As has been well-established in “Why I like Anime” and “Why I love Halloween again!“, I am a big fan of both Horror and Animation. It is a shame then how infrequent horror animation is. I know what you’re thinking “Immortallium, are you mad? There are tons of horror animated movies/shows.” However, hear me out.
It is true that there are many animated movies and shows that dabble in horror. However, I think there is a big difference between dabbling in horror and embracing it. In the past when I have complained about the dearth of Horror Animation, people have pointed to a few horror series (I do consider Higurashi and Another true animated horror series for example) but then include shows such as Hellsing, Vampire Hunter D and the Blood series. These shows, while certainly having horror elements, are dominated by their action sequences.
Instead I’d prefer to see animated series/films embrace horror more wholeheartedly. Rather than reducing horror to merely being a backdrop, I’d like to see animation embrace the atmosphere of horror, the vulnerable protagonists and the surreal nature. This last aspect in particular is where I think horror animation can prevail over their live-action counterparts.
Having read horror novels/comics/manga, one of my biggest issues with horror in live-action is the relative lack of the surreal and bizarre nature found in those previously mentioned media. An easy example to give would be the Books of Blood by Clive Barker. In these stories we see sights such as living shrouds, tremendous creatures made up of the bodies of people and incomprehensible beings, to name only a few. However, what has become obvious with the many adaptations that attempt to recreate these stories is that they cannot replicate the surreal and bizarre world that these stories inhabit.
While there are certainly many problems with these attempted live-action adaptations, one problem I would point to is the budget constraints. Given the scale of these stories, the budgets ultimately given to these productions are too minuscule to develop true adaptations. Instead, animation would allow stories such as these to live and breathe.
Interestingly, my example of a meticulously well-crafted animated horror comes not from Japan but instead comes from America. Coraline, an adaptation of a 2002 novel by Neil Gaiman released in 2009, uses stop-motion animation to create a strange, haunting but ultimately beautiful world inhabited with strange, wondrous characters. Despite this, there is a skillful, steady buildup of discomfort as we realize the enormity of the threat to this vulnerable young girl. No matter how much money and special effects it might have at its disposal, I cannot imagine any live-action adaptation managing to achieve even half of what the 2009 film achieved.
Ultimately, I believe that animation is capable of being a more effective medium for horror than live-action and that is why it disappoints me that I can find so few animated films/series that embrace this genre, instead using it as a backdrop for action, comedy etc. I can only hope that in the future, more people are inspired to blend animation and horror together and embrace the possibilities that it opens up.
Hopefully you have found this article interesting and informative and, if you wish to seek any of the works I mentioned, don’t hesitate to use amazon.co.uk, amazon.com or bookdepository.com for all of your needs!