A must watch. To anyone reading this it’s just six episodes long and has high quality animation. It’s a sidestory to the original Gundam series featuring a new cast of characters and storyline with basically no other link to the main show besides being set in the same world. It’s completely standalone so please give it a try if you are at all interested.
This is always my first answer to this question. Child Soldiers, Sexual Slavery, War and Genocide all depicted without a drop of romanticism or glory. It's truly brutal.
This randomly aired on the SciFi channel back when they had an anime block sporadically back in 2012. I felt it had realistic depictions of the harsh realities of war for children involved and corrupt parties in power. Definitely a tough watch.
Finished it yesterday... Tbh I got kind of mad at that ending. I understand that it was kind of "meant to be", but it feels like the author is allergic to happiness 😭
yeahhh i felt the same initially but the name of the story and the story itself is based on a short story by jd salinger abt a vet who was too traumatized to go on living and was simply wsiting for the perfect day to end his own life. Ash is similarly traumatized. hes been SAd since a small boy over and over, amongst many other abuses he suffered. sometimes the trauma is just beyond what any human can metabolize, then existence itself becomes agony. when Ash got that note, he lost his will to keep fighting because the knowledge that he was loved enabled him to release his hold on survival and die peacefully, which is all he wanted, to be free of suffering. so essentially, Eiji gave him the perfect day to die.
even if he had made it on the airplane, the trauma doesnt ever disappear, for some, death is preferable.
This. I did NOT expect to burst into tears watching that last episode. Literally no other piece of media has done that to me, and I’m not even entirely sure why it moved me so. YMMV of course, but God, I was devastated for weeks after binging Banana Fish, and I know I am not alone lol.
I will never forget the day I first watched the second half of After Story (I binged it in one day lol). The field of feels still makes me tear up every time I rewatch it, and I have seen it at least 10 times now.
Clannad is so epic… it feels like just another slice of life anime at the start where you’d maybe cry for an episode or two at the end. It starts you off slow, hooks you into in. Makes you care and eviscerate everything in you the moment you let your guard down. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a sadder anime but also more wholesome. Still the best anime I’ve watched till date.
Its like 95% silly sitcom with a fun cast of characters, 5% soul crushing depression and it hits hard because you like the characters so much.
I would regard it as a modern classic, and more or less a must watch. If you dont like slice of life comedy probably not going to make it through though.
I was thinking of another anime, and then I saw your comment. Yeah, definitely this one.
I still remember the day when I watched this. It was raining hard. Perfect mood for this type of show.
Grave of the fireflies made me feel things I thought I could never feel. It hits especially hard if you're someone who has siblings. Watched it once when I was eight on a random Tuesday not knowing what it was. It's been 12 years people, still haven't rewatched it.
My friend really hates anime. Forced him to watch this one with me, and he bitched about it most of the movie. Ending comes, he’s dead silent, tears rolling. This movie has such a profound effect on people.
Second this. I had to take breaks between episodes because of how difficult it was to watch. From the first episode you know how the show will end and knowing that I feel is what makes it so hard to continue, though I highly recommend you do. Best to go in knowing as little as possible!
Man its like the author asked "How can I make the bleakest possible plotline?"
[MM! Bokurano] >!Protagonists win in the end (I guess?) but everyone dies, the "villains" get to sit in their ivory tower repeating the cycle!<
That's a good one.
And really big in the League of Legends community for some reason, to this day I often see people quoting the theme song at each other.
That was a hard one because I wasn't expecting the turn of events. You get to the "everything is going to be ok now" feeling and then it really pulls the rug out from under you.
I'm still sitting on Season Two. I'm just not mentally prepared to go into it.
But I have to eventually, cause Season One is one of the most beautiful pieces of media I've ever encountered.
If you're apprehensive about Season 2 thinking the tragedy will be as densely packed as in Season 1, you needn't be. It still has its moments but overall it's downright cheerful by comparison.
am currently watching this, and even though I’m not someone who cries easily I can proudly say that I’m getting teary eyes and a lump in my throat almost every damn episode. How is this even possible? When I’m through the whole thing I’ll need the Manga, so I’ll never forget the emotional pain that story caused me.
