15 Saddest Anime Moments Of The Century (So Far)

Some anime scenes hit so hard they stay with you for years, and the 21st century has given us plenty of those unforgettable gut punches. From heartbreaking goodbyes to irreversible losses, these moments shaped their stories and the way fans talk about them. Below are fifteen scenes that viewers still bring up whenever the conversation turns to tears and tissues. Each entry notes the series or film and a bit of context, along with the studio that brought the moment to life.

Nina and Alexander’s fate in ‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’

Shou Tucker’s transmutation that fuses Nina and Alexander leaves the Elric brothers powerless to help and sets a darker tone for the journey ahead. The episode lays out the moral cost of alchemy with chilling clarity. Bones frames quiet domestic scenes against cold laboratory imagery to highlight the violation at the story’s core. The fallout informs Ed and Al’s later choices and the series’ ongoing debate about human experimentation.

Kaori’s letter in ‘Your Lie in April’

Kousei receives Kaori’s final letter after the recital season ends, revealing the truth behind her feelings and her decision to perform. The letter resolves hidden questions about their connection and the motivations behind her risky surgery. A-1 Pictures pairs the read-through with gentle piano motifs and soft lighting to echo the series’ musical themes. The scene also catalyzes Kousei’s renewed commitment to play, closing the arc that began with his stage trauma.

Ushio in the snow in ‘Clannad: After Story’

Tomoya’s world collapses during a citywide illusion as he loses Ushio after finally learning how to be a father. The sequence mirrors Nagisa’s earlier tragedy to show a cycle of grief and hope. Kyoto Animation uses recurring visual symbols like the empty field and the light orbs to thread the family narrative together. This turning point sets up the story’s metaphysical resolution and the meaning of the town’s miracle.

Mitty’s release in ‘Made in Abyss’

Nanachi asks Reg to end Mitty’s suffering after revealing the experiments in the Seeker Camp. The scene explains the curse mechanics and Bondrewd’s methods without cutting away from the choice at hand. Kinema Citrus lets the sound drop to near silence to center Nanachi’s request and Reg’s response. The decision redefines the party’s limits and foreshadows later confrontations in deeper layers.

The Going Merry’s farewell in ‘One Piece’

The crew says goodbye as the Going Merry burns after carrying them through countless voyages. The ship’s final words acknowledge the strain of earlier escapes and the toll of damage left unrepaired. Toei Animation stages the farewell at sea with low waves and a quiet sky to keep the focus on the ceremony. This closure marks the end of the early era of travel and transitions the Straw Hats toward larger ambitions.

Jiraiya’s last message in ‘Naruto: Shippuden’

Jiraiya uncovers Pain’s secret and sends a coded clue before falling in Amegakure. The scene connects his research to Konoha’s future defense and Naruto’s training path. Studio Pierrot intercuts the battle with student flashbacks to anchor the mentor legacy. The code later unlocks the mystery of the Six Paths and shifts the war’s momentum.

Menma’s goodbye in ‘Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day’

The group finally acknowledges their grief as Menma writes her last messages and disappears in the woods. Each letter resolves a specific guilt thread that kept the friends apart. A-1 Pictures frames the farewell with a soft summer palette to tie back to their childhood day by the river. The closure lets the Super Peace Busters rebuild their bonds without the weight of unspoken regret.

Rengoku at dawn in ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mugen Train’

Rengoku holds the line against Akaza to keep passengers safe and passes on guidance to Tanjiro before the sun rises. His final stance confirms the Hashira’s duty to shield civilians even when outmatched. Ufotable anchors the fight with careful blade effects and slow camera sweeps to track breathing forms. The moment reshapes the power scale and sets new goals for the trio’s training.

Sasha’s final meal plan in ‘Attack on Titan’

Sasha is shot during the surprise raid inside the Walls and breathes her last with a simple food wish. The event exposes a shifting battlefield where enemies can infiltrate the heart of Paradis. MAPPA stages tight interior angles to keep the scene grounded inside a fragile victory. Her death escalates the cycle of reprisals that defines the Final Season’s political turn.

Violet’s letters for a mother and daughter in ‘Violet Evergarden’

Violet writes a series of birthday letters from a dying mother to her young child, scheduled to arrive year after year. The job explains how Auto Memory Dolls can preserve a voice beyond a lifetime. Kyoto Animation combines soft rain, lamplight, and careful pen strokes to emphasize the tactile weight of each page. The delivery montage shows time passing as the letters continue their quiet work.

David’s last run in ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’

David pushes his body past safe limits to shield the crew and clear a path for Lucy. The sequence shows the cumulative strain of cyberware and the city’s economy of favors and debts. Studio Trigger overlays frantic motion with brief stills to track perception breaks under heavy chrome. The ending cements how Night City consumes talent while preserving a promise for one person to leave.

March’s farewell in ‘To Your Eternity’

Fushi watches as March accepts her fate to protect others, setting a precedent for how he learns from humans. The episode details the Yanome ritual and how false myths sustain control. Brain’s Base uses earthy browns and close framing around the campfire to keep the focus on small gestures. March’s imprint becomes part of Fushi’s memory bank and guides later choices.

Mami’s fall in ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’

A veteran magical girl is taken out mid-battle, revealing the real cost behind contracts and wishes. The abrupt loss reframes the rules for newcomers and viewers alike. Shaft mixes shadowed interiors with stark color blocks to strip away the usual comfort of transformation scenes. The aftermath pushes Kyubey’s role into sharper relief and drives the remaining girls toward riskier decisions.

Korosensei’s final attendance in ‘Assassination Classroom’

Class 3-E carries out the plan and gives Korosensei a proper sendoff under the night sky. The scene caps a year of lessons that turned out to be training for a precise mission. Lerche balances the classroom roll call with tight character beats to record each student’s growth. The resolution ties academic milestones to a world-saving objective and closes the bounty on their teacher.

Ai’s backstage confession in ‘Oshi no Ko’

Ai shares a private truth moments before a violent interruption changes her children’s lives. The episode explains the idol industry’s pressures and the risks of parasocial attention. Doga Kobo contrasts bright stage lighting with dim apartment halls to show two sides of a career built on image. The event sets up a long investigation and a new identity for the story’s lead.

Share the moments you think belong here and tell us which scenes still make you tear up in the comments.