Folks typically disregard anime as mere cartoons, but it surely’s in these films that a few of the best tales happen. When the studio isn’t involved about casting points, creating realistic-looking CGI, directing actors, and all the opposite points concerned in producing a live-action film, all the hassle goes in the direction of creating the most effective animation, tales, and characters.
The Best Anime That Will Make You Cry
Some anime actually know tips on how to tug at your heartstrings. These are the most effective unhappy anime on the market that may make you cry like a child.
Some anime films fall throughout the universe of their anime TV exhibits, primarily performing as an extension of their plots, or are a feature-length condensation of a multi-episode arc. However there are many standalone films that go straight in the direction of the viewers’s heartstrings, touching them in methods few different exhibits and movies may with their unhappy tales. So, let’s simply undergo some supremely unhappy anime films that may depart you in tears.
Up to date on October 9, 2025, by Mark Sammut: Proper now, anime films are making headlines, with Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man each producing incredible continuations that greater than justify the reward they’re receiving. Each movies have their unhappy moments, however they aren’t precisely tearjerkers. As such, we now have determined so as to add two sequels to exhibits which are higher candidates: Madoka and Made in Abyss.
The Echoes Of Historical past
Generally, a film’s heartbreaking nature reveals itself with out warning, like a intestine punch that leaves you reeling on the ground and questioning why you set your self by means of this. Different instances, the tragedy looms massive, and there’s no escaping the pending tears. Barefoot Gen takes place in Hiroshima in 1945, which needs to be sufficient data to know what the story is about. Sure, this anime is in regards to the atomic bomb, and it’s precisely as devastating appropriately. The film doesn’t have a lot of a narrative past that, as an alternative opting to introduce a bunch of characters after which placing them by means of historical past.
Usually considered a companion piece to Grave of the Fireflies, Barefoot Gen doesn’t fairly attain that movie’s extraordinarily excessive requirements, however it’s however a strong expertise that’s value watching no less than as soon as. Personally, I’ll by no means, ever watch Barefoot Gen once more; nevertheless, I may even always remember it.
16
Madoka Motion pictures
A Darkish Sort Of Magic
OK, this would possibly seem to be dishonest, as two of the Puella Magi Madoka Magica films, Beginnings and Everlasting, are simply retellings of the TV collection, which is rightfully considered one of many greatest magical girl anime of all time. It’s also one of many saddest and darkest, and I am certain that anyone remotely within the style or anime on the whole has sought out the present.
Nonetheless, additionally they want to verify to observe 2013’s Rebel, the sequel film that retains and amplifies the story’s sense of dread, sacrifice, tragedy, obsession, and manipulation, all of the whereas sprinkling in a contact of hope. Madoka shouldn’t be for the faint of coronary heart, as its varied motion sequences are typically emphasised by over-the-top and stunning gore that comes out of nowhere. Innocence has no place on this universe, and it’s routinely and systematically destroyed.
15
The Canine of Flanders
A Devastating Film Based mostly On An Anime Collection And A Traditional Novel
The Canine of Flanders
- Launch Date
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March 15, 1997
- Runtime
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102 Minutes
- Director
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Yoshio Kuroda
If a canine is concerned, and they aren’t named Beethoven, the film will most likely be a tearjerker. The Canine of Flanders is predicated on one of the vital famously unhappy novels involving humanity’s finest good friend, and the difference just about lives as much as the supply materials’s popularity. Technically, the 1997 flick can also be a remake of a 1975 anime collection, however that’s actually not that essential, and you’ll leap into this launch with out consuming some other media related to the story.
Set in Denmark, the story follows Nello and his trusty canine companion, Patrasche, as they mainly go from one terrible tragedy to the following. At instances, The Canine of Flanders generally is a bit too relentless in its distress, however the (many) emotional moments nonetheless handle to land. In case you contemplate your self to be a canine individual, put together your self.
14
Made in Abyss: Daybreak of the Deep Soul
Made in Abyss
- Launch Date
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July 7, 2017
- Community
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AT-X
- Administrators
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Hitoshi Haga, Shunsuke Takarai, Satoshi Mori, Motoki Nakanishi
Made in Abyss is essentially the most stunning nightmare in anime historical past, and a suggestion should include a robust warning that the content material is upsetting in a manner that only a few tales even try to match. There’s baby abuse. Grotesque torture. Existential dread. An endlessly suffocating atmosphere. Human experimentation. It’s all unhealthy, however introduced in such a fascinating manner that it’s unimaginable to look away.
Daybreak of the Deep Soul is Made in Abyss‘s horrifying masterpiece, a testomony to the chilly depravity that may come up from the pursuit of countless progress. To get the complete expertise, you should first watch season 1, which is by far the least traumatizing a part of the story (and it’s nonetheless very traumatizing). In case you survive, then watch Daybreak of the Deep Soul, adopted by season 2.
