Top 20 Anime Guaranteed to Make You Cry

These anime focus on loss, healing, and the bonds that hold people together, and they do it with stories that build steadily to powerful emotional payoffs. You will find series that track characters over many episodes as well as films that deliver everything in under two hours. Expect family drama, coming of age struggles, and life changing friendships. Each pick includes what it is about, who made it, and what to expect in terms of format and scope.

‘Your Lie in April’ (2014–2015)

This series follows piano prodigy Kousei Arima as he returns to music after trauma silences his ability to hear his own playing. He meets violinist Kaori Miyazono, whose free style pushes him to confront his past. Directed by Kyohei Ishiguro and produced by A-1 Pictures, it adapts Naoshi Arakawa’s manga. It runs 22 episodes with an OVA.

‘Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day’ (2011)

A childhood group drifts apart after a tragedy and reunites when the ghost of their friend Menma appears to one of them. The story explores guilt, unspoken feelings, and the process of letting go. Tatsuyuki Nagai directs with scripts by Mari Okada at A-1 Pictures. It is an 11 episode series with a sequel film that revisits the characters.

‘Clannad After Story’ (2008–2009)

This sequel continues Tomoya and Nagisa’s lives beyond high school into adulthood. It shifts from school comedy to family drama that examines work, marriage, and parenthood. Kyoto Animation adapts Key’s visual novel with director Tatsuya Ishihara. The season contains 24 episodes plus extra shorts.

‘A Silent Voice: The Movie’ (2016)

The film follows Shoya Ishida, who seeks to make amends with Shoko Nishimiya, a deaf classmate he bullied in elementary school. It tracks their attempts at reconciliation while addressing isolation and self worth. Naoko Yamada directs for Kyoto Animation, adapting Yoshitoki Oima’s manga. The movie runs about 130 minutes.

‘Grave of the Fireflies’ (1988)

Set in World War II Japan, the story centers on siblings Seita and Setsuko as they struggle to survive after an air raid. It presents the civilian cost of war through daily details and dwindling resources. Isao Takahata directs for Studio Ghibli from Akiyuki Nosaka’s semi autobiographical novella. The film has a runtime of about 89 minutes.

‘Violet Evergarden’ (2018)

Former child soldier Violet works as an Auto Memory Doll who writes letters for others while learning to understand emotions. Each episode focuses on a client whose story connects to larger themes of grief and love. Kyoto Animation produced the series with Taichi Ishidate as director. It spans 13 episodes plus a side story and a feature film conclusion.

‘I Want to Eat Your Pancreas’ (2018)

This film follows a quiet student who discovers his classmate Sakura has a terminal illness. Their shared time becomes a record of small moments and honest conversations. Shinichiro Ushijima directs for Studio VOLN from Yoru Sumino’s novel. The movie runs about 108 minutes.

‘Angel Beats!’ (2010)

Set in a high school afterlife, students form a group to rebel against a mysterious system while confronting regrets from their lives. The narrative blends action with personal backstories that resolve unfinished business. Seiji Kishi directs, with original creator Jun Maeda handling music and composition. The series includes 13 episodes and several OVAs.

‘Tokyo Magnitude 8.0’ (2009)

After a massive earthquake hits Tokyo, siblings Mirai and Yuuki try to return home with the help of a motorcycle courier. The show presents disaster logistics, emergency response, and the strain on families. Masaki Tachibana directs for Bones and Kinema Citrus. It is an 11 episode self contained story.

‘Wolf Children’ (2012)

A college student falls in love with a man who can transform into a wolf and later raises their two children alone in the countryside. The film covers parenting choices and the children’s search for identity. Mamoru Hosoda directs for Studio Chizu. The runtime is about 117 minutes.

‘Plastic Memories’ (2015)

In a near future, androids called Giftia have a fixed lifespan, and a retrieval team collects them before memory loss begins. The show follows new recruit Tsukasa and partner Isla as they handle final goodbyes with owners. Yoshiyuki Fujiwara directs at Doga Kobo from an original concept. The series has 13 episodes.

‘To Your Eternity’ (2021–)

An immortal entity takes on different forms after making bonds with people and learning from their lives. The story moves through arcs set in distinct locations with recurring themes of mortality and connection. The anime adapts Yoshitoki Oima’s manga with Brain’s Base producing season one and Drive handling later seasons. It currently spans multiple cours across several seasons.

‘Banana Fish’ (2018)

Teen gang leader Ash Lynx investigates a mystery tied to a phrase called Banana Fish that links to his traumatic past. The plot moves through New York crime networks and government conspiracies. Hiroko Utsumi directs at MAPPA, updating the 1980s manga setting to the present day. The series runs 24 episodes.

‘March Comes in Like a Lion’ (2016–2018)

Professional shogi player Rei Kiriyama navigates depression and finds support with the Kawamoto sisters. The show balances competitive matches with careful attention to daily life and recovery. Shaft adapts Chica Umino’s manga with director Akiyuki Shinbo. It includes two seasons totaling 44 episodes.

‘Fruits Basket’ (2019–2021)

Orphaned student Tohru Honda lives with members of the Soma family who transform into zodiac animals under specific conditions. The reboot adapts the entire manga with a focus on family trauma and healing. TMS Entertainment produces with Yoshihide Ibata directing. It spans three seasons that complete the story.

‘Orange’ (2016)

High schooler Naho receives letters from her future self urging her to change events to help a new transfer student named Kakeru. The series examines regret and the impact of small choices. Hiroshi Hamasaki directs at Telecom Animation Film, adapting Ichigo Takano’s manga. It includes 13 episodes and a follow up film.

‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ (2011)

Middle schoolers are offered contracts to become magical girls with consequences that reshape their reality. The narrative uses a compact 12 episode run to reveal its rules and costs. Akiyuki Shinbo directs at Shaft with Gen Urobuchi writing. The franchise continues with compilation films and sequels.

‘Made in Abyss’ (2017–)

An orphan named Riko descends into the Abyss with a robot boy named Reg to search for her mother. Each layer introduces new ecosystems, relics, and biological effects that intensify as they go deeper. Kinema Citrus adapts Akihito Tsukushi’s manga with music by Kevin Penkin. The series includes seasons, compilation films, and a theatrical sequel that links arcs.

‘Air’ (2005)

A traveling puppeteer arrives in a seaside town and meets a girl who may be connected to a legend of a winged maiden. The story moves between present day and past timelines that explain a repeating curse. Kyoto Animation adapts Key’s visual novel with Tatsuya Ishihara directing. The TV run has 12 episodes and a special.

‘A Place Further Than the Universe’ (2018)

Four high school girls join an expedition to Antarctica for reasons that include family ties and personal goals. The series covers training, logistics, and the realities of a polar journey. Atsuko Ishizuka directs at Madhouse from an original concept. It is a 13 episode complete story.

Tell us which entries hit you hardest and what other titles you think belong on this list in the comments.