When it comes to watching a good anime, everyone has different opinions about what makes it good. Every anime genre offers some form of catharsis, whether it’s nonstop laughs or heart-stopping scares, but there’s just something special about an anime that can give you a good cry.
Animes with sad themes are sometimes a good way to get rid of stress that may be buried inside. Some of them are so sad that they can awaken a strong desire to cry.
Here’s a small list of Anime with sadness that makes the audience cry!
1. Grave of the Fireflies
“Grave of the Fireflies,” directed by Isao Takahata and produced by Studio Ghibli, is a cinematic masterpiece that touches the deepest corners of the human soul. If you’re looking for something to cry over, this Anime will be the best option for you. Not only did this Anime make me cry, but it also left me traumatized. Set in World War II-era Japan, the story follows Seita and his younger sister Setsuko as they navigate the horrors of war and the struggle for survival in a nation torn apart by conflict.
The film brilliantly captures the harsh realities faced by civilians during wartime while simultaneously highlighting the strength of the human spirit and the unbreakable bond between siblings.
2. Violet Evergarden
“Violet Evergarden” is insanely way too good. I’m not really an emotional person, but something about this Anime overwhelmed me with tears. As the series went on, the emotions of it grew stronger and stronger, almost like it was copying how Violet’s emotions grew stronger and stronger with each episode.
I cannot tell you how big a mistake it would be if you skipped this Anime. Anyone who watches Anime, whether it be occasional or full-on otaku, should definitely watch this.
3. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
It’s a story about friendship, guilt, and unrequited love. It is a story of how the death of a friend led a group of friends astray from each other and how they managed to rekindle their lost friendship through the help of the ghost of their deceased friend. Throughout the Anime, one can see how every character is fleshed out, allowing us to understand their motives and empathize with them, making us feel the struggles and frustrations each character goes through. All of this ties in with a beautiful ending that can bring anyone to tears no matter how many times one rewatches the series. I won’t spoil the ending so you can experience the beauty of it yourself.
4. Dororo
The story revolves around a ronin named Hyakkimaru and a young thief named Dororo, who is an orphan. The ronin was born malformed, limbless and doesn’t have any facial features or internal organs.
Yes, it sounds horrible. It’ll sound even more horrible when you’ll know his limbs were traded to 12 demons by his father. Now, with Dororo, they set out to the world to reclaim his body parts and survive this demon infested world. In the end, it was beautiful. How Dororo taught him to be human was something you really need to behold. goodluck seeing this one. you won’t regret it.
5. A Silent Voice
This movie broke me, but in a way that I think I needed to be broken. If you aren’t in a good mental state, I’d say avoid watching it until you’re better. But once you do, you’re not going to be the same person.
I watched this movie one time, and it was enough to bring me down to tears. and the reason why I won’t be able to watch it again is
due to the fact that my heart hasn’t healed up yet.
6. Attack on Titan
I have special feelings attached to this Anime because of the great storyline and well-written characters. Throughout the entire show, it felt that every character had their time to shine. Every character I thought wouldn’t matter ended up playing a role. So that’s why it left a great impact on me when I saw my favourite characters die. I have said this so many times, but I’ll say this once again: “Attack on Titan” is a masterpiece. Must watch it!
7. Barefoot Gen
A powerful statement against war itself, as well as the source of what I can consider the most horrifying scene in this Anime, which very much reflects man’s own inhumanity to itself. It was horrifying and painful to watch. But I love it anyway. If you’re into dark Anime, this one’s for you.
8. Your name
“Your Name” is an extraordinary anime movie that delivers a captivating story, stunning visuals, and heartfelt emotions. I personally don’t like this movie that much but other audiences find it overwhelming and emotional. Although, the animation and story is quite good you can watch it if you want to.
9. Your lie in April
The entire show builds up the rising action of the plot for the ending, making the story and emotional beats hit harder. Depending on how much you enjoy sappy and feel good Anime, this will either make you cry uncontrollably or it’ll make you frustrated at the climax.
10. Made in Abyss
The story follows a girl named riko, who’s an orphan, who finds a boy who’s part robot and befriends him and his name is reg, and they descend with him into the ‘abyss’ that leads deep into the earth, in hope that they’ll explore it and hopefully find her mother.
