While activity-packed shounen animes ofttimes take the spotlight, the anime industry is more diverse than any other media medium. From terrifying horror to comedy that volition make your sides hurt, this diversity is what makes the genre and so easy to become into. That said, some of the all-time anime of all time are melancholic dramas and tragedies that excel at making their audition full of tears.

From school-time tales like Clannad based on visual novels to more societal critiques, animes frequently make viewers feel in a completely unlike way. In the finish, even so, despite the m size of the genre, some dramas excel at making fans weep far better than others.

Updated on January 8, 2022, past Scott Vengel: Anime continues to be a major source of amusement, with new releases only continuing to increase as we enter 2022. From the new Demon Slayer arc to new serial like Orient from the creators of Magi, anime fans are at no shortage for new content. Nonetheless, the New Year is also a expert time for reflection on the series that we all know and love, and nowhere is this more notable than in sad anime. As such, this commodity will exist updated to add more than entries for fans to reflect on.

15 Your Prevarication In Apr

your lie in april anime

Few anime are equally infamous for their sad endings as Your Prevarication In April. Focused on the story of Kosei Arima, a well-achieved pianist, and musician, the story takes an interesting turn as the audition is introduced to the free-spirited Kaori Miyazono.

The ii get along well during the testify'due south runtime, somewhen concluding nicely with a romantic plot. However, the story quickly grows more and more dramatic every bit the audition becomes introduced to illness and the strife information technology causes each of the characters. Overall, there'due south a lot to appreciate with the series, especially for people that love well-developed characters.

xiv Violet Evergarden

violet evergarden anime

There is no bigger tragedy than state of war, something that the pop anime Violet Evergarden really hits habitation. The story surrounds the ex-soldier Violet Evergarden, the namesake character of the series, every bit she reintegrates afterwards the finish of a recent war.

Taking upwardly the career of a ghostwriter that writes for people that cannot write for themselves, the anime jumps into a deep exploration of each character'due south emotions, especially the protagonist herself. In the end, Violet Evergarden is a good pick for anime fans that like historical dramas and suspenseful action.

thirteen Anohana

anohana anime

Anohana is a recurring pick amongst pitiful anime for its unique premise. The story focuses on the story of a group of childhood friends that have slowly drifted apart in different directions. The consequence? The group was divided subsequently an accident that killed 1 of their friends, named Meiko.

This blow affects the group, especially the now-reclusive master graphic symbol Jinta when Meiko's ghost suddenly appears to bring them dorsum together. All in all, Anohana is a great series for audiences that love a story that's both fulfilling and sad at the same time.

12 Haibane Renmei

haibane renmei anime

Many prominent fantasy series accept become the icons of the sadder side of the anime industry. However, ane modern fantasy series which flies under the radar has the potential to be 1 of the most eye-wrenching of them all — Haibane Renmei.

The premise of Haibane Renmei follows the story of Rakka, a haibane (a creature resembling an angel), and the mysterious-walled city of Glie. Nonetheless, as mysterious equally the circumstances are, the plot just becomes more suspenseful as viewers learn more than about Glie and its inhabitants.

11 Wolf Children

wolf children anime movie

Anime movies concord a special place in the hearts of anime and manga fans for their heartwarming moments that tin't quite be reached in a normal anime serial. The length of the film, plus the need to watch in one sitting, allows the movie to immerse the viewer more effectively — the film Wolf Children proves this much equally it shows viewers the daily life of a family of wolf people. After meeting a werewolf in college, the main graphic symbol Hana has 2 half-wolf children; Wolf Children focuses on the life of this unique family.

All in all, Wolf Children makes for a good pick for anime fans that are looking for a sadder fantasy-fashion movie outside of the standard Studio Ghibli style of animation. The film was as well praised for its unique premise, focusing more on the human relationship betwixt mother and child than an action-filled plot.

x Affections Beats

angel beats kanade yuri weapons

Key visual novels take become known for their heart-wrenching storylines (and romantic subplots), as well every bit their excellent visuals. Angel Beats, the anime released in 2010, has a legacy for many as being ane of the most compelling of these. Taking viewers to a school-time afterlife, the story revolves effectually Otonashi Yuzuru and a ring of renegade teenagers fighting against passing on.

Withal, as the story goes on, viewers face the roughshod reality of this afterlife. For new anime fans, this is an astonishing starting betoken for the more melancholic side of the medium. The comedy and setting bring a more lite-hearted tone, counterbalanced to incredible visuals, music, and twists that hit right to the center.

9 I Desire To Eat Your Pancreas

anime i want to eat your pancreas

Some serial are built to hitting the viewer correct in the feels. I Want To Consume Your Pancreas (contrary to what the title alludes to) builds a globe that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking to its very core. The story focuses on the story of a girl, named Sakura, who suffers from a rare, fatal pancreatic affliction.

