A great sad anime story often has strong character development. For example, in 'A Silent Voice', Shoya's journey from a bully to someone seeking redemption is really moving. His relationship with Shoko, a deaf girl he once bullied, is full of complex emotions. When you see how they both grow and the pain they go through, it makes the story very sad and also very powerful.
Another great one is 'Clannad: After Story'. It shows the life of Tomoya Okazaki after high school. He has to face many difficulties in life, including the loss of his wife Nagisa during childbirth. The story is extremely sad as it portrays the harshness of life and the importance of family. It really tugs at your heartstrings.
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day' is also a sad anime. Menma has died, but her spirit lingers. Her friends are haunted by her death and their past actions. They gradually come to terms with their feelings of guilt and grief as they try to help Menma move on.
There were many animes that had been adapted from sad novels, such as Sword God's Domain, About My Reincarnation as a Slime, Index of Forbidden Magic Books, Gate to the Stone of Destiny, and so on. These anime works were all adapted from sad novels. By adapting the anime, the plot and characters in the novel were presented more vividly and attractive. These anime works not only had a breakthrough in the storyline, but also made a lot of efforts in character creation and emotional expression, which was deeply loved by the audience.
Another is 'Clannad'. Tomoya Okazaki meets Nagisa Furukawa, and as their relationship develops, we see the story of her family, including her relationship with her parents and her sister. There are many sad elements, especially when dealing with family hardships and the challenges of sibling relationships in the face of illness and difficult family dynamics.
Grave of the Fireflies. Set during World War II, it tells the story of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko. They struggle to survive on their own after their mother is killed in an air raid. Eventually, Setsuko dies of malnutrition, and Seita is left alone and later also perishes. It's a heart - wrenching tale of the horrors of war and the vulnerability of children.
Often, these anime have a lot of emotional depth. They make you feel for the characters deeply. For example, in 'Clannad', the relationships between the characters are so complex and real that when bad things happen, it really hits you hard. The music and the art style also play a big role in enhancing the sadness. Darker color palettes and melancholic music are common in such anime.
An anime with a sad ending (the female lead dies) can refer to the following example:
Detective Conan was an anime with a reasoning theme. The death of the female lead, Yuanshan and Ye, in the game became one of the clues for Conan to find the truth.
Naruto also had many scenes where the female lead died, such as the ninja Tsunete of Kinoha Village, the mother of Naruto Uzuzumaki, and the female lead of Sanin Village, Saninobu.
The female lead of Tanjiro, Hinata Hinatsu, in the movie 'Ghost Blade' also ended with death.
Other animes with sad endings included the female lead of Death Note, Yagami Tsuki, the female lead of Fate Stone Gate, Rentaro Okabe, and the female lead of Fate/Zero, Rin Tosaka.
Some of the more sentimental and meaningful cartoons were as follows:
1. Your Name. (Your Name): This is an animated film directed by Makoto Shinkai. It tells the story of time and space between two young people. Through touching melodies and beautiful scenes, it portrays a profound love theme.
2 Death Note: This is a Japanese manga created by Oba Thrush, which tells the story of a talented high school student who discovers a notebook that can kill. Although the purpose of this notebook is to help people solve social problems, the protagonist uses this notebook to kill countless innocent people because of his high IQ and curiosity. This story is full of sadness and reflection.
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: This is a Japanese manga and anime created by Ishida Atsuhito that tells the story of two brothers who achieve their goals through alchemy. Although there was a huge difference between their world and the real world, this story portrayed a deep theme of friendship and kinship through the feelings and sacrifices between brothers.
4. Grave of the Fireflies: An animated film directed by Makoto Shinkai about a couple who lost their child during the war. Although they had lost their homes and loved ones, they still held on to their love and hope for the future. This story was full of touching lyrics and deep thoughts.
5. A Chinese Oddsey: This is a Japanese novel by Keigo Higashino, which tells the story of two teenagers. Although this story is full of suspense and reasoning, it also portrays a profound theme of love and human nature, making people reflect on the complexity and contradiction of human nature.