Top 50 Most Popular Saddest Anime Movies Of All Time
Sad is a feeling that leads to helplessness, disappointment, grief, and sorrow which may last forever or just for a while.
And if this comes with entertainment, especially through anime then the tone differs with scenes and the audience feels pity and thus it may lead to catharsis.
The sadness in anime comes either with characters or with the scenes that made viewers quite helpless and eager to want a happy ending.
Due to the same reason, the anime becomes real, natural, and relevant to the viewers. So, if you ever wondered to watch the saddest anime movie with all the emotions where pity and sorrow become the highlight then this is the right place.
Here are the saddest anime movies of all time.
1. A Silent Voice (2016)
The story and narrative fall in a simple line but the emotion remains very complex, touching the soul. Themes like social anxiety and bullying become the topic of the story which deals with Shoya.
After being bullied, Shoya decided to go with one solution and that was to commit suicide. It is not just related to him but also Shoko, a deaf girl who also got bullied by Shoya.
Shoya decided to apologize for the act he had done with Shoko, almost 6 years ago. Due to this step, a great friendship between these two started with deep feelings but also with teenage depression.
The movie will give you the chills that you crave and it will also provide insights on how life flows for someone who has been bullied.
However, what makes it even more special is the fact that this movie will also shape how you look at the people who bully others and their emptiness.
Recommended:
2. Violet Evergarden (2020)
An award-winning fantasy drama called Violet Evergarden: The Movie was released on 18 September 2020. The 2-hour 20-minute long movie is related to the end of the great war as well as the future.
Since the towers are getting established in the city, telephones will soon become very common, resulting in the decline of Auto Memory Dolls.
Violet Evergarden comes into the story with the concept of emotions, especially related to love. The story then goes with a man who once confessed to her for being in love.
It then follows the play of faith, fate, and emotions becomes the core of the story. Violet Evergarden is one of the best anime series of all time. There’s no question about it.
However, what makes this series complete is this movie that makes us understand the brutality of war and how things unfold for other humans while also understanding the perspective that Violet wants to highlight to us.
3. Perfect Blue (1998)
Film-making by the hands of Satoshi Kon is known for being complex in techniques and narratives. And that’s what happened in Perfect Blue, a story of a young pop star who suddenly decided to leave her music career and go for acting.
Due to a change in profession, she goes through an identity crisis and also the struggles she has to face because of obsessed fans.
The movie deals with the themes of celebrity culture which fits well with depression and sadness. Coming to the narrative, Satoshi is well-known for Japanese pop culture and has created a long non-linear narrative.
The animation was also innovative in terms of melancholy. Perfect Blue is not just a typical movie. It is far beyond that. It is an experience.
It is something that will pave its way into your hearts and you won’t even realize it. That’s how gorgeous Perfect Blue can be for its viewers.
4. Wolf Children (2012)
It is a stereotype to associate wolves with horror, however, it can easily go with romance and emotions. The story of Wolf Children is related to Hana falling in love with a werewolf.
They eventually got married but things changed when the husband was not able to return one day from hunting.
The story then leaves with the struggles through which Hana has to go to raise her children. The storytelling method presented through landscapes and characters makes the film a masterpiece.
The complex story with themes like fear and sadness is also quite appreciable with issues of racism. Wolf Children is a movie that you need to look forward to. It’s a story that will touch your heart and shake you from the core.
As a medium of entertainment, this instalment highlights the element of love from two different perspectives. One of them is the love between partners. And the other one is the love between a parent and her children.
5. The Anthem of the Heart (2015)
By opting for a traditional animation style for the Anthem of the Heart, Tatsuyuki Nagai has presented a great amalgamation of art and design.
The story is related to Jun Naruse who sees her father coming out of a hotel with a strange woman.
Without understanding the circumstances, she eventually tells these things to her mother, leading to the separation of the parents and the blame easily goes to Jun.
As a result of it, she started isolating herself but later on, became friends with a handsome classmate. Sadness prevails in this movie through the separation of parents and the way Jun has struggled in her life related to past trauma.
The ending is also a bit low as it immediately captures the pain of growing up and dealing with things on own.
6. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Nothing could be more devastating than losing parents at a very young age and doing things to meet up living.
The same has happened with Seita and his sister Setsuko whose life got destroyed because of World War II.
By losing their parents, home, and a prospectus to live in the future, the orphan siblings had no choice but to live in the countryside.
They met with disease and starvation which became a regular habit. However, their life shines brightly with hardship and change in fate.
The story is driven so realistically that the audience can’t help but relate and feel for the characters.
Because of the animation and the art presented in the movie, everything appears to be incredible.
This movie will be the one that will make you lose your mind. And that’s why, you need to watch it, if you are out there, searching for something that will give you the tears that you desire so much.
However, this movie will also give you an understanding of how life will flow for you if you were part of a war.
7. Garden of Words (2013)
One of the best anime dramas in terms of romance and a slice of life that brings tears to the eyes of the audience is the Garden of Words.
It is related to the leading character Takao Akizuki and Yukari Yukino, a mysterious woman. Takao, being a shoe lover, uses to skip classes and goes to a beautiful garden.
There he met with a mysterious woman named Yukino. To meet Yukino regularly, he offered to make her new shoes, leading her to open up about the worries kept inside their hearts.
By being very comfortable with each other, their struggles have found space but they never disappeared. With their struggles, their relationship also went through many ups and downs.
8. Orange (2016)
The theme of regret and friendship is the core story of this movie. It is related to Hiroto Suwa and his wife Naho who with their classmates decided to go to Mount Koubou to see Cherry Blossoms.
While watching the view, they all remember their friend Kakeru who died 10 years ago. To pay tribute to him, they decided to visit his old house where they got to know about the secrets of his death.
With regrets and guilts, Suwa and Naho with their friends decided to visit their past by writing letters to set their hearts free.
At one point in time, the movie becomes so much heavy that nothing but tears help it to understand.
The art and unique design with a linear development of characters give a great angle to the story.
9. Centimeters Per Second (2007)
Any romantic movie comes or meets with the saddest part when two people love each other but are not meant to be together.
The same has happened with childhood friends Akari Shinohara and Takaki Toono whose circumstances go beyond control.
Despite heavy circumstances, they promised to be in contact, however, the distance between them went so long that only memories can save it.5 Centimeters Per Second is a romantic drama that focuses on the theme of long-distance relationships.
To see each other again, the couple has nothing but hope to live their everyday life by hurting themselves.
10. Giovanni’s Island (2014)
Just like the remarkable anime called Grave of the Fireflies and Barefoot Gen, this anime also deals with the cruel fate of children who got caught in inhuman conflict.
The story revolves around the Russian occupation in North Japan where two brothers named Kanta and Junpei try to live in the world of destruction.
Soon, they develop a friendship with a Russian girl named Tanya. But due to the conflict between the adults, their friendship also got threatened which brought the saddest part of the story.
The anime started with vivid colors and a brilliant narrator. The anime appears to be unbeatable in terms of animation and drama with historical themes.
11. Your Name (2016)
Makoto Shinkai’s directorial anime movie called Your Name was released on 3 July 2016 with a running time of 107 minutes.
It is a romantic fantasy film that depicts the life of a high school boy and a girl in Japan.
The story is set in Tokyo in the countryside. The two leading characters named Taki and Mitsuha share a magical connection by discovering the fact of being a swapping body with each other.
Things started becoming more complicated when they both decided to meet face-to-face. The sadness and gloom come when they never get to hold each other and just got bounded by the memories.
They can’t even remember each other’s names and what they look like.
12. Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011)
Children Who Chase Lost Voices is a fantasy romance that was released on 7 May 2011. In 1 hour and 56 minutes, the story shows the life of Asuna Watabe that goes between being a student and a normal.
The only distraction she ever has in her life is the cold crystal radio. Accidentally, one day, the tune of this radio changes into a very melancholic one, that is, different from what she has heard previously.
Shun also comes into the story as a savior of Asuna by saving her from a dangerous creature. The sad part in the story comes when Asuna has lost her father and can feel his absence.
