If we compare anime with live-action movies, even if they don’t have any live characters, they go deep down in our hearts, and when that character dies, It feels like something gets removed from our hearts.
There are several movies available to watch. These movies are a must-watch if you are more into the emotional genre.
After reading this article, you will get to know every emotional movie you should watch, and we will try our best not to forget anything. Still, in case your favorite film didn’t make it in the list, or you think the ranking is slightly incorrect. Please forgive us, as we are ranking based on fans’ reviews and data available on the Internet.
Gone are the days when people wanted to watch only shonen genre movies with the concept of never giving up. Those days are gone, and anime movies are becoming as popular as live-action movies.
Even some anime movies break the record of some Hollywood movies, like Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. So without wasting any time, let’s jump straight to our main topic and see the sad movies rank-wise.
31. How Do You Live? (Kimitachi Wa Do Ikiru Ka)
Studio Ghibli is famous for its mind-blowing movies, and now it is making a comeback with an emotional genre movie. The film is directed by Hayao Miyazaki, who wrote the script based on the Japanese Novel by Genzaburo Yoshino.
The movie is based on the psychological growth of a young boy. Later, he learns core values and skills to be the perfect human being.
30. HAL (Haru)
Hal is a highly emotional movie released back in 2019. The Story revolves around a girl who is in great love with her boyfriend, but one day her boyfriend gets killed in a plane crash. Later, her grandfather appoints a robot to support her.
The movie is a must-watch for all anime fans, even if you don’t like the emotional genre. The Story will surprise you in every aspect.
29. Millennium Actress (Sennen Joyu)
Millennium Actress is one of the most colorful and joyful movies in the Japanese movies segment. This is a less movie and more documentary-type film, and the emotional aspects of this movie will make anybody shed some tears.
This is a story of a girl who is finding his love, and she is even ready to leave the planet for him. Sounds interesting, right? The movie ends in a future with a dilemma which you can only understand after watching this film. This is one of the saddest anime of all time.
28. The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu)
Hayao Miyazaki’s oscar-nominated film is enough to make you shed the water from your two precious eyes. This masterpiece again comes from Studio Ghibli, a world-famous writer who holds the Story beautifully.
The love of our hero toward aviation is a watch, and the ending will make you cry definitely. So this movie is a must-watch for all anime fans.
27. Cat Soup (NekoJiru-So)
This 34-minute masterpiece will surely make you sad, frustrated, angry, and emotional. This movie will play with your emotions very well. The Story starts with a cat drowning in a bathtub to allow his soul to enter the spirit world.
There, his sister’s soul is about to leave, and trying to save her, her soul torn into prices, and that goosebumps moment will blow your mind.
26. Paprika
This psychological anime movie is fantastic. This movie comes with a combo of pretty visuals and an interesting story. The movie’s protagonist, Atsuko Chiba and Kosaku Tokita, the two scientists, develops a machine that can enter human dreams.
They name the movie DC mini, by which they remove depression from people’s lives. This movie is a must-watch as it is a beautiful piece of art.
25. The Garden of Words (Koto No Ha No Niwa)
The Garden of Words is one of the best romance movies on the Internet. This movie is enough to wet your eyes for sure. This movie is based on a love that can never be expressed.
This Story revolves around a boy aiming to be a shoe designer, and one day, he meets an old lady; the Story continues from here. This is one of the saddest anime of all time.
24. To The Forest Of Fireflies’ Light
This movie is a charming and short movie about Hotaru who gets lost in the forest. There, he met a spirit with whom he started sharing a bond, and then, one day, he told her that she would disappear if some human touched him. This beautiful piece of art will make you shed more than enough tears.
23. Anohana
Anohana is one of the most successful emotional movies of all time. It also has a series that is the same tear-jerking as the movie. This is a story of four friends, but one day, one of their friends, Menma, dies in an accident. Due to pain, friends get separated and go their own way.
One day, the Menma ghost appears to Jensen, one of a friend, and leads her to a path. The rest is hidden for spoiler purposes.
22. I Want TO Eat Your Pancreas
I want to eat your pancreas is one of the saddest anime movies ever written. This movie revolves around a boy who falls in love with a girl who is slowly dying from pancreatic cancer.
The Story follows as he helps her to live to the fullest before she dies. This movie teaches us the importance of life and Death, and the melodies and stunning visuals hit our hearts directly.
The Death in this movie is one of the saddest anime deaths, so you should prepare before watching this film. So finally, this movie is a must-watch, and you won’t regret it.
21. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
This movie is not that emotional, but we put it above all because of the combo that this movie comes with. From sad parts to crazy happenings, this movie will entertain you throughout the screen time.
Growing up is a sad reality; this movie shows us the same thing. Great melodies and stunning visuals put extra beauty into the film. This is one of the saddest anime of all time.
20. Wolf Children
Wolf Children is a bitter-sweet movie that you should watch. The fantastic animations just put the cherry on top. This movie is unique because it has no unnecessary drama or forced suspense; it is a natural piece of art.
This movie will be relatable to those who have children, but if you do not have any children, you will enjoy the exact same fun.
