Anime as a medium, it has a vast history of emotionally resonant serial narratives, which have no shortage of sad stories. This has always been a special sauce of this particularly expressive art form, its writing aiming to tug at the heartstrings, with its moving parts, from characterization to music, creating powerful experiences that linger well beyond the final episode.
But the great thing about anime is that it’s often emotionally mature enough to not fetishize or devalue grief. The Best Sad Anime Can Be Absolutely Devastating in the End, But Others Can Use Emotion bring its characters to catharsisin turn giving viewers closure. If they succeed, audiences will be treated to some truly essential anime experiences.
10 Death Parade
Original animated series from Studio Madhouse
With one of the flashiest and catchiest opening themes ever produced, Death Parade offers much more than an infectious soundtrack. The original anime takes place in a purgatory-like bar located between heaven and hell. Here, those who have passed away compete in “Death Games” to determine whether their souls will be reincarnated or whether they will be sent into the void.
The path Death Parade manages its characters, their stories and how their lives led them to be the people they became up until the moment of their death adds even heavier weight and consequences for their ultimate fate once their future is decided for them. Some stories are so powerful that they are truly heartbreaking.
9 Given
Animated by Lerche, based on the original manga by Natsuki Kizu
Given
- Release date
- 2019 – 2019
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- Akiyo Ohashi
- Writers
- Yuniko Ayana
Cast
-
Shogo Yano
Ritsuka Uenoyama (voice)
-
Yuma Uchida
Mafuyu Satou (voice)
The BL drama Given is a wholesome experience throughout, depicting the lives and loves of the band “The Seasons”, whose lives and names are forever changed by a key new member. The band’s lead guitarist, Ritsuka Uenoyama, discovers the desperate Mafuyu Sato clutching his guitar, pitifully sad about his broken strings.
However, as the two connect and Ritsuka introduces Mafuyu to his groupmates Haruki and Akihiko, they discover Mafuyu’s angelic voice and a tragic past. When Mafuyu finally releases the music in his heart, there isn’t a dry eye in the house for him. Given animated.
Music and anime are intrinsically linked, but with Giventhat connection extends far beyond a fun soundtrack. The music in Given is an integral part of the plot and a major factor in what makes the series such a memorable experience.
8 Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
An original animated series co-produced by Studio Bones & Kinema Citrus
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
- Release date
- 2009 – 2009-00-00
Cast
-
Satomi Hanamura
Mirai Onozawa
-
Yumiko Kobayashi
Yuuki Onozawa
One of Tokyo Magnitude 8.0‘s main strength is how faithful it is to reality, seeking to realistically depict an earthquake powerful enough to change the landscape of Tokyo in an instant, as well as its severe aftermath.
No one could ever be prepared for such an event, least of all Mirai Onozawa and Yuuki Onozawa, two children alone on vacation. However, far from their family, they have no choice but to face this new situation, alongside Mari Kusakabe, a motorcyclist and single mother.
Japan, more than many other countries, has been hit hard by a handful of natural disasters. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 makes this all hit close to home, even for anime fans who have never been personally harmed by disaster themselves.
The scale of damage after something like a large earthquake is difficult to understand, and it’s something that Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 captures quite well. Sadness comes from the effects of disasterwhich causes a lot of loss and sorrow in the city.
7 WorldEnd: What do you do at the end of the world? Are you busy? Do you want to save us?
Animated by Statelight and C2C, based on the Light Novel by Akira Kareno and Ue
End of the world follows Willem Kmetsch, an ancient warrior frozen in ice 500 years ago. He then wakes up to find that he is the only human left, humanity having been wiped out by mysterious creatures known as “beasts”.
Fearing these monsters, Willem and the surviving races must now live on floating islands in the sky. It is there that he meets the Imps, young girls used as weapons against the Beasts.
Of his post-apocalyptic decor At tragic stories of leprechaunsas well as their goal of sacrifice and disregard for their own lives, this series is full of emotional moments.
20 best short animated series to discover
Not all anime fans have time to watch big series like Naruto or One Piece, but these short, single-season anime releases should be seen by everyone.
6 Plastic souvenirs
Original animated series produced by Doga Kobo
Plastic souvenirs
- Release date
- 2015 – 2015
- Directors
- Yoshiyuki Fujiwara
- Writers
- Naotaka Hayashi
Plastic souvenirs East a forbidden love story, limited in time. The story takes place in a world where a company known as SAI Corp produces lifelike androids that resemble humans in every way, aside from having a significantly shorter lifespan.
After landing a job at this company, Tsukasa Mizugaki meets Isla, a veteran android, and together they must recover other androids before losing their memories. Not only is it heartbreaking to see the humans and androids who grew close grow apart, but Tsukasa and Isla’s relationship, which develops throughout the series, is doomed to end tragically.
