Summary
Due to the nature of horror manhwa, some titles may contain mature and sensitive content.
While anime has successfully adapted many genres,horror manhwapresent unique challenges. Due to intrinsic limitations, the use of a page-turn to increase tension, or extremely detailed images meant to be looked at for prolonged periods just aren’t feasible in animation. Horror media frequently dives into deeply unsettling themes, and psychological terror often derives much of its scare factor from a character’s inner monologue.
With haunting visuals that draw readers into their chilling worlds, manhwa often make use of the slow-burn, displaying intricate emotional depth and grotesque imagery that can be difficult to translate into animation without losing the intense atmosphere. From psychological thrillers to body horror, some manhwa are so reliant on visual tension and nuanced storytelling that anime adaptations risk watering down their impact.The raw dread, subtle details, and disturbing themes in these stories often make them a tough fit for an anime adaptation.
1Unknown Caller
Unique Format Requirements
Originally published as a Line Webtoon exclusive,Unknown Callerboasts an idiosyncratic horror experience that uses the reader’s phone camera and augmented reality to create jump scares. It’s an interesting gimmick, but unlikely totransfer to an anime format. It’s a short anthology at only 3 chapters and doesn’t have the most fleshed-out story, but is a unique experience nonetheless. It’s a psychological horror manhwa that plays on the fear of the unknown, blending supernatural elements with real-world anxieties.
The story revolves around a series of disturbing phone calls from an unknown number that gradually turn the protagonist’s life upside down. As the calls escalate, so does the tension, with eerie twists and a growing sense of dread. The manhwa’s strength lies in its ability to create a claustrophobic atmosphere, where the protagonist is never sure what’s real. Make sure to read this one with the sound on!
2Bastard
Horror Based On Internal Struggle
The tension and psychological horror inBastardrely heavily on its atmosphere and storytelling. This manhwa presents the chilling story of Jin Seon, a high school student whose father is a serial killer. The manhwa’s strength lies in its masterful pacing and psychological tension, drawing readers into Jin’s paranoia and the oppressive dread of being trapped with a monster.
Much of the horror comes from Jin’s inner turmoil, which is hard to express visually without relying heavily on monologues or inner dialogue, which can make for a somewhat overwhelming watch. This type of suspense is easier to build in a manhwa format where the readers control the pace. In an anime, condensing the story into episodes while maintaining the same eerie sense of dread would bea complex task.
3Killing Stalking
Graphic Content That Pushes Boundaries
Killing Stalkinggained massive popularity for itsintense psychological horrorand dark, twisted relationship dynamics. The story follows Yoon Bum, a mentally unstable man obsessed with his classmate, Oh Sangwoo, who turns out to be a sadistic killer. The themes of extreme violence, abuse, and trauma would require a delicate hand to avoid being overly graphic and putting off broader audiences were it adapted into an anime.
The themes of abuse, trauma, and toxic obsession are handled in a way that might not sit well with those who prefer less disturbing narratives, and the gritty and uncomfortable realism is hard to replicate in animation without potentially triggering viewers or facing heavy censorship. An anime would likely struggle to maintain the manhwa’s unsettling realism without toning down key elements, making this story hard to fully capture on screen.
4Sweet Home
Monsterization Apocalypse
Another work by Carnby Kim and Youngchan Hwang,Sweet Homeis a horror manhwa set in a world where humans begin transforming intomonstrous creaturesbased on their inner feelings. It has already been adapted into a live-action series with mixed reception, and many viewers have lamented the fact that the backstories behind many of the monsters were removed from the show in the interest of being more concise.
The monstrous transformations of various humans are vividly portrayed in the manhwa, and while animation could bring that to life, the level of detail might need to be toned down for a wider audience, or simply not be as effective, since the viewers cannot control the pace of the action. In an anime, as in the live-action adaptation, the balance betweenaction and horrorwould be difficult to maintain, potentially leading to a focus on spectacle at the expense of emotional depth and character development.
5The Horizon
Less Is More
The Horizonfollows two children navigating a war-torn world, focusing on emotional horror rather than graphic violence. Its stark, minimalist artwork and limited dialogue emphasize the isolation and desperation of its characters. Translating this into an anime would be difficult, as the manhwa’s profound quietness and impact could be drowned out in favor of the faster tempo and action-driven nature of most anime adaptations.
This manhwa is a harrowing portrayal of two children trying to survive, and its horror comes not from jump scares or monsters but from the bleak atmosphere and the weight of death, despair, and loneliness. The story’s subtle emotional depth and its often haunting artwork would be hard to replicate in animation. The lack of dialogue and emphasis on visual storytelling might notadapt well to an animeeither, where dynamism and dialogue tend to take precedence.
