Saddest Romance Anime: 20 Heartbreaking Love Stories
A sorrowful romance anime is few things that really appeal to the heart chords. These exquisitely written tales transport you to a world where love blossoms against all circumstances only to be greeted with heartache, loss, or bittersweet ends. Their unequaled emotional rollercoaster will leave you both profoundly touched and devastated. This genre produces a lasting impression rather than only provides entertainment value.
Seeing characters create strong, loving relationships and then have those relationships shaken by tragedy has something especially potent. Through heartbreaking goodbyes, broken vows, or the transitory character of love itself, these cartoons examine the raw complexity of human feeling. They serve as a reminder of the transience of life and the beauty even discovered amid grief.
So get your tissues ready for a trip across heartache and love. Long after the credits roll, you will find these tales lingering.
20 Romance Anime That Will Make You Cry
- Your Lie in April
Through a superb violinist, a pianist suffering with trauma rekindles his love of music and discovers terrible truths in this visually spectacular series.
- Clannad: After Story
This sequel transports viewers through happiness, loss, and the difficulties of rebuilding following tragedy, while examining the beauty and suffering of family and love.
- Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Childhood buddies go back together to fulfill the dream of a lost buddy, but unresolved feelings set off an unforgettable tear-jerking trip.
- I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
A hermit and a terminally sick girl have an unusual relationship that results in a loving but terrible end.
- A Silent Voice
A redemptive story of bullying, pardon, and connection explores emotional scars and unvarnished vulnerability.
- 5 Centimeters per Second
This portrayal of love split over time and distance catches both sad events and intense yearning.
- Violet Evergarden
Writing letters helps a war-torn girl explore the depths of human feeling and untouch her own hidden emotions.
- Plastic Memories
When androids have lifespans in a future, a couple gets closer knowing their time together is limited.
- Orange
As a letter from the future indicates an essential task, a group of friends changes the destiny of a loved one.
- Banana Fish
A moving relationship between a gang leader and a Japanese photojournalist develops among crime and bloodshed, leading to tragic ending.
- Your Name
Two teenagers link across time and distance, their relationship sadly cut off by a catastrophic occurrence.
- Hotarubi no Mori e
A girl friends a spirit, but an unchangeable curse on physical touch ruins their relationship.
- Toradora!
Addressing personal challenges and self-discovery, a humorous romance develops into a poignant love story.
- Kimi no Todoke
A charming love narrative starts as a misinterpreted girl breaks out from her alone and welcomes companionship and affection.
- Air
A mysterious past entwines with a modern love to provide an emotional farewell.
- White Album 2
a sad love triangle when time and situation cause heartbreak and regret.
- Angel Beats!
This tale, which takes place in an afterlife university, combines sadness and comedy to show the effects of unmet needs.
- Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (Your Lie in April)
Beautifully drawn, this show investigates love, healing, and the terrible ending of common aspirations.
- Ef: A Tale of Memories
Two parallel love stories look at issues of memory, sorrow, and fortitude.
- Grave of the Fireflies
Underlining the fragility of love among tragedy, a heart-wrenching war narrative tracks two siblings and their sacrifices.
20 Golden Time Deals With Memory Loss and Love
By delving into memory loss and its significant effects on relationships, Golden Time distinguishes itself among romantic anime works. Focused on ideas of love and identity, it offers viewers an emotional experience they will find quite moving.
Golden Time Scores:
Tada Banri, the protagonist, battles amnesia brought on by an accident, which leaves unresolved conflict between his past and present relationships. His complicated love triangle with Linda Suginami and Kōko Kaga emphasizes the emotional range of the show. The story gains a terrible layer of melancholy from Banri’s battle to decide between the memories of his former life and the love in his current one. Golden Time envelops viewers in a story full of relevant issues and sincere character development, even though there are occasional humorous moments and hope.
19 Scum’s Wish Shows The Dark Side Of Love
Scum’s Wish explores the unpleasant complexity of relationships and love. It distinguishes itself in showing emotional suffering and unfulfilled love with a raw, strong tale.
