The afterlife is a concept that has captured human imagination since time immemorial. While theories of life after death are already thoroughly explored through religion, philosophy and art, anime has also had something interesting to say about the matter. In fact, some of the best anime series take place in Heaven, Hell, Purgatory or the like.
With the recent popularity of isekai, the idea of life after death has been exploited as a plot point more than ever, though those series tend to delve into the concept of reincarnation more than an actual afterlife. In contrast to traditional reincarnation, anime that focus on the afterlife tend to place their characters in a sort of intermediary world between existence and non-existence, instead of seeing them reborn entirely.
10 Death Parade
Quindecim is a mysterious bar that serves as a middle-ground between death and life. The Bartender there, Decim, greets the newly deceased by offering them to play a game to decide whether they’re to be sent to Heaven or Hell.
Even though Decim is well-versed as a mediator of the afterlife, he’s a little rough around the edges and doesn’t always make the right decision. To offset his sometimes narrow-minded perspective, Chiyuki serves as his assistant to provide a more open-minded approach to judging the souls of the dead.
9 Yu Yu Hakusho
After Yusuke Urameshi is killed as one of Truck-kun’s first ever victims, he meets the Grim Reaper herself, Botan. Botan explains to Yusuke that he was actually never supposed to die, and they simply don’t have enough room for him in the Spirit World. After making his way to back to life, Yusuke is never the same.
His experience with the afterlife gives him the power to become a Spirit Detective, and from that point on Yusuke finds himself traveling back and forth between the Spirit World and the physical world solving cases and fighting demons.
8 Bleach
In Bleach, the normal human realm and the Soul Society are closely connected and watched over by the Shinigami. The Shinigami protect humans from demonic spirits called Hollows whose regrets wouldn’t allow them to pass over into the afterlife.
After a fateful meeting with one such Shinigami, Ichigo’s life is forever changed when he is given the powers of a Substitute Soul Reaper. Bleach is one of the most iconic shonen anime series of all time – whether in this world or the next.
7 Haibane Renmei
Haibane Renmei is a deep, introspective series about a town of Angel-like beings called Haibane, and a newly hatched Haibane named Rakka. Like all the other Haibane, Rakka doesn’t remember who she was in her past life, and she can’t leave the town of Glie no matter what.
Haibane follows the tradition of other heady, experimental anime like Angel’s Egg and Neon Genesis Evangelion. The series served as a therapeutic self-exploration through art for its author, Yoshitoshi ABe, who was going through a dark time in his life during its creation.
6 Spirited Away
Chihiro is moving to a new place with her family, but things don’t go as smoothly as her parents assure her they will. Instead, Chihiro finds herself transported to a strange world of spirits, demons and other supernatural entities, but friends can be found even in the scariest of places.
Spirited Away is easily one of the most famous and beloved anime films of all time. Its lovable characters, dark plot and beautiful visuals make it a classic in modern cinema that everyone should see at least once.
5 Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered But Overly Cautious
Seiya has been reborn as a hero before. However, his willingness to dive into battle without being fully prepared not only led to his death, but his entire party’s as well. Since that day, Seiya has been understandably cautious about everything, ensuring he is totally ready before going into battle again.
While he is supposed to be reborn into another world to defeat the demon lord as most isekai protagonists are, Seiya chooses to remain in the afterlife doing extreme training for an extended period of time to ensure he’s strong enough to beat anything that comes his way. Cautious Hero offers a hilarious parody of isekai that’s careful not to step too far outside the tropes of the sub-genre.
4 Angel Beats!
Angel Beats! takes place in a sort of purgatory between life and reincarnation. Otonashi finds himself a student in an afterlife academy designed to help him “move on,” but a group of his classmates sets up a united front to take back control of their fates.
Though Otonashi reluctantly joins them, he has his doubts. It only gets more complicated when he finds himself drawn to his new groups main enemy, the angelic Kanade Tachibana. For fans of emotional romances, Angel Beats! is commonly cited as one of the most heart-wrenching isekai series ever, and for good reason.
3 7019q4″ title=”gantz”>Gantz
7019q4″ title=”gantz”>Gantz is a dark, gory exploration of what the worst case scenario might be in terms of life after death. When chosen by the 7019q4″ title=”gantz”>Gantz, the recently deceased are forced to take part in a series of twisted missions in order to receive one last opportunity at being reborn. If they die again though, their souls are gone forever.
After dying a gruesome death, Kei and his childhood friend Kato are chosen by the 7019q4″ title=”gantz”>Gantz; for better or worse. Though Kei was originally a selfish and angry teenager, he learns quickly that kind of attitude can only get you so far when the fate of your soul is at stake.
2 Shigofumi
Shigofumi provides an interesting take on the afterlife as a mysterious place that no one can return from once it is reached. However, before being gone for good, people have one last opportunity to leave behind a letter confessing things which they could never tell anybody while they were still alive.
Tasked with delivering the letters from the dead to their families is Fumika, an Angel who dwells as the mediator between the lands of the living and dead. A letter from the dead must always tell the truth as a person cannot lie after they pass on, so the letters Fumika delivers often have surprising consequences.
1 Hell’s Angel
In the world of Hell’s Angel, everybody goes to hell when they die. Unfortunately for Rinne, she falls into that category when she dies a bit earlier than she’s supposed to.
After dying on the way to her first day of school, Rinne ends up in another school: one for newcomers in Hell. Now, the only way for Rinne to get back home to the world of the living where she belongs is to graduate from Sanzu River Academy, but not everything is what it seems in the land of the dead.
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