13. Golden Time (2013)
Artificial things may not have feelings but emotions can be driven through them with morals. The same has happened in the anime movie called Golden Time.
The story is set in 1980 when furniture-style television made in the 1960s got abandoned by the owner. Spending so much time in a household and then coming into a Junkyard, has given one of the sad angles to the story.
While the television was attempting to escape from its surroundings, the story progresses well with emotions and difficulties. The background art is appreciable and so does the personalities of the characters.
14. Clannad (2007)
Tomoya Okazaki during his childhood met with many tragedies which includes the alcoholism of his father and getting neglected from him.
However, his life changes when Nagisa entered the story but got rejected by Tomoya. When the dream of Nagisa got revealed related to reviving the Drama Club, Tomoya decided to help her with her ambition.
Soon their simple friendship changes into a life-changing and deep one by facing hardships and difficulties. The story soon turns into life challenges from being romantic to sad.
The movie is appreciated because of its characters as well as the animations that can be seen through the designs.
15. Barefoot Gen (1983)
The story is set in 1945 when World War II was going on at its peak. It was related to some Japanese cities that were bombed continuously by the force of the US and Japan started collapsing.
Gen Nakaoka, a young boy who lives in Hiroshima struggles with wartime but comes with boldness. While carrying the hope of ending the war, soon things changed with more devastating results.
One of the saddest parts in the movie is their fate which got shielded by the drop of the atomic bomb.
Little Boy, the atom bomb, has not changed just the life of the characters present in the anime but also the Japanese society present in the movie.
16. A Dog of Flanders (1997)
Being based on a true story, the movie is about a bond between a human and a dog. The story starts with Nello Daas and his best friend Alois who is the daughter of a landlord.
Landlord believing Nello makes his daughter distracted, sends her away to Antwerp to prevent the meeting. While continuing with his daily life, Nello meets with many ups and downs in his life that change his peace of life.
But everything changes when a dog named Patrasche comes into his life and supports him without judging. The saddest part comes with the separation between Nello and his best friend as well as from the struggles of the protagonist.
17. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2013)
The movie is related to a dead friend named Honma who belongs to the group Super Peace Busters. After the death of their friend, Jinta Yadomi and other members of the group decided to write letters in her memory.
The death of Honma Meiko is one of the saddest parts of the movie that becomes the core and central theme.
While the other members were trying to enjoy their summer, the memories of their dead friend were coming into the story.
The story is told from the perspective of every member of a group which reveals many events that led to the death of Honma.
18. Colorful (2010)
Colorful is a slice-of-life, supernatural, and drama anime movie that is about Makoto Kobayashi. It is about a soul who got a second chance to get a life and is reincarnated in the body of a 14-year-old boy named Makoto.
Makoto has recently committed suicide and the soul was on a mission to identify the greatest crime in the life of this boy but with a limitation of 6 months.
The soul soon started to know the complexities and problems in the life of Makoto which leaves one of the most anxious and depressing parts of the movie.
The ideas of a fractured family and then suicide with daily struggles are relatable to a lot of audiences.
And that’s the reason why it has gained a lot of popularity by winning the Excellent Animation of the Year Award.
19. Whisper of the Heart (1995)
Not recognizing talent and not being clear about the future is one of the saddest parts of the postmodern world.
The same is going with the character Shizuku Tsukishima, a 14-year-old girl who meets with a problem but eventually gets to know her potential and dreams.
Shizuku is a girl who loves to read and write poetry. While checking out some books in libraries, she notices a boy named Seiji who strikes her and decides to search for the boy.
Considering him as a dream to be fulfilled, she caused many problems in her life that led to difficulties.
The movie is an open one as it may lead to depressing themes as well as inspiring which depends upon the perspective of the audience.
20. Air (2005)
The story of a girl getting captivated and a boy coming to her rescue sounds very fascinating and approaching, however, reality lies in sadness.
The same goes with this movie where Kanna as a princess was held prisoner in a castle. In her wish to see the outside world, Kanna falls in love with a soldier named Ryuuya who helped her in her escape.
