45 Sad Anime That Will Make You Cry (2024)

Anime creators love making their audience cry. From heartfelt dramas about young love, unrequited feelings, and relationship drama to the more serious stories that tackle issues like death, war, and illness, anime has found countless ways to break hearts and make viewers weep. There's no short supply of sad anime series out there, some of which tell the most gutwrenching stories of any form of media.

Fans who enjoy heart-rending stories that make them shed endless tears are in luck, as many of anime's most iconic titles are nothing short of heartbreaking. Offering thought-provoking messages and depressing subjects that speak to their audiences, these anime titles have gone down in history as some of the saddest of all time. Even the strongest of anime fans can't hold back the tears as these heartbreaking titles tug at audiences' heartstrings from start to finish.

Updated on October 17th, 2024 by Chelsea Steele: Anime does a wonderful job invoking a wide range of emotions. A sad anime can be a testament to great character development as characters are put through struggles like loss, betrayal, and depression. This list has been updated to meet CBR's current publication standard, offering more info on some of the most heartbreaking anime series in history.

45 A Place Further Than the Universe Is a Tragic Slice-of-Life

Shirase, Kimari, Hinata, and Yuzuki Each Have Heartbreaking Backstories That Drive The Plot

A Place Further Than the Universe follows a group of high school girls as they travel to Antarctica. Each girl has a different reason for embarking on the journey, ranging from just wanting to experience life before college to overcoming the grief of losing a loved one. The series is a slice-of-life anime with roots deep enough in reality for easily relatable characters. The leading characters of A Place Further Than the Universe each have unique traumas and depressing backstories fueling their desire to travel to Antarctica.

Shirase refuses to accept the loss of her mother, who went missing in Antarctica three years prior and is desperate to travel there and find her mother alive. Kimari is tired of living an unremarkable, uninteresting life, and is scared her youth is wasting away, but her anxiety gets the best of her at every attempt to do something about it. Hinata switched to homeschooling after being treated poorly by the track team at school and just wants to see what real friendship feels like. Yuzuki is a child actress whose mother wants her to travel to Antarctica to record videos, a prospect she is initially vehemently against before being convinced by the other three girls. The girls endure unexpected struggles and come to devastating conclusions while on their journey together.

A Place Further Than the Universe

Adventure

A group of high school girls join an expedition headed towards the Antarctic.

Release Date

January 2, 2018

Seasons

1

Creator

Yorimoi

Number of Episodes

13

Cast

Inori Minase , Kana Hanazawa

Production Company

Madhouse

44 Haibane Renmei Gives a New Perspective on The Afterlife

The Weight of Guilt and Regret Are Central Points of Haibane Renmei

While there are plenty of anime that depict themes of death, few titles delve into what happens after death. Haibane Renmei is unique in that the characters have already died and found themselves in the afterlife. The Haibane are essentially souls who died too early or without reaching their purpose. Now they must learn to accept and forgive themselves as they await their Day of Flight, which is when the Haibane officially “crosses over.”

Haibane Renmei centers a lot of its story around the concepts of sin and guilt. Sin-bound Haibane, for example, are plagued with pieces of memories from their past life, memories that elicit feelings of regret and put the Haibane in a cycle of rumination as they struggle to break the sin-bound curse. If they are unable to achieve their Day of Flight, they are considered Failed Haibane and are exiled from the city.

Haibane Renmei (2002)

TV-14

Animation

Drama

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

In a serene town surrounded by towering walls, a young girl emerges from a cocoon with no memory of her past, bearing small grey wings and a halo. As she integrates into a community of similarly winged inhabitants, she explores the meanings of redemption and companionship.