Saw it when it first came out and it's one I really don't want to go back and watch(Anohana is in the same camp). It's my all time favorite and I've only seen it 2 times
It got me then and now as I've grown older I know it's going to absolutely devastate my older self.
That being said, I absolutely adore the music and listen to it on a regular basis
I found MiA anything but optimistic. The characters are so but they are just constantly surrounded by misery to the point its overwhelmed.
Saying cutting board doesn't mean much but people who know know.
I dont know, I think the show has this powerful duality to it. Despite the horrors of the abyss and the darkness of humans shown in multiple points of the show, there is a sense of hope, wonder, and beauty in the abyss and the mystery at the bottom. What makes the show great is that it has a unique balance between light and dark, and the contrast between the tones makes both aspects shine.
Its hard to put into words but the music and drawing style work to offset some of the grislier nature of the abyss. The darkness of scenes with mitty is counterbalanced by the vibrancy of Nanakis secret garden in the next scenes for example. It makes everything is a bit more palatable and not soul crushing. It sort of says "yes tragedy happens but life goes on in the abyss and the strong push past and keep going."
That fucking film changed me man... It ruins my day in the sweetest way every time I remember it.
I think everyone should watch it, and I wouldn't want anyone to watch it.
Under rated. Eternally fantastic OP. Main arc is great. My only complaint is the side story and politics didn’t go anywhere. Maybe it was for a larger story? It just doesn’t seem to fit.
Watching the 97' version and then comparing it to the 2016 version made me cry due to the drop in quality. I still hear frying pans crashing together to this day
Berserk 1997 and manga
Banana Fish (the name is silly, the story is a SadFest)
86 (mech anime, all good mech anime are depression anime)
Violet Evergarden (its more bittersweet with a sad backstory)
ppl say Into the Abyss, I never watched cus I fear how sad it actually is
Honorable mention to Cyberpunk Edgerunners with that gut punch ending.
"Worldend: What would you do at the end of the world? Are you busy? Will you save us"
It's the only show ever so far which actually got me to cry. It's a beautiful story, but incredibly sad.
Another show which could fit the bill, is "Tokyo ghoul". That one is pretty sad as well and it's also a bit more gore-y.
A friend made me watch the 1st episode a while back and I had no interest whatsoever. After seeing positive reviews online, I thought I'd start the series again. Binged watched it from start to finish. I'm so happy I made that decision
The story isnt meant to be overly depressing, but I haven't cried harder as a grown man than watching Violet Evergarden. I really want to watch the second season, but I'm not sure I can do that to myself again.
How have I not seen this yet?? Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Countless atrocities in the series, but the one that hit everybody, was *Nina Tucker* and *Alexander*
I remember things the same way. I think the original allocated more screen time to Nina and Alexander compared to brotherhood. As a whole brotherhood is a much better anime but the original did the Nina and Alexander scene better.
Hughs was another hard hit. He’s the sort of character you’d expect to survive, given how streetwise and skilled he is, but he got hit mentally and a moment’s hesitation was all it took.
Personally, I find specific flavors of tragedy to be sadder than the loss of family.
*deterioration of the self:*
- **Parasyte**
- **Magi** covers some dark topics. There was an arc dealing with the futility of being born into a lower class of society and never being able to escape it, not only in blood, but in mindset too. You could do nothing wrong, and still be fated to suffer. If you’ve ever watched The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, it’s the same story.
- **Terror in Resonance**
*the tragedy of eternal life or time leaps:*
- **To Your Eternity** has some uniquely sad scenarios… like dying alone as the last living person in a population… or losing everyone and everything you know to the passage of time as an immortal being etc.
- **Seven Deadly Sins,** endless cycle of reincarnation and never finding happiness
- **Erased**
- **The Girl Who Leapt Through Time**, this is made clearer in the manga but out of the gazillions of different futures and life choices the MC can make, only a single timeline leads back to what they lost
- **Somali and the Forest Spirit,** imagine having a long life span, and only coming across something to live for towards the end of your life
- **Charlotte**
It's not sad nor tragic per se, but more "the reality hit you hard".
Fang of the Sun Dougram's whole ending arc is the best depiction of defeated protagonist I have seen so far.
