I have several, but if I must pick one, it’s A Place Further Than The Universe. Interestingly, it’s simultaneously the happiest, too.
It wasn’t the case at first, but when I rewatched it, I was purely, emotionally devastated.
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Grave of the Fireflies
Voices of a Distant Star. It tops Your Lie in April for me.
I came to say this. Holy hell it’s brutal.
A Place Further Than The Universe was so gorgeous oh lord. I was watching it on the exercise bike - big mistake - and was just openly sobbing at gym.
For my picks:
Shigatsu Wa Kimi No Uso or Your Lie In April is an absolutely heartbreaking story but its so beautiful. Strong contender.
Also Kimi No Na Wa or Your Name if movies count - I still cry like a baby every time I watch it, but it has a few of the story tropes that I’m an absolute sucker for so I’m biased. Its still incredibly moving even with that in mind.
Trigun. Vash is just getting shit on for almost 2 centuries and all he’s doing is trying to help humans, but his brother is just out to make him miserable.
Japan Sinks 2020
Wolfs Rain
Something that had sad moments and I think is often overlooked is Gene of AI. It is more of a philosophical anthology series though rather than a show that builds up characters to hit you with emotional baggage.
Saikano is an underrated sad anime!
My kneejerk reaction to the question is “Grave of the Fireflies”.
Ditto. I like a lot of sad stuff and that is just another level.
It really is in a class all its own. I don’t think I could ever watch it again.
I haven’t been able too either, ~17 years later. I honestly feel like it gave me PTSD.
It’s been more than 25 years for me. That movie is like a punch to the gut. And I don’t even like kids.
Fun fact: originally a double feature with My Neighbor Totoro.
That sounds like a roller coaster of a ride.
Which one played first?
Apparently it was Totoro (or so I recall from a really old Usenet post). Makes you wonder about the thought process involved.
My Neighbor Totoro is really sad also (or can be).
Your Lie in April and Angel Beats! both crushed me 😭
What’s the deal with angel beats? I watched it and I just don’t get it
spoiler
It pretty much takes place in a limbo/purgatory. Children who die without finding peace or have unresolved emotions end up there. The story slowly reveals this and explores each characters’ reasons for ending up there - often confronting their death and untangling the things which kept them from moving on. Time itself is kind of nebulous there; two of the main characters, one who starts as a sort of antagonist and the protagonist, are kind of tied together by fate with the protag being a heart donor to the antagonist. The protagonist died before and his heart was given to her, but somehow she ended up there before him even though she lived a full life (if I’m remembering right) l. It’s honestly a super beautiful story, and I think one of my favorite parts is the ending song/mv which plays at the end up each episode- it features every character, and as they move on during the series their spot in the ED is just blank with the final episode ending without any of them.
Tap for spoiler
I absolutely agree 😭 But didn’t the post credits scene after the last episode suggest at least some hope for all of them? (Or am I seriously misremembering this because my brain tried really hard not to think it was over?)
spoiler
You’re remembering right (or we’re both remembering wrong 🤭)! The final after credits scene implied that the two main characters were reincarnated, and as they were passing each other in a crowd on the street, something compelled the MC to reach out and stop Angel, reuniting them in their new lives 🩷 I think it was unclear if he fully remembered everything that happened, but it was the bittersweet, made me cry even harder, scene that we needed 😭
Oh mate, clannad was sad
Clannad, after story, and then your lie in april.
Came here to find After Story, wasn’t disappointed.
Clannad after story is so sad that even the stupid Twitch plays Pokémon edit of it makes me cry.
Your Lie in April. Easiest choice I’ve ever had to make.
this one made me really sad for a long time
Me too. I was absolutely shattered for a few days, base-level sad for a few weeks, and bleak undertones for months. It was jaw droopingly beautiful as a story but fuck, ow.
Your lie in april
Next Stop Anime Postpartum Depression
- Angel Beats
- Death Parade
- Steins;Gate S1
- Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
- Eureka Seven (happy with the conclusion, sad that the journey is completed, doesn’t help that E7 AO and the movies are also trash)
- [C] Control: The Money of Soul and Possibility
- Princess Principal (next movie when augh please release soon🙏🙏🙏)
All of the anime mentioned above are honestly great🤌 please consider giving any of them a watch if you’re bored🤗
I didn’t know what to do with my life when I finished steins;gate (which only has one season. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar)
You didn’t like season 2? I honestly thought it was a great addition. S1 is a definite 11/10 and S2 is a 9 on its own, but watching S1 and S2 together is still a 10/10. I think the climax of S1 hits even harder when the seasons are combined.
Honestly its just that steins;gate was so perfect and self contained as it was, even with s;g0 being pretty good it still pulls down the quality of the overall whole, as you say “still a 10/10” as opposed to the 11/10
It was mostly just light hearted banter though, they did good with s;g0 :)
Heads up there is S2👉👉✨
Please consider watching Steins;Gate before watching this opening as it contains spoilers~
Tap to see the Youtube link
Edit:
oh gods I started crying as the emotions hit me again.
Man I didn’t think anyone else watched C
It’s soo good🤌
I really enjoy watching and rewatching itI think it’s one of the main reasons why I obsessed over learning systems analysis
There are three of us!
Heck yeah!🎉
Four, but I remember almost nothing about it beyond the fact I watched it.
When you’ve got a chance I’d highly recommend giving it a rewatch as the animation quality and high emotional stakes makes this enjoyable still to this day!
I don’t usually watch sad stuff so Welcome to the NHK is probably the saddest I’ve seen.
Well, I can think of only Clannad: AF atm.
If you mean most tears, definitely Clannad. Probably others that would be more sad in a depressing kinda way though.
It would be incredibly depressing if you excluded the last episode lol
