45 Best Sad Romance Anime To Watch Right Now

Apart from the other forms of entertainment existing over the internet, Anime has become one of the most sought-after things to watch among teenagers. The choice of anime genre depends upon which mood is ruling you or what you feel deep inside. if you want some sad romance anime then this list is the perfect one! Being an emotional young girl who believes in mystical and fantasy elements, I love watching romantic Anime. While anime is getting popular because it portrays some realistic human emotions and aspects of life, audiences are more inclined towards sad romance anime because the story revolves around what the audience experiences in their day-to-day life. Be it a romantic or sad romantic anime, if you genuinely and deeply indulge with the characters, it can give you a good cry.

45. Clannad: After Story (2008–2009)

• Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
• Writer: Fumihiko Shimo
• Cast: Yuuichi Nakamura (Tomoya Okazaki), Mai Nakahara (Nagisa Furukawa), Ryō Hirohashi (Kyou Fujibayashi)
• IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Hulu, HiDive

Clannad: After Story chronicles the journeys of Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa through marriage, parenthood, and adulthood. As their love grows, tragedy befalls them, leaving Tomoya devastated when Nagisa passes away after giving birth. 

Devastated, he withdraws from their daughter, Ushio, until a trip with her renews his affection. But she falls ill, and Ushio dies in his arms, leaving him in despair. Time rewinds in a miraculous moment of supernatural intervention, allowing Nagisa to survive childbirth. 

The heartbreaking romance in this anime examines healing, loss, and the strength of love, demonstrating how joy can resurface even in the midst of grief. It is a masterwork of tragic yet hopeful storytelling because of its depth of emotion.

44. Ef: A Tale of Melodies (2008)

• Director: Shin Ōnuma
• Writer: Katsuhiko Takayama
• Cast: Kenji Hamada (Shuichi Kuze), Mai Goto (Mizuki Hayama), Takashi Kondo (Yuu Himura), Natsumi Yanase (Yuuko Amamiya)
• IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Crunchyroll

Two parallel love stories are woven across time in the tragic romance Ef: A Tale of Melodies. In the past, the carefree violinist Shuichi Kuze falls in love with Mizuki Hayama, but he pushes her away to spare her suffering because he conceals his terminal illness. 

In spite of this, Mizuki embraces love despite the possibility of loss and won’t leave him. The dark past of Yuu Himura and Yuuko Amamiya resurfaces in the present; Yuuko, who was abused, had loved Yuu before fate split them apart. 

A heartbreaking but cathartic ending results from their reunion, which rekindles old wounds and emotions. The anime is a profoundly poetic and emotional experience that deftly examines the brittleness, trauma, and redemption of love.

43. Best Sad Romance Anime: True Tears (2008)

• Director: Junji Nishimura
• Writer: Mari Okada
• Cast: Jun Fukuyama (Shinichiro Nakagami), Ayahi Takagaki (Noe Isurugi), Kaori Nazuka (Hiromi Yuasa), Yuka Iguchi (Aiko Ando)
• IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Crunchyroll

The protagonist of True Tears is Shinichiro Nakagami, a high school student caught between duty and love. His childhood friend Hiromi Yuasa, who now resides with his family but has become emotionally distant, is the center of his affection. 

He meets the eccentric girl Noe Isurugi one day, who thinks he can help her “find her lost tears.” He gets caught up in a complex romantic triangle with Noe, and he is secretly in love with another close friend, Aiko Ando. Shinichiro is forced to face his actual feelings as he is torn between his newfound emotions and his old attachments. 

Heartbreak, self-discovery, and bittersweet moments abound in the moving romance True Tears, which culminates in a heartbreaking but depressing ending.

42. Air (2005)

• Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
• Writer: Fumihiko Shimo
• Cast: Daisuke Ono (Yukito Kunisaki), Tomoko Kawakami (Misuzu Kamio), Aya Hisakawa (Haruko Kamio)
• IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Funimation

Air centers on Yukito Kunisaki, a nomadic puppeteer who is pursuing a “girl in the sky,” a myth that has been passed down through the ages. 

He meets Misuzu Kamio in a small town. She is a good-hearted but lonely girl with an enigmatic illness that gets worse the closer she gets to someone. Yukito discovers an old curse connected to the legend while he is staying with her, which condemns Misuzu to a terrible end. 

He tries to save her, but fate is unforgiving. Air makes an enduring emotional impression by telling a tragic story of love, loss, and the transient beauty of life through the past and present.

41. The Garden of Words (2013)

• Director: Makoto Shinkai
• Writer: Makoto Shinkai
• Cast: Miyu Irino (Takao Akizuki), Kana Hanazawa (Yukari Yukino)
• IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 83%
• Platforms Available: Netflix

Takao Akizuki, a 15-year-old aspiring shoemaker, is the subject of The Garden of Words. He skips school on rainy mornings to sketch designs in a peaceful garden. He meets Yukari Yukino there, a mysterious 27-year-old woman going through a difficult time in her life. 

Through fortuitous meetings on rainy days, they develop a strong, unsaid bond despite their age difference. Takao discovers Yukari’s difficult past as his feelings for her deepen, and their relationship must contend with the passing of time and distance. 

