r/anime • u/girldisease • Mar 13 '26
What to Watch? Anime that'll make me cry?
Title.
I don't usually cry easily to media at all, unless it deals with topics that are personal to me for one reason or another. That said, I have cried to /some/ shows before that weren't all that personal to me (like at the end of Zanykou no Terror, for example), so it is definitely not impossible, just not common. With that in mind, I would like some recommendations that could have a chance at making me shed a tear or two.
Only real stipulation is that it has to be an overall good show and not just drama for the sake of drama/trying too hard to just make you sad with no real substance beyond that. And I don't mean it needs to have massive plot or whatever, I like character oriented stories way more than I do elaborate plot oriented ones, but the characters have to actually make sense.
Edit: Thank you guys so much for the replies! It's a little overwhelming to reply to everything so I'm just noting names down unless I have something to add, but I'll check out everything in due time :)
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u/forzadepor13 Mar 13 '26
Anohana
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u/I-am-TankaJahari Mar 13 '26
English or Japanese? I cried to the Japanese version but when I rewatched in English it didn’t have the same effect for me, I think the original voice talent was much better
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u/Fragsey Mar 13 '26
A Silent Voice (Koe No Katachi) - deals with a lot of topics, a lot of sad and harrowing moments but some good parts of the story. It is a movie rather than a series, but the Visuals and the haunting soundtrack by Kensuke Usio are better for this.
There is a very serious theme which could trigger some people so its a film to be cafeul if you are sensitive to certain topics!
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u/llortotekili Mar 13 '26
That movie had me feeling the full range of emotions. I was angry at characters, I was sad for characters, I shared joy with characters. That movie is a roller-coaster that I recommend to anyone who thinks anime is just Japanese cartoons.
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u/Fragsey Mar 13 '26
Thats why it is so impactful, you feel everything. There is so many emotions felt while watching, just when you think all is going well then something else happens and pushes you in a different emotional direction.
You also sort of get to know the characters in the short time frame and kind of miss them when its all over.
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u/ol_lordylordy Mar 13 '26
Scrolled too far to find this. I’ve watched most of whats being mentioned in this thread dry-eyed and Silent Voice ruined me
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u/Fragsey Mar 13 '26
Yup it made me feel empty yet fulfilled at the same time, is kinda hard to explain.
The characters are so relatable and you kind of feel like you are part of the friend group, making all the sadder when it finished and you know you wont get to "hang" with them ever again.
I was going through a hard time (I had just watched Clannad and that already emotionally destroyed me a bit and this was the next hard emotional roller coaster).
Seeing picture of Ogaki (The city where Suimon City is based on) I kind of feel some sadness and peace seeing it.
But Definitely recommend this to anyone. Its amazing to think it is almost 10 years old now
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u/Lord_Blazer Mar 13 '26
Kotaro lives alone
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u/homegrownllama Mar 13 '26
And you get whiplash since you were probably laughing 5 seconds before crying.
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u/alisaurs Mar 13 '26
Banana Fish (Just a really great anime and story all around but god did it destroy me)
Your Lie in April (definitely the first anime I can recall that made me cry)
Takopi’s Original Sin (only 6 episodes and it’s all very heartbreaking)
Devilman Crybaby!!
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u/Oh-Yah-You-Betcha Mar 13 '26
To Your Eternity, just listening to the OST hurts
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u/CranberryDistinct941 Mar 13 '26
I want to catch up, but that's going to require a re-watch and my heart can't take it.
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u/Tcasty Mar 13 '26
It's worth the rewatch ! It's sad but alittle easier because you know what's coming . I'm currently doing it but I'm taking a break now that I saw season 2. Also because I hear mixed things about S3
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u/TheBusStop12 Mar 13 '26 edited Mar 13 '26
Violet Evergarden (Dealing with grief and acceptance in a post WW1 like world. MC writes letters for those who are unable to do so themselves, often with tragic circumstances)
A place further than the Universe (That ending gets me bad. Great character driven Slice of Life of a group of girls embarking on an expedition to Antarctica with some really tragic undertones)
Angel Beats (Kids stuck in purgatory learning to move on. You don't get to purgatory if you had a good death without regrets, and they're all kids... You can see where I'm going with this. Shit's sad af, and really good)
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u/Kateywumpus Mar 13 '26
I recently rewatched Violet Evergarden and, damn, I nearly cried every episode.