19. When Marnie Was There
This emotional piece of anime will bind you to your screens. This Oscar-nominated anime movie is based on Anna, who is a socially awkward girl who just found a ghost friend.
You should not miss this movie if you are a true anime fan.
18. Your Name: Kimi No Nawa
The most popular anime movie is also famous for making the audience cry. The Story is based on time travel and body switching between two characters. At the film’s end, everything we experience in a movie feels like a dream, and the story is reversed in the future.
You will be on a rollercoaster of emotions, feelings, and comedy. This movie is an all-rounder masterpiece and time-worthy.
17. A Silent Voice
A silent voice is a movie that revolves around a school bully Shoya and his victim Shoko. When Shoya transferred into a new school, she was terribly bullied by Shoya and his friends, but after few years, things went upside down.
With rich narration, excellent visuals, and the ultimate storyline, this movie is a must-watch that makes you shed more than enough tears.
16. 5 Centimeter Per Second
The movie from the same author as Your Name, this movie bangs the cinemas as soon as it is released. Although it was not able to break the record of Your Name, it still earned enough fame to sustain in people’s hearts. This movie will shake even the cold hearts.
This movie is undoubtedly the best emotional movie ever created, and you should give it a try. This is one of the saddest anime of all time.
15. Barefoot Gen
This old-school anime film has been known to make people cry since 1983. This movie is based on survival in the World War 2 era. This is an underrated movie, but we think you should try it, as the mysterious things are always better.
14. Grave of The Fireflies
The anti-war concept of this movie is enough to break viewers’ hearts. This movie script was written by Akiyuki Nosaka and is currently the best emotional movie.
The Story revolves around a young sister and brother who got separated by the American Bombing during World War ll. The movie also teaches us how war can bring cruelty, fear, and tragedy to the world. This movie is worth watching if you want something that will make you cry.
13. Made in The Abyss
This is an anime show, not a movie. The Story revolves around Rico living in the town of Orth. Her mother travels to many places and finds interesting beings on her journey. This anime is worth your time if you want something different to watch.
12. Death Parade
Dealing with Death scares us, but this anime is all about uniquely coping with Death. This anime will make you emotional at many points in time as you watch the show. In anime, when we die, we go to a bar where the gatekeepers test us, and the results decide whether we reincarnate or go into the deep underworld.
11. Fate/Zero
This sad anime deserves to be here in the ranking. This anime is one of the darkest things on our entire list.
The world is in great despair by three holy grail wars, and just as everyone thinks peace is returning, the fourth war breaks out. This anime teaches us how to cope up with self-doubt, hatred, and anxiety.
10. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
Amid a deadly earthquake, two little siblings were trying to find their home from a robot exhibition. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 is a sad anime about love, despair, and depression. To know whether the two siblings reach home safely or not, you have to watch the anime. This anime will make your heart warm for sure. This is one of the saddest anime of all time.
9. EF: A Tale Of Melodies
EF: A Tale of Melodies is a tragic anime with surprised and heartbreaking moments. This 12-episode masterpiece is enough to make you cry.
These 12 episodes will satisfy your emotional movie-seeking urge. The character development is fantastic, and their problems match real-life issues well. This is a must-watch anime, for sure.
8. Nana
This is the most encouraging and eye-opening show for teens. This anime teaches us how to cope with inner stress and value our struggles. This anime is all about your sacrifices to achieve your desired goals. This anime is a perfect must-watch type of show.
7. Bokurano
If you are looking for a sad science fiction genre film, this is for you. 8 boys and seven girls go near the sea bed and find that computers are relentlessly working there. After getting close to them, they found that they were working to save the earth from alien attacks. Then, students sign up for the contract, enter a game, and control a robot.
6. Orange
This is one of the most devastating love story anime. This anime is solely based on sad parts and regret and a second chance to make things better. This anime is a watch if you are into the love and emotions type genre. This is one of the saddest anime of all time.
5. Mawaru- Penguindrum
Penguindrum is pacing off very emotionally. It depicts that life is often cruel and remains very little reason for high destiny and hopes. The Takakura siblings, two brothers, are their little sister, Himari, very close to each other. They lost their parents, and Himari is severely ill. One day, Himari is temporarily released from the Hospital, and then they go on a journey where their life changes.
4. Finding Full Moon
This anime starts with an unfortunate start that will break our hearts. Our characters who are living together are separated due to certain things. Some move to America, and some to other places. As they got divorced, their journey went differently, and what happened afterward is only be known if you watch this anime.
3. A Lull in The Sea
Life on earth is different for different beings. This sad anime will surely meet you in the other world and open your eyes. This anime is worth watching if you are an Ikai fan. This is one of the saddest anime of all time.
2. Now and Then, Here and There
The brave protagonist lives a happy life with his family and aspires to become a kendo champion, so he must win the upcoming tournament. The emotional-filled fights and scenes will make your heart warm.
1. Golden Time
If you are looking for a sad anime with a Happy ending, this is for you. The animations in the Story will make you love this anime, and the protagonist is well-written with excellent motives. This anime tops our list and is a definite must-watch type of thing. This is one of the saddest anime of all time.