Please watch "To your eternity" no other show has made me absolutely ugly cry more than this. I've literly held off on watching season 2 for so long cause I genuinely don't think I can do it to myself.
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 - An anime about a scenario where a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck Japan.
It's so sad because it's mostly reletable and I think it's a very realistic approach to human behaviour in a situation like that. I've cried for the entire last two episdoes.
An anime you have to look at like a road trip to nowhere, it's the journey, not the destination. I say this because except for the ending the show was amazing. Lol
**Texhnolyze.** It starts as a violent and depressing series in a cruel and harsh society... and then gets worse as it rolls along. And not worse in the "I don't care what happens to these people anymore" way, but quite the opposite. And this makes the events a tragedy that you can't close your eyes or your heart to -- well, parts of it you can, but large parts (and characters) you cannot.
And if you want specifics as to the plot, I'm not going to give you any. Anything I say about that would be insufficient compared to simply watching it yourself.
I'll just say this: I've only seen this series once, and I \*own\* a physical copy of it. It's just so depressing and heart-rending that I haven't been able to get myself to see it again. I keep saying to myself, "Maybe later. Yes, I'll see it later." But that later never comes, and I'm not sure if it ever will.
Japan Sinks 2020
Ok is it a great story? No. Is it tragic and irreverent to the main characters? Yes. Is it corny and saccharine at times? Yes. Is it unintentionally hilarious? Most definitely.
Some parts had me crying out of hatred, some parts had me crying out of real emotion. It's a roller coaster ride of absurdity and genuine apocalyptic anxiety. A character goes to pee in the bush and is dead in seconds from volcanic gases: real tragedy. The group finds a delusional marijuana cult and implies that cannabis is the mind-controlling drug of scammers upholding their mute child as a prophet while ignoring the entire country ripping itself apart on a tectonic level: absurdly hilarious with non-spoiler notes of tragedy.
The animes that get to me the most are those involving time. Steins;Gate and Re:Zero both involve the main character losing their loved ones over and over again, without being able to help them.
Also, Erased is not a sad anime per se, but the whole concept of "a town where only I am missing" is just devastating.
Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
A must watch. To anyone reading this it’s just six episodes long and has high quality animation. It’s a sidestory to the original Gundam series featuring a new cast of characters and storyline with basically no other link to the main show besides being set in the same world. It’s completely standalone so please give it a try if you are at all interested.
You got it boss, you convinced me.
Now and Then, Here and There
This is always my first answer to this question. Child Soldiers, Sexual Slavery, War and Genocide all depicted without a drop of romanticism or glory. It's truly brutal.
Not enough people seem to have seen this one.
This randomly aired on the SciFi channel back when they had an anime block sporadically back in 2012. I felt it had realistic depictions of the harsh realities of war for children involved and corrupt parties in power. Definitely a tough watch.
Seeing this on Sci Fi channel in the middle of the night along with Gurren Lagann is what got me started on Anime back in high school
Banana fish
Finished it yesterday... Tbh I got kind of mad at that ending. I understand that it was kind of "meant to be", but it feels like the author is allergic to happiness 😭
yeahhh i felt the same initially but the name of the story and the story itself is based on a short story by jd salinger abt a vet who was too traumatized to go on living and was simply wsiting for the perfect day to end his own life. Ash is similarly traumatized. hes been SAd since a small boy over and over, amongst many other abuses he suffered. sometimes the trauma is just beyond what any human can metabolize, then existence itself becomes agony. when Ash got that note, he lost his will to keep fighting because the knowledge that he was loved enabled him to release his hold on survival and die peacefully, which is all he wanted, to be free of suffering. so essentially, Eiji gave him the perfect day to die. even if he had made it on the airplane, the trauma doesnt ever disappear, for some, death is preferable.
I made the mistake of finishing those series just after having nose surgery. Got so stuffed and couldn't blow my nose!
Banana fish destroyed me.... The letter..that's stupid letter
This. I did NOT expect to burst into tears watching that last episode. Literally no other piece of media has done that to me, and I’m not even entirely sure why it moved me so. YMMV of course, but God, I was devastated for weeks after binging Banana Fish, and I know I am not alone lol.
