Best Paranormal Shows to Fuel Your Dan Da Dan Obsession

As a cryptid buff, I never thought I'd see the day when a cute waifu battled it out against the Flatwoods Monster. Yet, here we are, Dan Da Dan; thank you for that. But greed has a cozy little place in my soul, so much like Mr. Krabs, I need more. I want more shows with cryptids and paranormal adventures. And I feel that quite a few anime fans share this sentiment. If you're searching for some spooky shows to binge-watch before the 2025 Winter season starts, these recommendations might be perfect for you.

Otherside Picnic

With ultra-terrestrials, dimensional shifts, cryptids, and Yokai, Otherside Picnic is a cryptnonaunt's dream. This 12-episode Liden Films anime focuses on the unusual duo of Sorawo Kamikoshi and Toriko Nishina and their exploration of an alternate dimension, which they've dubbed "The Otherside." While the alternate dimension may sound like a wild place to hike, it's anything but. The monsters, chimeras, and yokai that inhabit it prey on anything unfortunate enough to cross their gaze.

Yet, as the girls each have their own reason to explore the untamed lands they've stumbled upon, their expeditions continue, and a budding friendship blossoms. But will that friendship save them from the horrors that stalk the lands they explore? Premiered during the Winter 2021 anime season, Otherside Picnic is now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Train to the End of the World

Way back during the golden age of space exploration, UFO sightings were fairly common. The US Air Force, to deal with the "nuisance" that was UFOs, enlisted an astronomy professor, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, to help them disprove the existence of non-terrestrial life. During his tenure in that field, Dr. Hynek coined the term "high strangeness" as a descriptive moniker for anything paranormal or outside of scientific explanation. That's the best way to explain this show.

Remember a few years back when smooth-brains was convinced that 5G gave you everything from the Coronya virus to erectile dysfunction? Train to the End of the World takes that nonsense and makes one hell of an anime with it. The show, an original series by EMT Squared, takes place after the implementation of 7G. While 7G's debut was supposed to usher in a new era of connectivity, it instead triggered a worldwide catastrophe and made cell service even shittier.

And with humanity going the way of the dodo, a group of girls realizes the future isn't worth it. So instead of sitting around while waiting for the worst, they set off to find one of their missing friends. But their expedition won't be as easy as they believe, as along the way they'll have to deal with everything from suicidal fungi, little men, and even zombies! Crunchyroll is currently streaming Train to the End of the World.

Heavenly Delusion

Humanity has fallen, and man-eating kaiju called Hiruko roams the ruins of our former societies looking for some pork-flavored bipeds. And it's in this world that Heavenly Delusion takes place. Following Kiruko and Maru, the show depicts the two protagonists' search for a mythical place called "Heaven."

Including themes like superpowers, survival, and plain oddities, the show was one of the most praised releases of the spring 2023 season. Hulu streams the series in the US, and Disney+ streams it worldwide. An added bonus, the show has some sugoi ecchi moments, that's always a plus.

Do you have a favorite?

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