Release Date

October 9, 2002

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Yoshitoshi Abe

Cast

Ryō Hirohashi , Junko Noda , Eri Miyajima , Fumiko Orikasa , Kazusa Murai

43 Rumbling Hearts Depicts an Emotional Love Triangle

Rumbling Hearts Is Full of Betrayal and Questionable Loyalty

When a horrible accident leaves high schooler Haruka Suzumiya in a coma, her boyfriend Takayuki Narumi is comforted by Haruka’s friend, and this connection soon becomes much more intimate. But once Haruka unexpectedly awakens, Takayuki must choose between the women, a decision that proves to be almost impossible. Rumbling Hearts explores these complicated relationships and addresses the importance of loyalty.

Rumbling Hearts is a dramatic romance anime adapted from the video game Kimi ga Nozomu Eien. The tragedy has plenty of unexpected twists and turns, with well-developed characters who are too morally gray to call either a hero or a villain. With a storyline full of betrayal and heartbreak, viewers end up genuinely feeling bad for the characters by the end of the series.

Rumbling Hearts

TV-14

Anime

Drama

Romance

Follows complicated love life of Takayuki Narumi, a male high school student.

Release Date

October 5, 2003

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Cast

Kishô Taniyama , Colleen Clinkenbeard , Carrie Savage , Kevin Connolly , Chiaki Takahashi , Minami Kuribayashi , Masaki Anzou , Leah Clark

42 Orange Addresses Mental Health Issues

Depression and Suicidal Thoughts Haunt Orange’s Main Characters, Especially Kakeru Naruse

In the anime Orange, 16-year-old Takamiya Naho receives a letter from her future self urging her to help prevent the death of her new classmate Kakeru. Naho and her friends, who received similar letters, must work together to realize their mistakes and improve their interactions with Kakeru. The anime doesn’t shy away from heavy topics and shows the realities of dealing with depression, suicidal thoughts, and grief.

Regret and survivor’s guilt are at the center of the main story arcs in Orange. Kakeru feels responsible for his mother’s death, something that, if events go unchanged, ends up leading to his death. Naho and the rest of Kakeru’s friends feel guilty for Kakeru’s suicide, and the anime even shows how small moments between the friends impacted Kakeru as he struggled with mental illness. Orange uses impactful, immersive, and emotional storytelling to teach viewers that the only one who can save you is yourself.

Orange

TV-PG

High school student Naho Takamiya receives a letter from her future self that warns her to avoid mistakes she will make involving a new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, a troubled boy whom she meets and begins to fall in love with.

Release Date

July 4, 2016

Main Genre

Drama

Studio

Telecom Animation Film

Cast

Jeannie Tirado , Kana Hanazawa , Seiichiro Yamashita , Micah Solusod , Makoto Furukawa

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

41 Akame ga Kill! Has Sad Backstories and Even Sadder Deaths

Most of The Cast of Akame ga Kill! Dies Tragically By The End

Akame ga Kill! was no stranger to killing off fan-favorite characters, and even did so in varyingly gruesome and disturbing ways. Almost every character in the series dies, making for many heartbreaking moments. Sacrifices are made pointless, and the few remaining characters are killed off one by one as the show progresses.

Tatsumi, a swordsman, is the leading protagonist of Akame ga Kill! and the anime follows his team-up with the assassin group Night Raid to overthrow the corrupt government, referred to as the Empire. By the end of the series, viewers wonder whether defeating the Empire was worth it when almost everybody had to endure some horrible death to achieve it.

Akame ga Kill!

TV-MA

Action

Adventure

A countryside boy named Tatsumi sets out on a journey to The Capital to make a name for himself and meets a seemingly dangerous group of Assassins known as Night Raid. Their journey begins.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

See Also

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Release Date

July 7, 2014

Main Genre

Anime

Cast

Soma Saito , Sora Amamiya , Yukari Tamura , Christina Kelly , Corey Hartzog , Molly Searcy

40 Demon Slayer Puts Its Main Characters Through Endless Trials

Sibling Protagonists Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado Are Constantly Surrounded by Death

Demon Slayer is the story of two siblings on a mission to avenge their family’s massacre and eliminate demons along the way. Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado have seen more death in their lives than they could have imagined, from seeing their family slaughtered to the many friends they lose along their journey. But despite it all, they fight through the pain to get to their enemy, Muzan Kibitsuji.

