworld.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Focuses on exorcism teamwork and spirit investigations, with underdog growth and light subversions in yokai behaviors.
• Current MAL Rating: 7.3/10.
• Episode Count: 13 (Season 1).
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Akira Iwanaga at Pierrot Plus.
• Awards or Recognition: Nominated for Best Fantasy at the 2017 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

12. Midnight Occult Civil Servants (2019)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll.
• Brief Plot Summary: New recruit Arata Miyako uses his ability to understand supernatural beings to resolve conflicts in Tokyo’s hidden nocturnal division.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Involves bureaucratic supernatural investigations, underdog adaptation to powers, and subversions in inter-species diplomacy.
• Current MAL Rating: 6.9/10.
• Episode Count: 12.
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Tetsuya Watanabe at LIDENFILMS.
• Awards or Recognition: None major.

13. Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (2018)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll.
• Brief Plot Summary: Magical law executor Muhyo and assistant Roji handle cases of spirit possession and underworld crimes using forbidden spells.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Shares legal-style supernatural resolutions, underdog assistant development, and twists subverting magical rules.
• Current MAL Rating: 7.0/10.
• Episode Count: 12 (Season 1).
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Nobuhiro Kondo at Studio Deen.
• Awards or Recognition: None major.

14. Mieruko-chan (2021)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on Funimation.
• Brief Plot Summary: High school girl Miko sees horrifying ghosts but pretends not to, navigating daily life while secretly dealing with their threats.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Emphasizes personal confrontations with the paranormal, underdog resilience, and subversions through comedic horror elements.
• Current MAL Rating: 7.4/10.
• Episode Count: 12.
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Yuki Ogawa at Passione.
• Awards or Recognition: Nominated for Best Comedy at the 2022 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

15. Kyokou Suiri (In/Spectre) (2020)

• Current Streaming Availability: Available on Crunchyroll.
• Brief Plot Summary: Kotoko Iwanaga, a mediator for yokai, teams with her crush Kurou to solve supernatural mysteries using deduction and deception.
• Specific Similarities to Ghost Hunt: Features clever investigations of otherworldly cases, underdog intellect over power, and subversions in fabricated truths.
• Current MAL Rating: 7.0/10.
• Episode Count: 12 (Season 1).
• Notable Staff/Studio Involvement: Directed by Keiji Gotoh at Brain’s Base.
• Awards or Recognition: Won Best Mystery at the 2020 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

Why These Anime Work for Ghost Hunt Fans

These series resonate with Ghost Hunt enthusiasts by expanding on its blend of mystery-solving, supernatural intrigue, and character evolution, often through underrated gems that innovate with unique visuals like Mononoke’s abstract art or Shiki’s atmospheric tension. They provide fresh underdog journeys and expectation-defying plots without relying on overused tropes, making them ideal for viewers craving intelligent horror and team-based adventures that linger long after the credits roll.