A lot of anime series are joyful and lighthearted, offering slice-of-life perspectives on life and invigorating humor. However, there are other animes that portray darker, more grim circumstances, leaving fans emotionally devastated after witnessing the many tragedies they contain.
With tough topics ranging from incurable terminal illness to hopelessly violent wars, these eight series are some of the saddest anime has to offer. Even the most hardhearted fan will surely find themselves shedding tears upon watching any of these animes, because these series are unafraid to portray some of the most depressing aspects of life.
8 Attack on Titan
Based on the Original Manga by Hajime Isayama, Produced by MAPPA
Attack on Titan occurs during a time of war, when bloodthirsty creatures are prowling the earth, looking for humans to kill, so it makes sense that it is one of anime's most devastating series. In Attack on Titan, no character is truly safe, and deaths occur in almost every episode, leaving fans wondering if their favorite hero will survive to see another day or not.
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The anime also delves into the negative consequences of war that last long after the initial conflict has concluded. The Titans and humanity are at war, but humans are also at war with each other, and this brings up other complex societal issues that Attack on Titan unpacks thoughtfully over its four anime seasons. From its very first episode, which features the death of a major character, Attack on Titan makes it abundantly clear just what kind of anime it is: a very sad, grim one.
7 Banana Fish
Based on the Original Manga by Akimi Yoshida, Produced by MAPPA
Banana Fish is set in New York City, following two characters, Ash Lynx and Eiji Okumura. The two young men live in completely opposite worlds: Ash is a gang leader, while Eiji is a photojournalist. When Eiji interviews Ash about his experiences, the pair begin to work together to learn more about a strange, dangerous drug known by the nickname "banana fish," forming an unlikely connection in the process.
The series is dark, delving into topics like crime, sexual abuse, the drug trade, and psychological struggles. While most of the series has a somber, distressing tone, one of the most upsetting facets of Banana Fish is its tragic ending. Ash and Eiji's unlikely friendship is an uplifting aspect of Banana Fish, adding laughter and heart to an otherwise sad anime, but their bond only makes the twist in the finale even more tear-jerking.
6 Demon Slayer
Based on the Original Manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, Produced by Ufotable
The plot of Demon Slayer is unspeakably horrific, as average teenager Tanjiro Kamado faces an alarming situation that no one should ever have to suffer, losing his entire family in one brutal attack. The demon who killed Tanjiro's family, Lord Muzan, left one of his siblings, Nezuko, alive, but turned her into a demon, giving Tanjiro a constant cruel reminder of what the Demon King took from him so heartlessly.
The war between humanity and demons unfortunately leads to many casualties, and demons and Hashira alike lose their lives throughout the anime. To make circumstances even more discouraging, many demons did not want to become an evil creature, but Lord Muzan transformed them against their will. This additional layer of horror and sorrow makes Demon Slayer even sadder, and though the series does intersperse moments of comic relief and Tanjiro's optimistic outlook, it is hard not to feel unhappy when considering the dreadful events the characters experience every day.
5 Your Lie In April
Based on the Original Manga by Naoshi Arakawa, Produced by A-1 Pictures
Your Lie in April is simultaneously a gorgeous tale about the wonders of music and a shattering story about grief. Kaori Miyazono and Kosei Arima are two musicians, Kaori plays violin and Kosei plays piano, and they meet one another when they both need a friend the most, reigniting each other's love of music during a difficult phase of life. Kosei is grieving the loss of his mother, while Kaori is battling a terminal illness, and they find solace in each other and the music they create together.
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Although Kosei and Kaori's budding relationship is adorable, the reality of Kaori's illness grows harder and harder to ignore as the episodes by. The conclusion of Your Lie in April is almost guaranteed to crush fans' hearts, but watching the series is sure to help anyone appreciate music on a deeper level, as well as illuminating many important truths about the human experience, as difficult as these more unpleasant parts of life, like loss, sickness, and death, may be to think about.
4 Fruits Basket
Based on the Original Manga by Natsuki Takaya, Produced by TMS Entertainment
Fruits Basket is an even mixture of delight and pain, blending cheerful scenes with moments that are sure to get fans' tears flowing, making it so viewers never know quite what to expect next. The story centers on Tohru Honda, a teenage girl who becomes an orphan when her mother es away in a car accident and is taken in by the mysterious Soma family, who are all plagued with a curse that turns them into animals whenever they hug the opposite gender.
The Zodiac Curse may seem cute and harmless at surface level, but it actually has significant consequences for every member of the Soma family, altering how they interact with others within the family and the world. Grief, death, loss, and physical, emotional, and mental abuse all show up in Fruits Basket, making many episodes of the series incredibly deep, thought-provoking, and more tear-inducing than fans might be anticipating.
3 I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
Based on the Original Novel by Yoru Sumino, Produced by Studio VOLN
I Want To Eat Your Pancreas is one of the best anime films about illness, but it is undoubtedly sorrowful. The movie follows Haruki Shiga and Sakura Yamauchi, who are classmates at school. Haruki does not know Sakura well at first, but his life becomes turned upside-down when he learns through the pages of Sakura's diary that she is suffering from a fatal, incurable pancreatic disease.
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Friendship, and eventually romance, blossoms between the two students, but the reality of Sakura's illness and limited days left alive weigh on the young lovers. A surprising plot twist towards I Want To Eat Your Pancreas will definitely leave viewers in tears. Although the anime does impart some valuable life lessons on appreciating life even in the midst of struggle, that does not make the final scenes of the film any less upsetting.
2 Death Note
Based on the Original Manga by Tsugumi Ohba, Produced by Madhouse
Death Note is a murder mystery and psychological thriller, but it is also one of the saddest anime series ever at its core. The series follows Light Yagami, a high school student nearing graduation with a bright future ahead of him, who loses everything when he stumbles upon a Death Note notebook that allows him to kill by writing down his victims' names. Light starts with the best of intentions, promising to only kill criminals, but he quickly allows the notebook's power to corrupt him beyond repair.
Light becomes more interested in being "god of the new world," rather than saving others, and he breaks his own self-imposed rules about only killing evildoers. Watching Light's downfall is truly tragic, as he begins murdering his own family and friends when they begin to threaten his plans. Light is very ambitious and could have had a successful, happy life, but in a few short months, he threw everything away. Death Note does not end favorably for Light, and although he deserves to be punished for his reprehensible actions, it is still saddening to see his dismal fate, and to consider all the lives he wrongfully ended.
1 A Silent Voice
Based on the Original Manga by Yoshitoki Oima, Produced by Kyoto Animation
A Silent Voice is an anime film, not a series, but it managed to tell a poignant, moving story in just over two hours. The film follows Shoya Ishida, a former bully, and Shoko Nishimiya, the girl he bullied, who also happens to be deaf. As Shoya grew older, he also grew to regret his mistreatment of Shoko, and thus, does his best to make amends and earn Shoko's trust and friendship in A Silent Voice. Bullying has extremely serious long-term effects that many people do not comprehend fully, and A Silent Voice reveals the negative impact this kind of cruel behavior can have on victims, even many years after the fact.
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Although Shoya and Shoko did become friends in the end, they struggled to reach that place of mutual love and understanding, as Shoko was still haunted by the harm Shoya's past bullying caused. Other issues like depression, suicide, anxiety, and loneliness are also discussed in A Silent Voice, and although the film is gut-wrenching, its messages on treating others kindly are necessary for everyone to hear.
