A lot of anime series are gleeful and lightsome , offer slice - of - life linear perspective on lifespan and invigorating humor . However , there are other animes that portray darker , more grim consideration , leaving devotee emotionally devastated after find the many tragedies they contain .

With toughened topics ranging from incurable final illness to hopelessly violent wars , these eight series are some of the distressing anime has to proffer . Even the most hardhearted fan will sure line up themselves shedding tears upon watching any of these gum anime , because these serial are unafraid to limn some of the most uncheerful aspect of life .

8Attack on Titan

Based on the Original Manga by Hajime Isayama, Produced by MAPPA

Attack on Titanoccurs during a time of war , when bloodthirsty creatures are prowl the globe , looking for man to kill , so it makes sentiency that it is one of anime ’s most withering series . InAttack on Titan , no part is unfeignedly secure , anddeaths come about in almost every episode , leaving fans enquire if their favourite hero will survive to see another Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or not .

Hajime Isayama explain why he pen Attack on Titan ’s controversial termination that depicts the cycle of war and why there ’s no lawful glad ending .

The anime also delves into the negative consequences of war that last long after the initial difference of opinion has concluded . The Titans and man are at war , buthumans are also at warfare with each other , and this brings up other complex societal issuesthatAttack on Titanunpacks thoughtfully over its four anime seasons . From its very first episode , which features the death of a major character , Attack on Titanmakes it abundantly clear just what variety of gum anime it is : a very pitiful , grim one .

A split image depicts Your Lie In April characters Watari, Kaori, and Kosei

7Banana Fish

Based on the Original Manga by Akimi Yoshida, Produced by MAPPA

Banana Fishis set in New York City , following two character reference , Ash Lynx and Eiji Okumura . The two vernal men live in totally opposite worlds : Ash is a gang loss leader , while Eiji is a photojournalist . When Eiji interviews Ash about his experience , the brace lead off towork together to ascertain more about a unusual , dangerous drug experience by the nickname " banana tree fish,“forming an improbable connection in the process .

The series is drear , delving into topics like crime , sexual abuse , the drug trade , and psychological struggles . While most of the series has a somber , disturbing tone , one of the most upsetting facet ofBanana Fishis its tragic ending . Ash and Eiji ’s improbable friendship is an uplift aspect ofBanana Fish , sum laugh and heart toan otherwise sorry Zanzibar copal , but their bond only makes the eddy in the closing curtain even more tear - jolt .

6Demon Slayer

Based on the Original Manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, Produced by Ufotable

The patch ofDemon Slayeris unspeakably horrific , as average teenager Tanjiro Kamado face an alarming position that no one should ever have to suffer , losing his entire family in one cruel attempt . The demon who defeat Tanjiro ’s family , Lord Muzan , result one of his siblings , Nezuko , live , but turned her into a devil , giving Tanjiro a never-ending savage reminder of what the Demon King take from him so heartlessly .

The war between humanity and demons unluckily leads to many fatal accident , and daemon and Hashira likewise fall behind their lives throughout the anime . To make portion even more discouraging , many devil did not desire to become an vicious animal , butLord Muzan transformed themagainst their will . This additional level of horror and ruefulness makesDemon Slayereven sadder , and though the series does intersperse second of comic relief and Tanjiro ’s optimistic lookout , it is surd not to find dysphoric when considering the dreadful events the characters experience every day .

5Your Lie In April

Based on the Original Manga by Naoshi Arakawa, Produced by A-1 Pictures

Your Trygve Lie in Aprilis simultaneously a gorgeous tale about the wonders of music and a shattering story about grief . Kaori Miyazono and Kosei Arima are two musician , Kaori plays fiddle and Kosei plays piano , and they meet one another when they both need a champion the most , reigniting each other ’s love of euphony during a unmanageable phase of aliveness . Kosei is grieve the loss of his female parent , while Kaori is battling a terminal sickness , and they find consolation in each other and the music they create together .

The anime Your prevarication In April has some great quotes amongst its story of tragic romance and expression of grief through music .

Although Kosei and Kaori ’s bud relationship is lovely , the reality of Kaori ’s malady produce harder and hard to ignore as the instalment reach by . The conclusion ofYour Lie in Aprilis almost guaranteed to crush fans ' center , but watching the series is sure to help anyone apprize music on a deeper grade , as well as illuminating many important truths about the human experience , as difficult as these more unpleasant parts of life , like loss , malady , and expiry , may be to think about .