When the rain eventually stops, they have to face their feelings and go on. The Garden of Words captures the beauty of ephemeral connections in a visually stunning and melancholic story of love, longing, and personal development.

40. Best Sad Romance Anime: Hotarubi no Mori e (2011)

• Director: Takahiro Omori
• Writer: Yuki Midorikawa
• Cast: Ayane Sakura (Hotaru Takegawa), Kōki Uchiyama (Gin)
• IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, HiDive

In Hotarubi no Mori e, Gin, a kind spirit in a mask, saves six-year-old Hotaru Takegawa after she becomes lost in an enigmatic forest. He tells her that if a human touches him, he will vanish. 

Even so, Hotaru comes to see him each summer, and as the years go by, their friendship develops into love. But their destiny is harsh—Gin’s life is precarious and constrained by the paranormal. They give each other their final embrace before he disappears forever in a heartbreaking scene at a summer festival. 

Hotarubi no Mori e is a masterfully tragic story about love, longing, and ephemeral connections that evoke strong feelings with its straightforward but impactful narrative.

39. White Album 2 (2013)

• Director: Masaomi Ando
• Writer: Fumiaki Maruto
• Cast: Takahiro Mizushima (Haruki Kitahara), Madoka Yonezawa (Setsuna Ogiso), Hitomi Nabatame (Kazusa Touma)
• IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Crunchyroll

The protagonist of White Album 2 is Haruki Kitahara, a committed high school guitarist who aspires to play at the school festival. When he meets Kazusa Touma, a chilly but gifted pianist, and Setsuna Ogiso, a popular but lonely girl, his routine life is completely transformed. 

They create lovely melodies together as a musical trio, and love and heartbreak converge as they do so. In addition to Haruki and Kazusa’s intense, unsaid feelings, Setsuna also falls for him, creating a traumatic love triangle. 

As graduation draws closer, feelings run amok, leading to sadness and betrayal. White Album 2 is a moving tale of love, regret, and unmet expectations that demonstrates how even the most lovely times can have tragic outcomes.

38. Scum’s Wish (2017)

• Director: Masaomi Ando
• Writer: Makoto Uezu
• Cast: Chika Anzai (Hanabi Yasuraoka), Nobunaga Shimazaki (Mugi Awaya), Shiori Izawa (Sanae Ebato)
• IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Amazon Prime Video

The plot of Scum’s Wish centers on Hanabi Yasuraoka and Mugi Awaya, two high school students who seem to be the ideal pair but in reality use one another as stand-ins for their true, unfulfillable passions. 

Mugi misses his old tutor, Akane Minagawa, while Hanabi pines for her childhood friend and teacher, Narumi Kanai. Their physical but meaningless bond provides them both comfort while concealing their emotional suffering and loneliness. They battle to discover true love and self-worth as they tumble through ephemeral relationships and toxic desires. 

The painful reality of looking for happiness in the wrong places is depicted in Scum’s Wish, a candid and depressing examination of unrequited love, lust, and emotional emptiness.

37. Best Sad Romance Anime: Fruits Basket (2019–2021)

• Director: Yoshihide Ibata
• Writer: Taku Kishimoto
• Cast: Manaka Iwami (Tohru Honda), Nobunaga Shimazaki (Yuki Sohma), Yuuma Uchida (Kyo Sohma)
• IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 90%
• Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Funimation

Fruits Basket centers on Tohru Honda, a good-hearted high school student who moves in with the enigmatic Sohma family after losing her mother.  She quickly learns of their sinister secret: when members of the opposite sex embrace them, they are cursed to change into animals from the Chinese zodiac. As she becomes close to Kyo, the fiery “Cat,” and Yuki, the princely “Rat,” she finds out about their traumatic pasts and emotional wounds brought on by Akito, the family’s leader. 

Tohru assists in lifting the Sohma curse and releasing them from their agony by showing them love, compassion, and fortitude. Fruits Basket is a touching story of self-acceptance, love, and healing that ends on a very touching and satisfying note.

36. Given (2019)

• Director: Hikaru Yamaguchi
• Writer: Yuniko Ayana
• Cast: Shougo Yano (Mafuyu Sato), Yuuma Uchida (Ritsuka Uenoyama), Masatomo Nakazawa (Haruki Nakayama)
• IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Funimation

The plot of Given centers on Mafuyu Satou, a reserved high school student who has severe emotional scars from his past. He meets the talented guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama one day, and he learns how to play the instrument Mafuyu always has with him. 

Touched by his voice, Ritsuka asks him to play with drummer Akihiko Kaji and bassist Haruki Nakayama in his band, Given. As Ritsuka battles his developing romantic feelings for Mafuyu, the latter finds solace in music. Haruki and Akihiko deal with their own complex relationship in the meantime. 

With its poignant storytelling and stirring music, Given is a stunningly unvarnished tale of love, loss, and self-discovery as its characters come to terms with their emotions and move on.

35. Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2020)

• Director: Kotaro Tamura
• Writer: Sayaka Kuwamura
• Cast: Taishi Nakagawa (Tsuneo Suzukawa), Kaya Kiyohara (Josee), Yume Miyamoto (Mai Ninomiya)
• IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 95%
• Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Funimation

In Josee, the Tiger and the Fish, Tsuneo Suzukawa, a college student with a strong interest in marine biology, accepts a job helping Josee, a creative but obstinate girl who is disabled and is stuck in a wheelchair.  After being dismissive and aloof at first, Josee gradually confides in Tsuneo about her fears and dreams. As they get closer, Josee pushes him to pursue his own goals, while Tsuneo encourages her to embrace the outside world. 

As their bond is put to the test by life’s challenges, their relationship blossoms into love. A touching and poignant story of love, development, and tenacity, Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish masterfully captures the setbacks and victories of pursuing one’s goals.

34. Best Sad Romance Anime: Sing “Yesterday” for Me (2020)

• Director: Yoshiyuki Fujiwara
• Writer: Megumi Shimizu
• Cast: Chikahiro Kobayashi (Rikuo Uozumi), Yume Miyamoto (Haru Nonaka), Kana Hanazawa (Shinako Morinome)
• IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, VRV

Sing “Yesterday” for Me traces Rikuo Uozumi, a college graduate without direction, working at a convenience store with no idea what the future is. He still harbors feelings for his former crush, Shinako Morinome, who is dealing with her own past. 

One day, he encounters Haru Nonaka, a quirky girl with a pet crow, who boldly professes her love for him. As Rikuo tries to untangle his complicated emotions for both women, emotions get entangled, and painful realities are revealed.  Sing “Yesterday” for Me is a slow and melancholic romance about unrequited love, regrets, and the struggle to move on, revealing how relationships are inextricable and not necessarily what we imagine.

33. Iroduku: The World in Colors (2018)

• Director: Toshiya Shinohara
• Writer: Yūko Kakihara
• Cast: Kaori Ishihara (Hitomi Tsukishiro), Kaede Hondo (Kohaku Tsukishiro), Shōya Chiba (Yuito Aoi)
• IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Amazon Prime Video

Iroduku: The World in Colors is the tale of Hitomi Tsukishiro, a girl born to a family of witches who lost her sense of color due to intense emotional pain. To make her see colors again, her grandmother Kohaku casts a spell on her that transports her 60 years into the past. 

There, she encounters Yuito Aoi, a wannabe artist whose artwork somehow revives her sense of color. Through her adventures with Yuito and his friends in the art club, Hitomi slowly regains joy, friendship, and love. 

But she is aware that she can only stay in the past temporarily. Iroduku: The World in Colors is a lovely animated, tear-jerking journey of self-discovery, holding on to transitory pleasures, and keeping hopes in a world full of colors.

32. Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song (2021)

• Director: Shinpei Ezaki
• Writer: Tappei Nagatsuki, Eiji Umehara
• Cast: Atsumi Tanezaki (Vivy), Jun Fukuyama (Matsumoto), Takehito Koyasu (Archive)
• IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Funimation

Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song takes the journey of Vivy, the world’s first independent AI, created to make humans smile by singing. She sings alone in a deserted theme park for years, until Matsumoto, a future AI, arrives with a purpose—to prevent a war that will annihilate mankind 100 years later. 

With Vivy starting a 100-year journey, she learns to feel love, experience heartbreak, and bear the burden of emotions she wasn’t programmed for. Along the way, she sees chivalrous love between humans and AIs, doomed to fail. 

Through tears and sacrifice, Vivy discovers the fragility of love and the agony of goodbye. Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song is a stunning sci-fi drama of fate, self-discovery, and love that transcends time.

31. A Condition Called Love (2024)

• Director: Tomoe Makino
• Writer: Hitomi Amamiya
• Cast: Kana Hanazawa (Hotaru Hinase), Chiaki Kobayashi (Saki Hananoi)
• IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: Not available
• Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Ani-One Asia

A Condition Called Love follows the life of Hotaru Hinase, a teenage girl who never had romance. She enjoys hanging out with friends and has never felt the rush of love. She helps Saki Hananoi, a handsome and seemingly perfect classmate who was dumped by his girlfriend. 

Moved by her kindness, Saki surprisingly makes a confession of love and asks her to be his girlfriend. Reluctantly but curious, Hotaru agrees to a probationary relationship and gradually learns the nuances of love and emotions she never knew existed. 

As they become closer, Saki’s possessive nature and underlying insecurities emerge, and their love is as fragile as it is tender. A Condition Called Love is an emotional romance anime that explores love, insecurity, and emotional development.

30. Best Sad Romance Anime: March Comes in Like a Lion (2016)

• Director: Akiyuki Shinbo and Kenjirou Okada
• Cast: Kengo Kawanishi, Ai Kayano, and Kana Hanazawa
• IMDb: 8.3/10
• Streaming: Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime Video

March Comes in Like a Lion is an anime series based on the manga by Chica Umino, following the life of Rei Kiriyama who is a professional shogi player. As he struggles with depression and feelings of isolation, he finds solace in being good at shogi. He finds further comfort in the Akina family, a warm and welcoming trio of sisters who live together. Akari, Hinata, and Momo bring a sense of comfort and joy in his life by helping him understand and navigate his emotions. The series beautifully portrays Rei’s progress as he learns to accept himself and heal, and it is widely praised for its thoughtful and sensitive storyline.