However, she soon gets captivated again. The story then travels a hundred years later when Yukito, a descendant of Ryuuya, decides to free a winged girl named Misuzu.
The fate of these two characters soon comes to a point while developing feelings for each other.
21. In This Corner of the World (2016)
In This Corner of the World is one of the saddest anime movies present in the world of animation.
It deals with the theme of war and identity crisis as a housewife has to deal with adjustment in an unfamiliar environment.
Suzu Urano is a protagonist shown to be a kind-hearted girl who got married to Shuusaku Houjou. Getting married to a person whom she barely knows is one of the problems she faces at the beginning which later on changes to facing an unfamiliar environment.
Things just do not end like that as war approaches her house which comes with brutality and destroys all the peace.
Now the question related to her support for herself and her family comes into focus.
22. A Whisker Away (2020)
It is a supernatural romantic anime that has some saddest parts which fall in the romance between Miyo Sasaki and Kento Hinode.
Miyo is a high school girl who comes from a broken family that has an unconfident father and stepmother.
She soon starts having feelings for Kento and manages to interact with him but in the form of a cat.
She decided to help him as Kento is dealing with many problems but gets caught between her two lives of being a human and a cat.
Jumping back into two worlds and adjusting to a new environment has become one of the hardest and saddest parts of her life as it also shows the underlying issues of society.
Apart from the story, the animation and characters deserve appreciation.
23. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
Makoto Konno is the leading character and high school student present in the movie. She is having a hard time relating to her future as she is getting pressure from teachers.
Her life suddenly changes when she discovers the capability of traveling into time. After finding her new power, Makoto Learns the hard work of every choice as well as realizes the complication of time.
Coming to its saddest part then it comes with the way Makoto has faced every circumstance that was considered to be low in her life.
The art of the movies is really good and it can be seen through the detailed backgrounds as well as the designs of the characters.
The sound and development of characters were linear which can be easily seen through many events.
24. The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004)
The Place Promised In Our Early Days is a drama and romance that comes with science fiction. It is related to World War 2 that explores the theme of love, dreams, and friendship.
The story is set in 1945 when Union gets control of Ezo and creates a fascinating tower, getting attention from 3 middle school children named Hiroki, Takuya, and Sayuri.
The sadness in the story prevails when Sayuri disappears and the group tears apart. The story becomes more gloomy when Sayuri was found to be hospitalized for a couple of years which leads to his forgetting memories.
25. When Marnie Was There (2014)
Story of When Marnie Was There started with the sad point when young Anna is suffering from asthma. She is an unsociable person isolated from his friends which causes worry in the life of her parents.
Anna Sasaki soon meets with a mysterious girl named Marnie who helps her to come out of her shell and meet new friends.
The story is related to self-discovery and friendship as the main theme. The plot of the movie is left satisfied in the world of youth.
It has a realistic underlining approach that lies with the characters like Marnie and Anna.
26. The Wind Rises (2013)
The Wind Rises is a film that has a story of love, innocence, and passion. It was released on 20 July 2013 with drama and romance.
It is about Jirou Horikoshi who has a disability that prevented him from becoming a pilot. The story progresses with travels and experiences of life that made him realize creations in the war as well as the harsh realities of his life.
It also leads to a question where he faces himself and his dream. The story is relatable to most of the youth when life gets stuck at the time and everything feels low.
27. Flavors of Youth (2018)
Everything in this movie is related to childhood memories, leading to nostalgia. The movie is divided into three parts which are set in China, covering the themes of loss of youth and the realization of adulthood.
The first part, that is A Sunny Breakfast, is about the remnants of youth where the story seems to be stuck at a point.
While the second part called A Little Fashion Show gets development in terms of story and also through the characters of two sisters.
The last and final part called Love in Shanghai is one of the saddest as it makes one cry.
It is about the breaking of the bond between two lovers.
28. Princess Mononoke (1997)
It is about a world where humans, Gods, and animals were living in peace till the time the space got distracted.
The protagonist Ashitaka went in the search of finding a cure for an injury that came from an animal attack.
On his way to find the cure, Ashitaka met with some fight between humans and wolf God where he finds his companion Princess Mononoke in the mix.
