The Best Anime With The Saddest Endings

Happy endings can be overrated. One definite thing about anime is that it can get viewers' emotions up and running, whether it is happiness, sadness, anger, or whatever feeling the anime being watched evokes from its audience.

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By  Suzail Ahmad

It is definitely a different type of pain when fans' favorite characters experience a different and unexpected fate. This unexpected change can leave viewers mourning or feeling down for days. Anime like Akame ga Kill! And 5 Centimeters Per Second, amongst others, are known to have very emotional endings that push viewers to tears.

Updated on February 8, 2024, by Oluwatokiloba Folami: Anime has the power to take viewers on amazing journeys, either making them laugh, cry, or feel so connected to the characters. While some anime leave viewers feeling fulfilled and happy, others break hearts and deliver endings that not only induce tears but linger in minds long after the credits roll. In these anime with the saddest endings, happiness feels out of reach and every goodbye is a final goodbye. These anime have the potential to tear viewers apart as they try to process what they have just watched. One thing is for sure, tissues will be needed to wipe tears at the end.

WARNING! Spoilers ahead for every series listed.

23 Yomigaeru Sora: Rescue Wings

Realistic Portrayal Of Rescue Missions

• Released: Jan 9, 2006
• Studio: J.C. Staff
• Genre: Drama

Yomigaeru Sora: Rescue Wings focuses on the harsh reality of saving lives. Kazuhiro is a young helicopter pilot in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and is part of a rescue team.

In the last episode, Kazuhiro goes on a critical rescue mission during a snowstorm. Despite his best efforts to save the victim, he failed to reach the victim on time. This failure crushes Uchida emotionally and he finally accepts the brutal truth of his job that sometimes no matter how hard you try, not everyone can be saved.

22 Giovanni’s Island

Based on Real Events

• Released: July 10, 2009
• Studio: Kinema Citrus, Bones
• Genre: Drama

Giovanni’s Island is based on real historical events. It tells the story of two young Japanese brothers, Junpei and Kanta Senō, who live on Shikotan Island, a small island near Hokkaido. However, as tensions rise between the Soviet forces and Japan, the brothers and their fellow villagers are forced to leave their homes and it leads to heartbreaking consequences.

This is one of the saddest anime war movies ever, it shows the human toll of war and how politics and conflict ruin the lives of innocent children.

21 Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light

A Love That Can Never Be

• Released: Sep 17, 2011
• Studio: Brain's Base
• Genre: Award Winning, Drama, Romance, Supernatural

Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light is the bittersweet love story of Hotaru and Gin. Hotaru meets Gin after getting lost in a magical forest. Gin is cursed by the mountain spirits and cannot be touched by a human or he will disappear forever. But Hotaru visits him every summer and their friendship turns into a bittersweet love.

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By  Oluwafemi Famutimi

As they fall deeper in love, the tragedy of their situation looms over them. One summer, Gin accidentally touches a human and he disappears in Hotaru’s arms. Before he disappears, he gently hugs her for the first and last time. Hotaru watches him go, crying as he vanishes and she is left with memories of their short but beautiful love.

20 She, The Ultimate Weapon

Tragic Love Story

• Released: Jul 2, 2002
• Studio: Gonzo
• Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi

Shuuji and Chise fall in love as the world is at war. Their sweet relationship turns horrific when Shuuji finds out Chise has become Japan’s ultimate weapon of mass destruction. As the war gets worse, Chise loses more of her humanity, her body becomes more machine-like and Shuuji tries to hold on to their love.

Chise has lost all human sensations and carries out her final attack, leaving behind an empty, lifeless Earth. Before she disappears Shuuji hears her say she loves him. But Shuuji is left alone in a world that no longer exists, his love for Chise is now just a painful memory.

19 Death Parade

Showcases Decim’s Emotional Growth

Decim is the best at his job until an unnamed lady comes into his bar. Death Parade tells the story of Decim and the death games he hosts at his bar, the Quindecim. The participants in these games are recently-dead souls, and at the end of the games, their fates will be decided; they either get reincarnated or lost in a void. This anime is centered around death, already starting on a sad and sober note as it makes viewers reflect on their journey, and it often shows the fickle nature of life.

