Think about the saddest movie you‘ve ever watched. Now, multiply the sadness by a million, and you’ll be able to imagine how it feels like watching a sad anime movie. They just hit different, to be frank.
If you've never watched a single anime movie before, we recommend starting with this list. They're all critically acclaimed and highly regarded as a few of the best anime movies ever made. Hence, in no particular order, here are 5 of the saddest Anime movies ever:
1. Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)
This devastating tale follows Seita and his younger sibling trying to survive the aftermath of World War II, having been separated from their parents after the bombings. Their survival journey through the movie will have even the coldest stone of hearts sob non-stop.
2. 5 Centimetres Per Second (2007)
This romance film tells the story of Takaki and Akari whose bonds strengthen through a series of encounters— each one brings a different meaning to each other. The development of their story will have you experiencing all sort of emotions so keep your tissues nearby.
3. Wolf Children (2012)
A woman named Hana marries a wolf and together they had two beautiful children. After his death, Hana has to raise her children all on her own. She brings her family to the countryside in hope for her children to have a better childhood. The events that follow will have you crying for hours.
4. Your Name (2016)
Upon discovering that they are switching bodies, two teenagers thus share an unbreakable bond that transcends the physical realms. However, things get complicated when they decide to meet in person. If you could choose to watch only one Anime movie ever in your entire life, pick this movie.
5. Whisper of the Heart (1995)
This movie is adopted from a manga of the same title and depicts the story of Shizuku, a young aspiring writer who one day encounters a large cat that leads her to the most life-changing moments of her life— that and finding her soulmate in ways she couldn't imagine.
6. From Up On Poppy Hill (2011)
This tale takes place in the post-war 1963 era, where modernization has only starting to bloom in Tokyo, yet the memories of war still remain fresh. It focuses on Umi Matsuzaki, a young girl from a boarding school, and Shun Kazama, a member of a school's newspaper club. Something happens that tests their life principles— which will, in turn, make you rethink yours.