29. Natsume’s Book Of Friends

• Director: Takahiro Omori
• Writer: Kenichi Kanemaki
• Platform available: Crunchyroll and Hulu.

This brief but charming movie from the same mangaka will be adored by viewers of the beautifully realised Natsume’s Book of Friends. Fans of romantic anime who enjoy the fantastical and fanciful will appreciate Hotarubi no Mori e. Hotaru, a human girl, and Gin, a woodland spirit, are in love in Hotarubi no Mori e, which is typical of sad romance anime.

The beginning of their relationship is difficult since Gin is evasive while he tries to avoid her. He cannot be touched by human hands since the weak magic of the mortal realm will make him vanish. As they spend more time together, their connection gradually turns into love for one another. Unfortunately, everything good must come to an end—in this case, it’s a delightfully heartbreaking end.

28. Best Sad Romance Anime: Weathering With You

• Director: Makoto Shinkai
• Writer: Makoto Shinkai
• Platform available: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and more.

Weathering With You is one of the best of the great yet depressing romance anime films director Makoto Shinkai has created. Hodaka Morishima, the protagonist, has moved to Tokyo to start over, but he already feels confused. Things will only become worse when the weather begins to behave strangely.

All of this is related to Hina Amano, a young woman with weather-controlling abilities. As the weather issues worsen, Hodaka and Hina will become closer, but they will also need to make some difficult choices between what their hearts desire and what the city of Tokyo needs to survive.

27. To Your Eternity (2021)

• Director: Masahiko Murata 
• Cast: Reiji Kawashima, Rie Hikisaka, and Aya Uchida
• IMDb: 8.5/10
• Streaming: Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Amazon Prime Video

To Your Eternity is an anime series that introduces an immortal being known as “Fushi” who is sent to Earth to simply observe and learn about life. Though Fushi begins its existence as a simple orb at first, it learns to take on the shape of different beings over time, including humans. Upon being able to do so, it learns about life through its various interactions, and the series showcases it learning about things like love, loss, and pain. The themes of mortality and the meaning of life are foreign to Fushi, but it slowly begins to appreciate the concepts as it spends more time on Earth.

26. Best Sad Romance Anime: Oshi no Ko

• Director: Daisuke Hiramaki
• Cast: Takeo Otsuka, Aquamarine Hoshino, Yurie Igoma
• IMDb: 9.5
• Rotten tomatoes: 96%
• Platform available: HiDive or for free with ads on The Roku Channel

The Oshi no Ko anime is a great but depressing romance show, but it’s also a critical look at the idol business and even a partial isekai tale. The main protagonists in Oshi no Ko must distinguish between the truth and well-intentioned lies and decide what true love is in a world where no one can be trusted.

The plot starts when Ai Hoshino, a pop idol that Dr. Gorou and his young patient Sarina Tendouji adore, physically reincarnate as the twin son and daughter of Ai Hoshino. Ai worries that she doesn’t truly love her kids and that when Aqua and Ruby Hoshino get older, they’ll go across difficult and painful romantic issues of their own.

25. 5 Centimeters Per Second (Byousoku 5 centimeters)

• Director: Makoto Shinkai
• Writer: Makato Shinkai
• Cast: Kenji Mizuhashi, Yoshimi Knodou, Satomi Hanamura
• IMDB Rating: 7.6
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88%
• Platforms Available: Netflix

Five centimeters per second is a movie having three plots: cherry blossom, cosmonaut, and 5 centimeters per second. This compilation shows the story of the protagonist Takaki Tono, a young boy from Tokyo, who meets a girl named Akari Shinohara who just got transferred to his city and has become his classmate and best friend in elementary school.

Akari’s parents constantly move from one city to another, which increases the physical distance between Takaki and Akari. Both of them decided to meet for one last time before they moved to different cities and hence both of them wrote a letter for each other which they didn’t exchange.

Takaki knew his feelings for Akari, and hence he never stopped writing letters he never sent. One fine day there was an unexpected encounter of both in a railway station. Takaki saw Akari standing on the opposite side, but a train passed by in between. They had crossed paths at the same place where they had promised each other to watch cherry blossom together when they were kids.

He remains standing there to see if Akari is still waiting for him, but the girl disappears. He was left disappointed, but somehow, he had a smile on his face and thought that life is all about moving forward.

So, if you were hoping that this story will end with the main character having happy romantic relationships, then sorry to break your heart.

24. I want to eat your pancreas (Kimi no Suizo Wo Tabetai)

• Director: Shin’ichiro Ushijima
• Writer: Yoru Somino (Novel), Shin’ichiro Ushijima (Screenplay)
• Cast: Mahiro Takasugi, Lynn, Yukiyo Fuji
• IMDB Rating: 8.1
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
• Platforms Available: Netflix

I want to eat your pancreas may sound like a horror and creepy anime movie to you, but it isn’t instead. It is a heartbreaking anime movie that depicts a tragic tale because Sakura Yamauchi is suffering from a fatal pancreatic disease.