Decim’s character faces significant development as he encounters a lady who makes him understand human nature. Understanding human nature, particularly emotions, goes against the nature of his job as an arbitrator, as he is supposed to have no feelings, seeing as he has not lived or died. This lady, who becomes his assistant, makes him see the eventual deaths of some of the participants in the game in a different light. Unfortunately for Decim, her time must come to an end, and her fate must be determined. Luckily for her, she gets reincarnated, but things are not the same for Decim, as for the first time in his entire existence, he feels sorrow after his assistant’s departure.

18 Attack On Titan

The Tragic End Of Eren Yeager

It is safe to say that most fans of Attack on Titan loved Eren. He seemed like a typical protagonist from the start, as he just wanted to defeat the bad guys, the Titans, and stop them from eating any more of his loved ones. Things were not so easy of course, but Eren was not letting any obstacle deter him from achieving his goal. However, to do this, a lot of innocent civilians would have to die.

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Eren became a villain that most fans resonated with. His change of heart was understandable to an extent, but as with most villains, his fate was already sealed and his death was inevitable. He had to become a Titan to get rid of all the other Titans, and in the process, he shortened his life span drastically. In the end, Eren could not live in the world he hoped for regardless of the fact that he sacrificed so many lives to make it happen.

17 Death Note

A Tragic End For A Powerful Mastermind

Although Light Yagami might have deserved to die for all the atrocities that he caused, he deserved to have a befitting death at the very least. Death Note tells the story of Light and a special notebook called the Death Note. The book belongs to Ryuk, a creature of darkness, and anybody’s name written in the Death Note has to die, as long as the writer knows the target’s real name and face. At first, Light was wary of the power he had, but it was only a matter of time before he went out of control with it.

Light definitely put up a good fight and was able to survive L, the mastermind that most fans believed would be the end of Light. Although L’s successors were able to discover Light, the "hero" was instead killed by Ryuk, the real owner of the book. Although Ryuk’s intentions were as clear as day from the beginning, it was at the end that Light realized that he had no one on his side, and he died a very pitiful death alone in a warehouse.

16 Devilman Crybaby

Efforts To Save Humanity Are Wasted

Devilman Crybaby tells the story of how Satan was able to wipe out humanity. Akira Fudo never expected his childhood friend, Ryo, to be Satan himself. This anime revolves around the demons' invasion of Earth and how, thanks to Ryo, Akira became a Devilman, which means he merged with a demon. Unfortunately, Akira was just a pawn for Ryo, and Ryo was able to successfully lead his army of demons to victory.

The truth must eventually come to light, and although Akira found out the truth about Ryo’s identity, it was already too late. Akira wanted to protect humanity, but he had lost all his loved ones, and it was only a matter of time before he was defeated by Ryo because he really had no chance. Akira ends up dying, and although Ryo is the villain of this anime, he genuinely loves Akira and greatly mourns his death.

15 Terror In Resonance

Premature Death Of The Main Characters

Nine and Twelve are the two main characters in Terror In Resonance, and these two boys are dedicated to exposing the secrets of the Japanese government, especially their involvement of Project Athena, an operation where orphaned children are used as experimental human weapons. Nine and Twelve are survivors of this inhumane operation, and they will do anything to protect other children and shed light on the evil activities of the Japanese government.

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By  Oluwatokiloba Folami

Unfortunately for these two, they were no match for their opponent, and Twelve was killed by the government while Nine died due to all the stress and trauma he faced in his short life. These two were able to expose the evil doings of the government to the public, but it came at a hefty price, and they were not able to see the results of their actions.

14 Now And Then, Here And Now

A Tragic Journey And Nothing to Show for It

Now and Then, Here and Now is a story that deeply reflects a child's innocence and how one move can tarnish it. Shu saw a young girl sitting on her own and approached her in hopes of befriending her. However, he soon finds himself embroiled in a war with a mysterious woman who seeks to kidnap the young girl, Lala-Ru, and discovers himself in a dystopian world where he endures the most terrifying nightmares of an adult.

The whole point of Shu’s journey was to protect and save Lala-Ru from her abductors and return to his world. Only one of these goals was accomplished, as he was able to return to his normal world, safe from brutality and war, but he came back without Lala-Ru. It is quite sad because, to him, he basically went through all those painful and unfortunate events for nothing.