Tanjiro and Nezuko have help along the way, but many of their friends succumb to wounds or decide to go their separate ways. Among the saddest deaths in Demon Slayer was Mitsuri Kanroji, who sustained fatal battle injuries and died while waiting for her love to return. In other notable moments of the anime, demons are redeemed in their final moments as lost souls looking for places to belong. Demon Slayer is an intense show that leans into tragedy, making for a truly sad anime.

Demon Slayer

TV-MA

Animation

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

When Tanjiro Kamado returns home to find his family was attacked and killed by demons, he discovers his younger sister Nezuko was the only survivor. As Nezuko slowly becomes a demon, Tanjiro sets out to find a cure for her and become a demon slayer so he can avenge his family.

Release Date

April 6, 2019

Cast

Zach Aguilar , Abby Trott , Aleks Le , Bryce Papenbrook , Brianna Knickerbocker , Zeno Robinson , Johnny Yong Bosch , Erika Harlacher , Ray Chase , Kira Buckland

Seasons

3

Creator(s)

Ufotable

Writers

Ufotable

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Franchise(s)

Demon Slayer

Directors

Haruo Sotozaki

39 Parasyte: The Maxim Features an Alien Invasion That Leaves Humanity at The Mercy of Parasitic Creatures

The Parasytes Prey on Many Innocent People, Leading to Suffering and Tragedy

Parasyte: The Maxim is a horror anime about an invasive alien species, Parasytes, coming to Earth to feed on humans. The Parasytes typically attach to a human's brain and control them to get prey. They also manipulate their host's body into unspeakably grotesque monsters with blades and hundreds of teeth.

Due to the alien’s nature, several characters are either eaten or taken over by the Parasytes. Kana Kimishima, a friend of the main character Shinichi, is killed by a Parasyte in a shocking moment that is considered one of the saddest of 2010s anime. At a glance, Parasyte: The Maxim seems more disturbing than sad. However, the devastation caused by the invasion and the loss of many characters' lives makes the series one of the most tragic in the psychological genre.

Parasyte: The Maxim (2014)

TV-MA

Action

Horror

Science Fiction

Animation

Original title: Kiseijû: Sei no kakuritsu.
17-year-old Shinichi Izumi is partially infected by a Parasyte, monsters that butcher and consume humans. He must learn to co-exist with the creature if he is to survive both the life of a Parasyte and a human as part monster, part person.

Release Date

October 9, 2014

Studio

Madhouse

Main Cast

Nobunaga Shimazaki, Aya Hirano, Rinka H.B.B., Atsuka Tanaka, Brittney Karbowski, Adam Gibbs and Joanne Bonasso

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Creator

Hitoshi Iwaaki

Production Company

Forecast Communications, Madhouse, Nippon Television Network (NTV), Video Audio Project (VAP)

Number of Episodes

21

38 Erased Hinges on a Criminal Investigation Through Time

Satoru Fujinuma Travels Back in Time To Stop Tragedy, But Ultimately Sacrifices His Own Happiness as a Result

Erased is a time-travel and psychological thriller anime that follows an underemployed twenty-nine-year-old named Satoru Fujinuma. With a second chance presented to him, he works to change the past so he can save the future. From there, Satoru flits through time at random to fix problems and save people from terrible fates, including murder.

Erased is so heartbreaking because of Satoru's final leap. He must save three of his classmates who were murdered and figure out who the killer was. This is a harrowing task, but Satoru's relationship with his friend Kayo Hinazuki represents the deepest sorrow of the show. Kayo is the catalyst for much of the anime's heart and tragedy, since the entire ordeal seems to focus on her, her family, and her need to belong.