Coming to the saddest part then it is shown through the character Hayao who is dealing with depression which is relatable to young kids.
The emotional part also comes in the story where the decisions work in a cycle that affected not just the individual but also nature.
29. Hal (2013)
Just like any other saddest anime movie, Hal is also related to the theme of separation. It is about a young woman named Kurumi and her boyfriend Hal who died in an airplane accident.
After the death of her boyfriend, Kurumi went into depression and one of the saddest phases of her life.
But these all change when her grandfather has requested her to help a robot named Q01. Coming to the robot Q01 then it has the appearance of Hal who was sent to her house to shun away her depression.
Apart from its saddest part, the anime is also known for its character and animation.
30. Mirai (2018)
Mirai as an anime is about a common theme that is relatable to most of the audience where the feeling of abandonment and loss becomes prominent.4-year-old Kun Oota was living a great life with his parents until the time a baby sister Mirai arrived in his life.
His sister is getting all the attention he used to get before her birth, changing his life upside down.
Kun has taken an extraordinary journey where he meets with the past present and future of his family and learns about the meaning of being in a family, including the responsibilities of an older brother.
31. Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light (2011)
Consider to be one of the best in the category of saddest anime, Into the Forest of Fireflies’ Light has the theme of star-crossed lovers.
The story is of Hotaru who got rescued by a spirit named Gin in the woods. An emotional friendship between Hotaru and Gin started blooming till the time when tragic fate comes into reality.
Fate is related to the disappearance of the spirit if he will ever touch or get touched by humans.
Humans falling in love with spirits has become an attempt to show the desire as well as beauty behind things which makes it the saddest with the separation.
32. Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms (2018)
By living a life away from the troubles of mankind, Maquia can live hundreds of years of her life.
But behind this happy soothing story, a lonely life was there with her as she lost her family at a young age.
Despite living a life away from troubles, she always dreamt of going outside the world but can’t do because of the warning given by the Chief of her Clan.
Soon this peaceful world got distraction by the invasion of the outside world which tried to kill most of the inhabitants.
Maquia was forced to leave her home, the only place she ever had. The story takes a turn when she finds a baby and decides to raise him by naming him Aerial.
33. Voices of a Distant Star (2002)
The story of separation in Voices of a Distant Star makes this anime movie one of the saddest. The story is set in 2046 when Noboru Terao and Mikako Nagamine, two close friends got separated from each other.
The separation happened because of an alien invasion of humanity, resulting in Mikako taking command of military space against the aliens.
However, they both tried to be in touch by sending emails but the time becomes difficult to transmit the messages.
34. I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (2018)
This movie is full of drama and romance that comes with a slice-of-life theme. It is related to the exploration of a relationship that is between a boy and a girl who is suffering from pancreatic illness.
Two leading characters named Sakura Yamuchi and Haruki becomes close friend however, their relationship remains limited to friendship without forming any romance.
The sadness in the story prevailing the illness of Sakura becomes the center of the story where Haruki decides to accompany her in the remaining days.
The story also gains attention when the development of Haruki was seen from being a loner person to one who is willing to make friends.
35. The Boy and the Beast (2015)
The story of The Boy and The Beast starts with the loss of a person whom Ren met with kindness, thus losing what was left in the name of family.
Being an orphan with no real family is one of the sensitive and delicate parts present in the anime.
However, he met Kumatetsu who showed him the beast realm of Shibuten. By sharing different goals, these two characters agreed to help each other.
The story continues as Kumatetsu went in search of recognition and Ren went in search of a home he never experienced.
36. Weathering With You (2019)
The story starts in Tokyo where rain showers distract all the peace present in the life of humans. Meanwhile, a school student named Hodaka Morishima who was struggling to support himself financially got a job as a publisher.
At the same time, Hina Amano also comes into the story who became stable in her life with her younger brother.
The fate of both the leading characters comes together and decides to run away. But at the same time, Hodaka got aware of the power that is possessed by Hina which can call out to the sun whenever she wants.