Scum’s Wish Scores:
The complex plot and character depth of the anime have drawn compliments from critics. However, its ending usually elicits conflicting opinions since it does not fit the general tone of the show.
18 From Up on Poppy Hill Has Some Big, Heartbreaking Twists
“From Up on Poppy Hill” by Studio Ghibli deftly combines young love and family secrets to create an emotional story laden in nostalgia. The anime’s 1960s Yokohama backdrop accentuates its deft balancing of romance and identity.
From Up on Poppy Hill Scores:
Through its plot—where Umi and Shun unintentionally link via a shared past—this anime builds suspense. When viewers discover they might be siblings, their growing romance takes a terrible turn and exposes viewers with the sorrow of unfulfilling love while reality is being untangled.
17 Rumbling Hearts Is A Complex Love Triangle
Adapted from a graphic novel, Rumbling Hearts catches the emotional intensity of a love triangle combined with tragedy. It is among the saddest romance anime of its realistic depiction of imperfect people and strongly felt emotions.
Rumbling Hearts Scores:
On several platforms, the anime garnered good ratings. On Crunchyroll, it has a 4.1 audience score; IMDb scored it 7.5 while fans of MyAnimeList ranked it 7.17. These ratings capture its emotionally intense story and beautifully constructed character arcs.
16 Saikano Sees A Young Girl Fight For Her Humanity and Love
Saikano: The Last Love Song on This Little Planet weaves a tale against the backdrop of war combining romance and sorrow. It centers on Chise, a teenage girl turned into Japan’s ultimate weapon, and her battle with losing humanity while yet loving Shuji.
Saikano: The Last Love Song on This Little Planet Scores:
Released on September 10, 2002, the anime adaption earns a 4.5 on IMDb and a 7.1 on MyAnimeList. These ratings capture the emotional depth and heartbreaking tension in Chise and Shuji’s tale.
15 Orange Blends High School Romance With Grief & Future Messages
Orange explores the emotional depths of its characters while deftly spinning a story of love, sorrow, and atonement. Its original story hooks viewers by fusing remorse with mental health and romance.
Orange Scores:
Reflecting critical praise for its narrative and character depth, the anime ranks on MyAnimeList at 7.6 and on IMDb at 7.2. Audiences really relate to its emotional impact and subjects.
14 Plastic Memories Argues That Machines Really Can Find Love
Plastic Memories tells a moving story in a technologically advanced society where emotional ties between people and humanoid robots redefine love and sorrow. Though her immediate expiration presents a sad story full of short moments of delight, Tsukasa Mizugaki develops a deep bond with a Giftia called Isla.
Plastic Memories Scores:
Plastic Memories wins over fans with an IMDb rating of 7.5 and a MyAnimeList score of 7 because of its emotional depth and original idea. Among fans of romantic anime, these decent ratings emphasize its ongoing influence.
13 Full Moon wo Sagashite Stars a Singer Who Doesn’t Have Much Time Left
Full Moon wo Sagashite, an anime, chronicles the moving tale of 12-year-old Mitsuki Kouyama, who loved singing despite with her terrible diagnosis. The story draws viewers inside Mitsuki’s emotional trip via themes of love, loss, and death.
- MyAnimeList: 8.03
- IMDb: 8.0
Fans of rich emotional storytelling and sad romance will find resonance in these consistent ratings, therefore highlighting the effect of the anime.
12 Angel Beats Explores Love, Purgatory, & Personal Baggage
Angel Beats! creates a really powerful experience by fusing emotional narrative with otherworldly ideas. Set in a purgatory for young people, it combines acceptance of past regrets, romance, and self-discovery.
Angel Beats Scores:
On MyAnimeList, the anime has an 8.06 score; on IMDb, it has a 7.6 rating; and from members of Anime-Planet, it has a 4.1 average. These ratings reflect its critical praise as among the most poignant romance anime available from the 2010s.
