Romance anime warms the hearts of viewers and takes them on whimsical and sometimes complex journeys of young love, destined soul mates, and everything in between. However, the romance genre does not always deal in happy endings.
More often than not, the boy doesn't always get the girl, and love does not last forever. The darker side of romance anime shatters viewers' hearts and forces tears to surface as a struggling couple succumbs to emotional trauma, or tragedy strikes lovers who are united by destiny. Here are some of the most heartbreaking romance anime of all time.
NANA
A Complex And Genuine Journey Of Heartbreak
NANA is a masterful series that tackles intense and mature themes, exploring a broader range of complex relationships rather than a straightforward love story. Authored by Ai Yazawa, NANA circles two girls with the same name, taking on the struggles and hurdles of adult life, one a ditsy socialite trying to find her path and the other a gothic rock star battling her own heart.
Both Nana's lives change forever when they meet one another, and a tangled cycle of lies, love, and loss rocks their worlds to the core. While happy endings are possible, the hardships these young women endure almost make it go unnoticed.
To The Forest Of The Fireflies
A Young Love Gone Too Soon
To the Forest of the Fireflies is a renowned classic that takes viewers on a ride with soulmates cut off by a supernatural force. As a child, Hotaru became lost in a special forest inhabited by spirits but was saved by a mysterious young boy in a mask named Gin. Years later, Hotaru returns to the forest to find the boy, and a heartwarming adventure leads the two to bond and for a young love to spark. Tragically, Gin can not be touched or else the consequences will be dire. While this leads to a stronger connection between the two, the result can only lead to heartbreak.
5 Centimeters Per Second
A Story Of How Love Doesn't Always Last Forever
5 Centimeters per Second is an immaculately animated film that takes love and shatters the concept of happy endings with an emotionally raw and realistic story. The film revolves around the relationship between Takaki Tono and Akari Shinimori, who begin dating in their adolescence. Their story explores the difficulties they face with young love that eventually push them further and further apart. The pacing of the three-part film is incredible and beautifully captures the cycle of the human condition and the healing of a broken heart.
Violet Evergarden
A Truly Emotionally Traumatic Series
Violet Evergarden is a stunning series that explores a number of wholesome yet tragic scenarios. The series's namesake, Violet, becomes a typist for a postal company after serving most of her life as a child soldier who endured monumental loss.
While emotionally stunted and underdeveloped, Violet must tackle her fluctuating emotions as she deals with grief, hope, and love. Violet Evergarden explores multiple romantic plots, introducing Violet to the feelings she had for her commander in the military, and watching as she comes to terms with his passing. The stunning art layered over the despair of the series makes it one of the most heartwrenching series to watch.
Given
A Mature And Heavy Series About Tragedy
Given is a story that shocked many anime fans with its blend of music, emotional storytelling, and a deep dive into mental health. Mafuyu is a young high school student trying to deal with his complex emotions after his previous partner took their own life.
In an attempt to understand them, Mafuyu dives into music and finds his voice and a new love. Emotion is a difficult road to navigate, and the series follows Mafuyu as he tries to manage the guilt, hope, and doubt in his heart. Given is a romantic tragedy that rips the hearts of anime fans and sews it back together with song.
Anohana
A Different Take On Unrequited Love
Anohana: The Flowers We Saw That Day features a tragic story that deals with trauma, grief, and acceptance, wrapped in a heartwarming love story that has no ground to stand on. Jinta Yadami was a bright-eyed young boy part of a close-knit friend group until tragedy struck, which split the group apart. Reclused and suffering internally, Jinta is visited by the ghost of Menma, the friend who passed away, in an effort to heal them both. The story that unfolds focuses on Jinta trying to repair the relationships with his friends and process his feelings for Menma.
Clannad
The Story That Made Every Anime Fan Cry
Clannad may be one of the most heart-wrenching stories in anime, having traumatized anime fans across multiple generations worldwide. The story follows Tomoya Okazaki, a young high school boy, as he navigates the challenges of teenage life in his search for a place where he feels he belongs. Finding a light in the dark, Nagisa Furukawa, viewers go on a journey of emotional growth, budding friendship, love, and loss. Accompanied by the continuation, Clannad: After Story, the total series is crafted to drain the tears from every viewer.
Your Lie In April
A Right Place, But Wrong Time For Soulmates
Your Lie In April is the series that swept across the anime community like a storm, telling an extremely tragic story of a loved one lost. Arima was a childhood piano prodigy who received high praise. Unfortunately, Arima was beaten and abused into perfection by his dying mother. After her death, Arima found himself unable to play, engulfed by his own trauma and guilt. His life changes when Kaori breaks through his walls after she starts dating one of Arima's best friends. As their story progresses, and they bond with one another through music, Arima learns to play once again. Unfortunately, Arima's healing comes with a grave cost that may reopen the freshly healed wounds all over again.