When it comes to afterlife depictions, heaven is a matter of opinion, but Hell always has a terrifying image in all religions, even in anime. Unlike live-action movies, the anime industry offers infinite possibilities in depicting hell with bizarre creatures, disfigures, and grotesque scenes. This depiction of Hell excites and terrifies viewers equally. Therefore, we have compiled the top 7 brutal anime renderings of Hell.
7. Saint Seiya
In this 80s classic anime, Hades, the god of death, rules the underworld or Meikai, which separates hell into several prisons for different crimes. The harsher the crime, the colder and darker the prison. The coldest and cruelest world is an icy field called Cocytus. The place is located at the far end to punish betrayal from humans and gods.
6. Noragami Aragoto
The second season of this anime takes the viewers on an adventure of a human girl and a wandering god. The story leads them to Near and Far Shore, which serves as the border of the afterlife. Both places fill with creatures, but the Far Shore is where Izanami, the goddess of the underworld, traps Yato, the god, and Ebisu. It is a cold and dead world where no living creature can survive except Izanami. Even if a living thing enters, she will hold it to alleviate her loneliness for eternity. Hiyori, the human girl, must find a way to free them from Izanami’s grip, which is too difficult for her.
5. Hell Girl
This anime’s hell is a land filled with fire and lava where every resident is tormented forever. Usually, decent people don’t have to worry about ending up there. However, Hell Girl or Ai Enma offers her service in sending someone to hell while they are still alive. If someone sends a name to her website, she will summon them to hell while paying the price of the user’s soul. It means that certain demons can get what comes to them faster. But, the victim will also join them when they genuinely die. Nonetheless, some innocent people may end up there because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time.
4. Bleach
This anime depicts a fight in the afterlife or Soul Society, implying that hell is near. When Ichigo or others defeat a Hollow, a giant skull will arise from a large purple gate to drag them to their world. The world is a vast ash desert with lava that can turn creatures into their monstrous selves’ previous versions.
3. Berserk 2016
This anime has one of the scariest scenes if not the most frightful in manga and anime in general, known as Eclipse. Despite that, it still doesn’t compare to the anime’s version of the abyss, named Abyss. It appeared for the first time in the 2016 3D anime series. The place is not just a field of fire and coal but much more horrifying. The abyss is an evil whirlpool that swallows the cursed ones, dragging them with long chains. Anything caught within it slowly dissolves until only their consciousness remains. Those trapped in the whirlpool feel like sugar in hot coffee. None can escape from its grip, and nothing lasts forever inside it.
2. Yu Yu Hakusho
This anime has a unique and intriguing concept of hell. Hell is a living space for demons, where every sinful human is reincarnated as a demon. The level of sin determines the demon’s strength, power, and appearance. There is no torture scene or ten layers of hell, but a calm and peaceful afterlife. Nonetheless, the idea of a sinner’s soul would burn off and transform into a demons’ essence is still terrifying.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are the top 7 brutal anime renderings of hell that have inspired many works ranging from classic to modern times. From Saint Seiya to Yu Yu Hakusho, the portrayal of hell in anime presents a world not for the faint of heart.