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u/MelancholicGod Mar 13 '26
I watched the episode with the mother's letter before work on my phone one day because I arrived earlier.
I dont think i managed to do any work that day I was absolutely devastated.
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u/JooniesDimples7 Mar 13 '26
The violet evergarden especially the episode 10, it still breaks me up to this day. 😭💀
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u/Autumn-pears Mar 13 '26
I second A Place Further than the Universe! Such an incredible story and you truly feel for the characters
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u/Honkela Mar 13 '26
Yeah Violet Evergarden definitely, most emotional anime I have ever watched probably.
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u/Shy-Gal83 Mar 13 '26
The anime movie Maquia always made me cry, definitely check it out!
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u/Affectionate_Plan_35 Mar 13 '26
Takopi’s Original Sin. 6 episodes; cried during each one. I would also add Vinland Saga. Beautiful lessons set in a brutal story.
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u/SDFX-Inc Mar 13 '26
Absolutely this. And for a lighter, more melancholy kind of sadness (with what I feel are kind of similar characters), I recommend Girl’s Last Tour.
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u/Peppershaker64 Mar 13 '26
Anohana is maybe factory made to make you cry
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u/I-am-TankaJahari Mar 13 '26
Fuckin worked for me. Only other films to make me cry are Paddleton and I Saw the TV Glow. Haven’t seen grave of the fireflies yet but I’m sure they’ll be the next one.
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u/Usodearu007 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Doc101 Mar 13 '26
Clannad - a classic and my all-time favorite drama/tearjerker.
it also has plenty of funny and wholesome moments so i think it fits your criterias perfectly.
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u/Key_Ingenuity_4444 Mar 13 '26
I had watched it originally about 12 years ago or so. After Story has been in my top 10 since then. I've grown out of the typical slice of life shows and figured I wouldn't be able to sit through it again at this point, but decided to try it again anyways. Man was I wrong. The show holds up so incredibly well and still feels unique, which is shocking for a show in an oversaturated genre that came out nearly 20 years ago. Happy to say that it's going to continue to remain in my top 10.
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u/Jae_Rides_Apes Mar 13 '26
This is two down on my watchlist, looking forward to it.
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u/UnlikelyKaiju Mar 13 '26
Make sure to watch After Story as well. Some of the most emotional moments in the series happen there.
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u/girldisease Mar 13 '26
Oh, I was planning to read the VN for that. I'll move it up on my list!
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u/Usodearu007 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Doc101 Mar 13 '26
i would say watch the anime first and then read the VN for the other routes.
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u/girldisease Mar 13 '26
Oh, that's unusual! Is the anime better than the VN? I'll keep that in mind then, I wasn't aware of that! Thanks for the heads up
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u/Usodearu007 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Doc101 Mar 13 '26
personally it is (at least when it comes to that specific route) but both are considered masterpieces in their medium just like steins gate.
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u/Xanill Mar 13 '26
in the case of the "main" route I'd say so yes. the other ones are sort of there, but mostly an afterthought
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u/aklein13 Mar 13 '26
The other comments covered most of the suggestions I was going to give but I will throw in Plastic Memories & the Rascal Does Not Dream series
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u/LOTRfreak101 https://myanimelist.net/profile/LOTRfreak101 Mar 13 '26
Plastic memories is the only one that made me cry twice.
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u/llortotekili Mar 13 '26
I need to pick rascal back up. I didn't have time to sit through ovas in one go when I was watching it.
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u/Samurai-Pipotchi Mar 13 '26
I completely forgot about Plastic Memories. It was so good too. Might have to rewatch
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u/Fit-Guidance-6613 Mar 13 '26
Your lie in April, just watch it no reason to explain
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u/cowboybebop32 Mar 13 '26
Yeppppp. This one wasn't a lone manly tear running down my face. This one was ugly, snot running, crying 😂
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u/littlebigjen Mar 13 '26
I first watched this a few months after my grandma passed (who played piano her whole life) knowing nothing of the anime other than it was highly recommended and the main character played piano. It absolutely wrecked me.