I want to eat your pancreas is based on a Japanese novel written by Yoru Sumino. The story revolves around a sad plot where one day Haruki Shiga comes across a book while waiting in the hospital, which later he discovers to be a secret diary maintained by her classmate Sakura, who discloses to him that she had been suffering from a fatal pancreatic disease and thus her days are numbered.

Despite knowing this, they both became close friends and started spending time with each other. Soon, Sakura realized that she was drawn towards Haruki, and over time their bond grew much more vital. They both shared a magical bond that was way ahead of just a romantic relationship.

Getting to know his girl Sakura’s tragic and sudden demise, Haruki was devastated. The irony lies in their names; Haruki means spring tree, and Sakura means spring blossom. They both were “meant to be,” but I guess life had other plans for Haruki, and these unfortunate circumstances taught us so many things that we should be grateful for.

23. Angel Beats

• Director: Seiji Kishi
• Writer: Jun Maeda
• Cast: Hiroshi Kamiya, Harumi Sakurai, Kana Hanazawa
• IMDB Rating: 7.6
• Platforms Available: Funimation Now, Crunchyroll, Vrv

Otonashi awakens to discover he is dead in a world beyond death, where a group of humanity battles for their fate and future. Members of the SSS use armed weapons to combat angels who wield superhuman abilities. Yuri, the Shinda Sekai Sensen’s leader, rebels against the god who cursed her with an irrational life. On the other side, Tenshi fights the SSS members as the chairperson of the student council for WorldWorld after their death.

Otonashi confesses to Kanade that he has fallen in love with her and wishes for the two of them to stay together in the hereafter to aid others. On the other hand, Kanade regrets not being able to thank Otonashi, her heart donor, for saving her life.

Later, two persons that resemble Otonashi and Kanade cross paths on the street in the real WorldWorld. Otonashi is heartbroken after she thanks him and passes away, leaving him alone in the afterlife. In an alternate ending, Otonashi becomes the high school’s student council president and helps lost souls exit from the afterlife, despite his desire to see Kanade again.

Angel Beats is a beautiful crafter story that shows the hardships and failures one faces in life and how one should overcome it before passing on. It takes us on an emotional rollercoaster and makes us laugh and cry simultaneously. Angel beats a kind of story that has kept me guessing and pondering upon the thought of what is going to happen in the very next moment.

22. Made in Abyss (2017)

• Director: Masayuki Kojima
• Cast: Miyu Tomita, Mariya Ise, and Shiori Izawa
• IMDb: 8.4/10
• Streaming: YouTube

Made in Abyss is an anime series that is set in the mysterious chasm known as the Abyss, as the name suggests. Riko, a young girl who dreams of becoming a Cave Raider like her mother, disappears into the Abyss, a place full of strange creatures and powerful entities. She eventually discovers a humanoid robot and named him Reg, which leads to them venturing deeper into the Abyss together in order to discover its secrets. As their journey becomes more dangerous along the way, Riko must find a way to navigate the suffering and “curse” that the Abyss holds for anyone who tries to venture in too deep.

21. Best Sad Romance Anime: Orange

• Director: Naomi Nakayama, Hiroshi Hamasaki
• Writer: Yūko Kakihara
• Cast: Naho Takamiya, Kakeru Naruse, Hiroto Suwa, Takako Chino
• IMDB Rating: 7.6
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
• Platforms Available: Youtube, Crunchyroll

This anime series is a perfect blend of heartbreaking Anime yet a romantic one. It shows how our emotions guide us in taking any decision of our life. The anime Orange can surely take into an emotional rollercoaster throughout.

Takamiya Naho, one of the main characters, receives a letter from her future self of 10 years in the future one day. As Naho continues to read, the letter details the events of the day, including adding a new pupil called Naruse Kakeru to her class. The Naho from 10 years later constantly expresses that she has many regrets and that she wants to make amends by ensuring that the Naho from the past may make the best decisions possible, particularly about Kakeru. What’s more upsetting is that she learns that Kakeru will no longer be with them in ten years because Kakeru will eventually take his life. Naho asks her to keep a watchful eye on him in the future.

20. The Promised Neverland (2019)

• Director: Mamoru Kanbe
• Cast: Sumire Morohoshi, Maaya Uchida, and Mariya Ise
• IMDb: 8.4/10
• Streaming: Netflix

The Promised Neverland is an anime series that is set in Grace Field House, an orphanage where children live under the caring watch of their “Mom” Isabella. While everything seems delightful from the outside, however, dark secrets lay within the walls of the orphanage. The 3 oldest children, namely Emma, Normal, and Ray, discover how the orphanage is a front for raising children as livestock to be ultimately fed to demons. Determined to escape and save the other children from this horrifying fate, the 3 plot and scheme to outsmart Isabella and find a way to escape. This series very artistically delivers a tale full of mystery and thrill while exploring the duality of survival and sacrifice. 