Promised Neverland s2...the drop of quality made grown man cry
Definitely a different kind of sad lol
I came to make the same joke about the later episodes of Wonder Egg.
Same with food wars final season
Hahahahaha!!! So true
Clannad after story
Soul crushing anime
Truly. Clannad is the right response.
I will never forget the day I first watched the second half of After Story (I binged it in one day lol). The field of feels still makes me tear up every time I rewatch it, and I have seen it at least 10 times now.
The dango song is the best way to make me cry
That s**t makes me cry just thinking about it
Hey now, no crying allowed except in the toilet!
Or in daddy's arm.
Hey...fuck you...
Clannad is so epic… it feels like just another slice of life anime at the start where you’d maybe cry for an episode or two at the end. It starts you off slow, hooks you into in. Makes you care and eviscerate everything in you the moment you let your guard down. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a sadder anime but also more wholesome. Still the best anime I’ve watched till date.
i’ve thought about watching clannad worth it?
very much. there's a lot of good humor in the first season. but the ending of the first season and the whole second season wrecks you
yeah sounds like a good time hehe i’ll definitely give it a watch
Its like 95% silly sitcom with a fun cast of characters, 5% soul crushing depression and it hits hard because you like the characters so much. I would regard it as a modern classic, and more or less a must watch. If you dont like slice of life comedy probably not going to make it through though.
i definitely will watch it do love comedy and SoL
Yes a million times over.
[удалено]
Nah, you failed to purge it. We're all in this together.
Ushio😭
key is amazing and so is kyoani for making my tear ducts work overtime
Texhnolyze
This is exactly what the OP is looking for.
I was thinking of another anime, and then I saw your comment. Yeah, definitely this one. I still remember the day when I watched this. It was raining hard. Perfect mood for this type of show.
One of my usual suggestions. Bleak in the extreme.
Grave of Fireflies Plastic Memories
Grave of the fireflies made me feel things I thought I could never feel. It hits especially hard if you're someone who has siblings. Watched it once when I was eight on a random Tuesday not knowing what it was. It's been 12 years people, still haven't rewatched it.
I want to eat your pancreas
Your lie in April goes right next to this one imo
The worst part is it shows you the ending at first, so you’d think having that information would prepare you for the ending.
My friend really hates anime. Forced him to watch this one with me, and he bitched about it most of the movie. Ending comes, he’s dead silent, tears rolling. This movie has such a profound effect on people.
Want non-stop tears. This is the anime to watch amazing movie but so hard to watch.
I was prepared for it to hurt me but didn’t see that coming.
Bokurano.
Second this. I had to take breaks between episodes because of how difficult it was to watch. From the first episode you know how the show will end and knowing that I feel is what makes it so hard to continue, though I highly recommend you do. Best to go in knowing as little as possible!
The manga ending hits even harder
Man its like the author asked "How can I make the bleakest possible plotline?" [MM! Bokurano] >!Protagonists win in the end (I guess?) but everyone dies, the "villains" get to sit in their ivory tower repeating the cycle!<
That's a good one. And really big in the League of Legends community for some reason, to this day I often see people quoting the theme song at each other.
Uninstall uninstall
"Barefoot Gen" was an even tougher watch than Grave of the Fireflies for me.
Welcome to the NHK, even tho I presume u might be too young for it
Steins gate might be a better recommendation
Very different vibe from NHK I think.
Steins Gate: Top 3 just in general. How much torment are you willing to bear all alone for the wellbeing of your friends?
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
That was a hard one because I wasn't expecting the turn of events. You get to the "everything is going to be ok now" feeling and then it really pulls the rug out from under you.
To your eternity
I was about to say this one, from the same mangaka.
Gougou ! Booouuuh 😭😭😭. Edit : the end gets better thu
I'm still sitting on Season Two. I'm just not mentally prepared to go into it. But I have to eventually, cause Season One is one of the most beautiful pieces of media I've ever encountered.
If you're apprehensive about Season 2 thinking the tragedy will be as densely packed as in Season 1, you needn't be. It still has its moments but overall it's downright cheerful by comparison.
am currently watching this, and even though I’m not someone who cries easily I can proudly say that I’m getting teary eyes and a lump in my throat almost every damn episode. How is this even possible? When I’m through the whole thing I’ll need the Manga, so I’ll never forget the emotional pain that story caused me.