Collage style image featuring art from Violet Evergarden, Banana Fish, and Anohana

4Fruits Basket

Based on the Original Manga by Natsuki Takaya, Produced by TMS Entertainment

fruit Basketis an even smorgasbord of delectation and pain , blending upbeat view with moments that are trusted to get buff ' binge flow , make up it so viewers never hump quite what to expect next . The story midpoint on Tohru Honda , a teenage girl who becomes an orphan when her mother passes away in a car accident and is taken in by the mysterious Soma family , who are all plagued with a cursethat turn them into animals whenever they hug the opposite grammatical gender .

The Zodiac Curse may seem cute and harmless at surface tier , but it actually has substantial upshot for every member of the Soma family , change how they interact with others within the family and the world . Grief , death , exit , and forcible , emotional , and mental abuse all show up inFruits Basket , making many sequence of the series fantastically recondite , thought process - agitative , and more bout - inducing than fans might be anticipating .

3I Want to Eat Your Pancreas

Based on the Original Novel by Yoru Sumino, Produced by Studio VOLN

I Want To Eat Your Pancreasis one of the best Zanzibar copal picture about sickness , but it is doubtless sorrowful . The movie follows Haruki Shiga and Sakura Yamauchi , who are schoolfellow at school . Haruki does not know Sakura well at first , but his life becomes turned upside - down when he learns through the Sir Frederick Handley Page of Sakura ’s diary that she is stand from a fatal , incurable pancreatic disease .

Other serial may sport a twain of sad view , but these ones are emotional from the beginning to the ending . monition : tissue paper are apprize !

Friendship , and eventually romance , blossom between the two student , but the realism of Sakura ’s illness and limited day exit alive weigh on the new lovers . A surprising plot of land crook towardsthe end ofI Want To Eat Your Pancreaswill definitely leave watcher in tears . Although the gum anime does impart some worthful life lessons on appreciating life even in the midst of struggle , that does not make the final scenes of the flick any less upsetting .

Anime about mental health issues

2Death Note

Based on the Original Manga by Tsugumi Ohba, Produced by Madhouse

Death Noteis a murder mystery and psychological thriller , but it is also one of the sad anime serial publication ever at its core . The serial publication follows Light Yagami , a gamey school student nearing graduation with a lustrous hereafter ahead of him , who loses everything when he stumbles upon a Death Note notebook computer that allows him to obliterate by pen down his victims ' name . Light set out with the well of intent , promising to only vote out outlaw , buthe quickly allows the notebook computer ’s powerfulness to corrupt him beyond reparation .

Christ Within becomes more interested in being " god of the newfangled world , " rather than save others , and he break his own self - imposed rules about only killing sinner . look out Light ’s downfall is sincerely tragic , as he begins murdering his own family line members and friends when they start to jeopardize his plans . Light is very ambitious and could have had a successful , happy life , but in a few short month , he threw everything away . Death Notedoes not end favorably for Light , and although he deserves to be punished for his reprehensible actions , it is still saddening to see his dismal fate , and to deliberate all the life he wrongfully ended .

1A Silent Voice

Based on the Original Manga by Yoshitoki Oima, Produced by Kyoto Animation

A Silent Voiceis an gum anime film , not a series , but it managed to tell a poignant , moving taradiddle in just over two hour . The film follows Shoya Ishida , a former hooligan , and Shoko Nishimiya , the little girl he bully , who also come about to be indifferent . As Shoya grew older , he also develop to repent his mistreatment of Shoko , and thus , does his best to make amends and earn Shoko ’s trust and friendship inA Silent Voice . Bullying has exceedingly serious retentive - term upshot that many people do not comprehend fully , andA Silent Voicereveals the negative shock this form of cruel behaviour can have on victims , even many geezerhood after the fact .

genial health can be difficult to address , but these serial efficaciously draw complex situations and issues around the topic .

Although Shoya and Shoko did become friend in the end , they struggle to get to that station of common love and understanding , as Shoko was still ghost by the trauma Shoya ’s past intimidation caused . Other issues like depression , felo-de-se , anxiety , and loneliness are also discussed inA Silent Voice , and although the film is bowel - wrenching , its messages on treating others kindly are necessary for everyone to hear .

I Want To Eat Your Pancreas Attack on Titan Fruits Basket custom cover image by Lauren Kells

Attack on Titan (2013) anime poster

Attack on Titan best episodes Eren seeing Mikasa before she strikes in special 2

Banana Fish

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019) anime poster

Your Lie in April (2014)

Fruits Basket (2019)

I Want to Eat Your Pancreas - Poster

Death Note Franchise Poster

A Silent Voice (2016) - poster

Anime

Comics

Attack On Titan