Erased (2016)

TV-14

Crime

Drama

29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma is sent back in time 18 years to prevent the events leading to his mother's death, which began with a series of kidnappings while he was in 5th grade.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

January 8, 2016

Creator

Kei Sanbe

Cast

Minami Takayama , Tao Tsuchiya

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Number of Episodes

12

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu

37 Death Parade Is a Bittersweet Story of Death and Regret

Newly Deceased Souls Arrive at Quindecim Where They Must Compete For a Chance at Reincarnation

Death Parade is a psychological anime about the afterlife. Decim is a supernatural being running a bar where people who died simultaneously compete in various games to see where their souls will end up. The games are varying degrees of grotesque, and nearly all of them end badly for at least one person.

Apart from the despicable competition, Death Parade delves into questions of good and evil and what it means to be human. In the opening episode, newlyweds Takashi and Machiko find themselves in a Death Game after a crucial misunderstanding leads Takashi to drive them off a cliff. The anime, which explores the concepts of judgment and reincarnation, ends on a bittersweet note, making it all the more depressing.

Death Parade

TV-MA

Drama

Mystery

After death, humans go to either heaven or hell. But for some, at the instant of their death, they arrive at the Quindecim, a bar attended by the mysterious white-haired Decim.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

January 10, 2015

Creator

Yuzuru Tachikawa

Cast

Rumi Okubo , Yoshimasa Hosoya

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

Madhouse

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Crunchyroll

36 Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen Isn't Afraid of Tackling Emotional Topics

Death Is Just One of the Many Depressing Subjects Covered in Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen is a riveting horror shonen with stunning animation from Studio MAPPA. Yuji Itadori’s awakening as a Jujutsu Sorcerer has the signature shonen flare that slowly deteriorates into devastating moral quandaries as the show goes on, but the series also does well to hammer home on the bond between the characters. From Itadori's relationship with mentors Satoru Gojo and Kento Nanami, to the bond he builds with teammates Megumi and Nobara, viewers become deeply attached to the characters with ease.

As expected within the horror genre, deaths are inevitable. But many of Jujutsu Kaisen’s characters are so beloved that it hurts all the more when they pass on. The sheer amount of carnage and loss in the second season alone is enough to bring any anime fan to tears. In one of the season's most gut-wrenching moments, Yuji is forced to witness the death of one of his closest friends and then one of his strongest mentors. Viewers of the anime grieve for their favorite lost characters as well as the loss of Itadori’s innocence.

Jujutsu Kaisen

TV-MA

Animation

Action

Adventure

A boy swallows a cursed talisman - the finger of a demon - and becomes cursed himself. He enters a shaman's school to be able to locate the demon's other body parts and thus exorcise himself.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

October 2, 2020

Creator

Gege Akutami

Cast

Junya Enoki , Yuma Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Adam McArthur , Asami Seto

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

3

Studio

MAPPA

Production Company

Mappa, TOHO animation

Number of Episodes

47 Episodes

Main Characters

Yuji Itadori, Satoru Gojo, Ryomen Sukuna

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Amazon Prime Video

35 Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light Prevents Tells of a Tragic Couple Who Can Never Be Together

To the Forest of Firefly Lights (originally titled Hotarubi no Mori e) is an ethereal shojo anime about forbidden love. When a 6-year-old girl named Hotaru Takegawa gets lost in the woods, Gin, a friendly spirit, helps her return to her family. She returns to visit him year after year, and their relationship grows as she does. The two begin to develop a romantic relationship, even though they can never touch.

To the Forest of Firefly Lights is a sweet but heartbreaking view of love and the impermanence of life. Just as the budding romance between Hotaru and Gin is taking off, Gin accidentally touches a young boy, cutting his time short, and Hotaru must grapple with the sudden loss of her life-long love. The time the couple shares is precious to them, even if they can’t be together any longer.

To The Forest Of Firefly Lights

Drama

Fantasy

Hotaru is rescued by a spirit when she gets lost in a forest as a child. The two become friends, despite the spirit revealing that he will disappear if he is ever touched by a human.

