From Grave of the Fireflies to Whisper of the Heart, we count down the 20 saddest anime movies that will tug at your heartstrings.

There’s something so relieving about a good purgative cry. While some of these anime movies may be escapist, others will leave you sad and teary eyed. Some may feature fantasy plots, others are set in grim and grounded reality. Yet they’re all tinged with melancholy and wistfulness. Quickly then, here are the saddest anime movies to help you process and release all those pentup emotions:

20. The Dog of Flanders (1997)
Yoshio Kuroda’s anime tells the incredibly sad tale of a boy named Nello, an aspiring painter and his loyal dog Patrasche, who live in the Belgian town of Flanders. The story stays faithful to BritishFrench author Ouida's 1872 novel it’s based on. Despite the simple animation style, Kuroda narrates this emotional tale in a compelling manner. Now, like Ghibli movies, the anime handles emotions with astounding subtlety. It also conveys messages of hope, perseverance, and the power of friendship.

19. I Want To Eat Your Pancreas (2018)
I Want To Eat Your Pancreas follows the story of a high school boy named Sakuya who discovers that his classmate, a girl named Sakura, is secretly suffering from a pancreatic disease. Despite their initial rocky relationship, Sakuya forms a close bond with Sakura as she reveals her true feelings and struggles with her illness. The film explores themes of friendship, love, and mortality as Sakuya learns to cherish every moment with Sakura.

18. Giovanni’s Island (2014)
Mizuho Nishikubo’s anime is set in the aftermath of World War II, and follows two little brothers, Giovanni and Campanella, who live on the disputed island of Shikotan. They form a friendship with their nextdoor neighbor, a pretty Russian girl named Tanya. But crosscultural friendship is threatened by adults’ conflicts. When the Soviet Union occupies the island, the brothers must confront the challenges of living under a new regime. The film explores themes of war, family, and the resilience of the human spirit. The animation brilliantly sets up the tone. It starts with a vivid showcase of colors, and gradually shifts to bleak grays and whites as the circumstances turn severe.

17. The Anthem of the Heart (2015)
Tatsuyuki Nagai’s traditional animation style reminds us of Hayao Miyazaki’s drawings. The story revolves around little Jun Naruse, who one day sees her father coming out of a love hotel with a woman. Without understanding the meaning of it, she tells her mother about it. The parents split and the father blames Jun. Later, Jun makes a deal with an eggshaped prince to never talk again.
She isolates herself from her peers. But, years later in high school she befriends a classmate and finds a way to express herself. Anthem of the Heart is a captivating comingofage story which emphasizes the need to overcome our past trauma. The ending is a bit of a letdown yet it intimately captures the pains of growing up and the struggle of dealing with our feelings.

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Credits:
Script: Arun Kumar
Voiceover: Joslyn Jay