Best Sad Anime Movies & Series That Make You Cry

Sometimes, an anime fan just needs to shed a few tears here and there. What are some of the best sad anime that’ll make you cry? Here’s a guide on some anime movies and series that will bring out the waterworks.

Grave of the Fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies is from the famous Studio Ghibli, but Hayao Miyazaki didn’t direct this film. Nevertheless, make sure to have a box of tissues beside you. Directed by Isao Takahata, the story follows a pair of siblings struggling to survive in Japan during the Second World War. Once you watch this movie, you might never want to watch it again.

Grave of the Fireflies is available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, iTunes, and Vudu. Unfortunately, it’s not available to stream on a streaming platform.

Your Lie in April

Fans of romance and music might want to check Your Lie in April out. The plot revolves around Kosei Arima, a piano prodigy who loses his love for playing the piano, alongside losing interest in life in general. He eventually meets Kaori Miyazono, a violinist with a free spirit. The series is relatively short, running for 22 episodes. Even if the ending might be predictable along the way, watching it is still likely going to make you cry.

The official synopsis from Crunchyroll reads:

“Kousei Arima was a genius pianist until his mother’s sudden death took away his ability to play. Each day was dull for Kousei. But, then he meets a violinist named Kaori Miyazono who has an eccentric playing style. His monotonous life was about to change forever.”

Your Lie in April is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Hulu.

Assassination Classroom

Assassination Classroom may have a fun and comedic premise, but the ending will switch up your emotions. The plot follows an overpowered octopus-like creature teaching a junior high class about assassination. The show gives a sense of a happy school setting atmosphere but is also sad at the same time.

The official synopsis from Crunchyroll is:

“Forget about homework and pop quizzes. The students of Class 3E have a far more important assignment: kill their teacher before the end of the year! A tentacle-d sensei that moves at Mach 20 is out to conquer the classroom after destroying seventy percent of the moon. In addition to reading, writing, and arithmetic, the murderous monster behind the lectern will teach his students everything he knows about the assassination game. Should some eager beaver prove to be a quick study in killing, he or she will save Earth from extinction – and collect a hefty reward.”

Assassination Classroom is streaming on Crunchyroll. Hulu only has the first season.

Aside from a guide on the best sad anime, we also have a guide on the best anime with overpowered main characters.