Fans love to indulge in the horror genre with movies and games. However, one medium that fans may be surprised to see horror delving into is the animated television arena.

When it comes to horror, animated shows can even go further than live-action offerings because the sky is the limit when it comes to animating ghouls, goblins, and all things scary. From scary shows geared towards kids to terror-filled animated offerings for adults, there is plenty to offer anyone wanting a good scare. Between children’s programming and more adult-themed horror shows, the world of animated television is filled to the brim with classic and entertaining horror series.

UPDATE: 2022/10/26 21:04 EST BY SHAWN S. LEALOS

In 2022, the world of horror television saw Marvel bring a horror series to Disney+, with a special presentation of Werewolf by Night, allowing the MCU to delve into their monster world. Over the years, the world of animated television has grown and what was once just considered cartoons have become as important a part of TV as any sitcom, drama, or action series.

Gravity Falls (2012-2016)

Stream now on Disney+ & Hulu

Gravity Falls aired from 2012 through 2016 on Disney Channel, and while it was geared toward kids, it was a very scary series at times. The show saw twins Dipper and Mabel moving to the town of Gravity Falls to live with their great-uncle Sam. It is then that they learn there is something very wrong with this town.

It seems shocking to know that Gravity Falls was rated for kids seven and up because there were a lot of disturbing moments in the series. It even got darker as the show moved on. The show is about monsters, murder, and betrayals, and by the end of its run, it gets as dark as any adult animated series.

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010-2013)

Stream now on HBO Max

For decades, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated was the first series in the franchise meant to be scary.

That is because the monsters in Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated are real, and these monsters aren't like the old crooks, just trying to rip people off or scare them away. These monsters will kill, and they aren't just chasing the gang, they want them dead. This series ruined the dreams of an entire generation.

Constantine: City of Demons (2018)

Stream now on HBO Max

Constantine aired on NBC for one season, bringing the DC supernatural mystic John Constantine to the small screen a decade after the misunderstood big-screen version starring Keanu Reeves. In this case, Matt Ryan was a great comic-accurate version of Constantine, and the show was building well before NBC canceled it.

What happened next was that CW Seed brought it Ryan back for a five-episode miniseries called Constantine: City of Demons. This was a frightening series that did things the live-action series couldn't do due to financial restraints. The series was so successful that Ryan got to return again, this time to live action on The CW's Legends of Tomorrow.

Love, Death & Robots (2019-)

Stream now on Netflix

Love, Death & Robots is almost more sci-fi than anything, but it has some of the scariest moments of any recent animated series. Released on Netflix and produced by David Fincher, this series brought in various animators, so every episode looked and felt different. It also adapted several authors' works for the episodes.

For people who just want to find scary episodes of Love, Death & Robots to watch, check out "Beyond the Aquila Rift" and "The Witness" in Volume 1, "All Through the House" and "The Tall Grass" in Volume 2, and "In Vaulted Halls Entombed" and "Jibaro" in Volume 3. A fourth volume will arrive, possibly in 2023.

Primal (2019-)

Stream now on HBO Max

Anyone who misses Samurai Jack should check out Genndy Tartakovsky's latest scary animated series, Primal. The show is a series that follows a caveman and his dinosaur, a T. Rex named Fang, living in a barbaric primal world. Airing originally on Adult Swim, it is also a very adult-orientated animated series.

There is very little dialogue, and the stakes are very high for the heroes. This might be the most terrifying animated series to ever hit Adult Swim, and it is definitely the best of its kind.

Ruby Gloom (2006-2008)

Stream now on Prime Video

Ruby Gloom was originally marketed to the goth girl subculture but provided a unique twist with its titular character. In the show, Ruby is a positive-minded girl who dresses like a goth and hangs out in a creepy-looking mansion with the rest of her friends.

The show plays fast and loose with the preconceived notions of happiness by drenching each episode in dingy darkness that is designed to be viewed in a positive light. Unorthodox to say the least, but it's one of the most charming features of the show by far.

Mummies Alive! (1997)

Not available to stream at this time

This single-season animated series focused on a group of Mummy protectors sent forth to protect a modern-day boy named Presley from the evil machinations of the wicked sorcerer Scarab. If his plan is completed, Scarab will successfully draw out the spirit of the ancient Prince Rapses and achieve immortality.

Each of the protectors has powers based on a different creature, including a snake, a ram, a falcon, and a cat. The show was notable for showcasing battles with beings from Egyptian mythology, including Anubis, Sekhmet, and Bast.

Count Duckula (1988-1993)

Not available to stream at this time

The UK cranked out this hilarious classic horror-themed children's cartoon that played on the classic vampire tropes while creating something entirely new. During a reincarnation ritual, a mistake is made which brings Count Duckula back into the world as a good-natured duck who prefers broccoli sandwiches over blood.

Each episode is loaded with laughs as Duckula's butler Igor bemoans his master's newfound benevolence, while the ditzy Nanny showers him with love. The jokes are fast and the humor is typically British, but underneath it all is a deep horror theme that reverberates through every cell.

My Pet Monster (1987)

Stream now on Prime Video

Comical family-friendly horror was the name of the game with My Pet Monster, a show that centered around a magical monster who comes to life whenever his shackles are removed. He soon befriends two boys and gets them into plenty of trouble as they attempt to hide him from the world.

At the same time, a ferocious monster named Beastur makes it out of Monsterland with the intention of grabbing Monster and taking him back. Equal parts comedy, funny scares, and an upbeat tone made My Pet Monster a short-lived but beloved hit.

Gargoyles (1994-1997)

Stream now on Disney+

Gargoyles represented a very different take on animated children's shows brought forth by Disney in the past. It featured mature storylines and very dark subject matter that incorporated elements of gothic horror with fantasy and science fiction. The result was a beloved cartoon that went way before its time.

The story centered around a family of ancient Gargoyles frozen in stone for centuries until a wealthy businessman manages to crack their curse and resurrect them in the modern age. The serialized nature of the storytelling was practically unheard of and helped draw audiences into the larger narrative.