11 The Wind Rises Shows an Airplane Engineer Finding Love
The Wind Rises by Hayao Miyazaki combines a profoundly emotional love story with Jiro Horikoshi’s engineering obsession. Through Jiro’s friendship with Naoko—a character fighting tuberculosis—this movie deftly examines love, sacrifice, and loss.
The Wind Rises Scores:
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film earns a solid 88%; on IMDb, it gets an 8.1. These ratings show its emotional depth and artistic storytelling, therefore distinguishing it among the sad romantic anime genres.
10 Princess Tutu is a Sad Anime About a Duck-Turned-Human
To create a mixed-feeling romance, Princess Tutu combines fairy tales and classical ballet with magical girl themes. Turning human, Ahiru, a duck, negotiates her love for Prince Mytho while battling her own identity.
Princess Tutu Scores:
Emphasizing its emotional depth and critical praise, the anime keeps solid scores across platforms: an 8.14 on MyAnimeList, an 8.1 on IMDb, and a 3.9 on Anime-Planet.
9 To the Forest of Firefly Lights is a Romance Between a Girl & a Forest Spirit
The bittersweet love tale told in the woodland of Firefly Lights between human girl Hotaru Takegawa and woodland spirit condemned to vanish if touched by a human is told from both sides. Their special relationship captures viewers’ hearts by combining the emotional depth of transitory love with aspects of magical mythology.
To the Forest of Firefly Lights Scores:
On MyAnimeList, the anime scored an amazing 8.27; on IMDb, it came in with a 7.8; and on Anime-Planet, it scored 4.185. These reviews capture its status as a moving, skillfully written romance appealing to viewers.
8 Weathering With You Is About Romance During Unnatural Disasters
Combining romance with mystical aspects, this Makoto Shinkai-directed film shows how love endures even through catastrophes. With You looks at the relationship between Hodaka Morishima and Hina Amano against Tokyo’s ongoing storms.
| Platform | Score |
|---|---|
| MyAnimeList | 8.32 |
| IMDb | 7.5 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 91% (Critics), 96% (Audience) |
These scores highlight widespread acclaim for the film’s emotional depth, storytelling, and animation.
7 Clannad Shows How Romance Can Heal the Heart
Emphasizing themes of emotional healing and transforming relationships, Clannad shows how love could mend wounded spirits. The show offers a moving illustration of romance as a tool for healing through the relationship between Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa.
Clannad Scores:
Clannad’s consistent ratings on several platforms demonstrate its ongoing influence. IMDb rated it 7.8; MyAnimeList rates it 8.0; Anime-Planet assigns a 4.125 score. These numbers underline its emotional depth and narrative power.
6 I Want To Eat Your Pancreas Is About Living While Dying
Emotionally intense, this anime explores ideas of transitory existence, loss, and human connection. The narrative shows a moving friendship between a quiet boy and a lively girl with terminal illness.
I Want To Eat Your Pancreas Scores
Audiences really relate to this movie; it gets an 8.55 on MyAnimeList, an 8.0 on IMDb, and 4.345 on Anime-planet. These marks its emotional depth and potent narrative quality.
5 Fruits Basket Is a Classic Shojo Romance With a Supernatural Twist
Fruits Basket, with an eye toward Tohru Honda and the doomed Sohma family, combines joyful romance with mystical components. By use of moving narrative, this anime investigates issues including love, trauma, and acceptance.
Fruits Basket Scores:
With an 8.22 on MyAnimeList, an 8.6 on IMDb, and a 4.325 on Anime-Planet among other sites, Fruits Basket (2019) boasts outstanding ratings overall. These marks its emotional effect and general praise.
4 Your Lie In April Uses Music to Heal Kousei’s Heart
Particularly notable for its deft use of music as a narrative instrument to examine love, sorrow, and emotional healing is Your Lie in April. Through Kaori Miyazono’s influence, great pianist Kousei Arima rediscovers his love of music by fusing hope, loss, and love into a singular experience.
