The 25+ Best Demon Anime Series Of All Time (2024)

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Premiered: 2019

Premise: Tanjiro Kamado loses his entire family to a demon attack - except his sister Nezuko, who survives but is transformed into a demon herself. Tanjiro makes it his mission to turn Nezuko back. To do that, he'll have to learn how to fight demons. After some training, he decides to join the Demon Slayer Corps in the hopes of protecting others from the same fate, and getting closer to the demon who did this in the first place.

Why It's Great: Demon Slayer ties in everything that a great shonen has: strong characters, compelling storytelling, a horrible villain who seems way too powerful to take down - and a protagonist who is hell-bent on making sure it happens. But this anime also sprinkles in heartwrenching familial bonds and some crazy demon battles that make it one of the absolute best in this subgenre.

The Devil Is A Part-Timer!

Premiered: 2013

Premise: In this reverse isekai series, the Demon Lord Satan of Ente Isla is forced to flee the demon realm for Earth after being defeated by a hero named Emilia Justinia. With his powers no longer working, he has to figure out how to survive modern Japanese life. He ends up getting a job at a fast food joint called MgRonald's, where he decides that if he can't be a Demon Lord, he can at least be the greatest employee MgRonald's has ever seen.

Why It's Great: Even for the anime industry, a series about Satan dedicating himself to a new job at fictionalized McDonald's is pretty ridiculous - but it works. The absolute absurdity of it makes for a great comedic series, especially amongst the usually dark and serious subgenre.

• #32 of 247 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
• #119 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
• #15 of 143 onThe Best Anime Streaming On Netflix

High School DxD

Premiered: 2012

Premise: Issei Hyoudou is a pervy high school student who dreams of someday being the center of a harem. So when a beautiful girl asks him out, he immediately jumps at the chance. This girl turns out to be a fallen angel who is more interested in ending his life than in dating him. Luckily for Issei, he's revived by an equally beautiful demon named Rias Gremory - under the condition that he become her servant and join the Occult Research club.

Why It's Great: High School DxD isn't for everyone, but those who can appreciate it find it to be the perfect series to laugh at. What makes this show great is that it knows its an unserious harem series in the foreground of a demon anime but it doesn't try to be something its not. High School DxD understands that its audience is looking for a lighthearted, comedic series about a guy surrounded by cute demon girls, and they make sure to deliver.

• #37 of 247 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
• #69 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
• #61 of 234 onThe Best Action Anime Of All Time

Black Butler

Premiered: 2008

Premise: After Ciel Phantomhive's parents are killed, he is desperate for revenge. Since he can't easily get it himself, he makes a contract with a demon named Sebastian. Sebastian will serve Ciel in any way necessary, from acting as his butler to helping him track down his enemies. In exchange, Sebastian will eventually lay claim to Ciel's soul. In the meantime, the two of them work to solve a variety of demonic issues cropping up in Victorian England.

Why It's Great: Childhood nostalgia probably helps this show stay at the top, but that doesn't mean its spot isn't earned. Many people have fond memories of watching Black Butler because its so great - from staying true to the manga adaptation to keeping fans' attention with Ciel and Sebastian relationship, this anime is known for being a legendary demon series for good reason.

• #60 of 247 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
• #10 of 44 onThe Best Current Anime Airing Right Now
• #61 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun

Premiered: 2019

Premise: When Iruma Suzuki's irresponsible parents sell him to a high-ranking demon, it looks like his life is heading for disaster. Instead, the demon in question just wants a grandchild to spoil rotten. He ends up living a cushy life with the chairman of Babyls Demon School, and attending himself. Though keeping his human identity a secret is stressful, he still has an amazing time making friends and learning magic - and learning to stand up for himself, something he was never able to do as a human.

Why It's Great: Looking for a quirky, wholesome show that still has some demon antics mixed in? Look no further, because those are the exact reasons why Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun is so beloved by the anime community. It stays true to its label as a shonen while still providing comedic relief and lovable characters.

• #63 of 148 onThe Most Popular Anime Right Now
• #38 of 247 onThe Best Fantasy Anime of All Time
• #155 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time

Blood Lad

Premiered: 2013

Premise: Staz Charlie Blood is a powerful vampire who rules over the Eastern District of Demon World. Though he's incredibly strong, he doesn't care that much about his duties - he'd rather spend all of his time indulging in otaku culture. When a girl named Fuyumi Yanagi accidentally wanders into a portal that leads to his territory, he finally has a chance to learn about Japanese culture firsthand - or maybe even visit Japan itself. Before this can happen, she loses her life and becomes a ghost. With a new goal to revive her in place, Staz is more motivated than he's ever been.

Why It's Great: Staz is somehow the most and least relatable protagonist on this list. The overpowered vampire king of the underworld happens to also be a huge otaku who just wants to ignore his responsibilities so he can chill at home. This premise makes for some hilarious content but also allows for some great fight scenes to go along with it.

• #132 of 320 onThe 300+ Best Anime Series Of All Time
• #58 of 225 onThe Best English Dubbed Anime of All Time, Ranked
• #8 of 38 on25+ Anime That Totally Deserve A Second Season