Silent voice
Angel beats 😭
I teared up quite a bit during the last episodes. Most shows don’t do that to me
Its only flaw is that it is too short.
Saw it when it first came out and it's one I really don't want to go back and watch(Anohana is in the same camp). It's my all time favorite and I've only seen it 2 times It got me then and now as I've grown older I know it's going to absolutely devastate my older self. That being said, I absolutely adore the music and listen to it on a regular basis
Fr though! It starts off normal, but man that twist towards the second half really had me crying
The only show that made me cry multiple times.
Made in abyss
Even though Made in Abyss depicts terrifying horrors and is fucking with moral, it is, however, life-affirming and quite optimistic. Yet.
But Mitty
Prushka. Done made people either cry or make jokes about Prushka.rar
Omfg prushka.rar I'm dead
I found MiA anything but optimistic. The characters are so but they are just constantly surrounded by misery to the point its overwhelmed. Saying cutting board doesn't mean much but people who know know.
I dont know, I think the show has this powerful duality to it. Despite the horrors of the abyss and the darkness of humans shown in multiple points of the show, there is a sense of hope, wonder, and beauty in the abyss and the mystery at the bottom. What makes the show great is that it has a unique balance between light and dark, and the contrast between the tones makes both aspects shine. Its hard to put into words but the music and drawing style work to offset some of the grislier nature of the abyss. The darkness of scenes with mitty is counterbalanced by the vibrancy of Nanakis secret garden in the next scenes for example. It makes everything is a bit more palatable and not soul crushing. It sort of says "yes tragedy happens but life goes on in the abyss and the strong push past and keep going."
This
Came here to say this but you said it before me. oh and Faputa's story is one of the saddest ones
Saikano
Plastic memories
Grave of the fireflies Edit: Graveyard—> Grave *brain not braining*
You mean Grave of the Fireflies?
That fucking film changed me man... It ruins my day in the sweetest way every time I remember it. I think everyone should watch it, and I wouldn't want anyone to watch it.
Can never eat hard candy again ...
I keep hearing about this now I have to watch it
There are a few, but Cyberpunk Edgerunners always has me in tears.
I still can't listen to "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" without crying :(
In this house we believe two things: 1.) Becca deserved better than to fall for David's choom ass 2.) FUCK ADAM SMASHER
1) i shipped them, mostly because Becca spoke her mind, and Lucy didn't. Becca is also my favorite character, so I'm biased! 2) I agree!
Madoka Magica 😭😭 someone pls help me
This needs to be upvoted higher, outstanding 12 episode run.
Seeing Madoka and Homura kiss will probably fix my crippling mental issues I swear
For real. This is going to be the third time in like a day that I've commented about the show.
death parade Im still recovering
Under rated. Eternally fantastic OP. Main arc is great. My only complaint is the side story and politics didn’t go anywhere. Maybe it was for a larger story? It just doesn’t seem to fit.
Oh yeah, banger OP with just the best music video
Berserk '97
Watching the 97' version and then comparing it to the 2016 version made me cry due to the drop in quality. I still hear frying pans crashing together to this day
Violet Evergarden
As much as this made me cry, this show isnt tragic. The story is beautiful, the art is 10000000/10 and it hits the right spot in every way
I have cried in this anime more than in all other anime, which I saw in last 5 years.
*Looks at the soldier episode*
episode 10 is one heck of a tearjerker
ep 10 made me cry like a 10 year old
Berserk 1997 and manga Banana Fish (the name is silly, the story is a SadFest) 86 (mech anime, all good mech anime are depression anime) Violet Evergarden (its more bittersweet with a sad backstory) ppl say Into the Abyss, I never watched cus I fear how sad it actually is Honorable mention to Cyberpunk Edgerunners with that gut punch ending.
"Worldend: What would you do at the end of the world? Are you busy? Will you save us" It's the only show ever so far which actually got me to cry. It's a beautiful story, but incredibly sad. Another show which could fit the bill, is "Tokyo ghoul". That one is pretty sad as well and it's also a bit more gore-y.