Your Lie In April Scores:
With an 8.6 rating on MyAnimeList, Your Lie in April reflects its general praise. While Anime-Planet gives it a decent 4.4, IMDb users rate it 8.6, therefore highlighting its effect as a bittersweet masterpiece.
3 Oshi no Ko Blends Romance With Drama, Revenge, & Music
Oshi no Ko is a singular story combining aspects of romance, a fierce search for retribution, and the vivid but contradictory realm of music. Through complicated relationships and secret emotions depicted in an unusual way, the narrative investigates love, grief, and desire.
Oshi no Ko Scores:
Although Oshi no Ko has an emotional resonance and a great story arc, trustworthy aggregate scores for this game aren’t specifically listed in any of the sources that might be consulted. The show’s originality and investigation of sad romance help it to keep becoming more and more popular.
2 Your Name Is More Than a Body-Swap Romance
Combining imagination and romance, “Your Name” produces an emotionally intense narrative. Beyond its two youths trading bodies, the movie explores ideas of love, memory, and fate.
Your Name Scores:
On MyAnimeList, this movie boasts an incredible 8.85 rating; on IMDb, it has an 8.4; on Anime-Planet, it has a 4.4. Its emotional depth, storytelling, and relevance with viewers all over show in its high marks.
1 A Silent Voice Explores the Consequences of Bullying
With an eye toward Shoya Ishida and Shoko Nishimiya’s path of atonement and connection, A Silent Voice explores the profound effects of bullying. Based on Yoshitoki Ōima’s manga, this stand-alone 2016 anime film uses a poignant story to explore forgiveness, mental health, and disabilities.
A Silent Voice Scores:
Ranked among the best 2010s anime, the movie gets compliments on its emotional complexity. Its 8.96/10 MyAnimeList score, 8.1/10 on IMDb, and 4.4/5 on Anime-Planet appeal to viewers all around.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sad romance anime?
Often drawing on loss, grief, and the complexity of relationships, sad romance anime blends themes of love and heartbreak, therefore testing viewers’ emotions. These tales center on strong emotional ties that might make a lasting effect.
What is the saddest romance anime?
Among the sadest romance anime include Your Lie in April, Clannad: After Story, Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, A Silent Voice, and I Want to Eat Your Pancreas. Viewers are left in tears as these works investigate themes of love, sorrow, and human fragility.
Why do people watch sad romance anime?
Watching sad romantic anime helps people to emotionally relate to the plot and characters. By tackling universal subjects as love, death, grief, and resiliency, these anime craft gripping stories that really connect with viewers.
What is the best sad anime movie to watch?
Particularly suggested sad anime films include A Silent Voice and Your Name. Both movies present gripping tales of love and atonement together with emotional nuance that stays with viewers.
Is Your Lie in April worth watching?
Indeed, your lie in April is a must-see for its deft narrative. Combining music, love, and heartbreak, it chronicles the path of a pianist rediscovering his passion, therefore producing an emotional story that appeals to everyone.
What sad romance anime can make you cry?
Tears-jerking moments and heart-wrenching tales abound in anime including Clannad: After Story, Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, and Rumbling Hearts.
Is A Silent Voice a romance?
A Silent Voice indeed combines ideas of forgiveness and atonement with romance. Offering an emotional and touching narrative of human connection, it looks at Shoya’s changing relationship with Shoko.
Which anime explores unrequited love?
One well-known anime that examines unmet love is Scum’s Wish. It captures the complexity and emotional suffering of wanting someone who doesn’t share the same sentiments.
Are Studio Ghibli films romantic?
Indeed, romantic aspects abound in Studio Ghibli films such as From Up on Poppy Hill. These movies provide singular emotional experiences by combining love with ideas of family, secrets, and personal development.
What is the best anime about overcoming heartbreak?
Clannad: After Story is much hailed for its treatment of relationships, familial love, and healing following heartbreak. This is an emotionally intense trip with long-lasting effect.
