15 Sad Anime Series Guaranteed To Make You Cry

Sept. 22, 2023, 6 p.m.

Movies

15 Sad Anime Series Guaranteed To Make You Cry

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Summary An authentic connection with characters is crucial for creating impactful sadness in anime. Viewers need to feel a genuine emotional bond for the tragedy to truly resonate.

The saddest anime series focus on building real and relatable worlds that feel important to fans. It's not just about senseless sad events, but about creating a story and setting that feels completely real.

Untimely deaths and tragic revelations are effective ways to create sadness, but only if viewers have connected with the characters and their stories. It's the emotional investment that makes these moments truly heartbreaking.

Sad anime series tell some of the stories that stick with fans the longest, as few emotions are felt as intensely as sadness. It is easy to laugh at a brief joke or feel joy over a character's achievements and victories, but such feelings are often short-lived. On the other hand, bringing viewers to tears requires a genuine connection to be formed, as the characters need to feel real and relatable.

There are plenty of series that make their viewers cry on occasion. Especially when it comes to longer-running ones, certain moments are bound to be especially sad, such as One Piece's Going Merry's tragic ending. However, few shows go out of their way to attempt to build up a real connection with viewers, focusing on their emotions above all and leading to some of the greatest sad anime series.

15 Violet Evergarden

Based on the Light Novel By Kana Akatsuki & Akiko Takase

Year Released 2018 Number of Episodes 13 Where to Stream Netflix

Violet Evergarden follows the eponymous protagonist who, after being raised as a weapon meant only to excel on the battlefield, has to start a whole new life as an "Auto Memory Doll" after the war ends. As she herself is largely unaware of the extent of human emotions and experiences, transcribing others' thoughts and getting to know their feelings is a perfect way to learn and grow. While Violet's backstory is quite sad in and of itself, the saddest moments of this series occur when she interacts with her clients, such as a mother writing letters for her daughter's future birthdays, knowing she won't be around herself.

14 Angel Beats!

Original Anime Series By P.A. Works

Year Released 2010 Number of Episodes 13 + 2 OVAs Where to Stream Crunchyroll, Funimation

The premise of Angel Beats! already sets it up as one of the most emotional series that anime fans could experience. Set in the afterlife, the story revolves around a group of teenagers, all of whom died with profound regrets and unfulfilled wishes. From the protagonists to the supporting characters, everyone who ended up here has a tragic and realistic backstory, at least one of which viewers are bound to connect with. Although moments of humor and action are present as well, particularly relating to the conflict between the Afterlife Battlefront and Tachibana, this is ultimately but a facade behind which some of the medium's saddest scenes await unsuspecting viewers.

13 Orange

Based on the original manga by Ichigo Takano

Orange is a deceptively angsty shojo series that opens in the way most anime fans would expect it to, in a classic high school "meet cute" scenario between the female lead and the classic transfer student male lead. Things take a dark turn, though, when the female lead is given an ominous message from the future: the male lead, Kakeru, is at the center of her deepest regrets, and to prevent his tragic fate at all costs. Naho, the protagonist, begins to follow what these messages tell her to do to change the future – and just when things start to seem a little too supernatural for a series that's otherwise deeply rooted in reality, audiences get to see the future versions of these characters visiting Kakeru's grave.

The Eisner-Award nominated series is one that stays heavy throughout, a character study that explores themes of regret, grief, and learning to "let go" – in every meaning of the phrase. As the anime continues, Orange provides a powerful message about silver linings and supporting one another, as well as the ever-powerful "found family" trope.

Related One of Shojo's Most Important Manga Ever Finally Returns With New Movie From Jujutsu Kaisen Studio One of the biggest shoujo manga of all time The Rose of Versailles is finally returning with a movie made by MAPPA, releasing in 2025.

12 Your Lie in April

Based On the Manga By Naoshi Arakawa

Year Released 2014 Number of Episodes 22 Where to Stream Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu

Your Lie in April follows Kousei Arima, a piano prodigy who lost his ability to play as well as his love for music after his mother's death. However, things seem to change when he meets Kaori Miyazono, an eccentric violinist whose free-spirited, emotional music playstyle re-kindles Kousei's passion and inspires him to start playing piano again. Unfortunately, Kaori suffers from a terminal illness and their journey together comes to an untimely end. Although Kaori's illness is shown from the very beginning, and she spends most of her time in hospitals, no viewer could possibly finish the show without crying at the end, when Kousei reads her letter.

