The 11 Best Studio Ghibli Films of All Time - IGN
The Cat Returns (2002) ; The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) ; Ponyo (2008) ; Porco Rosso (1992) ; Grave of the Fireflies (1988).
saddest anime
Grave of the Fireflies adapts Akiyuki Nosaka semi-autobiographical short story of the same name into a profoundly moving anti-war film and Studio Ghibli gem. Grave of the Fireflies tells the story of two children’s struggle to survive in a harsh wasteland after Japan’s surrender in World War II. It’s a story of innocence, loss, devastation and hope. The unique mix of animation techniques the studio employs creates an achingly realistic portrayal of these somber themes that remains accessible for the whole family. It’s eye-opening, startlingly beautiful, and an inescapable call for peace. Grave of the Fireflies is a meditation on the human cost of war and hands down Isao Takahata’s masterpiece. It's also one of the <anchor>saddest anime</anchor> movies you'll ever see.
The 10 Saddest Anime to Watch Right Now - IGN
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# The 10 Saddest Anime to Watch Right Now

## Sometimes you just need a good cry from your anime movies and series

The 10 Saddest Anime to Watch Right Now - IGN Image

Rosie Knight Avatar

Updated: Jan 12, 2024 6:20 am

Sometimes you just need a good cry, and what better way to feel the feels than from watching some really, really sad anime movies or series? As fans of Japanese animation know, these devastatingly upsetting films and movies have been around for decades. Whether you need a refresher, are in the mood for something dark and moody, or just love heartbreak; this list is for you.

From sibling sadness to tragic romance, strangely melancholy sci-fi all the way through maudlin murder-mysteries, we've got a special kind of sadness for every taste. So grab a box of tissues and get ready to watch some really upsetting anime, because somehow heartbreak feels good in a list like this.

### The Saddest Anime to Watch Right Now

Sometimes you just need a good cry, and what better way to encourage that than by watching some really, really sad anime? As fans of Japanese animation know, these devastatingly upsetting films and movies have been around for decades. Whether you need a refresher, are in the mood for something dark and moody, or just love heartbreak; this list is for you.

10. Flavors of Youth<p>  Where to watch: Netflix<br> Nostalgia can be the most melancholy of feelings and Flavors of Youth captures that perfectly. This charmingly animated anthology is all about those exact vibes as the loosely interconnected stories explore the power of nostalgia through the lens of food.

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9. Mirai<p>  Where to watch: Netflix<br> Mamoru Hosoda is a beloved anime director and Mirai showcases his immense talent. This 2018 time-hopping family drama was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe, and it follows a young boy named Kun who begins to feel displaced by his baby sister, Mirai. After running away and stumbling upon a magical garden, Kun meets both his mother and Mirai at different stages in their life, allowing him to explore the world and his family in a new way.8. Your Lie in April<p>  Where to watch: Hulu<br> Coming of age stories that deal with the realities of growing up are far more common in manga and anime storytelling, and Your Lie in April is a great example. A group of friends traverse growing up and all the struggles that come with it after one of them has a nervous breakdown. Each episode of this slice of life anime series offers ample crying time, especially as you grow to care about the characters and their journey into young adulthood.7. Clannad<p>  Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video<br> Tomoya Okazaki is a disillusioned 17 year old. After losing his mother at a young age, his upbringing became abusive, making him unhappy with his life and hometown. Clannad follows him throughout his teenage years into young adulthood as he changes his life by helping a series of young women.6. Your Name.<p>  Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video<br> One of the most well known sad anime of recent years, Makoto Shinkai's Your Name. took the world by storm when it was released in 2016. A romantic anime story about fate, this epic blockbuster tells the story of two teens who begin to mysteriously swap bodies. 

## 10. Flavors of Youth



Nostalgia can be the most melancholy of feelings and Flavors of Youth captures that perfectly. This charmingly animated anthology is all about those exact vibes as the loosely interconnected stories explore the power of nostalgia through the lens of food. Clips from the first entry, The Rice Noodles, have been used in many-an-aesthetic TikTok post and will absolutely make you cry. Not to be outdone, though, the following two just build on the power of The Rice Noodles, offering up thoughtful, emotionally driven, and bittersweet tales to jerk your tears.

## 9. Mirai



Mamoru Hosoda is a beloved anime director and Mirai showcases his immense talent. This 2018 time-hopping family drama was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe, and it follows a young boy named Kun who begins to feel displaced by his baby sister, Mirai. After running away and stumbling upon a magical garden, Kun meets both his mother and Mirai at different stages in their life, allowing him to explore the world and his family in a new way. An inventive and thoughtful take on the family drama, Mirai is a sentimental fantasy that'll make you weep.

