There are plenty of things to be afraid of in anime. A tsundere's punch. A '90s dub. A thirteen-episode filler arc. However, ruling anime terror above all else is Japan's expressive and eclectic designs for demons and other supernatural entities. This is a culture that not only pulls from a variety of different cultural sources but has dark, twisted ones of its own.

As such, the anime medium has spawned some of the most terrifying incarnations of demonic forces ever to make heavy metal bands jealous. Decades of content have created a variety of iconic and powerful demons that have acted as both formidable foes and beloved main characters. Putting them side by side, however, this list just can't help but think of who would really rule the anime underworld.

Updated on June 17, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: Some anime demons number among the strongest fictional characters of all time, making them both dangerous and terrifying.