One Piece Film: Red, which came out on November 4th, is taking cinemas by storm and capturing hearts and minds due to its stellar production and storytelling. Of course, it relies on the existing One Piece brand to get its big push, but plenty of other anime movies are just as good at emotional beats without established franchises.
In fact, there are plenty that are downright tear-jerkers. These anime films rival and surpass even some of the best live-action movies for eliciting all the feels. They feature complex characters, real issues, and heart-wrenching catharsis that elevates them to a whole new level.
A Silent Voice (2016)
Stream On Netflix
A Silent Voice is a movie with a surprising amount to say about the topic of mental health. It presents a sympathetic yet very dark depiction of illness and bullying. The protagonist, Shoya Ishida, is confronting all his regrets after attempting to take his own life. This causes him to reach out to a deaf girl he bullied as a child.
The girl, Shoko Nishiyama, is a fully realized character in her own right. Watching her and Shoya slowly attempt to make up is heartwarming, but tragedy does strike again. This movie shows how hard moving on and forgiveness can be, and really touches the hearts of its viewers with great animation and writing. It's perhaps the most tear-jerking flick that Kyoto Animation has ever produced.
Princess Mononoke (1997)
Stream On HBO Max
The movies from Studio Ghibli are some of the best in anime. Their film Spirited Away, which is quite melancholic, once held the title of highest-grossing anime film. Princess Mononoke is definitely their saddest film, though, with a bleak world and harsh characters.
The movie takes place in 14th-century Japan and follows a prince named Ashitake as he flees his life of luxury and begins living in the woods. He eventually finds a group of forest spirits and forest-dwelling humans who are in conflict. He befriends a young woman named San and the two of them attempt to reconcile the conflict. Unfortunately, the relationship between humans and forest becomes unbalanced and leads to a natural tragedy.
I Want To Eat Your Pancreas (2018)
Not Currently Available To Stream
The title of this movie is very strange and eye-catching, but it's much sadder than it implies. The story is about an unnamed protagonist who becomes close to a girl who has pancreatic cancer. There is very little dialogue in the movie, overall, leaving things more subtle and solemn.
This allows the two leads to bond through excellent expressive animation and it creates a great connection that audiences can really feel. As the girl's fate becomes clear, audiences also can't help but feel the oncoming dread and the tears start flowing toward the climax.
Wolf Children (2012)
Not Currently Available To Stream
Also known as Wolf Children: Ame And Yui, this film tells the story of a single mother. In college, she met and fell in love with a mysterious man who died shortly after their children were born. He wasn't a regular man at all, though, but a werewolf. And his half-werewolf children are a full handful for her.
While the premise is certainly out there, it does a great job of showing the struggles of motherhood. The heroine, Hana, is remarkably down to Earth and relatable, despite her fantastical situation. Her children growing into their own is the crux of the movie, so viewers will likely cry alongside her as they grow up.
Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020)
Stream On Netflix
Violet Evergarden originated first as an anime before receiving a spin-off film. These were so well-received that a second film was released to end the saga of the show. Even if one's not familiar with the show's plot, though, the movie is worth it for featuring some of the best animation in anime.
The movie begins half a century after the events of the original show. A grandchild asks their grandparent to tell them the story of Violet Evergarden, who has achieved legendary status. The movie switches between the past and present seamlessly with a sort of morose nostalgia. The great use of tone in this movie makes it a wonderful catalyst for waterworks for new and old fans alike.
The Garden Of Words (2013)
Rent On AppleTV
The Garden Of Words is much shorter than most animated movies, being under 50 minutes long. Those 46 wonderful minutes are densely packed with emotional storytelling, though. It's no surprise, as the film is one of the earlier works of anime movie master, Makoto Shinkai.
The movie is mostly a low-stakes series of vignettes of two people meeting and growing closer by chance. As the relationship builds slowly over time, the actual star of this film is the visuals. The environmental design and storytelling are absolutely jaw-dropping. This is easily one of the few movies that will draw tears just from the cinematography alone.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
Rent On Apple TV
The main heroine of this film, somewhat obviously, has the power to travel through time, and she uses it almost constantly in order to rework situations to be better for her. But her abilities have made her quite disconnected from others and their overuse has made her reliant on them for interaction.
Through meeting others over the course of the movie, though, she begins to mature. She begins to use her powers as a crutch less and take more responsibility for her actions. Watching her grow throughout the events of the film instills a sense of pride in the audience, and they can't help but shed tears of joy when she finally becomes responsible and grown up.
Your Name (2016)
Rent On Apple TV
While Makoto Shinkai's anime films are some of the best, Your Name is the most popular, so much so that one might think it's overrated. It's a tear-jerker, for sure, but the first half of the movie is actually a romantic comedy. But it becomes a dour emotional piece in its second half.
The two lead characters find themselves swapping bodies and there are a ton of shenanigans resulting from this premise. But the real appeal is in the protagonists' search for one another. Beautiful animation and scoring make the moments when they do finally unite a waterfall for the eyes.
Perfect Blue (1997)
Stream On AMC+
Many of the saddest anime movies are family dramas or romances, but Perfect Blue stands out. This 1997 Satoshi Kon classic is a fast-paced psychological thriller about the ever-shifting line between fantasy and reality. Mimi Kiroge is a member of an idol band who leaves her career behind to make it as an actor.
As she enters this new career, fame starts to get to her head. This is compounded as a series of murders are committed around her and someone begins stalking her. All the stress and pressure sees her start to lose the concept of the world around her. It's heartbreaking to watch as she completely collapses amidst the surrounding pressures.
Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)
Rent On Apple TV
Grave Of The Fireflies is infamous among Studio Ghibli fans for having perhaps the darkest and saddest ending of any film they ever put out. It does its job well, though, as it carries the anti-war message and tear-jerking moments better than maybe any other anime film, period.
The film takes place during the events of World War II, but rather than focusing on any soldier characters, it instead focuses on two young siblings trying to survive together in a ravaged environment. The family drama is one of Ghibli's strongest suits, and they do it very well here. It's even more impressive that the movie is so good and gut-wrenching, as it was one of the few not directed by the studio's megastar, Hayao Miyazaki. To stand out in a crowd of other amazing films by the same studio is a distinction that puts Grave Of The Fireflies above most other heart-breaking anime movies.