## 8. Your Lie in April



Coming of age stories that deal with the realities of growing up are far more common in manga and anime storytelling, and Your Lie in April is a great example. A group of friends traverse growing up and all the struggles that come with it after one of them has a nervous breakdown. Each episode of this slice of life anime series offers ample crying time, especially as you grow to care about the characters and their journey into young adulthood. Moving and authentic, this is the sort of show we wished we had when we were teenagers. But at least we have it now!

Where to watch: Hulu

## 7. Clannad



Tomoya Okazaki is a disillusioned 17 year old. After losing his mother at a young age, his upbringing became abusive, making him unhappy with his life and hometown. Clannad follows him throughout his teenage years into young adulthood as he changes his life by helping a series of young women. This is the sort of tragic slice of life that'll keep you crying and make you want to look after its young cast with your life. Very big "I would die for them" energy here.

## 6. Your Name.



One of the most well known sad anime of recent years,Makoto Shinkai's Your Name. took the world by storm when it was released in 2016. A romantic anime story about fate, this epic blockbuster tells the story of two teens who begin to mysteriously swap bodies. Fantastical in the best way, this is a twisty tale that'll pull at your heartstrings. Plus, Shinkai is a master of the visual landscape, so this is a truly astonishing feat of animation too.

## 5. Garden of Words



This sentimental story centers on the ups and downs of an unexpected friendship. When a teenager, Takao, skips school in order to work on his true passion – becoming a shoemaker – he bumps into the beautiful 27-year-old Yukari. Both head to the stunning Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, hoping to find solace. But instead they seem to always keep meeting on rainy solitary days. This is another pure vibes anime that's super easy to rewatch and will keep your emotions flowing through your tear ducts as you explore the strange and unexpected relationship between them.

Where to watch: HIDIVE to stream

## 4. Erased



It's hard to make a tearjerker that's also an engaging murder mystery, but Erased does just that. Satoru Fujinuma has a secret. He wields a unique power that allows him to travel back to precise moments in time, but only in connection to life or death moments. When Satoru suffers a great personal tragedy, his powers kick into overdrive, sending him back to childhood where he must stop a horrific set of crimes that upended his life so many years ago. Grief, love, loss and friendship all come into play as this twisty time travel mystery unfurls before us.

Where to watch: Hulu

## 3. Weathering With You



The second entry on our list from Makoto Shinkai, Weathering With You may not have replicated the global phenomenon of Your Name, but it's an incredibly worthy successor. And as you might have guessed by our ranking, it's also even more emotionally devastating. Escaping from his abusive home, Hodaka Morishima ends up on the streets of Tokyo. Soon he builds a found family including the enigmatic Hina, a girl with strange powers. This romantic coming of age tale is an enchanting climate change fable with some of the best animation you've ever seen.

Where to watch: Max

## 2. A Silent Voice



When it comes to contemporary anime there is likely none more emotional than A Silent Voice. This heart wrenching tale traverses bullying, suicidal ideation, and making amends all through the eyes of kids growing up and coming of age. When a young Deaf girl, Shoya, joins Shoko's sixth grade class, she quickly becomes the target of his bullying. But the tide turns after his treatment of Shoya is revealed, she's transferred, and he becomes a social outcast. Years later the pair cross paths again as Shoko tries to make amends for his cruel past.

## 1. Grave of the Fireflies



Grave of the Fireflies might just be the most heartbreaking film ever made, so there was no other choice to top our saddest anime list. Isao Takahata's 1988 masterpiece is an affecting treatise on the horrors of war, told from the perspective of a pair of siblings in Japan during World War II. Suddenly alone after a nightmarish firebombing attack on their hometown, sincere and sweet Seita does his best to look after his younger sister Setsuko as the pair try to survive the wreckage of war with no adults to guide them. Their journey is one of love, grief, and devastating emotional heartache. Just as relevant and real as it was on release, this is a must watch, though many viewers can only take a single viewing because it's just that sad.

Although this movie wasn't directed by Miyazaki, it remains one of the best Studio Ghibli films of all time.

Where to watch: N/A

Rosie Knight is an Eisner-winning journalist, author and comics writer. She co-hosts Crooked Media’s X-Ray Vision podcast , discussing pop culture from superhero movies to prestige television to the best fantasy novels and, of course, comics.

Originally posted: Jul 23, 2022 12:23 pm

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