Coming to the saddest part then it comes with the youthful life that was shown by both the leading characters and also with the common knowledge that comes with the great price.
37. Stand By Me Doraemon (2014)
Nobita Nobi, an elementary school student, harbours a deep dislike for studying and exhibits mediocrity in sports and other endeavours. His passive nature, coupled with a streak of misfortune and constant fear, sets him on a path of failure that even extends to his descendants.
To intervene in this cycle, Sewashi, Nobita’s great-great-grandchild from the 22nd century, travels back in time. Sewashi materializes alongside a robotic blue cat named Doraemon, who has been entrusted with the mission to assist and bring happiness to Nobita.
Initially dispirited by Nobita’s lack of initiative, Doraemon contemplates returning to the future. However, Sewashi activates a program that compels Doraemon to remain in the past, relying on futuristic gadgets from his magical pocket to support and uplift Nobita.
Can Doraemon’s efforts reshape Nobita’s life and pave the way for their return to the future?
38. The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a historical fantasy that has themes of growth, self-realization, and emotional crisis.
Due to an appropriate love between a father and daughter, the anime takes a sharp turn when he decides to make his adopted daughter a princess.
The daughter is Kaguya who was found by Okina, the father, in the woods. The moment she became a Royal Princess changed her life by making her restricted and forbidden.
She was unable to escape as she does not want to disappoint her parents by living life according to her set of rules.
The story is relevant to most of the people who lose their way when a crisis occurs in their life.
It also leads to the self-hate phase that was seen through the character Kaguya.
39. Summer Ghost (2021)
Summer Ghost is a fantasy drama that brings one to the peak of emotions. It started with the death and loss of identity as well as finding peace within oneself.
Coming to the title, Summer Ghost, then it is believed to be the spirit of a young woman who once committed suicide.
This spirit comes to a certain area and can be only visible to those who can reach death. It is about the three main characters named Aoi Harukawa, Tomoya Sugisaki, and Ryou Kobayashi, and their common ability to see Summer Ghost who is ready to answer all the questions related to death.
The more these three characters spend time with the spirit, the more mystery follows them.
40. Belle (2021)
Mamoru Hosoda’s directorial Belle is an adventure fantasy drama that released on 16 July 2021. It is about a social media platform called U which created a virtual persona.
Among 5 million users, one of them is a beautiful singer named Belle who gets all the attention through her melody.
The story is also about Suzu Naito who is no longer able to sing because of her trauma that resulted in illness and breakdown, becoming one of the saddest parts of the anime.
By entering the world of U, she has to face the struggles of emotions and identity followed by fame.
41. Castle in the Sky (1986)
The world is full of planes dealing with Sheeta being kidnapped by the agents of the government. While being trapped on one of the ships, she left without any hope until the time pirates invaded the ship.
By taking the advantage of the time, she manages to escape and meet Pazu. They both decided to start the journey to the castle called Laputa, however, a government agent soon found them.
It is a down-to-earth movie with amazing visuals and characters that made the story quite memorable. Coming to the sadness then it is through the character Sheeta and how she struggles to get her freedom.
42. Millennium Actress (2002)
As the new millennium dawns, Ginei Studio faces the imminent demolition of its deteriorating structures. Genya Tachibana, a former employee turned filmmaker, seizes this opportunity to pay homage to the studio’s beloved actress, Chiyoko Fujiwara, who enchanted audiences during the Shouwa Era.
Finally granted permission to interview the retired star, an enthralled Genya enlists the sceptical cameraman Kyouji Ida to accompany him on this endeavour. Deep within a secluded mountain sanctuary, they delve into Chiyoko’s memories, unearthing a thousand years’ worth of history encapsulated within her singular life.
Their immersive journey blurs the boundaries between reality and fantasy, intertwining Chiyoko’s personal tale with her illustrious filmography. Past and present meld together harmoniously, showcasing the enduring legacy of a performer who bid farewell to the spotlight three decades ago, yet still captivates with her life’s compelling narrative.
43. From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)
Releasing on 16 July 2011, historical and school theme was presented in the anime with romance as the genre.
