Death is often sad and depressing but you're never really prepared for it until it happens to someone you know... or to someone in an anime. These Japanese masterpieces will build up a character, make you feel attached to them, and then take them away from you in a snap, but you're still going to watch it through anyway.

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Suffice to say, a character's death is a powerful tool in an anime. Sometimes it's not permanent and its value is only for shock while other times, it's an excruciating squeeze at your heart knowing that the dead character has left a void. As expected, it's a strong trend that keeps on getting more ubiquitous every decade for anime; so let's take a look at some of the most shocking and saddest anime deaths of the previous 10 years, onions out!

10 HYUGA NEJI (NARUTO SHIPPUDEN)

Neij Hyuga dies in Naruto's arms during the Fourth Great Ninja War

Sadly Jiaraiya's death happened back in the 2000s so we can't put him here. However, another death just as shocking as his would be Hyuga Neji's. Initially, Neji came off as Naruto's arrogant competition and enemy. He was quite similar to Sasuke in that he's part of an elite ninja clan and was dominantly sociopathic.

However, Neji proved that he was more than a friend and ally to Naruto. He walked in the line of fire to protect both Hinata and Naruto from dying to the Ten-Tails' attacks. This cost Neji his life and was something unexpected both in the manga and in the anime.

9 CARLA JAEGER (ATTACK ON TITAN)

Carla Yeager crying out in Attack On Titan.

When it comes to traumatic and graphic deaths, not many anime can beat Attack on Titan. There's just no shortage of people getting eaten like buffalo wings by grotesque and blunt oafs. In one of the most nihilistic and brutal scenes in the anime, Eren and Mikasa's mother, Carla Jaeger was munched casually by a random titan.

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Seeing a meaningful person's life get ended in such an unceremonial and nightmarish manner is just one of the signature styles. Just as it ruined Eren Jaeger's psyche, it likely messed up a lot of the viewers as well, seeing a manner death like that on-screen. Now you probably know how chickens feel like when you slaughter them.

8 IGNEEL (FAIRY TAIL)

Natsu and Igneel

Igneel, The Fire Dragon King from Fairy Tale is someone close to Natsu Dragneel; he's even stood as Natsu's foster father and helped him become a powerful mage. Sadly, Igneel had to step in to help Natsu and to fight a more powerful dragon named Acnologia.

This cost him his life which is a bummer since he was The Fire Dragon King and someone who was held in a high repute, not just by Natsu. At the very least, Igneel was still able to share some words of wisdom and closure with Natsu as soon as he passed away.

7 MIKI MAKIMURA (DEVILMAN CRYBABY)

Miki Makimura from Devilman Crybaby.

This is one messed up anime and you can easily tell from the animations and the character models. Some of the deaths aren't really surprising in Devilman Crybaby given its penchant for over-the-top gore but one character, Miki Makimura, got the short end of the stick, it seems.

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Miki is one of the most pure-hearted characters in the show and tried to talk some sense into crazed humans after they thought she was a demon that needs to be exterminated. Despite believing that what used to be her neighbors won't harm her, she ends up getting stabbed in the spine with a knife before being decapitated and butchered to death. Okay, we'll stop there.

6 KAORI (YOUR LIE IN APRIL)

Best Girl Friends kaori (10)

Kaori's death in Your Lie in April was only the secondary shock. The initial one was when we find out that she was suffering from a terrible disease and only has a short time to live. That hit like a truck since the anime built her up to be likable and optimistic in every way possible.

So when she finally passes on, you'd expect to be less surprised due to the forewarning... right? Wrong. The tears you thought were already emptied out will magically reappear in your eyes so it's best to prepare for another bawling session after Kaori's death.

5 ASUNA (SWORD ART ONLINE)

Asuna Sleeping Wearing NerveGear

Okay, this one's not exactly a death with a heavy consequence since the real Asuna in the outside world didn't suffer death as well. This happened when Kirito fought Akihiko Kayaba to no avail. Akihiko was poised to deal the killing blow to Kirito when Asuna stepped in to take the bullet (or the sword) for him. This resulted in Asuna's avatar's death.

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It was only Asuna's virtual character that died in Sword Art Online. Somehow, Akihiko transported both of them to safety to talk to them. However, it's still a rather surprising death since we didn't expect it to be Asuna; it was Kirito doing the death wish aggression.

4 JONATHAN JOESTAR (JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE)

Jonathan Joestar's death in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood.

JoJo's Bizzare Adventure is usually overflowing with parodical macho imagery and weird fights but during that one time where Jonathan Joestar sacrificed himself, things got rather weepy. Jonathan and his wife Erina were off to a happy life aboard a boat when a bodiless Dio suddenly caused trouble and wanted to take Jonathan's body for himself.

Jonathan Joestar, determined to save his family, held off Dio as he lets the fire consume him and his blond opponent. Even Jonathan's parting words to Dio was quite dramatic considering the history they shared. In the end, Jonathan managed to save his family at the expense of his life.

3 MENMA (ANOHANA)

Menma Finally Passes On in anohana

Okay, Menma wasn't exactly alive, to begin with since she's a ghost girl. Sometimes, another character in Anohana even refers to her as a manifestation of his stress. Nevertheless, Menma still worked hard as a ghost to positively deal with the situation she was dealt with.

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The result was a rather tearjerking goodbye to her friends as she finally and spiritually parts with them in what can still be considered as a death of sorts. Even though she left in a rather amicable manner with closure, you just can't help but cry genuine tears of melancholy for such a character; it's like the sad equivalent of a standing ovation.

2 RYOKO (TOKYO GHOUL)

Ryoko Fueguchi is one of the most tragic characters in Tokyo Ghoul. Despite being a bloodthirsty ghoul would have to feast on innocent humans, Ryoko merely wants a normal family. She's still a mother who only wants to protect her child. She also preferred not to hunt humans for food, unlike all other ghouls.

Sadly, human intervention and more evil ghouls managed to pester and ruin Ryoko's family. This resulted in her sad death, leaving her daughter Hinami without a family and vulnerable against the cruel world. Even in her final moments, Ryoko's heart and soul remained pure and untarnished by the ugly world around her.

1 PORTGAS D. ACE (ONE PIECE)

Portgas D. Ace injured

Ace was quite the legendary figure in One Piece. He's Luffy's fraternal brother along with Sabo and the three of them set out to fulfill their own goals. During one of their reunions, however, both faced the formidable Admiral Akainu; Luffy was nearly killed but Ace stepped in to catch the lethal blow instead.

It's a similar scenario with what happened to Neji and something that caught many off-guard. Needless to say, Ace got the hero's funeral he deserved. Even so, his death hit Luffy harder after waking up and realizing that his brother died in battle. that's something you just won't just forget from One Piece.

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