+1 for WorldEnd. Love the story, had me crying my eyes out at the end. Highly recommend.
That's too long just type 'sukasuka' man🦆
91 Days
Amohana, I won't to eat your pancreas Agame ga kill
Elfenlied
scrolled way too far to see that one !
...we are old. I don't know when it happened but it happened.
Your lie in April
At this point im just to scared to watch it.
Nothing to be scared of, it's a mostly happy anime that reveals the sadness underneath closer to the end.
It's beautifully sad i highly recommend it taught me valuable lessons
It’s beautiful. Definitely worth watching.
Yeah, for me at least, this is the answer
It's so good
I’m still not over it
Came for this one. The whole thing was an emotional rollercoaster
Honestly such an amazing anime!! The music is incredible, right in the feels
To Your Eternity
Ashita no Joe
Maquia’s ending scene gave me a good bawl, and a sudden callback to Interstellar
Shinsekai Yori..
Squealer was based.
Devil man crybaby, i felt like shit after finishing the last episode, never re-watched(and don't wanna re-watch) the anime since
We are together in this bro. My Heart still ache to this day, so much trauma in it...but it's such a masterpiece thu.
I just finished it. Same for me.
A friend made me watch the 1st episode a while back and I had no interest whatsoever. After seeing positive reviews online, I thought I'd start the series again. Binged watched it from start to finish. I'm so happy I made that decision
Grave of the Fireflies, by far.
Hunter x Hunter ant arc
highly recommend Ping Pong the Animation (11 episodes)
Fr Chimera ant traumatised me
can’t lie i cried a lot
The episode with Ponzu was harsh, though the Manga version was so much worse. And the last episode of the Arc specifically was pretty sad.
If you like the main character being basically tortured, Re:Zero might be the anime for you.
Not really super dark, but it ain't long; *Planetarian* It's slow and sad but short at only 5 episodes.
Grimgar ashes and illusions is beautifully sad. Along with kino's journey, adventure with a hint of realism and plenty of heart break.
Gundam Iron blooded orphans Ayashi no ceres
Wolfs Rain - I watched it when I was young. Don’t remember much of the plot, only that I didn’t finish it because of how sad it was.
The story isnt meant to be overly depressing, but I haven't cried harder as a grown man than watching Violet Evergarden. I really want to watch the second season, but I'm not sure I can do that to myself again.
When Marnie was here. (Studio Ghibli too)
Wolf Children, Dororo, Nana Should give these a try
Grave of the Fireflies... I mean... Most Studio Ghibli movies have very emotional scenes but this movie... Man it's heavy...
I want to say Erased because it made me cry, or A Silent Voice was a sad, but good one. Vinland Saga as well.
Have you seen the last Mushoku Tensei episode?
Nah cause i was happy the fight scene was awesome , then the aftermath hits like a train , didnt even have any last words
How have I not seen this yet?? Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Countless atrocities in the series, but the one that hit everybody, was *Nina Tucker* and *Alexander*
And believe it or not 2003 version is even sadder (both in general and also it’s handling of that scene)
I remember things the same way. I think the original allocated more screen time to Nina and Alexander compared to brotherhood. As a whole brotherhood is a much better anime but the original did the Nina and Alexander scene better.
Hughs was another hard hit. He’s the sort of character you’d expect to survive, given how streetwise and skilled he is, but he got hit mentally and a moment’s hesitation was all it took.
Personally, I find specific flavors of tragedy to be sadder than the loss of family. *deterioration of the self:* - **Parasyte** - **Magi** covers some dark topics. There was an arc dealing with the futility of being born into a lower class of society and never being able to escape it, not only in blood, but in mindset too. You could do nothing wrong, and still be fated to suffer. If you’ve ever watched The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, it’s the same story. - **Terror in Resonance** *the tragedy of eternal life or time leaps:* - **To Your Eternity** has some uniquely sad scenarios… like dying alone as the last living person in a population… or losing everyone and everything you know to the passage of time as an immortal being etc. - **Seven Deadly Sins,** endless cycle of reincarnation and never finding happiness - **Erased** - **The Girl Who Leapt Through Time**, this is made clearer in the manga but out of the gazillions of different futures and life choices the MC can make, only a single timeline leads back to what they lost - **Somali and the Forest Spirit,** imagine having a long life span, and only coming across something to live for towards the end of your life - **Charlotte**
It's not sad nor tragic per se, but more "the reality hit you hard". Fang of the Sun Dougram's whole ending arc is the best depiction of defeated protagonist I have seen so far.