It’s one of the best looking show in it’s airing season. it’s the dream of the girl to walk the path that was left by her mother. but the violence is real. don’t take it if you are not into children violence. it may be meaningful but it can be disturbing too. the exploration is chastising but beware of it’s consequences. so, do go see it. you’ll have something more than what the other series provides.
11. I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
It’s the story of an introverted high school boy who finds his classmate’s diary, where he learns her biggest secret, which is that they are dying from pancreatic disease, and now he is the only person outside her family who knows this.
I won’t say much; I can’t say much. It was tragic. See it for yourself. At first, it will turn out as melancholic but warm in a way. But the end is something you have to see for yourself. The female character is due to meet up with the protagonist in the end in a cafe, and he texts her that he wants to eat her pancreas, but the female character never shows up. I won’t say anymore.
12. Clannad After story
While watching this Anime, you will connect with all of the characters on an emotional level, and you will feel a very strong connection with everyone. The way the characters were written was so well done that you could compare any of the characters to someone you know in real life. Then, the story is so well written that you feel like you’re there. There is so much detail in every scene that anyone can truly appreciate. While watching, there were so many points in the show that just made me ball my eyes out. The emotional points in the show were so well-placed and written to perfection. There’s also comedy and romance to balance it all out. I would recommend it to anyone. It’s definitely worth a watch.
13. Fruits Basket
I’m grateful that I’ve watched this amazing masterpiece. It’d kept me going and motivated me a lot more than it can offer. How I must accept our challenges, our misery, our fate and move on in life never give up just because it’s hard! It is a rollercoaster of emotions. I laughed, cried, laughed then cried again.
This Anime touches on mental health issues, and Tohru is a figure I yearn for in life; it is so relatable and comforting. Can’t ask for a better ending, truly. Highly recommended.
14. Cyberpunk Edgurunners
The Anime is an adrenaline injection, and at the same time, there are emotional parts that made me cry. The animation is a masterpiece, and the studio trigger is incredible. The story is very surprising, you don’t expect some things are going to happen with the main characters.
Cyberpunk is a very unique genre of science fiction, and I have to say, this Anime has all elements of a very good cyberpunk story. And will surely make you cry in those last episodes.
15. Orange: Future
I really adore this Anime. It has such a heartwarming story. Just saw it for the first time pretty recently after I saw someone on here talking about it. It really drives home the importance of making the most of the time you have with the people you care about, and the importance of looking out for each other.
It’s a pretty realistic depiction of how depression and trauma can affect a person, as well as what that person’s friends and family can do to help the
16. Re: Zero
Subaru Natsuki gets transported into another world, and his female partner gets brutally murdered. But Subaru awakens to a familiar scene, where he meets the same girl. And the day repeats itself.
There are lots of dramas there. So you won’t be missing out on worldly fun. It may be disturbing to some viewers as it is very terrifying and gory. After all, it’s a show about suffering and pain. Despite how colourful and lighthearted it was in the beginning, it is nothing but repeated brutal deaths. If interest finds you in the middle of it, be sure to go see it.
17. Angel Beats
It’s a unique story that takes place in the afterlife. It’s a story of the environment of a high school. It’s only for the people who have had too much hardship and trauma in life that stops them from being reincarnated. The main character is a boy named Yuzuru, who has amnesia and ends up in the afterlife. And he doesn’t remember anything but his name.
It’s notoriously known to have one of the saddest anime endings. They fight for their fate or perhaps against it. And how it ends up in tragedy. And again, you’ll cry more than you thought when you read this or when you start the anime.
18. Wolf’s Rain
The story mainly focuses on the journey of the four wolves that cross paths after trying to track down the scent of the lunar flower while seeking paradise. It’s a touching story which may not rhyme with the start of the story.
The end is said to be the most saddest because of the interactions and thoughts of the wolves. They grew close, they fought, they argued. Then finally in the end, Cheza met her fate, Kiba died from his injuries and sank into the lake and it was heart wrenching for the viewers. And if you don’t even know how to cry, it’ll dig down and bring it out of you.