I’m not picky. I love monsters wherever I can find them. Good guys, monstrous animals, villains. And, in my humble opinion, anime has some of the most gruesome and terrifying monsters out there.

In no particular order:

Chainsaw Man is a series about a young man whose life has been a special kind of awful hell, but who befriended a devil when he was a boy. When the devil sacrifices itself to save Denji’s life, Denji finds himself able to transform into a half-man, half-chainsaw devil, able to inflict untold damage on his enemies.

The entire series is chock-full of monsters, Denji just happens to be the main protagonist. It’s an excellent, bloody action series.

The Ancient Magus’ Bride is part gothic horror, part adventure, part romance, with creatures around every corner. Chise, the main protagonist, is purchased to become the bride and apprentice of the mage Elias (he of the skeleton head), who recognizes her talent for being able to communicate with otherworldly creatures.

The magical world is fully realized and deliciously fantastical but there are some side stories that will raise the hair on the back of your neck with the monsters that crop up out of the woodwork in this one.

A lighthearted romance at heart, Sacrificial Princess & the King of Beasts follows Sariphi, the girl intended to be the 99th human sacrifice to the king of beasts. But Sariphi stumbles upon a massive secret that could upend the kingdom and instead of fleeing, stays to support the king as he works to be a strong ruler.

Featuring anthropomorphic monsters of all shapes and sizes, this show will be a fan favorite for anyone who likes low-stakes, heartwarming romance.

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There’s always more anime to watch and monsters come in all shapes and sizes. I’ll be sure to come back around to this medium for recommendations in the near future.