One thing that makes watching action-packed anime fun and engaging is seeing the heroes accomplish their lifelong goals and see their dreams finally become a reality. Unfortunately, not everyone gets this privilege.
Now and then, an inspiring character will meet their end long before their time is up, leaving their hopes and dreams unfulfilled and forever stagnant. Despite giving it their all, some dreams are sadly fated to remain nothing more than figments of a hero’s imagination. There will be spoilers ahead.
10 Berserk – Griffith Sacrifices The Band Of The Hawk Before Their Resurgence
After rescuing a tortured Griffith, his Band of the Hawk realized that any chance of reclaiming their former glory was moot. Even so, they clung on to the hope of a new dawn now that they had their founder, leader, and morale back. Unfortunately, their beloved commander had other plans.
In a fit of suicidal despair, Griffith sacrificed his most loyal men and friends to the God Hand in exchange for power. Only Guts and Casca survive the hellish Eclipse, but both are changed forever in the worst ways imaginable. Casca is a shell of her former self, while Guts becomes a monster far worse than the Apostles he brutally slaughters.
9 One Piece – Whitebeard Dies Before Piracy’s Rebirth
Even before dying in battle, an aging Whitebeard knew his days were numbered. Still, his inevitable death couldn’t have been less tragic since he failed to accomplish the one reason he had for waging war at Marineford: saving Ace, the closest pirate he’s had to a son (more on Ace later). Shortly after, Whitebeard dies standing to Blackbeard and the Marines.
Whitebeard uses his last words to confirm that the mythical One Piece is real, reigniting the pirates’ spirit of rebellion. While he gave Gol D. Roger’s age of freedom second wind, Whitebeard never lived to see the One Piece himself nor raise Ace to be the new Pirate King.
8 Attack On Titan – Erwin Smith Never Learn The Truths Of Paradis
Attack on Titan is defined by tragic deaths, with Erwin being one of the saddest ones. During the reclamation of Shiganshina, all hope is lost when the Beast Titan corners Erwin and Levi’s squad. Erwin leads a suicide charge to give Levi cover to take down Zeke and dies doing so.
What makes this sadder is that Erwin and everyone who died never learned the truths of Paradis, the Titans, and their suffering that’s hidden in Eren’s basement – which was just in walking distance. Levi considers saving him with the Titan Serum but ultimately chooses Armin instead, concluding that Erwin should rest now.
7 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood – Jonathan Joestar Dies Before Making It To America
While it’s not exactly the fan-favorite JoJo arc, Phantom Blood still has one of the series’ saddest deaths. The anime’s inaugural JoJo, Jonathan Joestar, dies protecting his beloved wife Erina and their child, just when he was moments away from starting a new life in America.
Dio, now a sentient talking head, sneaks aboard Jonathan’s honeymoon voyage and strikes. Jonathan bleeds out from Dio’s attack, but not before dragging him down with the sinking ship. Even sadder, Johnathan somehow finds it in himself to forgive Dio before dying, much to his childhood rival’s surprise.
6 Naruto: Shippuden – Jiraiya Falls Before Writing “The Tale Of Naruto The Great”
Jiraiya was one of the strongest ninjas around, but even he was no match for Pain. While the legendary ninja successfully discovered Pain’s weakness, he died with many regrets. Chief among them are: failing to win over Tsunade, losing Orochimaru to evil, and endangering his mentor and student (Hiruzen Sarutobi and Naruto, respectively).
For what it’s worth, Jiraiya came to terms with his past failures in his last seconds. This doesn’t erase the fact that he’ll never get to redeem what he considers his greatest failures, nor will he see how proud his godson Naruto would’ve made him – which he would’ve chronicled in “The Tale of Naruto the Great.”
5 Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann – Kamina Dies Before Humanity Overthrows The Beastmen
In Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, humanity has been forced to live underground while the Beastmen rules the surface world. A shaky truce is forged between the races, where they leave each other alone. Kamina disagrees with this and vows to get himself, his brother Simon, and humankind aboveground.
Kamina founds Team Gurren, but just when the resistance scores its first major win, Kamina dies. The impact of Kamina’s death early on in the anime is so great that not only did it unlock the Giga Drill Break and change Simon, but fans still (understandably) cry about it today. Kamina’s demise constantly tops “saddest anime deaths” lists for a reason.
4 One Piece – Ace Never Makes Up For Lost Time
The Marineford arc was so difficult for One Piece fans that it makes it here twice. Ask those same fans whose death was the saddest, and they would unanimously answer Portgas D. Ace’s, Luffy’s long-estranged brother. The two aren’t related by blood since Luffy’s grandfather adopted Ace, but they might as well be given how close they were.
Ace and Luffy spent years apart and finally reunited during the former’s execution, which Luffy, Impel Down’s escaped prisoners, and Whitebeard’s crew interrupt to stage a rescue. Unfortunately, Ace dies taking a deadly attack meant for Luffy. This happens shortly after Ace promised Luffy he’d make up for lost time and after he finally recognized his self-worth. Worse, he never even learns that his best friend Sabo is alive.
3 Tokyo Ghoul – The Doves Execute Ryouko Before She Can Live A New Life
Ryouko isn’t a main character in Tokyo Ghoul, but she had one of the most painful deaths in the entire series. Ryouko and her daughter Hanami find sanctuary at the Anteiku, but after resting and preparing themselves to start a new life elsewhere, they bump into the Doves hunting them down. Ryouko dies, keeping Hanami safe, failing to promise her that they can start over.
What makes things worse is that Ryouko’s memory was desecrated, as Mado used her kagune alongside her husband’s and almost killed Hinami with it. Fortunately, Mado was stopped by what can only be explained as divine intervention. Ryouko’s kagune refused to follows his command at the last second, leaving him open to a fatal blow from Touka.
2 Fullmetal Alchemist – Envy Assassinates Maes Before He Can Grow Old
Not all dreams need to be grand, like saving humanity or defeating an ancient evil. Sometimes, they can be as simple as being a family man, which was Maes Hughes's case in both incarnations of Fullmetal Alchemist. Maes just wanted to do his job well and grow old with his family, which only makes his brutal death much sadder.
Just when Maes unearthed the truth behind the Homunculus, Envy guns down him. Maes desperately tries to stay alive to see his beloved daughter again, but Envy finishes the job. Twisting the knife further was that Maes’ death was not heroic; it was agonizingly realistic and painful. That, and his funeral, was shown in heart-wrenching detail. Maes’ death was truly a terrible day for rain.
1 Puella Magi Madoka Magica – Sayaka’s Heart Gets Broken In Every Timeline
Sayaka became a magical girl in the name of love, specifically her crush Kyousuke. But when he ends up dating someone else and discovers that magical girls are cursed to become the very witches they fight, Sayaka becomes a witch herself. Whatever dreams of love and magical adventures she had were quickly shattered, making her end at Kyoko’s hands all the more tragic.
The most painful thing about this is that across the different timelines Homura has seen, Sayaka’s tragedy is a constant. No matter what Sayaka does, she’s doomed to lose herself to despair, with her friends being the only ones able to end the misery. Sayaka’s resurrection in Rebellion does little to numb the seemingly endless suffering her innocent love gave her.