19. Berserk (1997)

• Director: Naohito Takahashi
• Cast: Nobutoshi Canna, Marc Diraison, and Carrie Keranen
• IMDb: 8.7/10
• Streaming: Netflix

Berserk is a dark anime series that is adapted from Kentaro Miura’s manga of the same name. It follows the lone mercenary Guts, a man with a tragic past and a stubborn will to survive no matter what. Despite being a character with immense skill and strength, his life is unfortunately full of violence and suffering. He is unable to let go of his past, especially his connection to the leader of the mercenary group, Griffith. The series carefully navigates the themes of loyalty and betrayal, showing how the conflict between Griffith and Guts becomes an integral part of the series’ plotline. The dark and mature themes of the anime shed light on the concepts of light and darkness, putting together a brutal world where only the fittest can survive.

18. Anohana: The flower we saw that day

• Director: Tatsuyuki Nagai
• Writer: Mari Okada
• Cast: Mutsumi Tamura, Miyu Irino, Ai Kayano, Airi Matsui
• IMDB Rating: 8.2
• Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
• Platforms Available: Crunchyroll, Netflix

When we talk about sad anime recommendations, how can one forget about Anohana: The flower we saw that day. Anohana is a simple yet very sad and emotional anime drama that depicts romantic relationships and tells us about a cute story of childhood friends.

This particular Anime, with its tragic tale, portrays how people deal with the loss and how it affects them, and finally, how they have to get themselves moving in life.

After the death of Meiko Honma, a close playmate of theirs and the main character, five childhood friends grow apart. Jintan Yadomi, the group’s leader when they were kids, abandons high school and lives as a recluse after he begins to encounter the spirit of Meiko, who can only communicate with him and no one else. She’s returned to Jintan to ask him to grant a long-forgotten request she had as a child.

This Anime is a mix of happy and sad moments that take you through real-life moments and show how dealing with personal loss and moving forward in life is possible when you have your friends and family around you.

17. Fan Favorite Sad Romance Anime: Plastic Memories

• Director: Yoshiyuki Fujiwara
• Writer: Naotaka Hayashi
• Cast: Yasuaki Takumi, Sora Amamiya, Chinatsu Akasaki, Sayuri Yahagi
• IMDb Rating: 7.4
• Platforms Available: Hulu

If you want to watch some saddest romance anime, Plastic memories are the one for you. Plastic memories are one among the many Anime that will make you cry. It gives the audience that nothing lasts forever, no matter how much a person wishes it to stay.

In a not-too-distant future, androids that resemble humans begin to increase around the globe. Giftia, a new type of android created by SA Corp., exhibits the most incredible emotion and human-like features of any model ever seen. However, due to technical issues, the androids have a limited-service life, beyond which things start to go wrong.

As a result, SA Corp. develops a terminal service to reclaim Giftia that have reached the end of their useful lives. To rescue the other androids, protagonist Tsukasa Mizugaki, a new terminal service employee, forms a Giftia Isla team.

16. Violet Evergarden (2018)

• Director: Taichi Ishidate, Haruka Fujita
• Writer: Reiko Yoshida
• Cast: Yui Ishikawa, Daisuke Namikawa
• IMDB Rating: 9.2
• Platforms Available: Netflix

The Violet Evergarden is not just a conventional sad romance anime where a young girl and a boy fall in love, but it truly makes you believe in love and develops a pool of emotions within you.

Violet Evergarden, a young female ex-soldier, obtains a position at a writers’ agency after a great war and goes on assignments to compose letters that can unite people.

The Great World War ii has finally concluded after four years of strife. Violet Evergarden, a young girl, raised to be a lethal weapon on the battlefield, was caught up in the carnage. She was left with only words from the person she held dear, but no understanding of their significance, after being hospitalized and crippled in a violent conflict during the World War ii final leg. Violet begins a new life at CH Postal Services after recovering from her wounds as an auto memory doll.

15. From Me to You (2009)

• Director: Hiro Kaburagi
• Cast: Mamiko Noto, Daisuke Namikawa, and Yuki Sanpei
• IMDb: 7.8/10
• Streaming: Netflix

From Me to You is a heartwarming romantic anime series based on the manga by Karuho Shiina by the same name. It tells the story of Sawako Kuronuma, a shy girl in high school who is often misunderstood by the other children because of her uncanny resemblance to Sadako, a character in a horror movie. Sawako’s only desire is to make friends, and her life changes when the popular boy at school, Shota Kazehaya, begins to spend time with her. His kindness encourages Sawako to open up and lower her guard, helping her make friends and face her insecurities. 

14. Best Sad Romance Anime: Your Lie in April

• Director: Kazuya Iwata
• Writer: Takao Yoshioka
• Cast: Kōsei Arima, Kaori Miyazono, Tsubaki Sawabe
• IMDB Rating: 8.5
• Platforms Available: Hulu, Netflix

Kousei Arima was taught to play the piano and precisely follow the score by his mother from an early age to the point where he dominated every competition he attended. He got the moniker “Human Metronome” for his near-perfect performance.

Every young musician looked up to him. However, after his mother died unexpectedly, he went tone-deaf due to the shock and subsequently vanished, never to be seen on stage again. Two years later, Kousei is living a routine existence with the help of his boyhood friends Tsubaki Sawabe and Ryouta Watari.

