Anime is often seen as a time-consuming hobby, with many beloved series that span multiple seasons and years. Naturally, fans become attached to anime and its characters and remember them even after they leave. Anime movies, in comparison, are much shorter, lasting only for an hour or two. Yet, they have the same effect. Even with much shorter stories, they still tell emotionally impactful stories about unforgettable characters paired with second-to-none production.
When talking about anime movies, Ghibli is the obvious first answer that comes to most people’s minds. For nearly 40 years, Studio Ghibli has produced some of the most iconic movies, like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke. But in these 40 years, various other studios have also given us movies that are as good, if not better, than some Ghibli movies.
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Cry Along With The Saddest Anime Movies Ever
These are some of the saddest anime movies that are heart-wrenching to watch.
5 Centimeters Per Second
Shortly after their first meeting, Takaki and Akari bonded over their love for books. Always spending time together led to an assumption that they would continue to do so forever. But fate had other plans. They got separated when Akari had to move to another town. They parted ways without a proper goodbye, but connected again through letters. After almost a year, they finally decided to meet again.
On a snowy day, Takaki traveled hours to meet Akari. Delayed infinitely by bad weather, his weeping heart could do nothing but wait and hope Akari returned home safely. Unsure if Akari was still there, he continued to travel to his destination.
5 Centimeters Per Second is a collection of three stories from different stages of Takaki’s life. It is a realistic, yet painful tale about love, distance, and separation. The movie relies heavily on setting the atmosphere and tells its story in the form of letters. It is one of Makoto Shinkai’s earliest works and is often praised for its immersiveness.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Reaching the end of her school life soon, Makoto faced the overwhelming decision of deciding her future. Delaying this gruesome fate, she continued to spend time with her friends. Her clumsy and slack life suddenly came to a halt when she found out that she could leap through time.
Hoping the present would continue forever, she used her powers to avoid the future. But soon she found out that her insignificant decisions, too, have consequences. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time tells a coming-of-age romance through a silly, carefree, and cheerful main character. It is a reminder of the fleeting nature of time and the inevitable tomorrow.
Cosmic Princess Kaguya
A modern retelling of an old Japanese folktale, Cosmic Princess Kaguya is a visually brilliant, music-driven, and emotional movie. Iroha, hustling between school, part-time work, and hobbies, lives a normal life. But one day on her way home, a baby strangely appears out of nowhere. Unable to ignore this infant, she starts to look after it. In only a few days, this infant, now named Kaguya, grows into a teenager. Together, they enter a virtual world, where Kaguya decides to tackle an impossible task.
Cosmic Princess Kaguya is a Netflix original that was released earlier this year. The movie’s charming duo made the viewers love it. It starts comically but develops into an emotionally deeper story. Reinvented vocaloids, well-choreographed action, and the traverse between the real world and the virtual world make it a unique and memorable work.
Summer Wars
Similar to Cosmic Princess Kaguya, Summer Wars blends the real and virtual worlds. Being only good at math, Kenji has no plans for the upcoming summer break. As the vacation starts, he finds himself accompanying his senior, Natsuki, whom he also secretly likes. Everything seemed peaceful and happy till Kenji accidentally activated a lethal virus. Now, with the whole world in danger, everyone works together to stop this digital threat.
Summer Wars is a heartwarming sci-fi adventure that sets itself apart through an emphasis on the importance of family. The plot itself is rather straightforward. A world where the internet has significantly influenced daily life is suddenly in crisis because of a virus. Kenji is initially found guilty, but when he proves himself, he is accepted by everyone, and he finally understands what it means to be in a family. The characters, too, are not extraordinary, but their existence as a whole shows the various connections and bonds in a family. It is an emotional story that shows the ups and downs of being a family.
Look Back
Fujino’s drawings in the school magazine brought her praise and admiration. Believing that she had hardly tried led her to arrogantly believe that her drawings were the best. But when compared to Kyoumoto’s drawing, hers became average. Shook by the experience, Fujino started drawing seriously. Eventually, the two met, and Fujino realized that they might not be that different after all. This realization started a collaboration that eventually turned into a friendship.