Release Date

September 17, 2011

Cast

Koki Uchiyama , Ayane Sakura , Shinpachi Tsuji

Runtime

45 Minutes

Main Genre

Animation

Story By

Producer

Akira Aoki, Yukio Kawasaki, Makoto Nakamura, Kôichirô Natsume

Production Company

Aniplex, Brains Base, Hakusensha, Hotarubi no Mori e Production Committee, Nihon Ad Systems (NAS), TV Tokyo

34 No Character Is Safe in Danganronpa: The Animation

Makoto Naegi and His Classmates Are Forced Into a Death Game Where The Only Way To Escape Is Getting Away With Murder

Based on the hit video game series, Danganronpa: The Animation loves to toy with viewer's emotions. Just like its video game counterpart, viewers will be constantly on edge as they wonder if their favorite character will even survive until the next episode. It isn't long after the audience grows attached to a certain character that they meet their untimely demise.

Danganronpa tells a Battle Royale-like story where 15 high school students of a prestigious school are trapped. To escape, a student must kill another and get away with it after a Class Trial. If they succeed, everyone else will die. If they fail, only they will be punished. Danganronpa is a heart-pounding franchise full of heartbreaking deaths, heartbreaking circumstances, and heartbreaking answers to its many mysteries. While the anime version of Danganronpa is more abridged compared to the video game version, it still hits hard.

33 Wolf Children Centers Around The Emotional Struggles of a Single Mother

Hana Is a Widowed Mother Raising Her Two Children, Ame and Yuki, All Alone

Wolf Children has a wholesome premise, but it is quite the tear-jerker. It tells the struggle of 19-year-old college student Hana, a single mother trying to raise her two children. That is already challenging enough, but the children are also half-wolf. The kids' father went out hunting and was killed, leaving Hana alone to raise them.

Even sadder, Hana discovers the werewolf's corpse as the trash collector is discarding it. This anime will make the audience experience the same feelings as Hana as she struggles to raise her two supernatural children. It may be a sad anime on many levels, but it is also inspiring and encouraging, with Hana being a strong and caring single mother despite these hardships.

10 Images

10 Images

Wolf Children

PG

Anime

Drama

Family

After her werewolf lover unexpectedly dies in an accident while hunting for food for their children, a young woman must find ways to raise the werewolf son and daughter that she had with him while keeping their trait hidden from society.

Release Date

July 21, 2012

Director

Mamoru Hosoda

Cast

Aoi Miyazaki , Takao Osawa , Haru Kuroki

Main Genre

Anime

Writers

Mamoru Hosoda , Satoko Okudera

Production Company

Nippon Television Network (NTV), Studio Chizu, Madhouse

Runtime

1 hour 57 minutes

32 Oshi No Ko Delves Into the Downsides of Idol Life

Aqua Is a Reincarnated Doctor Investigating The Murder of His Long-Time Idol, Ai Hoshino

Oshi no Ko is an anime about a teen idol with a secret. Ai Hoshino has a bright future ahead of her that now includes her newborn twins. However, the twins are the reincarnated versions of her doctor who was killed the night she gave birth, and one of her biggest fans who passed away in the same hospital. Though they're an unusual family, Ai, Aquamarine, and Ruby seem like they'll have a happy future together.

Sadly, tragedy strikes when Ai is murdered by a fan. Vowing to discover who the killer's accomplice is, Aquamarine becomes a distant sleuth, keeping close to the enemy. This sad anime is plagued with many tragedies and dark twists. Oshi no Ko's unexpected story is sure to shock and sadden audiences.