He continues to live in the WorldWorld of music, even though performing is still out of the question for him. This is until he meets Kaori Miyazono, a beautiful violinist who performs without restrictions and introduces Kousei to the WorldWorld of music again.

This story revolves around faith, hope, friendship and teaches us a new way to color our word. It is one of those Anime that will make you believe there is always a new life waiting ahead.

13. Grave of the Fireflies (1998)

• Director: Isao Takahata 
• Cast: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, and Yoshiko Shinohara
• IMDb: 8.5/10
• Streaming: Netflix

Grave of Fireflies is a movie that is based on the semi-autobiographical short story by Akiyuki Nosaka that is set during the final months of World War II. Seita, a teenage boy, and his younger sister Setsuko struggle to survive after they lose their mother in a bombing raid that takes place in Japan. While their father is busy serving in the Navy, the siblings are forced to face the harsh realities of war and its consequences. They ultimately seek shelter in an abandoned bomb shelter and try to pretend that their lives are normal. Despite Seita’s efforts to take care of his sister, their situation continues to grow painfully difficult and desolate. 

12. Flavors of Youth (2018)

• Director: Li Haoling, Jiaoshou Yi Xiaoxing, and Yoshitaka Takeuchi
• Cast: Taito Ban, Mariya Ise, and Minako Kotobuki
• IMDb: 6.6/10
• Streaming: Netflix

Flavors of Youth a mix of Japanese and Chinese origin, is a movie that explores the bittersweet nature of nostalgia and the passage of time. Focusing on 3 main stories, each tale is directed by different people and shows a unique aspect of love through memory and connection. The first story, “The Rice Noodles” follows the life of a young man as he reminisces about his childhood and the comforting taste of his favorite noodle dish. The second, “A Little Fashion Show”, is about a model coping with the overwhelming pressure of her career while trying to reconnect with her family. The third, “Love in Shangai”, portrays the way a man deeply recounts his first love after finding an old cassette tape.

11. Best Sad Romance Anime: A Silent Voice (2016)

• Director: Naoko Yamada
• Writer: Reiko Yoshida
• Cast: Miyu Irino, Saori Hayami, Aoi Yuki
• IMDB Rating: 8.2
• Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
• Platforms Available: Netflix

This anime story follows Nishimiya Shoko, a grade school student with hearing loss. She starts a new school and is tormented by her peers, particularly Ishida Shouya. It gets to the point where she goes to another school, and as a result, Shouya is ridiculed and isolated, with no friends and no plans. Years later, he decides to seek redemption.

When you see A Silent Voice, be prepared for an emotional roller coaster. Showing that love can find you regardless of when, where, or how you are in life.

10. Re: Zero – Starting Life in Another World (2016)

• Director: Masaharu Watanabe
• Cast: Yusuke Kobayashi, Rie Takahashi, and Inori Minase
• IMDb: 8.1/10
• Streaming: Amazon Prime Video

Re: Zero – Starting Life in Another World is an anime series based on the light novel written by Tappei Nagatsuki. It follows the life of Subaru Natsuki, a young man who one day finds himself mysteriously transported into a magical world. He quickly realizes that he has no magic abilities except one – “Return by Death”, which allows him to rewind time every time he dies and lets him keep the memory of the events that led up to the death. Each death and reset brings him closer to understanding the fantasy world and its inhabitants, helping him ultimately get close to a kind-hearted girl called Emilia.

9. Most Emotional Sad Romance Anime: Banana Fish

• Director: Hiroko Utsumi
• Writer: Akimi Yoshida
• Cast: Yuma Uchida, Kenji Nojima, Hiroaki Hirata, Unshō Ishizuka
• IMDB Rating: 8.3
• Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
• Platforms Available: Netflix

The finale of Banana Fish will tear your heart out and shred it to shreds. Even though the series never directly implies that Ash and Eiji are romantically connected, it is evident that their love transcends friendship.

Eiji’s kindness and affection help Ash heal from his trauma and suspicion of others, and their friendship is immensely heartwarming. Eiji’s letter to Ash indicates that his “spirit is always with him,” despite Ash’s awful fate preventing them from meeting each other again.

8. Hell Girl (2005)

• Director: Takahiro Omori
• Cast: Mamiko Noto, Takayuki Sugo, and Masaya Matsukaze
• IMDb: 7.5/10
• Streaming: Crunchyroll

Hell Girl is an anime that follows the life of a mysterious girl called Ai Enma who offers people who are consumed by revenge a one-in-the-lifetime chance to send their enemies to Hell. However, this comes at a cost – once they make the deal, the person who is seeking revenge will also be sent to Hell when they die. Each episode of this dark anime follows a different person who ends up encountering Ai, each one pushed to their breaking points in their respective lives. Viewers have praised this series for being intensely gripping and visually pleasing, especially with its intricate plotline that ultimately reveals more about Hell and Ai’s past.