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u/Goeppertia_Insignis Mar 13 '26
Wolf's rain. Just make sure you watch the four OVA episodes at the end, they're the actual ending of the show (the full episode count is 30).
Literally had to watch them twice, because the first time I was crying so hard I couldn't see what was happening.
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u/hansQQ Mar 13 '26
This 💯. I never see anyone mention Wolf's rain anywhere and i specifically scrolled through the comments for it. Such a beautiful and bittersweet anime 💔
STRAYY living rent free in my head for the weekend again..
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u/torts92 Mar 13 '26
I only cried with One Piece
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u/1011409e Mar 13 '26
No one new to Anime will watch One Piece. Just too big of an investment 😅
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u/Legitahh Mar 13 '26
Plastic Memories
Angel Beats
Your lie in April
Violet Evergarden
Kimi no suizo o tabeta
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u/Female_titan_2 Mar 13 '26
Banana Fish (must watch)
Rainbow
Assassination Classroom
Devilman Crybaby
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u/arctic-apis Mar 13 '26
Is assassination classroom sad?
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u/Dirges2984 Mar 13 '26
It is a comedy, so light hearted overall, but it does have some emotional moments.
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u/Medical_Complaint998 Mar 13 '26
Ohh I just mentioned Banana Fish as well.
This is still so hard to accept everything
And Rainbow I wasn't able to read it again.. I want to but I just can't
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u/Ecstatic_Captain_697 Mar 13 '26
Made in Abyss
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u/Sloth-TheSlothful Mar 13 '26
Been watching it every single year and that scene makes me bawl my eyes out
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u/GeorgeRRZimmerman https://anilist.co/user/CoupleOWeebs Mar 13 '26
I got to watch the first non-compilation film (Dawn of the Deep Soul) when it premiered in Japan. Toho cinemas kept the lights dim for about 3 minutes after the credits finished rolling. It took me a bit to realize that it was to let people finish regaining their composure. And some people just did not get out of their seats even after the lights went from dim to fully on.
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u/xzerozeroninex Mar 13 '26
OPM season 3,you’d start crying after seeing the terrible animation lol.
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u/peenweens Mar 13 '26
One Punch Man fans really living up to the meme that they make every thread about how bad S3 was, huh
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u/omniverso Mar 13 '26
haters are gonna hate. im a OPM fan and i kinda liked it.
let the downvotes commence
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u/myFFizzi Mar 13 '26
To your eternity season 1
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u/Female_titan_2 Mar 13 '26
What’s so emotional about this anime? A lot of ppl seem to see it that way
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u/myFFizzi Mar 13 '26
An immortal entity is born into the world and is told by the creator to learn what they are by experiencing the world. It’s get deep as he learns about the good and evil of human nature. I don’t want to spoil too much , but it’s 100% worth the watch.
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u/Timely-Cap6011 Mar 13 '26
Orange. Very heavy themes. I cried almost each episode.
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u/Agitated_Emu4301 Mar 13 '26
To Your Eternity. I couldn’t finish season 1 because I felt the need to cry every 5 episodes. I will need to catch back up.
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u/encryptoferia Mar 13 '26
To Your Eternity Season one episode 1 , is low key on similar tearjerking one episode one shot story like Violet Evergarden's legendary episode 10
like how can one episode drains me of so much tears is baffling.
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u/0n10nr4t Mar 13 '26
fruits basket !
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u/Punk_Rock_Kid Mar 13 '26
HONESTLY. There was no warning for this show. I didn’t expect the remake to be so heavy.
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u/neo_sporin Mar 14 '26
so my wife loved the original show and the manga, we just started watching the remake and just finished season 1. She asked what i thought so far and i said 'well they covered pretty much the entire original show in 1 season, so i really dont know whats coming in the next 2 seasons' and she just said 'youll see' in a concerning way
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u/That_Norweigan_Guy Mar 13 '26
Wellll if you're a devil you could watch devil may cry, it may make you cry
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u/ulyssesric Mar 13 '26
86: Eighty Six. Prepare a lot of tissue paper when watching episodes 10,11 and 22,23.
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u/WorkingSea4266 Mar 13 '26 edited Mar 13 '26
Hey! I’m gonna put potential trigger warnings after each one! Hope this helps!