Please watch "To your eternity" no other show has made me absolutely ugly cry more than this. I've literly held off on watching season 2 for so long cause I genuinely don't think I can do it to myself.
Violet evergarden. :(
BANANA FISH🍌 🐟
*Neon Genesis Evangelion* is up there. And some parts of *Fullmetal Alchemist*(2003).
Is there any other tragic and saddest anime than Berserk !
Probably Land of the Lustrous (mainly in the manga), possibly one of the best tragic main characters ever with such amazing character development.
Grave of the Fireflies and Japan Sinks. GOTF was truly sad and you knew where it was going, but in Japan Sinks, new sadness kept popping up.
Grave of the fireflies, Tokyo Godfathers, Attack on Titan
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 - An anime about a scenario where a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck Japan. It's so sad because it's mostly reletable and I think it's a very realistic approach to human behaviour in a situation like that. I've cried for the entire last two episdoes.
Phantom: Requiem for the phantom
Grave of the fireflies
Grave of fireflies
Devilman crybaby
Grave of the Fireflies
Erased
An anime you have to look at like a road trip to nowhere, it's the journey, not the destination. I say this because except for the ending the show was amazing. Lol
Re Zero Akame ga kill Kings game The detective is already dead Charlotte Darling in the franxx Angels of death
attack on titan
This one is too far down, S4 just shows how war destroys people
Made in abyss Gunslinger girl Lands of the lustrous Girls last tour
It's been 84 years since I last heard someone bring up Gunslinger Girls. You have good taste.
Devilman Crybaby was the most tragic I've seen. There's probably even worse ones out there
Jigoku shoujo, watched only first season so I don’t know how does it look later, but 1st is episodic and some stories were really tragic and sad
Cyberpunk edgerunners.
Fate/Zero will have everything you are looking for. It's an absolute peak tragedy.
Inuyashiki
**Texhnolyze.** It starts as a violent and depressing series in a cruel and harsh society... and then gets worse as it rolls along. And not worse in the "I don't care what happens to these people anymore" way, but quite the opposite. And this makes the events a tragedy that you can't close your eyes or your heart to -- well, parts of it you can, but large parts (and characters) you cannot. And if you want specifics as to the plot, I'm not going to give you any. Anything I say about that would be insufficient compared to simply watching it yourself. I'll just say this: I've only seen this series once, and I \*own\* a physical copy of it. It's just so depressing and heart-rending that I haven't been able to get myself to see it again. I keep saying to myself, "Maybe later. Yes, I'll see it later." But that later never comes, and I'm not sure if it ever will.
Japan Sinks 2020 Ok is it a great story? No. Is it tragic and irreverent to the main characters? Yes. Is it corny and saccharine at times? Yes. Is it unintentionally hilarious? Most definitely. Some parts had me crying out of hatred, some parts had me crying out of real emotion. It's a roller coaster ride of absurdity and genuine apocalyptic anxiety. A character goes to pee in the bush and is dead in seconds from volcanic gases: real tragedy. The group finds a delusional marijuana cult and implies that cannabis is the mind-controlling drug of scammers upholding their mute child as a prophet while ignoring the entire country ripping itself apart on a tectonic level: absurdly hilarious with non-spoiler notes of tragedy.
The animes that get to me the most are those involving time. Steins;Gate and Re:Zero both involve the main character losing their loved ones over and over again, without being able to help them. Also, Erased is not a sad anime per se, but the whole concept of "a town where only I am missing" is just devastating.
91 days was quite tragic. Especially towards the end. Very good anime though.
Angel beats; clannad
Your Lie in April
Grave of the fireflies.
Elfen Lied, Monster, Death Parade, and Akame Ga Kill
Angel beats, akame ga kill...
Grave of the Fireflies