5 Banana Fish
Animated by MAPPA, based on the manga by Akimi Yoshida
Banana Fish
- Release date
- 2018 – 2018
- Directors
- Hiroko Utsumi
- Writers
- Hiroshi Seko
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming service(s)
- Main video
- Main genre
- Action
- Creator(s)
- Akimi Yoshida
The story of Banana Fish is heavy with sad moments and reasons to crybecause it boldly presents themes that few other stories have the courage to tackle. From drug abuse to gang violence to corruption to PTSD, no phenomenon is too dark to explore.
The story follows Ash Lynx, a complex character who has proven to be incredibly strong despite 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 a happy note that fans could have wished for.
Banana Fish is a classic manga from the 80s, and studio MAPPA’s adaptation absolutely does the story justice. So much Banana Fish the story is contained in small moments, and this is something MAPPA has achieved with its anime. Banana Fish maybe heartbreaking, but it still remains among The best animated series of all time according to MAPPA.
4 5 centimeters per second
Hosted by CoMix Wave Films, directed by Makoto Shinkai
5 centimeters per second
- Release date
- March 3, 2007
- Runtime
- 63 minutes
- Director
- Makoto Shinkai
- Writers
- Makoto Shinkai
Cast
-
Kenji Mizuhashi
Takaki Tohno (voice)
-
Yoshimi Kondou
Young Akari Shinohara (voice)
CoMix Wave Films’ 5 centimeters per second centers on the growing relationship between Takaki Tono and Akari Shinohara. At first, Takaki and Akari’s romance appears to be simple, if a bit melodramatic, but as life separates them, it slowly evolves into a bittersweet and tragic story that will set the tone for Makoto Shinkai’s future career.
Not only 5 centimeters per second all have the same emotional drama as Makoto Shinkai’s more modern stories like Your name, Meteor with youAnd Suzumebut 5 centimeters per second is even more dramatic than Makoto Shinkai’s modern works because the main couple simply doesn’t get together or break up..
It’s a surprisingly realistic conclusion, and it’s a big part of why it’s such a sad story to watch unfold.
3 The original sin of Takopi
Animated by Enishiya, based on the Taizan 5 manga
The original sin of Takopi it’s not just a sad story; it’s downright depressing in its depiction of children’s mental health and how they deal with the traumas of everyday life, when there is so much out of their control at such a young age. This anime is not for the light-hearted, as it highlights humanity’s worst flaws.
After descending the stars of Happy Planet, Nueinukf (or Takopi as she is later called) meets Shizuka Kuze, a young girl who helps the alien after finding him somewhat hungry on the playground. To repay his kindness, Takopi goes out of his way to try and make Shizuka’s life better and make her happy.
Yet despite her attempts, Shizuka’s life takes a turn for the worse and her personality darkens, setting off a chain of consequences that even Takopi can’t fix. Although it is a short series, each episode packs a punch, without worrying about the audience’s feelings.
2 Devilman Crybaby
Animated by Science Saru, based on the manga by Go Nagai
In Science Saru Devilman Crybaby, When habitual crybaby Akira Fudo is dragged by his best friend Ryo Asuka on a mission to reveal the existence of demons, he is possessed by the demon Amon and gains the power to transform into the bloodthirsty Devilman.
What follows is Akira’s transformation into a more assertive and aggressive person as he struggles to protect his loved ones from demons under the growing threat of the apocalypse.
Devilman Crybaby East a modern take on Go Nagai’s iconic anime seriesand just like the original, Devilman Crybaby it only gets more gruesome with each passing episode before ending with the entire cast dead and no one is happier of this experience.
There was no better way to modernize such a classic anime, and the visual style of Devilman Crybaby ultimately makes things even worse than the original.
1 The wolf’s rain
Bones is directed by Tensai Okamura and written by Keiko Nobumoto
Originally broadcast on Adult Swim, we didn’t expect much from The wolf’s rainexcept for another adventure mashup bringing together some of the former crew members of Cowboy Bebop. But what would greet new viewers was a dark and gritty story of a post-apocalyptic world featuring a small group of wolves who go undercover as humans.
The narrative almost punishes its audience for showing an ounce of empathy for these characters as they not only struggle to survive among humans, but seek paradise due to an ancient legend, hoping to restore part of the world and their dying species. Every struggle, whether mental, spiritual or physical, gives hope, only to have it brutally snatched away.
From the cinematic quality of the animation to the sound design meant to evoke the same emotions the characters feel in this empty, desolate world, The wolf’s rain is as lamentable as it is depressing. But it’s an interesting anime both for its story and its influence that continues to resonate with those who have experienced the journey.
- Release date
- 2003 – 2004-00-00
- Directors
- Tensai Okamura
- Writers
- Keiko Nobumoto
- Franchise(s)
- The wolf’s rain