Anime creators seem to love the habit of making the audience cry because they keep delivering heartbreaking and tear-jerkingly sad anime movies from time to time.
If you would love to experience those depressing endings but are unwilling to wait for episodes, you can watch some best sad anime movies. So, we’ve come up with a great list of recommendations for you.
Best Sad Anime Movies!
13. Big Fish & Begonia
Chun is a being that resides beyond the human realm, and to experience the mortal world, she transformed into a dolphin. But she almost gets killed and is saved by a boy through his sacrifice. Now she has to protect his soul until it can return to the human realm.
Big Fish & Begonia is a visually stunning anime movie by a Chinese animation franchise. It attracts you and keeps you attached to the screen right from the beginning like a magnet. You’ll shed more than enough tears to call it one of the saddest anime movies of all time.
Both Subbed and Dubbed versions are available in the link below!
12. Children Who Chase Lost Voices
Asuna hears a strange sound from a crystal radio, and with curiosity, she tunes into it. Soon, she gets transported into a mysterious world filled with beauty and mythical beasts. In this fantasy world, things are far beyond human understanding. It seems even dead can be brought back to life, but there is a price.
Even though this movie is not on par with other Makoto Shinkai masterpieces, it has its pros. It is one of the most beautiful films we’ve comes across and also tragically sad. If you’re looking for sad anime movies to watch, go for it.
Both Subbed and Dubbed versions are available in the link below!
11. The Garden of Words
Takao has a habit of skipping school to sketch in a rainy garden. There he meets an older woman named Yukino. After a few meetings, they form an unusual relationship despite the age gap. But as the rainy season is coming to an end, so are a few things.
This mature love story is a very short anime. In fact, it is only 46 minutes in duration but packs quite a punch.
The animation is breathtaking, and the emotions you feel are indescribable. Give it a watch, and you’ll see why.
10. The Wind Rises
Jiro Horikoshi desires the freedom to fly, and so he decided to make a plane. He created a beautiful aircraft with a continuous effort from childhood to adulthood: the Mitsubishi A6M Zero. However, it was used for something unexpected: The War.
The Wind Rises is such a beautiful movie and deserves all the appreciation it gets. From a perspective, it even deserves to get more. The story is told in a way we’ve never seen, and the ending is just heartbreaking.
Both Subbed and Dubbed versions are available in the link below!
9. Whisper of the Heart
Shizuku finds a person who also loves literature as much as she does, and he’s a boy named Seiji. After meeting with him, she learns about Seiji’s dreams but is unsure of her future goal. Can she find her purpose and work hard towards it?
Whisper of the Heart is just as beautiful and inspiring as other Hayao Miyazaki films. It is not exactly sad but fills you in with various emotions and leaves you speechless in the end. If not for romance, at least give it a shot for its aspiring plot.
8. Ride Your Wave
Hinako loves to surf, and she has just moved to a new seaside town. During a fire breakout scene, she meets a firefighter named, and they both fall in love with each other. However, a tragedy happens, and ever since then, Hinako can summon Minato from any water surface with just a song.
Ride Your Wave gets a 9/10 just for the heartwrenching premise. It is a breathtaking movie with a very sweet story and whimsical situations. The animation was a pure blessing too. If you’re looking for sad romance anime movies, this could become your new favorite.
Both Subbed and Dubbed versions are available in the link below!
7. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
A tomboyish high school girl named Makoto Konno gets the ability to leap through time. What do you think she does with it? Cheating on a test? Or singing Karaoke for 10 minutes straight? However, when a slight alteration occurs, consequences come rushing into her life.
Time Travel stories aren’t that rare, actually. But what sets it apart from the rest is its ability to deliver a bittersweet tale along with a tear-inducing ending. Overall, it is a fantastic film with a decent concept and a few other notable aspects.
6. Grave of the Fireflies
Setsuko and Seita live at their relative house due to her mother’s illness and his father serving overseas during World War II. But after the cruel treatment of her aunt, they decide to live in an abandoned bomb shelter.
With no one else to help them, they try their hardest to survive in this world. Food & provisions have become scarce, and their lives turn towards despair. Life is really fragile, isn’t it?
Studio Ghibli creates a masterpiece of work with any concept. If you prefer to watch overwhelming emotion-filled stories, this one is probably the one you’re looking for.
Relevant: Top 10 Classic Studio Ghibli Movies You Can’t Afford to Miss!
5. To the Forest of Firefly Lights
Six-year-old Hotarou gets lost in the woods during summer break and is rescued by a youkai named Gin. He has a curse that causes him to disappear if ever touched by a human.
As years go by, Gin ages slowly, and Hotaru is growing up. She has developed feelings for Gin but can this story ever have a happy ending?
This short anime film is so simple yet amazingly beautiful. Despite being so short, it doesn’t leave anything out. The romance is so fascinating, and the storyline is well-executed.
It easily hooks you up in a matter of seconds and is one of the most heartwrenching and sad anime moves ever to exist.
4. Wolf Children
Hana was a normal human until she fell in love with a man who turned out to be a werewolf. As fate wished, he passed away, leaving Hana and two unusual kids alone. Hana fled to the countryside to build a peaceful life for them, and the challenges of a mother have begun for Hana from this day.
Wolf Children is nothing extraordinary, but it makes you bawl your eyes like a little kid. It represents the hardships of a mother trying to protect her children. In simple words, it is an undeniable masterpiece.
3. I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
Haruki finds a diary of her classmate Sakura in a hospital and realizes that she has a terminal illness in her pancreas. She only has a few months left to live, so Haruki decides to spend her last few months together with her.
This concept was tackled before by many TV series or anime, but its execution is phenomenal. The story feels so heartfelt and doesn’t feel forced at all. It makes you shed a few tears, at the very least.
Relevant: 10 Best Sad Anime That’ll Totally Break Your Heart!
2. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
Maquia is born in a rare tribe of weavers known as “The Loph.” To steal their secrets, the soldiers by the King have been dispatched and began to shatter the peace of the tribe.
However, Maquia succeeded in escaping into the wilderness. All alone, she finds an orphaned boy who she connects well and decides to care for him. But is the tragedy over yet?
Maquia is probably the most beautiful anime with a depressing storyline. For 90% of the time, you’ll be bawling your eyes out while appreciating the beauty of the animation.
Everything about it is impressive, especially the characters. If you’re looking for some good sad anime movies, this one is right up your alley.
1. A Silent Voice
Shouko Nishimiya couldn’t get past bullying due to her deafness even after transferring to a different school, thanks to Ishida. She had to drop out of the school because of his bullying, and eventually, the class turned back on him.
Years later, Ishida meets Nishimiya and decides to atone for what he did by apologizing and making her his friend. But the scar has grown too deep to heal for Nishimiya. How will the story end?
A Silent Voice is not a lighthearted anime with a bit of angst; instead, it is filled with a rollercoaster of emotions. People who can relate to bullying might even end up bawling their eyes for a few weeks at the very least.
Both Subbed and Dubbed versions are available in the link below!
Conclusive Thoughts!
There you go. Now you can sob until you get tired of it and make your friends bawl their eyes out until they realize how sad anime movies can get.
These anime sad movies will teach you great life lessons and leave you empty for a few days. So, make sure to watch when you’re free and appreciate them wholly. Well then, have a great watch.
You might also like:
- 11 Greatest Anime Movies That’ll Give You Ultimate Experience!
- Top 15 Best Anime Movies on Netflix 2022!
- 15 Must-Watch Live Action Anime Movies to Your Watchlist!
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