It's that time again, kids. The fall leaves are coming in, the wind is a little cooler than usual, and stories of ghosts and goblins permeate the ether. Unfortunately, as we've reported many times in the past, anime and horror don't often mix, at least not in the way we'd hope. With that in mind, it's surprising that earlier this month we spotted a newly released horror anime on Netflix that might satisfy your horror hunger, and it's a series you most likely didn't see coming.

Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance wasn't announced as a horror series, but it is one. The latest Gundam The anime takes viewers back to the franchise's original timeline, the Universal Century Arc, and follows a group of soldiers in the Principality of Zeon. Since the series takes on the role of the “villains” of the first conflict, you may be surprised that this can give you goosebumps when the “hero” here is the slasher villain. What the CG series does is that it presents Amuro and his mech suit in a way that will send shivers down your spine and make you genuinely afraid of those stupid enough to go up against the former Gundam of the anime to fight.

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The Horror Gundam

The first episode serves as a perfect introduction to what makes this Gundam so scary in the face of Zeon. First of all, the warriors fighting the all-powerful mech have no idea who controls this weapon of war and panic at the sight of them. Blocking explosions that would normally destroy other mechs while watching the Gundam unit move at ridiculous speeds – these aspects alone aren't enough to make this a horror story, but they help.

Where the horror aspects really take hold is the depiction of the Gundam mech in its first appearances. When first encountering Amuro, the main characters encounter the unstoppable mech in the middle of the night, with the Gundam's red eyes glowing through the darkness. In a particularly gruesome scene, Amuro smashes into a Zaku and, to the horror of onlookers, crushes the pilot inside. By putting yourself in the shoes of the Zeon soldiers, you can experience a new level of fear in the fight against an unstoppable force, regardless of whether you are considered “good” or “evil” in the overall story.

A twist on M. Night Shyamalan Gundam

When it comes to that Gundam: Requiem for VengeanceIt could be even scarier if you don't know anything about the series before diving in. If you're familiar with the franchise, you'll realize that the Gundam in your head is fighting for “the right thing,” but if this is your first Gundam in the series, it'll be a shock to learn who's piloting the mech, like you often sees it in M. Night Shyamalan films. The differences between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon make neither of them true villains, meaning it's easy to understand the goals they're trying to achieve and empathize with their respective concerns.

The idea of ​​switching sides while taking into account how audiences view a Gundam conflict has helped increase its longevity, along with switching between different genres. In Gundam: Requiem for VengeanceThe Netflix original series has managed to find its footing as a campfire story that casts the Gundam in a spooky light while documenting the horrors of war.

Anime's horror pitfalls

For many this is surprising Junji Ito's Uzumaki may not live up to the hype that anime fans have been harboring for years. While the premiere episode caused a stir, subsequent episodes were apparently marred by behind-the-scenes animation issues. It is negotiable whether Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance may overtake this Adult Swim anime, but based on fan reactions to both, there could certainly be an argument.

The future of anime horror seems uncertain at best at the time of writing this article. Following the production problems in the area UzumakiAdult Swim has been adamant that they will not be adapting any more Junji Ito stories in the future. There are many horror manga that have not yet been brought to the big screen. However, considering that shonen and shojo series regularly occupy top spots in the medium, it might take a shining horror star to break into the anime world.

Want to stay up to date on the world of anime horror? Follow Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Gundam, and contact me directly at @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and the world of horror.