13
Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
Love, Time, & Battle
A fantasy war epic, Maquia has rather a lot going for it. The animation is incredible, as is Mari Okada’s course. The story delivers a powerful sense of scale and touches upon mature themes like discrimination and energy. On this universe, Iorphs are beings who resemble people however stay for hundreds of years, all of the whereas trying like youngsters. They’re attacked by a human kingdom, with Maquia nearly escaping along with her life. After leaving her residence, she finally ends up discovering and adopting a human child, beginning a mother-son relationship that feels doomed from the beginning.
The second half of the narrative revolves round an all-around conflict, however the film’s coronary heart is Maquia and Ariel’s relationship. Their household bond is difficult, touching, and regularly devastating. Whereas not continually unhappy, Maquia has loads of highly effective moments, together with a relentless sense of foreboding.
12
Look Again
A Stunning Friendship & Heartbreak
Based mostly on a well-loved manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, Look Again is a film of two halves. The primary revolves across the slow-budding friendship between Fujino and Kyomoto, two very completely different individuals who step by step bond over a ardour for manga. Whereas not beginning on optimistic phrases, their dynamics develop naturally, finally reaching a degree when they’re practically inseparable. The second half of the film takes a drastic flip that packs numerous emotion into roughly 20 minutes.
Look Again is a slice-of-life drama which may take inspiration from the Kyoto Animation arson assault, a real-life tragedy that occurred in 2019. Whereas not a straightforward watch at instances, Look Back is among the best anime movies of the 2020s so far, together with comfortably being one of many saddest of all time.
11
Wolf Kids
A Single Mom And Her Two Lovable Kids
Wolf Kids
- Launch Date
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July 12, 2012
- Runtime
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117 Minutes
- Director
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Mamoru Hosoda
Mamoru Hosoda’s crowning achievement, Wolf Kids is among the definitive anime tales coping with parenthood. Hana falls in love with a Wolfman, they usually have two children. Nonetheless, when her companion passes away, Hana is left to boost Yuki and Ame alone, a accountability that threatens to overwhelm her.
The story follows the household over a number of years, displaying not solely Hana’s makes an attempt to adapt to a seemingly unimaginable state of affairs but in addition Yuki and Ame’s efforts to seek out their place on the planet. Wolf Kids doesn’t inform a continually devastating story, however reasonably captures each the straightforward magnificence and sporadic struggles that outline life.
10
The Story of the Princess Kaguya
Bringing Out the Disappointment in a Traditional People Story
The Story of the Princess Kaguya is actually a retelling of one among Japan’s oldest folks tales, ‘The Story of the Bamboo Cutter’. It follows the story faithfully, because the bamboo cutter cuts open one bamboo stalk to disclose an toddler no larger than his thumb. Selecting to boost the kid as his daughter, whom he names Kaguya, he is rewarded for his benevolence by discovering a gold nugget with every stalk he cuts, turning into wealthy within the course of.
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The film expands on the story by displaying the cutter get immodest as he will get richer, and overprotective of Kaguya as she grows up and good points extra suitors. They go to their utmost lengths to win her favor, even dying within the course of, which shocks her deeply. All she wished was to stay an abnormal mortal life, residing merely within the village. However that path is misplaced to her, and as she regains reminiscences of her previous life, her mortal father quickly begins to remorse what he let wealth do to him.
9
Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Gentle
Love, However Do not Contact
Hotarubi no Mori e
- Launch Date
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September 17, 2011
- Runtime
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45 minutes
- Director
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Takahiro Omori
Hotarubi no Mori e (‘Into the Fireflies’ Forest’) goes into the identical folklorish territory as Princess Kaguya, solely with a extra distinctive story. It sees a younger woman known as Hotaru who will get misplaced within the forest on her option to her grandfather’s place. There she meets Gin, a human-like determine in a fox masks who’s really a spirit. If he is touched by a human, he’ll disappear endlessly, so he retains his distance from Hotaru as he helps her discover her manner out.
But they proceed to fulfill each summer season and develop nearer collectively as Hotaru grows up. Their emotions develop stronger, but they can’t contact one another, or Gin will primarily die. They discover methods round their completely different points, however their love has an unsure future, as {couples} can solely go on so lengthy with out bodily contact. It is a temporary however bittersweet love story that is certain to make the heartache.
8
Your Identify
A Romance That Transcends Time and House
Your Identify is arguably essentially the most popular modern anime movie to this date. It showcases the gorgeous story of two highschool college students, Mitsuha and Taki. Mitsuha Miyamizu, a highschool woman, yearns to stay the lifetime of a boy within the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. In the meantime, within the metropolis, Taki Tachibana lives a busy life as a highschool scholar whereas juggling his part-time job and hopes for a future in structure.
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In the future, Mitsuha awakens to seek out herself residing her dream life in Tokyo however in Taki’s physique. Elsewhere, Taki finds himself residing Mitsuha’s life within the humble countryside. In pursuit of a solution to this unusual phenomenon, they start to seek for each other. Issues solely get extra difficult from there, as the 2 make dramatic impacts on one another’s lives by means of their decisions, and the phenomenon finally ends up going past body-swapping.