It has a mixture of sorrow coming from death and celebrating youth, the two contrary things which make it one of the saddest anime of all time.
The story is related to Shun and Shiro when they were forced to grow up in a world where war and anarchy became a common thing.
Despite the destruction, they lived their childhood in amazing ways. The romance comes when Umi fell in love with Shun.
Coming to another delicate thing present in the movie is the life of Shun being an orphan in his search for a real identity and past.
44. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
The story is set in 1950 Japan where Tatsuo with his two daughters, Mei and Satsuki, lives in the countryside.
The mother is hospitalized due to illness is one of the delicate parts of the story. As both the daughters grow up in the countryside, Mei meets with a bunny-like creature in the yard and found a giant spirit of the forest called Totoro.
Soon after both the girls befriended Totoro and went on many magical adventures with nature. Putting the imagination of the child into the story with a blend of reality through the mother is one of the best picturesque qualities of anime.
45. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Apart from being one of the sad anime movies, Howl’s Moving Castle is one of the best romances and dramas.
It is about a woman named Sophie who turns into an old lady after being cursed by a Witch of the Waste.
The rumors of Howl being a Wizard lead Sophie on the quest of him to reverse back her curse.
Soon they both started forming a relationship that revealed Howl is also battling with a curse that is slowly and gradually leading him to death.
This roller coaster relationship changed into a love story that became delicate at times. It makes the story powerful and convincing to the audience.
46. Ponyo (2008)
A Goldfish leaves home and floats on the back of a jellyfish is the whole story of this movie.
The fish gets stuck in a jar that drives her away to the shore. After getting her freedom back with the help of a 5-year-old boy named Sousuke, she got a name called Ponyo.
Ponyo and Sousuke have developed a great bonding that turns into a friendship lasting longer than any human relationship.
However, sadness prevailed when they both drifted apart from the father of Goldfish. By using the power to escape the surface once again, the Ponyo, unfortunately, releases the magic that has caused an imbalance in nature.
47. March Comes in Like a Lion (2016)
March Comes in Like a Lion is one of the relatable anime that goes around the character Rei Kiriyama.
It is about his life of being an introvert and how it becomes difficult for him to interact with other characters.
The sadness comes when an abandonment feeling grows inside Rei who decided to live in his bubble. His mental and physical life struggles throughout his career and that’s why he needs to understand his complexes and emotions.
This anime is considered to be one of the most recommendable in terms of story, art, character, and sound as it resonates with a lot of audiences.
48. Spirited Away (2001)
A supernatural movie that has everything related to adventure and mythology, Spirited Away is the story of Chihiro. The story started when Chihiro has to move from her town to another unknown strange town.
While her parents were driving their way to a so-called new home, they met with a tunnel leading to an amusement park.
This amusement park is bewitched which led parents to turn into pigs. Showing an emotional side of Chihiro towards her parents, the story becomes sad as the main protagonist was shown as helpless.
To keep everything on track she decided to change them by working at a bath house.
49. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
It is an apocalyptic adventure fantasy anime movie that was released on 11 March 1984. The story is after many years when a nuclear war called Seven Days of Fire happened and destroyed all the existing beings on Earth.
Humanity has nothing but left in the struggle that involves many destructions. Living in the jungle has become one of the difficulties as they have to meet with poisonous insects that threaten to swallow the remaining humanity.
In between all these things, a young character named Nausicaä started communicating with insects in the hope to return at peace on Earth.
Coming to the sad part then it is about the consequences where all the characters are going through difficult times as the world ecosystem is on the way to destruction.
50. Ao Haru Ride (2014)
Ao Haru Ride is one of the best emotional masterpieces that is presented in the world of anime. It is about the issues of self-love and bullying that make the audience helpless and pitiable towards the character.
The story is related to Futaba Yoshioka who tries to get into the world of her friends by acting like a tomboy.
Soon after she met with her first love and realizes the changes that happen in her life, from being friendly to acting uniquely.
The story gets a sad twist when Futaba got to know about her first love, Kou Tanaka, losing his mother and thus helping him in the difficult situation.
Due to the same, a romantic side is also seen between the characters.
