15 Recommended Anime with Sad Endings, Really Emotionally Draining

The Japanese entertainment industry, especially anime, is currently increasingly popular with its fans. This is inseparable from the many new anime that have been released with unique storylines.

The stories presented through anime have various interesting genres, one of which is drama. Some stories from that genre do not always have a story with a happy ending. Not infrequently, anime are also shown to make the audience feel touched and sad until the anime ends.

That’s what is called sad ending, or a story with a sad ending. Even so, anime with sad ending This does not make the audience lose interest in watching the melodrama story. As an illustration, we will present recommendations for sad ending anime that are very emotionally draining. Check it out, okay!

1. The Last Day of the Dead

Anime Your Lie in April (doc. Kodansha/your lie in april)

When it comes to emotionally draining anime, Shigatsu and the Devil’s Tale is at the top. This anime, released in 2014, presents the tragic story of a genius male pianist named Arima Kousei. He is said to have met a girl named Miyazono Kaori after her mother died. However, it turns out that Kaori, who changed his life, also keeps a big secret from Kousei.

2. Byousoku 5 Centimeter

doc. Netflix

Anime recommendations sad ending next there is Byousoku 5 Centimeter which tells the story of a long-distance relationship between Takaki Toono and Akari Shinohara. In their long-distance relationship, the two of them began to encounter many problems. The problems that came made them live their lives half-heartedly.

3. Plastic Memories

Plastic Memories anime trailer (doc. Doga Kobo/ Plastic Memories)

Anime recommendations sad ending 3rd place comes from the genre sci fi entitled Plastic Memories. This anime tells the story of a man named Tsukasa who loves his own android robot. However, the android robot named Isla only has a lifespan of about 81,820 hours or 9 years and 4 months.

4. Things

Anime portrait of Hal (doc. Wit Studio/Hal)

Still from the genre sci fithis time there is an anime entitled Matter which tells the story of a woman who is depressed because her lover died. The woman named Kurumi locks herself in her room every day. Seeing this, her grandfather employs an android robot with a name and appearance similar to Kurumi’s lover to entertain her.

5. Clannad: After Story

uzerfriendly.com

Next there is an anime entitled Clannad: After Story which is a sequel to the anime Clannad. The story presented in this sequel is quite related to the real world and can be felt by everyone. Clannad: After Story tells the story of the struggle to become an adult with various different backgrounds for each character.

6. Violet Evergarden

youtube.com/Kyoto Animation

Anime recommendations sad ending next there is Violet Evergarden which focuses on a character named Violet. The character is described as an Auto Memory Dolls who has difficulty expressing her emotions. However, as time goes by, Violet manages to find a way to express her emotions.

7. Hotaru no Haka

slantmagazine.com

The next sad story comes from a war-themed anime. Titled The Hotaru of Hakathis anime centers on the situation of siblings, Seita and Setsuko who lost everything due to World War II. In the midst of the war between America and Japan, both of them try to survive without the presence of their parents.

8. Angel Beats

Angel Beats. (Doc. PA Works/Angel Beats)

Angel Beats is set in the afterlife. The story focuses on Yuzuru Otonashi, a figure who lost his memories of his life after dying. Otonashi meets Yuri, who invites him to join the Afterlife Battlefront.

If we talk about anime that can shake the heart, Angel Beats often talked about. If you watch until the end, you might understand why.

9. Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai

Romantic anime Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai (doc. Studio Voln/ kimi no suizou wo tabetai)

Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai become anime sad ending next sequence. The anime itself tells the story of Haruki Shiga who finds a diary belonging to Sakura Yamauchi. Unexpectedly, Sakura tells Haruki a big secret that no one knows. Sakura turns out to have pancreatic disease and only has a short time to live.

10. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 anime trailer (doc. Fuji TV/Tokyo Magnitude 8.0)

As the title suggests, the anime is titled Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 This tells about a natural disaster earthquake. This anime focuses on Mirai Onozawa who is fed up with her family’s condition and wants everything to be destroyed. Unexpectedly, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake suddenly shook Japan, especially the Kanto province. Mirai and her sister Yuki rushed to find their family.

11. Devilman Crybaby

Science SARU/Devilman Crybaby

If you already know what it’s like Devilman ending original, you can probably guess that this story won’t have a happy ending.

Still, even people who know ending original Devilman can also feel shocked when Devilman Crybaby entering the final part.

12. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Menma in Anohana. (Doc. A1 Pictures/Anohana)

End of anime Anohana, involving a particular scene with Menma, is one of the scenes that is quite poignant and can make emotions fluctuate. No wonder, Anohana can be said as one of the anime sad ending.

13. Cowboy Bebop

Sunrise Doc.

Cowboy Bebop tells about Spike Spiegel, Faye Valentine, Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV, and Jet Black who are a group of Bounty Hunters. They really enjoy hunting fugitives.

Their adventure is very exciting to watch even though it has a very sad ending. Guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes!

14. Assassination Classroom

Lerche/Assassination Classroom

Even though it sounds like anime full action, Assassination Classroom own ending which is very sad. This anime tells about a yellow alien who wants to destroy the earth.

The alien is willing to teach in a class and he is willing to be attacked at any time. However, the student loves the alien very much. The reality in this anime is recorded at the end quite sadly.

15. Angel Beats!

Anime Angel Beats (IMDb.com/Angel Beats)

Angel Beats! will make you cry. Yuzuru Otanashi has a task to fight the evil angel in order to survive in the school. However, in reality the evil angel managed to make Otanashi fall in love.

Well, those are 12 anime sad ending. What do you think? Is there a favorite of yours that didn’t make it? Let us know in the comments!

First published October 1, 2023, republished July 22, 2024.