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Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai

2013 – nowShow17 seasons221 episodesTV-MA

Animation
71
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.0

A nerve-racking, deeply unsettling animated series about the mind and faith and meaning, with standout visual style and sound design.

Good for friends night · teens · binge-friendly

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you need an uplifting mood · you scare easily

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, laughs or uplift.

Shows with

Episodes

17 seasons · 221 episodes · best: S3E13 "- Drawings -" 7.6

Episodes

6.9
6.1
6.5
6.3
6.3
6.7
6.5
6.4
6.0
6.2
6.1
6.3
6.7
5.8
5.6
5.9

Story

Yamishibai is a picture-story style of animation whose motif is surrounded and based off the rumors, and urban legends throughout the history of Japan.

Feels like

  • Japanese Urban Legends
  • Paper-Cutout Animation
  • Folk Horror
  • Atmospheric Dread
  • Short-Form Horror
  • Cultural Folklore
  • Uncanny Valley
  • Minimalist Visuals
  • Psychological Terror
  • Eerie Sound Design

Cast

24 of 59 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Akira Funeda, 杉本健一, Tomoya Takashima
Written by
Hiromu Kumamoto, 佐佐木充郭, 石上加奈子
Produced by
Akira Funeda, Norio Yamakawa, Takuya Iwasaki

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

July 15, 2013 · October 12, 2026 · Still running

First aired
July 15, 2013
Latest episode
October 12, 2026
Status
Still running
Length
17 seasons · 221 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Disturbing Imagery, Violence
Genres
Animation
Original language
Japanese
Made in
Japan
Available in
86 countries

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai?"

Questions about Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai?

CrunchyrollHiDive

In the United States, Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai streams on Crunchyroll and HiDive. It also streams in 85 other countries.

Is Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai worth watching?

71
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 71 (IMDb 7).

Which season of Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai is best?

Season 1, with an IMDb average of 6.9. Season 15 is the weakest at 5.6. The highest-rated episode is - Drawings - (season 3, episode 13) at 7.6, and the lowest is Bye-Bye (season 10, episode 11) at 4.5.

How long does it take to watch Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai?

15 h

About 15 hours: 221 episodes in 17 seasons of about 4 minutes each since 2013, and it's still in production.

Will I feel good after watching Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 5 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Will Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

Yes, it's frightening: scares are rated 8 of 10.

Is Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai in English?

Japanese

No, it was made in Japanese.