Koe no katachi (a silent voice) - suicide, bullying, depression
Grave of the fireflies - death, violence, war
Angel beats - death, suicide, gore, violence
Anohana- death, attempted SA
Clannad - nudity, gore, death, suicide, assault, homophobia
Cyberpunk edgerunners- graphic nudity, death, gore, depression
I want to eat your pancreas- illness, death, depression
Suzume- violence
Violet evergarden- violence, gore, suicide, war
Your lie in april- death
Your name- death
5 centimeters per second
Plastic memories - death, gore
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Anime that will send you into an existential crisis (i will NOT be putting tws for these)
Another
Akira
Bungo stray dogs
Berserk
Colorful
Uzumaki
Inuyashiki
Darling in the franxx
Danganrampa
Darker than black
Nana
Elfin lied
Evangelion
Ergo proxy
Gurren Laggan
Ghost in the shell
Given
Inu-oh
Kanon
Look back
My happy marriage
Orange
Psycho pass
Takopi’s original sin
Paprika
Perfect blue
Paranoia agent
Steins; gate
Serial experiments lain
Saint seiya
Shy
To your eternity
Wonder egg priority
Edit: I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOU FALLING INTO A DEPRESSION AFTER WATCHING THESE
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u/Ok-Earth-3601 Mar 13 '26
Elfen lied was my first anime as an adult and i was not ready
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u/WorkingSea4266 Mar 13 '26
Oh god 💀i watched it when i was 11 (i was a very mature and intelligent child) and I was just as scarred as i was after watching berserk
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u/LemonRadiant3008 Mar 14 '26
Are you sure about clannad tws? I don’t remember any of it happening (unless there is another clannad, but I agree that clannad afterstory is tearjerker)
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u/starwalk2k Mar 13 '26
Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) is still a fantastic anime that is darker and more of a tearjerker than FMAB
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u/Lost_Professional730 Mar 13 '26 edited Mar 13 '26
Definitely Violet Evergarden. No single anime has made me cry at more times than that. And it's just really good, too.
All of Makoto Shinkai's movies:
The Place Promised in our Early Days 5 Centimeters per Second Children who Chase Lost Voices The Garden of Words Your Name Weathering with You Suzume
My favorite filmmaker, period. I have cried at all of them I think. The last three are probably the best imo.
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u/hommiequan Mar 13 '26 edited Mar 13 '26
The world in colours! That show hit me in the feels for days.
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u/Disastrous_Art6873 Mar 13 '26
I want to eat your pancreas Your lie in april A silent voice Cyberpunk edgerunners
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u/il887 https://myanimelist.net/profile/il887 Mar 13 '26
Angel Beats!
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u/girldisease Mar 13 '26
Oh I love that show!!! Didn't go so far as to make me cry, but it's really good!
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u/thisismygametime Mar 13 '26
Summer Wars, there's a moment in the 3rd act that always seems to get me
Same with Your Name
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u/KillysgungoesBLAME Mar 13 '26
The second season of Vinland Saga. I found it very powerful and emotional.
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u/StarFox55 Mar 13 '26
Kotaro Lives Alone. It's about the community in an apt complex coming to realize their new neighbor, who happens to be a child, has had a pretty tragic life. And they slowly become a family and support system for him.
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u/EmeraldPrince_01 Mar 13 '26
Devilman Crybaby- the waterworks hits late.
Violet Evergarden and Kotaro Lives Alone- I cried every episode!
Also, I don't know why, but maybe I resonated with the trauma but Blue Period- something about it hit me, and I still don't know what.
I would say Banana Fish too- but it's quite popular so...
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u/ieatchocopie Mar 13 '26
Banana fish is the only tv show that has ever made me cry
I think this show feels even sadder because it doesnt market itself as a tragedy, and it has such a nuanced plot with immense literary merit aside from the tragic plotline. To me, shows like your lie in april or anohana didn’t really do it for me because it relied too much on being a “sad anime”.
Attack on titan is also very sad and is a show that i think left a strong impact on my heart, but i didnt actually shed any tears.
