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.
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.
They can make viewers feel a deep sense of empathy. For example, in stories like 'Anohana', when we see the siblings and friends struggle with their past and present emotions, it makes us think about our own relationships. We might have lost someone or had a difficult relationship with a sibling, and seeing it on screen makes us connect on an emotional level.
The characters usually face insurmountable obstacles. In 'A Silent Voice', Shoya and Shoko have a complex relationship. Shoko's deafness and the bullying she endures are obstacles that make their love story sad and full of challenges. Their journey towards understanding and forgiveness is filled with heartache.
Sometimes it is. The level of sadness often hinges on the story's conflicts and resolutions. If there are lots of heartbreaks and tough situations, it might be quite sad.