Top 20+ Heartbreaking Anime Films That Will Bring Tears to Your Eyes

Sad Anime Movies About Love, Friendship, and Family always evoke deep emotions in viewers. With different storylines, each of the top 10+ saddest anime movies to watch in 2023 below will provide a unique experience you shouldn't miss.

Your Lie in April

One of the most iconic sad anime about love is Your Lie in April. Here are some details about the film:

• Japanese Title: 四月は君の嘘 (Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso)
• Director: Kyōhei Ishiguro
• Genres: Romance, Music, Drama, Shounen
• Number of Episodes: The original anime consists of a total of 22 episodes.

Your Lie in April follows the story of Kousei Arima, a prodigious pianist who won numerous awards in his childhood. However, after his mother's death, he experiences a psychological trauma and can no longer hear his own sound when playing the piano, called 'Kousei's disease.' His life goes on monotonously until he meets Kaori Miyazono, a talented and free-spirited violinist.

Your Name - What's Your Name?

If you're looking for a sad, touching anime with a completely new storyline, then Your Name is a perfect choice. Here are some details about the film:

• Japanese Title: 君の名は。 (Kimi no Na wa)
• Genres: Romance, Mystery, Comedy, Drama, Anime Film
• Release Year: 2016
• Director: Makoto Shinkai

Your Name - What's Your Name? is a poignant anime, gently telling the story of Mitsuha Miyamizu, a girl living in a mountain village, and Taki Tachibana, a boy living in Tokyo. Mitsuha and Taki have no previous relationship, but one day, they begin to swap bodies at certain moments when they sleep. They must adapt to new lives and identities each time they swap bodies, and through messages and notes, they begin to learn about each other's lives.

The Garden of Words

Despite being a decade old, The Garden of Words still remains a recommendation for must-watch sad anime in 2023. Film details:

• Japanese Title: 言の葉の庭 (Kotonoha no Niwa)
• Genres: Romance, Drama
• Release Year: 2013
• Director: Makoto Shinkai

The Garden of Words is a poignant anime film telling a captivating love story between Takao Akizuki, a high school student passionate about shoe design, and Yukari Yukino, a mature woman with a personal secret. They meet in a public garden on rainy days. Takao often skips school to go there and design shoes, while Yukari usually sits alone, drinking beer and reading books.

A Silent Voice

Sad anime films addressing school bullying may not be new, but A Silent Voice still makes it to the unmissable list for 2023. It delivers deep emotions and empathy with a portrayal of vulnerable individuals.

• Japanese Title: 聲の形 (Koe no Katachi)
• Genres: Drama, Slice of Life, Psychological, Romance, Shounen
• Release Year: 2016
• Director: Naoko Yamada

A Silent Voice - The Shape of Voice is an anime film based on the manga of the same name by Yoshitoki Ōima. This poignant anime tells a soulful story about life, friendship, and transformation of Shouya Ishida and Shouko Nishimiya.

5 Centimeters Per Second

This is one of the sad anime films considered to be the most touching and profound, depicting separation and hope in love sometimes unattainable.

• Japanese Title: 秒速5センチメートル (Byousoku 5 Centimeter)
• Genres: Romance, Drama, Slice of Life
• Release Year: 2007 (part 1), 2007 (part 2), 2007 (part 3)
• Director: Makoto Shinkai

5 Centimeters Per Second is an anime consisting of three parts focusing on the love story and separation of two main characters, Takaki Toono and Akari Shinohara, over the years. Each part delves into a different phase of their lives. Despite its age, 5cm/s remains the saddest anime film about love worth watching in 2023.

Steins;Gate - The Gate of Time

Steins;Gate delves into exploring the possibilities and consequences of time travel, creating intriguing and dramatic situations. It is one of the sad anime films with an engaging plot that you shouldn't miss.

• Japanese Title: シュタインズ・ゲート (Sutainzu Gēto)
• Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
• Release Year: 2011
• Directors: Hiroshi Hamasaki, Takuya Satou

Steins;Gate is based on a visual novel game of the same name. This sad anime film revolves around Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed mad scientist known as 'Houoin Kyoma,' and his group of friends at the Future Gadget Laboratory. One day, they stumble upon a machine capable of sending information through time and altering the past.

