In this post, we will count down the top 7 saddest anime series that are widely considered devastating tearjerkers. From gut-wrenching character deaths to coping with terminal illness, these anime explore the human condition in the most heartbreaking way. Read on for the series that will stay with you long after they are over.
For anime fans, one of the hallmarks of a great series is its ability to make you really feel all the emotions and completely immerse you in the story. However, some of the most powerful anime out there also have the saddest storylines that are guaranteed to make you cry by the end.
Your Lie In April
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aL0gDZtFbE
Your Lie in April follows Kousei Arima, a piano prodigy who has lost his ability to play after the death of his abusive mother, who was also his instructor. He resigns himself to a colorless life without music. Then he meets Kaori Miyazono, a free-spirited violinist who helps Kousei rediscover his passion for music. They form a bond through their love of performing together.
However, it is revealed that Kaori has a terminal illness. As her condition worsens, Kousei must confront his trauma and regret over his mother’s death in order to play for Kaori one last time. In the end, Kaori passes away, leaving Kousei heartbroken but able to move forward with a new sense of hope and purpose.
Some of the saddest moments include Kaori’s deterioration and eventual death, Kousei’s desperate attempts to cling to normalcy as he loses her, and the reveal that her lie was pretending she loved Watari when she actually had feelings for Kousei. Overall, the portrayal of grief, loss, and the brevity of life make this a melancholy anime that elicits tears through its emotional depth. The music and vibrant visuals contrast with the tragic story in a unique way.
Anohana : The Flower We Saw That Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDWkt8wcYh8
Anohana follows a group of childhood friends who have grown apart after the tragic death of their friend Menma when they were kids. Ten years later, the group’s leader Jinta is a shut-in who claims he is being haunted by the ghost of Menma. At first his friends don’t believe him, but soon they all start encountering Menma as well.
Menma’s ghost says she has an unfulfilled wish but doesn’t know what it is. So the friends embark on a quest to help Menma move on to the afterlife by figuring out her wish and fulfilling it. Along the way, the friends reconcile painful misunderstandings from their past and reconnect after years of guilt, resentment, and grief.
In the end, they realize Menma’s wish was for them to make amends as a group of friends before she can peacefully move on. After an emotional goodbye to Menma, the friends go their separate ways having healed the wounds of losing her that tore them apart.
Some of the most heartbreaking moments are Jinta’s breakdowns over losing Menma again, the flashbacks to Menma’s illness and death, and the final goodbye where she thanks them for the meaningful time they shared. Overall, the melancholy tone, themes of grief and loss, and the bittersweet ending make Anohana an emotional rollercoaster.
Clannad & Clannad: After Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IecYMqp1N4k
Clannad: After Story continues the story of Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa, who begin living together as a couple after getting married. Tomoya struggles with integrating into adulthood and finding meaning through supporting his family.
After several trials, Nagisa becomes pregnant and gives birth to a daughter, Ushio. But the strain of childbirth causes Nagisa’s frail health to deteriorate rapidly, and she dies soon after Ushio’s birth, devastating Tomoya. He sinks into depression and disconnects from Ushio to avoid the pain of attachment and loss.
Five years later, Tomoya’s father convinces him to reconnect with Ushio before she outgrows him. Just as Tomoya forms a close bond with his daughter, Ushio falls ill and dies as well. Tomoya collapses in grief but is transported through time back before Ushio’s birth, getting a second chance to appreciate his family.
The most heart-wrenching moments are Nagisa and Ushio’s deaths, Tomoya’s collapse after losing Ushio, and his momentary delusion that Ushio is still alive. The abruptness of the tragedies and focus on loss, grief, and the impermanence of life make After Story an emotional rollercoaster. Its realistic portrayal of tragedy and perseverance despite devastating loss resonates deeply.
Angel Beats!
Angel Beats! follows a group of teenagers in the afterlife who refuse to accept that they are dead and try to fight against the circumstances of their fate. The main character, Otonashi, has amnesia when he first arrives in the afterlife world. There he meets the strong-willed Yuri, who leads the self-proclaimed “Afterlife Battlefront” against Angel, a girl with supernatural abilities.
