Summary
- Anime tells diverse, unique stories from fantasy to mature themes.
- Traumatic anime like Metropolis, Kite, and Higurashi are memorable.
- Elfen Lied, Monster, and Grave of the Fireflies tackle violence and tragedy.
Anime is a genre of entertainment that has some of the most diverse series in the world. Thousands upon thousands of interesting, intricate, and unique stories have been brought to life over the years by talented authors, artists, and animators who deliver thrilling and entertaining stories and settings.
Anime transports viewers into magical fantasy worlds, haunted high schools, and even other galaxies. Fans enjoy characters who try to be the hero, save the world, or maybe just save themselves. However, anime can also focus on more mature themes and have more serious tones. Some stories tell an unnerving story about suffering, violence, or all of the above, creating a traumatic experience that will stay with anime fans forever. Here are some of the most traumatic anime of all time.
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8 Metropolis
A Close Look At Humanity And Prejudice
- Release Year: 2001
- Studio: Madhouse
Metropolis is an anime movie that takes a trip into the distant future of humankind, where technology has advanced hundreds of years and brought a slew of problems with it. The main focus of the story is the tension-filled era in which man-made androids are discriminated against due to their artificial nature. The story follows Kenichi, the nephew of a detective in Japan, on business as the tension between humans and androids boils over, sparking chaos.
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Kenichi finds himself with a highly advanced and lifelike android named Tima in his care, who is being pursued by a sinister egomaniac. Metropolis carries a deep focus on racism and discrimination that is shrouded in the science fiction aspect of the film. However, the final moments of the movie still play crystal clearly in fans' minds as one of the most traumatic scenes in an animated movie.
7 Kite
A Dark And Twisted Tragedy
- Release Year: 1998
- Studio: Arms
Kite may be one of the darkest anime series ever made, and it has sparked a wide range of controversy for its mature topics and depictions of violence, trauma, and abuse. The story follows a young girl named Sawa, who was orphaned after her family was murdered.
Brought into the care of two low-life detectives, the men groom Sawa into a contract killer, promising her revenge in exchange for her innocence. Kite treks through mud, blood, and abuse in an unnerving fashion and does not hold the hands of viewers brave enough to watch this two-part series.
6 Higurashi: When They Cry
A Gruesome And Psychologically Taxing Mystery
Higurashi: When They Cry
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2006 - 2005
- Directors
- Chiaki Kon
- Writers
- Toshifumi Kawase
- Cast
- Grant George, Rebecca Forstadt, Mela Lee, Megan Hollingshead, Michelle Rojas, Jennie Kwan
- Main Genre
- Horror
- Seasons
- 2
- Creator(s)
- Ryukishi07
Higurashi: When They Cry is an anxiety-filled series that takes the cozy setting of a small town and adds a mysterious cause of mass hysteria that drives everyday people to murder. A young transfer student moves to a small village in Japan. While the village is quaint and filled with friendly people, Keiichi quickly becomes suspicious of bizarre occurrences that begin to spring up. Things start to turn violent, and the friends that Keiichi has made could spell his downfall. Higurashi is filled with shocking revelations and one of the most nerve-racking, nail-biting scenes in anime, which has no doubt made the series a one-time watch for many.
5 Neon Genesis Evangelion
A Mind-Bending Story Of Tragedy And Trauma
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1995 - 1996
WHERE TO WATCH
- Cast
- Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, Kotono Mitsuishi, Spike Spencer, Allison Keith-Shipp, Sue Ulu, Amanda Winn Lee, Tristan MacAvery
- Director
- Hideaki Anno
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.35
Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most popular and famous anime series, garnering a cult following that praises its morally questionable characters, bleak setting, and twisted scenarios. Shinji Hikari is an abandoned young boy whose abusive father drags him into a dangerous conflict of humans versus supernatural beings called angels.
The story begins with Shinji being forced to pilot a weapon of mass destruction, nearly costing him his life, and escalates from there. Neon Genesis Evangelion and its following films have some of the most traumatic character arcs that explore severe mental illness, abuse, and maturity.
4 Elfen Lied
A Brutal And Visceral Story Of Love
Elfen Lied
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2004 - 2004
- Network
- AT-X
- Directors
- Keizo Kusakawa
- Cast
- Chihiro Suzuki, Sanae Kobayashi, Emiko Hagiwara, Hiroaki Hirata, Tomoko Kawakami, Yuki Matsuoka, Jouji Nakata, Kinryuu Arimoto, Hitomi Nabatame, Maria Yamamoto, Osamu Hosoi, Eriko Ishihara, Mamiko Noto
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Arms, Studio Guts
- Streaming Service(s)
- Prime Video
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.46
Elfen Lied is an incredibly graphic anime series that dials blood and gore up to eleven, and yet somehow still manages to tug on the heartstrings of watchers. Lucy is a genetic experiment who was subjected to endless torment while locked in a lab, being poked and prodded. After slaughtering the entire lab department and breaking free, Lucy finds her way into the outside world, where she encounters her first friend, a young boy named Kouta.
After suffering a head injury during her escape, Lucy develops a softer, more childlike persona. As she and Kouta grow closer, the demons of Lucy's past close in on her and her new life. Elfen Lied is a series that defined an entire generation, taking viewers on a violent ride of tragedy and eviscerations.
3 Monster
Challenges Morals And Blurs The Line Between Hero And Villain
Monster
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 7, 2004
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Creator
- Naoki Urasawa
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.88
Monster is a story about a promising young doctor with his entire life ahead of him who falls from grace and loses everything. Tenma Kenzou faces a serious choice: saving the life of a child, or the hospital director for whom he works. The choice to save a promising young life backfires, and Tenma's life takes a turn for the worse as he is blamed for the director's death.
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However, years later, things begin to look up for Tenma. He receives everything he could ever ask for, as a shadowy figure moves obstacles out of his way by force. Following Tenma on his search for the source of his good fortune leads him down a challenging road of desire and disaster.
2 Clannad
A Heartbreaking Story About Love And Loss
Clannad
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2007 - 2009
- Studio
- Kyoto Animation
- Number of Episodes
- 47
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.99 (Clannad); 8.93 (Clannad: After Story)
Clannad is a prominent series that has left a lasting impression on the hearts of thousands of anime fans worldwide. Many tear-jerker anime take inspiration from the tragic stories told in Clannad, as well as the crushing fates of the characters within the series.
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A young high school delinquent has his loner habits challenged when he encounters a young girl who breathes hope back into his life. As she peels back the walls he's built, he begins to connect with those around him and experience life with love, friendship, and family for the first time. Unfortunately, happy endings can still have tragic consequences. Clannad shocks with a breathtaking twist that will leave fans staring at their screens in disbelief.
1 Grave Of The Fireflies
The Most Soul-Shattering Animated Film Of All Time
Grave of the Fireflies
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 16, 1988
WHERE TO WATCH
- Runtime
- 89 Mins
- Director
- Isao Takahata
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.52
Grave of the Fireflies is a timeless classic by Studio Ghibli set in war-torn Japan, where poverty and suffering have ravaged the region. The story follows a pair of brothers who live on the streets, fighting to survive after losing their mother in bombings. The oldest brother fights for every inch to make sure his brother is taken care of.
Even as the civilization they once knew begins to crumble away, their bond remains unshaken. However, war is unforgiving and most often takes away that which we care about the most. Grave of the Fireflies will leave a deep impression on anyone who watches, making it one of the most traumatic anime films of all time.