Toradora!

This is a sad anime about love highly praised for its emotionally rich storyline and complex aspects of relationships and friendship. Some information about the film is as follows:

• Japanese Title: とらドラ！(Toradora!)
• Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life, Drama, Shounen
• Release Year: 2008-2009
• Director: Tatsuyuki Nagai

Toradora! is based on the light novel of the same name by author Yuyuko Takemiya. This sad anime revolves around Ryuuji Takasu, a high school student with a stern appearance, and Taiga Aisaka, the 'palmtop tiger' of the class. Taiga, despite her fierce demeanor, is endearing. Despite the shortcomings in their lives, Ryuuji and Taiga decide to collaborate to help each other approach their crushes.

Lạc Vào Khu Rừng Đom Đóm

One of the saddest and most touching anime films you can't miss in 2023 is Lost in the Firefly Forest. The film holds a profoundly humane story, touching the emotions of the audience.

• Japanese Title: 蛍火の杜へ (Hotarubi no Mori e)
• Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Drama, Supernatural
• Release Year: 2011
• Director: Takahiro Omori

Lost in the Firefly Forest is a short anime based on the manga of the same name by Yuki Midorikawa. The story tells of a touching encounter between a girl named Hotaru and a spirit named Gin in a forest full of fireflies. It's one of the sad anime with a regrettable ending for the viewers.

Grave of the Fireflies

Although it has been released for a while, Grave of the Fireflies is still a name mentioned by viewers as one of the saddest, most touching, and meaningful anime films. Some film information:

• Japanese Title: 火垂るの墓
• Genres: War, Drama
• Release Year: 1988
• Director: Isao Takahata

Grave of the Fireflies is a poignant Anime film based on the novel of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka. It depicts the hardships and tragedies of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, during World War II in Japan. After losing their family and home in a bombing raid, they must fend for themselves against hunger, thirst, and societal prejudice. Despite being released many years ago, Grave of the Fireflies remains an enduringly poignant Anime film in the 2023 sad Anime list with its profound narrative.

Erased

Not just a melancholic Anime tinged with the past, Erased often creates tension and mystery, keeping viewers guessing and speculating about the story's outcome. Here are some film details:

• Japanese Title: 僕だけがいない街 (Boku dake ga Inai Machi)
• Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller
• Release Year: 2016
• Director: Tomohiko Itou

Erased is a melancholic Anime based on the manga of the same name by Kei Sanbe. The story revolves around Satoru Fujinuma, a young man leading an unhappy life with a natural ability to 'time leap.' This ability enables him to rewind time to prevent horrifying events from occurring in the past.

Tales of the Twin Wings - Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle

When it comes to the list of melancholic Anime in 2023 that makes you rewatch due to its compelling storyline, you can't overlook Tales of the Twin Wings. Film details:

• Japanese Title: ツバサ・クロニクル (Tsubasa Kuronikuru)
• Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Shounen
• Release Year: 2005-2006
• Director: Kōichi Mashimo

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle is an Anime series based on the manga of the same name by CLAMP. This poignant Anime begins when Sakura, the princess of the Kingdom of Clow, loses a part of her soul and transforms into scattered feathers that fly everywhere. Syaoran, a young warrior, decides to leave his kingdom to help Sakura retrieve the missing parts of her soul.

Sailing Across the Sky - Air

• Japanese Title: AIR
• Genres: Romance, Drama, Fantasy
• Release Year: 2005
• Director: Tatsuya Ishihara

Air - Sailing Across the Sky is one of those melancholic Anime with a gentle storyline, based on the visual novel of the same name by Key. The story revolves around Yukito Kunisaki, a street performer traveling in search of 'a girl who can fly.' His journey leads him to a small seaside town, where he meets a girl named Misuzu Kamio.

Unforgettable Memories - Violet Evergarden

When it comes to the most poignant Anime about love worth watching in 2023, Unforgettable Memories cannot be overlooked. Here are some notable details about the film:

• Japanese Title: ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン (Vaioretto Evāgāden)
• Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Slice of Life
• Release Year: 2018
• Director: Taichi Ishidate

Violet Evergarden is an anime based on the light novel of the same name by Kana Akatsuki. This is a must-have name in the 2023 sad Anime list about love. The story unfolds in a post-war world, where Violet Evergarden, a young woman who was once a female soldier, embarks on a journey to find the true meaning of life after the war ends.