7. Only Yesterday (1991)

• Director: Isao Takahata 
• Cast: Miki Imai, Toshiro Yanagiba, and Yoko Honna
• IMDb: 7.6/10
• Streaming: Netflix

Only Yesterday is a drama Studio Ghibli movie that follows the story of Taeko Okajima, a woman who travels from Tokyo to the countryside to visit her relatives. During her time there, she reflects on her childhood and how different her present life has become from what she envisioned it. With an exploration of her youth and school days, the movie beautifully finds a balance between responsibility and dreams, shedding light on the inevitability of personal growth. As Taeko reexamines her choices, the challenges of adulthood and the nostalgic touch of her youth is portrayed to the viewer. It is definitely recommended for those people who are looking to reminisce about their own youthful days.

6. Most Emotional Sad Romance Anime: Charlotte (2015)

• Director: Yoshiyuki Asai
• Cast: Koki Uchiyama, Ayane Sakura, and Momo Asakura
• IMDb: 7.5/10
• Streaming: Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime Video

Charlotte tells the story of Yuu Otosaka, a high school student who has a special ability that allows him to possess other people’s bodies for a short amount of time. However, he abuses this power and takes advantage of other people for his own personal gain. When he meets Nao Tomori, a girl belonging to a school for other students with magical abilities as well, he is forced to transfer to her school. There he learns about other people who are just like him and ultimately discovers the consequences of using his powers. Charlotte is thus a blend of drama and fantasy, shedding light on the themes of guilt, redemption, and ultimate sacrifice.

5. The Wind Rises 

• Director: Hayao Miyazaki
• Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
• Cast:  Hideaki Anno, Miori Takimoto, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Morio Kazama
• IMDB Rating: 7.8
• Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
• Platforms Available: Netflix

Although a lesser known one, Studio Ghibli picture, the idea is that they never disappoint. The Wind Rises is a Studio Ghibli film set during World War II that tells the story of Jiro Horikoshi, a real-life engineer, and Naoko Satomi, the lady he loves.

Even though Jiro was an engineer for weapons of war during World War II, the terrible theme here is that his very innovations have led to or contributed to the deterioration of his loved one’s health. Even worse, Naomi passes away while Jiro is on a business trip, and he never gets the chance to say goodbye. This anime movie is a true example of a long-distance relationship that we face in today’s time.

4. Golden Times

• Director: Chiaki Kon
• Writer: Yuyuko Takemiya
• Cast: Adam Gibbs, Christina Kelly, Melissa Molano, Mike Haimoto
• IMDB Rating: 7.6
• Rotten Tomatoes: NA
• Platforms Available: Hulu, Crunchyroll

Banri Tada suffers from amnesia due to a catastrophic catastrophe, erasing his memories of his hometown and history. He decides to move on and start a fresh life at law school in Tokyo after befriending Mitsuo Yanagisawa. But just as he’s settling into college life, the lovely Kouko Kaga unexpectedly enters Banri’s life, and their chance meeting marks the start of an extraordinary year.

Banri discovers that he is in a new place and a new world after getting a peek at college life—a place where he can be reborn, make new friends, fall in love, make errors, and grow. And as he begins to understand who he is, the route he has chosen brings him to a place where he may be himself.

3. Lost Song (2018)

• Director: Junpei Morita 
• Cast: Konomi Suzuki, Yukari Tamura, and Misaki Kuno
• IMDb: 6.5/10
• Streaming: Netflix

Lost Song is an anime series about Rin and Kaede, two girls who each possess unique abilities in the field of singing. Rin has the power to heal with her songs, while Kaede can manipulate elements with hers. As their lives continue to intertwine, they end up getting involved in a conflict between two powerful nations. This anime is known for its beautiful soundtrack and exploration of themes such as destiny and sacrifice. As Rin and Kaede are forced to confront the repercussions of their gifts, they must navigate the complexities of war and friendship to the best of their abilities.

2. School Days (2007)

• Director: Keitaro Motonaga 
• Cast: Daisuke Hirakawa, Shiho Kawaragi, and Tae Okajima
• IMDb: 5.8/10
• Streaming: Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime Video

School Days is an anime that is based on the story of Makoto Itou, a high school student who becomes romantically involved with two girls, Sekai and Kotonoha. Initially, he falls in love with Kotonoha, but his budding emotions for Sekai lead to a messy love triangle that could surely only end badly in the end. As the series progresses, jealousy and heartbreak play crucial roles in Makoto’s story. Sekai becomes increasingly possessive, and his decisions lead to painful consequences for everyone involved. 

1. Best Sad Romance Anime: Devilman Crybaby (2018)

• Director: Masaaki Yuasa
• Cast: Koki Uchiyama, Ayumu Murase, and Megumi Han
• IMDb: 7.6/10
• Streaming: Netflix

Devilman Crybaby is a series that is based on the iconic manga Devilman by Go Nagai. It follows Ryo Asuka and his childhood friend Akira, who becomes the Devilman after he merges with a demon in an effort to protect humanity. Akira, who now possesses both human and demon abilities, begins to struggle with his identity while he fights the other demons that threaten to end the world as they know it. As Akira embraces his Devilman form, he deals with the consequences of his choices and the complexities of maintaining his past relationships. The series is known for its stunning visuals and gripping action sequences, making it a well-known name among anime lovers worldwide.