Horror Manhwa That Might Be Difficult To Adapt Into An Anime

October 20, 2024

Key Takeaways

Unique horror manhwa formats may not translate effectively to anime due to limitations in animation capabilities.
Psychological horror manhwa relies heavily on inner monologues to build tension, making them challenging for anime adaptation.
Graphic and disturbing content in horror manhwa may be challenging to portray in anime without facing censorship or toning down elements.

Due to the nature of horror manhwa, some titles may contain mature and sensitive content.

While anime has successfully adapted many genres, horror manhwa present 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.

1 Unknown Caller

Unique Format Requirements

Release Date: 2016
Author: Horang
Number of Chapters: 3

Originally published as a Line Webtoon exclusive, Unknown Caller boasts 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 to transfer 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.

Supernatural Horror Manhwa Prey, Night of Shadows, Sweet Home

Best Supernatural Horror Manhwa

Horror fans will love what the following supernatural manhwa bring to the table.

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!

2 Bastard

Horror Based On Internal Struggle

Release Date: 2014
Author: Carnby Kim & Youngchan Hwang
Number of Chapters: 92 + Epilogue

The tension and psychological horror in Bastard rely 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 be a complex task.

3 Killing Stalking

Graphic Content That Pushes Boundaries

Release Date: 2016
Author: Koogi
Number of Chapters: 67

Killing Stalking gained massive popularity for its intense psychological horror and 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.

8 Best Surreal Horror Manhwa

These horror manhwa feature terrifying stories that make reading them worth it.

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.

4 Sweet Home

Monsterization Apocalypse

Release Date: 2017
Author: Carnby Kim & Youngchan Hwang
Number of Chapters: 140

Another work by Carnby Kim and Youngchan Hwang, Sweet Home is a horror manhwa set in a world where humans begin transforming into monstrous creatures based 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 between action and horror would be difficult to maintain, potentially leading to a focus on spectacle at the expense of emotional depth and character development.

5 The Horizon

Less Is More

Release Date: 2016
Author: Jeong Ji-Hoon
Number of Chapters: 21

The Horizon follows 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 not adapt well to an anime either, where dynamism and dialogue tend to take precedence.