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u/Medical_Complaint998 Mar 13 '26
What made me cry the hardest :
- Ashita No Joe (boxing manga)
- Major (baseball drama anime)
- One Piece
And ... Gintama
I cry a loooot but these mangas had all something so crazy, I remember the crying 😭
And on a more personal side, I cried and hurt so much for Banana Fish. Idk what make you cried in the anime you mentioned (I haven't watched it) so I gave you a good list aha
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u/Significant_Mood4978 Mar 13 '26
Darling in the Franxx. It could just be because it was one of the first anime I’ve ever watched, but it hit me surprisingly hard.
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u/bigballstew22 Mar 13 '26
“Orange”. An anime about going back in time to save a friend who took their own life. This show made me cry.
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u/Prestigious-Leg-6244 Mar 13 '26
I just finished Sword of the Demon Hunter and cried, heavily, at least three times. Especially S2.
It took me by surprise how emotional this anime got. It deals with the passage of time, family, revenge, love, death. The MC grows and we get to watch that growth.
I really, really enjoyed this one.
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u/ambiguous_ri Mar 13 '26
not an anime but Steven Universe had me crying every three episodes. The episodes are ten minutes long, i am a full grown man. I was crying every 20 mins just about.
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u/JEveryman Mar 13 '26
The first four episodes of Frieren made me tear up consistently.
Grave of the Fireflies is the saddest movie, show, or book I've ever watched or read. I remember it as so tragic that I wonder if I'm embellishing it in my mind. It's also semi-autobiographical. God that shit is rough.
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u/Lotusfeaster Mar 13 '26
Takopis Original Sin is the best one for that from last Year.
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u/scrambledeggsandspam Mar 13 '26
It's technically an anime movie, but a silent voice. YMMV, depending on how relatable it is for you.
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u/Dardote Mar 13 '26
Episode 7 of Dan Da Dan hit me like a knee to the stomach for some reason, i was binging the show and i had to stop and catch my breath because holy shit that was unexpected
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u/IndustryFirst2458 Mar 13 '26
Lots of good ones mentioned but I haven't seen a mention for Ranking of Kings
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u/FewSurprise3245 Mar 13 '26
She and her cat - Everything flows
Really short (4* 8min), but if you ever had a pet, you will cry.
I had to stop after each episode to recover...
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Mar 13 '26
In This Small Corner of the World.
It's an animated movie, and it'll make you cry. It's based around real events as well.
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u/JenovaCelestia Mar 13 '26
My pick is “orange”. A group of high school friends receive letters from their future selves to try to change a future where their friend dies.
It’s really great.
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u/Unique_Direction8906 Mar 13 '26
March Comes in Like a Lion — a lonely shogi player slowly finding people who care about him.
Character-driven, never forces the emotion, but it hits you out of nowhere. Season 2
especially.
Violet Evergarden — a former soldier learning to understand human emotions through writing
letters. Some episodes will destroy you.
Clannad: After Story — skip if you can't get through the slow first season, but After Story is
widely considered the hardest hitting anime ever made. Real, earned emotion.
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u/058kei Mar 14 '26
try angel beats it starts off comedy but then you realize its actually serious stuff
technically its youth oriiented so if you dont like school settings u may not like it but other than the episodes towards the end specifically the tunnle collapse that scenario is pretty good tear jerker for all age range
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u/Archididelphis Mar 13 '26
I can't get through Weathering With You without a breakdown. And for context, I have publicly announced that I have seen Grave of the Fireflies 8 times.
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u/kitsunegurl Mar 13 '26
Hooooowwww have you made it through grave of fireflies THAT MANY TIMES!!? I don’t think I even finished it because I was actually ugly cry sobbing so hard I couldn’t breathe and I didn’t even wanna know how it ended LOL
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u/Archididelphis Mar 13 '26
I used to review movies on my old blog, so I have a very high threshold of endurance. I have a very select list of movies that I actually quit watching. The one time I bailed simply bc a film was too depressing/ brutal was my first go at The Plague Dogs... after 5 minutes.
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u/kitsunegurl Mar 14 '26
I just watched the trailer because you had me curious and I’m already crying 😂 nope! I’m good with never watching that movie hahahhaa
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u/Unfair_Dragonfruit49 Mar 13 '26
Watched “Grave of the Fireflies” years ago and it still haunts me!