As viewers follow the bear witness'due south protagonist named Haruki, they will abound attached to the relationship betwixt the doomed duo. Of course, due to the show's excellent artwork and characters, the viewers experience a unique type of feeling by the end of the story.

8 Clannad (and Clannad: After Story)

clannad anime tomoyo tomoya kyou nagisa school

Among the many titles in the genre, Clannad has get something of a archetype. For one-time-timers, the serial offers a nostalgic feeling. For newcomers, it offers a dramatic serial with world-shattering undertones. Focused on the story of Tomoya Okazaki, follow as the new high-schooler explores his skewed view of happiness and reality.

Based on the Key visual novel of the same name, the story offers a tragic story centered effectually each heroine. While i subplot is more prevalent than the others, the conclusion found in its sequel, Clannad: Later on Story, will not exist forgotten.

vii Orange

orange anime

Everybody loves a good mystery, anime or non. Able to build suspense and hide tragic events, the audition often comes to unexpected conclusions; this is about definitely the case for the 2016 series, Orange.

The protagonist, Naho Takamiya, receives a letter of the alphabet from her future self. However, the letter tells of a tragedy involving her classmate, Kakeru Naruse. Now, Naho must discover the truthful meaning of the messages or face their tragic predictions. The series dwells upon the themes of regret and other saddening themes, perfect for the viewer that enjoys a subtly melancholic story.

six A Silent Vocalisation

silent voice anime

Anime films (many of which are available on Netflix) have the potential to be fifty-fifty more saddening than their episodic counterparts. The motion-picture show A Silent Voice is a perfect example of this, hitting audiences with its alluring, down-to-life plotline. Telling the story of Shoya Ishida and his deaf classmate, Shoko Nishimiya.

The plot proceeds to create a dialogue on the issues of bullying and depression. Of course, non all lamentable anime are tragic; viewers volition discover the finish of A Silent Voice fulfilling, though still a fiddling bit depressing notwithstanding. A perfect choice for audiences looking for the all-time of both worlds.

5 Plastic Memories

plastic memories anime

The development of robotics is a mutual trope in both sci-fi movies and anime alike. However, just a few series touch on the sadder parts of this topic. That said, Plastic Memories does focus on these critical issues, as audiences follow the journeying of Tsukasa Mizugaki and the android Isla.

The anime tells a wistful tale of the impermanence of human and android life, and the feelings associated with AI. The overarch associations between characters and questions of romance in a brusque lifetime brand this story incredibly compelling. A must-picket for any sci-fi anime lover looking for something a petty bit different.

4 Erased

erased anime

Crime stories have go very popular in recent years. Amongst the many thoughts, many fans of this genre think "What could have been done differently?"; Erased looks to answer this question. Focused on the story of Satou Fujinuma, he receives the power to go xviii years in the past to foreclose mysterious crimes committed against his family and friends.

The anime gives a fairly unique take to the mystery genre with a plot very like to that of Detective Conan. All the same, the plot feels more personal equally viewers learn more nearly the characters and incidents.

3 Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

tokyo magnitude 8.0 anime

Very few incidents tin can follow with as much heartbreak as a natural disaster. Separating families, these massive tragedies tin destroy thousands to millions of lives without alarm. These are just a few of the themes displayed in the tragic tale of Tokyo Magnitude viii.0.

Taking place in Tokyo, the siblings Mirai and Yuki Onozawa observe themselves separated from their family by a sudden magnitude 8.0 earthquake. Assisted by the motorcyclist Mari, the duo faces the abiding struggles of familial separation and the endless disaster around them.

2 Grave Of The Fireflies

grave of the fireflies anime film studio ghibli wartime children

Sometimes, the older films of the past generation offer fifty-fifty more than of a worthwhile plot than modern classics. At least, the Studio Ghibli moving-picture show, Grave of the Fireflies, certainly does. Released all the way back in 1988, the story follows the wartime stories of Seita and his sister Setsuko.

The civilian side of 1945 Japan often goes unnoticed in modernistic history, and then this moving picture offers a very telling retelling (based on the autobiography of the aforementioned name.) Although there are some very dark tones (at least compared to other Ghibli films), the plot and well-developed characters brand for an unforgettable experience.

1 Terror In Resonance

terror in resonance anime

Terrorism isn't annihilation good, that isn't something to debate. Nonetheless, it has become ane of the most prevalent tragedies of the last few decades. Released back in 2014, Terror in Resonance explores the tragic undertones of a monumental issue in mod history with hit imagery and plot mechanics.

That said, be aware; viewers may find the imagery in the anime hard to swallow, between beingness a psychological thriller and a critique on a very controversial topic. Still, the adventures of Nine and Twelve will certainly go out an impression on everyone that watches until the finish.

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