Oshi No Ko

TV-14

Animation

Mystery

Supernatural

A doctor and his recently-deceased patient are reborn as twins to a famous Japanese musical idol and navigate the highs and lows of the Japanese entertainment industry as they grow up together through their lives.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

April 12, 2023

Creator

Cast

Manaka Iwami , Jeremy Gee , Jack Stansbury , Alyssa Marek , Savanna Menzel , Natalie Rial

Seasons

1

Production Company

Number of Episodes

31 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Showcases a Bleak Future

A Doomed Dystopian Love Story Develops Between Protagonist David Martinez and Lucy

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a dystopian anime prequel to the Cyberpunk 2077 video game. The story follows a young man named David Martinez who becomes an “edgerunner,” or a black-market mercenary, after the death of his mother. The setting delves into the seedy underbelly of the universe as David finds himself in increasingly harrowing situations.

This anime is a tragic tale full of colorful, beautiful animation by Studio TRIGGER. David’s descent into darkness is sure to leave pits in the stomachs of any anime fan who dares to brave the graphic story and its devastating end. In some situations, glorifying tragedy can easily become the sole premise of a series, but TRIGGER does an outstanding job capturing the devastation in ways that feel incredibly real and with purpose.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

TV-MA

Animation

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Set in the universe of Cyberpunk: 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners follows David, a young kid living on the streets trying to survive in the perilous Night City.

Release Date

September 13, 2022

Creator

Rafat Jaki

Cast

Aoi Yuki , Kenichiro Ohashi , Kenjiro Tsuda , Kazuhiko Inoue

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Website

https://www.netflix.com/title/81054853

Franchise

Cyberpunk 2077

Distributor

Netflix

Main Characters

Lucy, David Martinez, Ripperdoc, Faraday, Pilar

Producer

Saya Elder, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Bartosz Sztybor, Satoru Homma

Production Company

CD Projekt RED, Trigger

Writers

Mike Pondsmith , Yoshiki Usa , Masahiko Otsuka

Number of Episodes

10

30 Your Name’s Characters Are Separated by More Than Space

Mitsuha and Taki Are Inexplicably Intertwined in This Body Swap Anime

The idea of fate in anime is nothing new. It is a common trope throughout several genres in the medium. However, Your Name tackles it from a new perspective, which makes it one of the saddest anime movies. The film follows Mitsuha Miyamizu and Taki Tachibana, high school students with average, humble lives. Mitsuha wants to live in Tokyo, but she cannot afford it. Taki struggles to maintain his studies while working a part-time job. These are two highly relatable characters brought together by fate when they suddenly switch bodies during the events leading up to a devastating natural disaster.

They quickly realize just how much their actions impact each other and that nothing in their lives is truly a coincidence. The time travel aspect of the movie also ends up putting Mitsuha and Taki in truly heartbreaking situations, and the worst part is that when they return to their own lives and bodies, their memories of each other begin to fade. Your Name will have viewers gripped from the beginning to its unforgettable and emotional ending.

Your Name (2016)

PG-13

Drama

Fantasy

Two teenagers share a profound, magical connection upon discovering they are swapping bodies. Things manage to become even more complicated when the boy and girl decide to meet in person.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

August 26, 2016

Director

Makoto Shinkai

Cast

Ryûnosuke Kamiki , Mone Kamishiraishi

Main Genre

Anime

Studio

CoMix Wave Films

Runtime

107 minutes

Streaming

Crunchyroll

29 Tokyo Revengers Repeats Awful Tragedies

Takemichi Goes on a Time Travel Adventure in This Lost Love Romance

Takemichi Hanagaki is a down-on-his-luck twenty-six-year-old. When he hears his middle school girlfriend was killed, Takemichi discovers he can travel back in time to when he and Hinata Tachibana were together. Tasked by her brother, Naoya, to save her, Takemichi repeatedly goes back to the past to see if Hinata is still alive when he returns.

Tokyo Revengers' story about gang life, friendships, and lost love pulls at audiences' heartstrings. No matter what Takemichi does, Hinata and some of his other friends continue to perish in the present. This sad show features many, repeated deaths and hopelessness in Takemichi's efforts.

Tokyo Revengers

Hanagaki Takemichi lives an unsatisfying life right up until his death. Waking up 12 years in the past, he reckons with the eventual fate of his friends and tries to prevent an unfortunate future.

