Watching an emotional, cry-inducing, sad anime can be a very cathartic experience. Exploring heavier themes, these anime often still leave a note of hope at the end of a watch. Sometimes, it is embracing the saddest parts of life that lets the happiest parts shine through brighter than ever.
The past decade has produced its fair share of gut-wrenching, heart-breaking anime. From stand-alone movies, to much-anticipated remakes, several standout anime have graced the screens of fans globally. Several of these anime are already considered modern classics, and have made lasting impact on their respective genres.
10 Puella Magi Madoka Magica Subverts Typical Magical Girl Tropes
Puella Magi Madoka Magica starts off like any other magical girl series: Madoka Kaname meets a cute magical creature named Kyubey who offers her a wish in exchange for magical powers. Coupled with a cute art style, fans were none the wiser going into the first episodes. The series soon takes a much darker turn, and it is clear that all is not as it seems.
An extremely compelling series full of plot twists and surprises, Madoka Magica leaves fans feeling the full spectrum of emotion. Accompanied by surreal visuals, horror elements and an evocative soundtrack, the series has set a new benchmark for the magical girl genre.
9 Your Name Takes Romantic Comedy To The Next Level
A global phenomenon, Your Name broke box office records to become one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time. Makoto Shinkai was already a well-established filmmaker, known for his thought-provoking drama films such as 5 Centimeters Per Second and The Garden Of Words, when Your Name drew in new fans from across the globe.
Two strangers' lives are forever changed when they wake one morning to find themselves in each other's bodies. Wacky body-swap hijinks ensue, but Your Name's story continues to develop into something much deeper and more heartfelt that stays with fans long after watching.
8 Violet Evergarden Illustrates The Tragedies Of War
Set in a Victorian-styled post-war society, Violet Evergarden is a visual and narrative masterpiece. Kyoto Animation really shined bringing this popular light novel and all of its extremely emotional moments to life. The anime takes the best elements of the light novel and creates something of its own.
Raised as a child weapon, Violet Evergarden, the titular character, struggles to find a place for herself in the new post-war world. Exploring the depths of what it means to be human and the importance of expressing emotions, accompanied by the backdrop of war, Violet Evergarden illustrates how to find beauty even in tragic circumstances.
7 Made In Abyss Is An Unexpectedly Dark Fantasy Adventure
Set in a world with a giant chasm that reaches into the depths of the earth, Made In Abyss chronicles Riko's adventures as she searches for her missing mother in the furthest levels of the Abyss. Along the way, she meets several unique characters each with their own tragic, harrowing, and often downright disturbing backstory.
Made In Abyss features creative and compelling visuals to bring the titular Abyss to life. Once again, cute, innocent character designs deceptively cover up much darker content as the plot furthers. The mysteries of the Abyss are compelling, and both the anime and the manga have made their mark.
6 Fruits Basket (2019) Was A Much Anticipated Remake
When it was announced that Fruits Basket would receive a remake in 2019, fans were hoping this was an opportunity to do the source material justice. The original Fruits Basket (2001) anime, while fun and light-hearted, leaned too far into the comedy and neglected to spend time developing the heartfelt drama the series is known for.
Fruits Basket (2019) managed to strike the right balance between carefree comedy and the darker, heavier themes in the story. While it may seem like a typical romantic shojo at first, as the kind and caring Tohru Honda meets various members of the mysterious Sohma Family, Fruits Basket delves into much heavier topics and themes. There are some truly heartbreaking moments in this series and fans are advised to have a tissue box ready at the side.
5 A Silent Voice Chronicles A Deeply Heartfelt Redemption Arc
Another masterpiece by Kyoto Animation, A Silent Voice is almost hard to watch at times. Ishida Shoya has become an outcast after mistreating his deaf classmate, Nishimiya Shoko. The film focuses on his path to redemption as he and Shoko interact and form a bond years later.
A Silent Voice covers sensitive topics and tackles heavy themes of bullying, regret, consequences, and forgiveness. An incredibly moving and at times very sad film, fans will be talking about A Silent Voice for years to come.
4 Steins;Gate Is Not A Typical Science Fiction Anime
Steins;Gate is an unexpectedly heart-breaking take on the time travel genre. When Okabe Rintarou, an eccentric and conceited scientist, makes his first actual scientific breakthrough, he discovers a way to alter past events to affect the future. Suddenly, Okabe and his friends find themselves in a dangerous plot to take control of this new power.
Full of unexpected and tragic plot twists, Steins;Gate forces its characters to make tough choices and keeps fans guessing until the end. The series balances light-hearted humor with heavier plot elements masterfully and is definitely a must-watch for science fiction fans.
3 I Want To Eat Your Pancreas Explores The Beauty In Living
Another anime covering the beautiful parts of life that make it all worth it, despite the reality of death, I Want To Eat Your Pancreas depicts the difficulties of living with a terminal illness at a young age. With beautiful animation from Studio VOLN, the film is extremely touching and also devastating.
A bookworm with little interest in the real world stumbles upon a secret diary. Sakura Yamauchi, cheerful, bubbly and popular, is secretly suffering from a pancreatic disease with finite time left. As the two interact, the protagonist slowly beings to embrace what it truly means to live life to the fullest.
2 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day Explores Grief And Guilt
In Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, reclusive Jinta Yadomi runs into his childhood friend, Meiko "Menma" Honma, and he can't believe his eyes — because Menma passed away years earlier. Jinta and his group of childhood friends are once again drawn together to help grant Menma her last, forgotten wish.
The premise is enough to give fans the expectation that Anohana will cover some very bawl-worthy ground. Covering the aftermath of a great loss and dealing with grief, guilt, and achieving closure, the series' themes are heavy and heartbreaking.
1 Your Lie In April Is A True Tearjerker
At first. Your Lie In April appears to be a light-hearted romantic comedy, but it slowly develops into both a truly heartbreaking, yet also heartwarming series about love, loss and music. The beautiful soundtrack brings the story from the manga to life and sets Your Lie In April apart from other anime.
Your Lie In April is a character-driven slice-of-life drama tragedy that expertly blends multiple genres. Kousei Arima was a renowned child piano prodigy until the sudden passing of his strict mother when he lost his ability to hear the sound of a piano. Kousei is living a quiet life devoid of excitement and music when he meets the eccentric violinist Kaori Miyazono, and she finally brings some color back into his life.