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.
Oh mate, clannad was sad
Clannad, after story, and then your lie in april.
Clannad after story is so sad that even the stupid Twitch plays Pokémon edit of it makes me cry.
Came here to find After Story, wasn’t disappointed.
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?)
Your Lie in April. Easiest choice I've ever had to make.
Your lie in april
I don't usually watch sad stuff so Welcome to the NHK is probably the saddest I've seen.
Next Stop Anime Postpartum Depression
All of the anime mentioned above are honestly great🤌 please consider giving any of them a watch if you're bored🤗
Man I didn’t think anyone else watched C
There are three of us!
Four, but I remember almost nothing about it beyond the fact I watched it.
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)
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
Not overall sad but had moments that absolutely wrecked me.
Elfen Lied
Listen to Me Girls, I'm Your Father
A Silent Voice
Your Name
Cowboy BeBop
Bang...
See you, Space Cowboy
*cries
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.
A silent voice
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas. The only anime that made me cry.
Lot's of anime are sad but most of them end on a positive or hopeful note. That's why I consider anime that end on a bleak note to be sadder. Stuff like Grave of the Fireflies or the recent Look Back.
Grave of the Fireflies
Clannad After Story, Liz and the Blue Bird, Phantom: Requiem for a Phantom, Violet Evergarden, A Silent Voice.
It's been 20ish years but the name that sprang up to mind was Now and Then, Here and There. I don't remember much except it was pretty bleak and sad.
Distant-future apocalypse with child soldiers and a scenery-chewing madman (not of the fun type) in charge. The adjective that comes to mind for me is "grim", but "sad" works too—no one escapes the story unscathed. I have the original DVDs around here somewhere.
I couldn't finish that one. Still have the box set. But it was just too much.
To your eternity
I loved the first half of the first season, but I feel like it got a bit stale by the end of the first season. I haven't watched the second.
Would absolutely recommend, though.
Ninja Scroll. I will never forgive that evil dude for permanently cock blocking the protagonist.
Other than Grave of the Fireflies, some others I never see mentioned are Saikano and In This Corner of the World.
Orange was pretty sad iirc.
Damn I can't figure spoilers. Sora yori tooi was unexpectedly good
LOOK BACK was pretty dang sad, but it's one of the only 10/10 anime I've ever seen.
Dororo (2019) is also up there.
Bible Black.
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.
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