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

April 11, 2021

Creator

Rating

Seasons

3

Studio

Main Cast

28 Made In Abyss Lulls Its Audience With Adorable Visuals, Only To Break Their Hearts Later

Each of The Main Characters of Made In Abyss Goes Through Unspeakable Tragedy and Pain

On the surface, Made in Abyss seems like a cute anime about adorable chibi characters. But the character designs are Red Herrings to throw audiences off the scent of the true depravity of this anime. The story follows a young girl named Riko who dreams of following in her mother’s footsteps as a White Whistle.

However, the further Riko descends, like her mother, the more truths she learns about the titular Abyss and the horrors that Cave Raiders have faced. Fan-favorite characters die one by one along the way, often in upsetting and gruesome ways. This show is a gut-wrenching horror that should only be watched by those of a strong mind and stomach.

Made in Abyss

TV-14

Action

Adventure

A girl and her robot companion search for her mother, who's lost within a vast chasm.

Release Date

July 7, 2017

Creator

Akihito Tsukushi

Cast

Luci Christian

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

2

27 Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World Plays With Subaru Natsuki’s Life

Subaru Natsuki's Return By Death Ability Is More of a Curse Than a Blessing

Re:Zero is not a show for the faint of heart. Although it begins relatively innocently as a typical isekai, it quickly devolves into a nightmare of chaos and death. The anime follows Subaru Natsuki, a teenager who finds himself suddenly in a fantasy following his tragic death. Subaru soon learns he is able to reincarnate every time he dies, and that there are people essentially hunting him every time he reincarnates.

Subaru Natsuki's many, many deaths occur in all kinds of different ways — each more horrendous than the last. Not all of his deaths are on purpose, but nearly all of them are painful ways to perish. Subaru isn't the only character who dies in the show, either. The number of gruesome tragedies in this story proves this anime to be one of the saddest.

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World

TV-14

Isekai

Adventure

Drama

After being suddenly transported to another world, Subaru Natsuki and his new female partner are brutally murdered. However, Subaru awakens to a familiar scene, meeting the same girl again. The day begins to mysteriously repeat itself.

Release Date

April 4, 2016

Main Genre

Anime

Studio

White Fox

Main Cast

Yûsuke Kobayashi, Rie Takahashi, Sean Chiplock, and Kayli Mills

Creator

Tappei Nagatsuki

Seasons

2

26 Banana Fish's Story Keeps Getting Darker

Ash Lynx and Eiji Okumura's Forbidden Love Turns Tragic in Banana Fish

There are plenty of anime with deep social commentary, but none of them are quite as willing to tackle harsh topics as Banana Fish. This anime follows Eiji and Ash, and unlikely duo brought together by unexpected circumstances. As they slowly fall in love with each other, it draws the audience in so deeply because the depiction of their emotional bond and relationship feels incredibly realistic.

Banana Fish is a gut-wrenching, sad anime series on many levels. Because Ash is in a gang, he is all but doomed from the moment he meets Eiji, a young and naive Japanese photographer. As the bond between them grows, it becomes clear that the real tragedy is that they can never actually be together because life on the streets is a dangerous gamble, and death is always lurking on the sidelines.

Banana Fish

TV-MA

Action

The story captures the war between a mafia boss named Dino and a young gang leader searching for redemption.

Release Date

July 5, 2018

Cast

Toshiyuki Morikawa , Yuma Uchida , Makoto Furukawa , Yoshimasa Hosoya , Jun Fukuyama , Hiroaki Hirata , Unshô Ishizuka , Kenji Nojima , Shinji Kawada

Creator

Akimi Yoshida

Main Genre

Action

Seasons

1

Studio

MAPPA

Creator(s)

Akimi Yoshida

Writers

Hiroshi Seko

Number of Episodes

24

Streaming Service(s)

Prime Video

Directors

Hiroko Utsumi