As Otonashi regains his memories, it is revealed that he died fulfilling the dreams of the girl he loved, who had died from illness. The other characters also slowly remember how they died with regrets, which left them unable to move on to reincarnation in the afterlife school they find themselves in.
Otonashi decides to help the other characters find peace and move on. One by one their emotional backstories are revealed and their regrets resolved. But when he falls in love with Angel, she reveals she must leave once they are all at peace or else the afterlife world will collapse.
The saddest moments include the backstories explaining how each character died, Otonashi’s flashbacks to his dying lover, and the disappearance of Angel in the finale. The theme of coping with loss and moving on from regret ties the story together into an emotional tapestry about the brevity of life that often moves viewers to tears.
Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden follows Violet, a soldier raised as a weapon who struggles to integrate into society after a war that left her without hands. She takes a job as an Auto Memory Doll, ghostwriting letters for others. Through her work, Violet learns about human emotion and empathy as she writes letters that connect people.
In the process, Violet slowly comes to understand the final words her former major Gilbert told her: “I love you.” She searches for the meaning of these words while coming to terms with Gilbert’s apparent death in the war.
Violet also reconnects with Gilbert’s uncle and his dying daughter, whom she had saved on a mission. When the daughter dies, Violet writes letters to ease her grieving parents that bring her comfort as well.
The most emotional moments are when Violet cries for the first time over Gilbert’s death, when she finally understands his final words, and when she reads the letters she wrote for the dying girl’s parents after her death. The themes of love, loss, grief, and learning to understand emotions after a traumatic past are poignantly explored and make this a moving viewing experience.
Plastic Memories
Plastic Memories takes place in a future where human-like androids called Giftias have limited lifespans of 9 years to prevent emotional attachment. Our main characters Tsukasa and Isla work for the SAI Corporation retrieving Giftias who are close to their expiration dates to have their memories reset.
Tsukasa gets partnered with Isla, who is approaching her own expiration date. As they work together retrieving other Giftias, they slowly develop feelings for each other while hiding the truth that Isla doesn’t have much time left.
In the final episodes, Tsukasa desperately tries to find a way to save Isla as her memory and functions begin to fade. But ultimately he cannot stop her predetermined end. The two share an emotional goodbye and final kiss as Isla’s memories reset completely.
The most heartbreaking moments are when Isla’s expiration date accelerates, when Tsukasa pleads with the company to save her life, and their final moments together as Isla loses herself. The story highlights the tragedy of finding love right as loss approaches, and the grief of saying goodbye to a loved one. This poignant sci-fi tale tugs at the heartstrings.
Assassination Classroom
Assassination Classroom follows the students of Class 3-E, who are tasked with assassinating their teacher Koro-sensei, a powerful tentacled creature who will destroy the Earth in a year if he can’t be killed first. Class 3-E was isolated due to their poor grades, but under Koro-sensei’s guidance they gain confidence and skills.
Though the students make several attempts on Koro-sensei’s life, they come to see him as a mentor and friend. In the final graduation ceremony assassination attempt, only Nagisa succeeds in delivering the fatal blow to save the planet. As he dies, Koro-sensei congratulates his beloved students for their growth and accomplishment.
The most emotional moments are when some students attempt genuine assassinations on Koro-sensei and he cares for them anyway, Nagisa’s final hesitation to harm his teacher, and Koro-sensei’s dying words of encouragement to the students. Despite the comedic premise, the story builds an endearing bond between assassin and targets that makes the finale unexpectedly bittersweet.
The themes of found family, nurturing students’ potential, and teachers’ devotion come together in a heartfelt portrayal of the student-teacher dynamic. Koro-sensei’s death to save the planet he grew to love is tragic yet hopeful, earning both tears and smiles.
Conclusion
So keep the tissue boxes ready if you plan on watching any of these tearjerker anime series that are known for their devastatingly sad storylines and characters. Just remembering some of their most emotional moments might be enough to get the waterworks flowing. Let us know some other sad anime series that had you crying for hours in the comments below!
Want some more anime to watch ? Check out our recommendation for the top 5 anime available on amazon prime