Alchemy Master - Fullmetal Alchemist

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Years of Release (Anime - 51 episodes): 2003-2004
• Years of Release (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - 64 episodes): 2009-2010
• Director (Anime 2003): Seiji Mizushima
• Director (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood): Yasuhiro Irie

Fullmetal Alchemist - Alchemy Master is a sad Anime adapted from the manga of the same name by Hiromu Arakawa. The story revolves around the Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, who lost their mother and bodies in an alchemy experiment to resurrect the dead. Despite its long release, this is still a sad Anime about love, brotherhood, and humanity sought after for years in 2023.

Banana Fish

• Japanese Title: バナナフィッシュ (Banana Fisshu)
• Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime
• Years of Release: 2018-2019
• Director: Hiroko Utsumi

Banana Fish stands as one of the finest sad Anime adapted from the manga of the same name by Akimi Yoshida. Set in New York City, it follows the adventures of Ash Lynx, a 17-year-old with a mysterious past and exceptional self-defense skills. Ash gets pulled into the underworld of crime and begins investigating a drug called 'Banana Fish' linked to his own lineage. It's a poignant Anime about love between two young men after overcoming numerous obstacles.

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

• Japanese Title: あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない (Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai)
• Genres: Slice of Life, Drama, Supernatural
• Year of Release: 2011
• Director: Tatsuyuki Nagai

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day tells the tale of childhood friends who drifted apart after a tragic incident. The story begins when Jintan, a member of the group, starts seeing the spirit of Menma, a former member who passed away. Add this Anime to the 2023 sad Anime list for its profound content.

When Marnie Was There

• Japanese Title: 思い出のマーニー (Omoide no Mānī)
• Genres: Drama, Family
• Year of Release: 2014
• Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi

When Marnie Was There is a sad Anime film based on the novel of the same name by Joan G. Robinson. The story follows Anna Sasaki, a 12-year-old girl who feels lonely and disconnected from others. She is sent to a rural village in Hokkaido to undergo treatment for her mental health.

Assassination Classroom

Despite the eerie title, this is a poignant Anime with many hidden meanings behind its humorous details. Here's some general information about the series:

• Japanese Title: 暗殺教室 (Ansatsu Kyoushitsu)
• Genres: Action, School, Supernatural
• Year of Release (Season 1): 2015
• Year of Release (Season 2): 2016
• Director: Seiji Kishi

The storyline of this melancholic Anime revolves around a giant alien named Koro-sensei. He's the one who destroyed part of the Moon and threatens to destroy the Earth. However, before annihilating the planet, Koro-sensei proposes a deal: he will become the teacher of a class assigned to assassinate him.

Attack on Titan

• Japanese Title: 進撃の巨人 (Shingeki no Kyojin)
• Genres: Action, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Drama
• Directors: Tetsurō Araki (Seasons 1 and 2), Masashi Koizuka (Seasons 3 and 4)

Attack on Titan is an anime adapted from the manga of the same name by Hajime Isayama. It's one of the sad Anime of 2023 with intense action and dramatic plot twists. The story takes place in a world where humanity is threatened by Titans, giant creatures with the ability to prey on humans. The survivors seek refuge within walled cities to avoid Titan attacks.

Charlotte – Supernatural Adolescence

• Japanese Title: シャーロット (Shārotto)
• Genres: Supernatural, School, Drama, Fantasy
• Year of Release: 2015
• Director: Yoshiyuki Asai

'Charlotte' is an anime created by Jun Maeda and produced by P.A. Works. The story takes place in a world where some young people suddenly develop special supernatural abilities. Yuu Otosaka, our main character, is a high school student who uses this ability to get whatever he wants without facing any consequences.

Here are some recommendations for sad Anime about love, friendship, and bonds with meaningful content. Which Anime do you think is the saddest in 2023? Feel free to leave a comment below.

• Check out more articles in the category: Great Movies, Toplists