Look Back is a short story about two young girls who share a similar passion for drawing. But despite this similarity, they have qualities that make them different. The movie shows the effort and hard work that goes into art. It soon develops into an emotional narrative that explores themes of self-exploration, parallel journeys, and regret. The movie is considered to be the creator: Fujimoto Tatsuki’s interpretation of his own artistic journey.
Weathering With You
The fast-paced life in Tokyo has slowed down because of the never-ending rain. A young runaway named Hodaka, working part-time at an editorial studio, finds himself searching for clues about a mysterious sunshine girl. He meets Hina, a cheerful girl who helps him. Soon, he finds out that she is the sunshine girl. Together, they start taking jobs to clear the sky and help people escape the infinite rain. But soon the consequences of interfering with nature catch up with them.
Weathering With You arguably has one of the best animations we have seen to date. Everything from the simple raindrops to the view of a flooding Tokyo looks brilliant. The movie combines supernatural elements and charming characters to tell the tale of youth and the importance of choices.
I Want To Eat Your Pancreas
Always buried in books, the protagonist is detached from society and has no friends. But this changes when he accidentally reads his classmate’s personal diary. Now aware of Sakura’s illness and her nearing death, he is constantly asked to hang out with her. Initially hesitant and bothered, he starts to enjoy spending time with Sakura. Getting closer with each passing day, the two walk together towards an inevitable end.
I Want To Eat Your Pancreas, despite a tragic setting, gives a beautiful and positive message. Sakura’s bright personality allows the protagonist to open up and see the world around him differently. It is a story of love, acceptance, and change while also discovering the true meaning of being alive. It is both heartbreaking and happy, and leaves its viewers with strong emotions.
Wolf Children
A young college student named Hana falls in love with a mysterious man who turns out to be a werewolf. Accepting him for who he is, they soon turn into a family of four. But tragically, Hana’s husband passes away. Left behind with two wolf children, she fails to raise them in secrecy and decides to move to the countryside. In a new place, surrounded by new people, she starts the challenging journey of a single mother.
Wolf Children is a lovely tale about motherhood and growing up. Along with its supernatural elements, it’s a realistic portrayal of the struggles of motherhood. Through Yuki and Ame, it also discovers the themes of self-discovery and acceptance. It emphasizes the importance of a community that is visible through the steadily growing relationships that Hana was able to form in the countryside.
Your Name
Unsatisfied with her current life in the countryside, Mitsuha wishes to be born as a handsome Tokyo boy in her next life. The next time she wakes up, she mysteriously exchanges bodies with a boy from Tokyo named Taki. This starts an unusual bond, where the two share each other’s lives and experiences. But once this phenomenon suddenly stops, Taki goes on a journey to find Mitsuha. Awaiting him is a shocking truth that defies space and time.
Your Name is widely considered to be many fans’ favorite anime movie. Similar to other Makoto Shinkai films, it is a visual masterpiece. With a supernatural setting, it explores themes of love, separation, and the constant longing for someone. It is poetic and leaves viewers with a satisfactory yet ambiguous ending.
A Silent Voice
With a declining will to live, Ishida is haunted by the wrongdoings of his past. Hoping to fix his mistakes, he seeks Nishimiya, a deaf girl whom he bullied in the past. Despite changing his ways, his past gives him the assumption that he is despised and hated by everyone. Having shut himself away for so long, he no longer has friends. But things finally start to change when he meets Nishimiya and also makes a new friend at school.
A Silent Voice is an emotionally driven story about bullying. It shows the cruelty and inconsideration that can be faced by someone with a disability. But the movie also shows change. It positively shows that with reflection and realization, mistakes can be followed by efforts in the right direction. With a sizable cast of characters, it portrays themes of empathy and forgiveness.
Rearrange the covers into the correct Japanese release order.
Easy (5)
Medium (7)
Hard (10)
Start
Rearrange the covers into the correct Japanese release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)Start