11 Banana Fish

Based on the Manga By Akimi Yoshida

Year Released 2018 Number of Episodes 24 Where to Stream Amazon Prime Video

The story of Banana Fish is fraught with sad moments and reasons to cry, as it boldly features themes that few other stories have the courage to cover. From drug abuse and gang violence to corruption and PTSD, no phenomenon is too dark to be explored. The story follows Ash Lynx, a complex character who has proven himself to be incredibly strong in spite of his traumatic past, and Eiji Okumura, who gets drawn into Ash's world with the apparent desire to save him. Unfortunately, their journey together does not end on the happy note that fans may have wished for.

10 Grave of the Fireflies

Produced by Studio Ghibli

Related The Imaginary Review: Flawed Animated Fantasy Film Fails To Go Beyond The Studio Ghibli Style The Imaginary is full of beautiful visuals, but the story fell short of the promise that is imbued in the title and the pedigree of those involved.

9 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Original Anime Created By Artist Collective Super Peace Busters

Year Released 2011 Number of Episodes 11 Where to Stream Crunchyroll, Funimation

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day is infamous for being one of the saddest anime series, and for good reason. The story revolves around a group of friends who drifted apart after one of them, Meiko Honma, died. Several years later, her sudden reappearance in the form of a ghost brings them back together, forcing them to confront the regret, guilt, and sorrow that they ignored for so long. Although it features a supernatural twist, its nostalgic theme and focus on human relationships keep it grounded and relatable, only adding to the impact of its overarching sadness. Its distinct ending theme is sure to make fans emotional every time.

Fans of Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day's tragic story might also enjoy Orange, a TMS Entertainment production based on the manga series by Ichigo Tanaka.

8 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Based on the RPG Series Created By Mike Pondsmith

Year Released 2022 Number of Episodes 10 Where to Stream Netflix

Given its background, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners may easily be dismissed as promotional material for a game that only fans of the franchise would appreciate. However, it is far more than that, proving itself to be one of the best and saddest stories told in the medium. The show features an original story revolving around David Martinez, a boy with a once-bright future who ended up as an edgerunner after a series of tragedies, and Lucy, a netrunner with a likewise tragic backstory. With the story taking place in Night City, a dangerous, dystopian futuristic city where being good is rarely rewarded, its heartbreaking events are almost to be expected.

7 Death Parade

Produced by Madhouse

With one of the flashiest and catchiest opening themes ever produced, Death Parade offers much more than an infectious soundtrack. The anime original, which was created, written and directed by Yuzuru Tachikawa, takes place in a purgatory-esque bar situated between Heaven and Hell. Here, those who have passed away compete in "Death Games" to determine if their soul will be reincarnated, or if they'll be sent to the void.

Any series that analyzes and critiques the nature of death and the afterlife is bound to get heavy, but the way in which Death Parade handles some of its characters, their backstories, and how their lives led them to being the people they became up until the moment of their death adds an even heavier weight and consequence for their ultimate fates once their future is decided for them. Some of the stories are so impactful that they're certifiable tear-jerkers.

6 Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

An Original Anime Series Co-Produced by Studio Bones & Kinema Citrus

Year Released 2009 Number of Episodes 11 Where to Stream Currently not available on streaming

One of Tokyo Magnitude 8.0's main strengths is just how true to life it is, seeking to realistically depict an earthquake powerful enough to change the landscape of Tokyo in an instant, and the severe consequences thereof. No one could ever be prepared for such an event, much less Mirai Onozawa and Yuuki Onozawa, two children away on vacation by themselves. Yet, far from their family, they have no choice but to face this new situation, together with Mari Kusakabe, a motorcyclist and single mother. The sadness comes from the effects of the disaster, which causes plenty of loss and grief in the city.

5 Flavors of Youth

Produced by Haoliners Animation League & CoMix Wave Films

The highly underrated film Flavors of Youth that released in 2018 is the unique case of an anime series produced in China being released to mainstream audiences. The feature-length film is based around the tradition of the four basic necessities of life: food, clothing, housing and transportation, which is divided into three separate parts; The Rice Noodles, A Little Fashion Show, and Love in Shanghai.

While the film may not be emotional or "sad" in the traditional ways that anime fans would expect, Flavors of Youth hits hard in its core themes and resounding message of enjoying every moment of life, as well as being a beautiful cultural piece that gives an ample amount of love to the many landscapes and landmarks found in China. Watching each of the characters in the short stories gives every audience member somebody or something to relate to, adding to the film's impactful qualities.

4 WorldEnd: What do you do at the end of the world? Are you busy? Will you save us?

Based on the Light Novel By Akira Kareno and Ue

Year Released 2017 Number of Episodes 12 Where to Stream Crunchyroll, Funimation

WorldEnd follows Willem Kmetsch, a former warrior who was frozen in ice 500 years ago. He then awakens to find that he's the only remaining human, as humanity was wiped out by mysterious creatures known as "Beasts". In fear of these monsters, he and the surviving races must now live on floating islands in the sky. This is where he encounters the Leprechauns, young girls used as weapons against the Beasts. From its post-apocalyptic setting to the tragic backstories of the Leprechauns, as well as their purpose of sacrifice and disregard for their own lives, this series is full of emotional moments.

3 Plastic Memories

Original Anime Series Produced By Doga Kobo

Year Released 2015 Number of Episodes 13 Where to Stream Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu

Plastic Memories is a story of forbidden love, limited by time. The story takes place in a world where a company known as SAI Corp produces lifelike androids who resemble humans in every way, besides the fact that they have a significantly shorter lifespan. After landing a job at this company, Tsukasa Mizugaki meets up with Isla, a veteran android, and together they must retrieve other androids before they lose their memories. Not only is it heartbreaking to see humans and androids who grew close be separated, but the very relationship of Tsukasa and Isla, which develops throughout the show, is also fated to end tragically.

2 Wolf Children

Produced by Studio Chizu

Mamoru Hosoda has a colorful career in filmmaking, helming projects like Summer Wars and his most recent success, Belle. One of his most emotionally profound features, though, is Wolf Children. The film is a lot of things: in its opening, Wolf Children is a story of unconditional love, and over the course of the film becomes a beautiful, insightful look into the emotional toils of motherhood.

Hana begins as a young college student, and after sharing her textbook with a mysterious man who sits in on one of her classes, becomes deeply enamored by him. As their relationship progresses, she learns he's a "wolf man" – similar to a classic werewolf, albeit far more gentle. The pair later have two children, and when her love tragically passes away in an accident, Hana takes Ame and Yuki and moves to the countryside where they can live a peaceful life. The second half of the film depicts Hana's struggle to manage the two children as they grow into middle schoolers, and must learn to accept the two very different directions her children wish to take in life.

1 Clannad: After Story

Based on the Visual Novel by Key

Year Released 2008 Number of Episodes 24 + 1 OVA Where to Stream Currently not available on streaming

Clannad: After Story follows the future wherein Tomoya Okazaki starts dating Nagisa Furukawa, as well as their life together. Unfortunately, while witnessing their relationship develop should be a positive experience for fans of the couple, their family life proves to be riddled with trouble, challenges, and difficult choices. The tragedies are not even limited to the couple alone, with other characters also facing their own hardships. Adulthood is rarely easy, a fact that this series portrays realistically and sincerely, which evokes genuine empathy from viewers. Many anime fans consider this title to be one of the saddest ever, with Tomoya and Nagisa's family developments breaking fans' hearts multiple times.

From untimely deaths to tragic revelations, there are plenty of different ways to create a sad scene. However, the death of a character is not going to evoke any feelings if viewers never connect with that character in the first place. These series succeeded in telling some of the most impactful and memorable stories of the medium not through senseless sad events, but rather by creating worlds that felt real and important to fans. As such, the saddest anime series feel completely real, an event that no one can easily forget.