I have several, but if I must pick one, it’s A Place Further Than The Universe. Interestingly, it’s simultaneously the happiest, too.

It wasn’t the case at first, but when I rewatched it, I was purely, emotionally devastated.

  • Vibi
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    1 month ago

    Your Lie in April and Angel Beats! both crushed me 😭

      • Vibi
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        1 month ago
        spoiler

        It pretty much takes place in a limbo/purgatory. Children who die without finding peace or have unresolved emotions end up there. The story slowly reveals this and explores each characters’ reasons for ending up there - often confronting their death and untangling the things which kept them from moving on. Time itself is kind of nebulous there; two of the main characters, one who starts as a sort of antagonist and the protagonist, are kind of tied together by fate with the protag being a heart donor to the antagonist. The protagonist died before and his heart was given to her, but somehow she ended up there before him even though she lived a full life (if I’m remembering right) l. It’s honestly a super beautiful story, and I think one of my favorite parts is the ending song/mv which plays at the end up each episode- it features every character, and as they move on during the series their spot in the ED is just blank with the final episode ending without any of them.

        • reinei@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago
          Tap for spoiler

          I absolutely agree 😭 But didn’t the post credits scene after the last episode suggest at least some hope for all of them? (Or am I seriously misremembering this because my brain tried really hard not to think it was over?)

          • Vibi
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            1 month ago
            spoiler

            You’re remembering right (or we’re both remembering wrong 🤭)! The final after credits scene implied that the two main characters were reincarnated, and as they were passing each other in a crowd on the street, something compelled the MC to reach out and stop Angel, reuniting them in their new lives 🩷 I think it was unclear if he fully remembered everything that happened, but it was the bittersweet, made me cry even harder, scene that we needed 😭

  • recursive_recursion they/them@lemmy.ca
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    1 month ago

    Next Stop Anime Postpartum Depression

    • Angel Beats
    • Death Parade
    • Steins;Gate S1
    • Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
    • Eureka Seven (happy with the conclusion, sad that the journey is completed, doesn’t help that E7 AO and the movies are also trash)
    • [C] Control: The Money of Soul and Possibility
    • Princess Principal (next movie when augh please release soon🙏🙏🙏)

    All of the anime mentioned above are honestly great🤌 please consider giving any of them a watch if you’re bored🤗

  • ninjabard@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Not overall sad but had moments that absolutely wrecked me.

    Elfen Lied

    Listen to Me Girls, I’m Your Father

    A Silent Voice

    Your Name

    Cowboy BeBop

  • Kit
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    1 month ago

    Voices of a Distant Star. It tops Your Lie in April for me.

  • apotheotic (she/her)@beehaw.org
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    1 month ago

    A Place Further Than The Universe was so gorgeous oh lord. I was watching it on the exercise bike - big mistake - and was just openly sobbing at gym.

    For my picks:

    Shigatsu Wa Kimi No Uso or Your Lie In April is an absolutely heartbreaking story but its so beautiful. Strong contender.

    Also Kimi No Na Wa or Your Name if movies count - I still cry like a baby every time I watch it, but it has a few of the story tropes that I’m an absolute sucker for so I’m biased. Its still incredibly moving even with that in mind.

  • NineSwords@ani.social
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    1 month ago

    Lot’s of anime are sad but most of them end on a positive or hopeful note. That’s why I consider anime that end on a bleak note to be sadder. Stuff like Grave of the Fireflies or the recent Look Back.

  • NeryK@sh.itjust.works
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    1 month ago

    It’s been 20ish years but the name that sprang up to mind was Now and Then, Here and There. I don’t remember much except it was pretty bleak and sad.

    • nyan@lemmy.cafe
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      1 month ago

      Distant-future apocalypse with child soldiers and a scenery-chewing madman (not of the fun type) in charge. The adjective that comes to mind for me is “grim”, but “sad” works too—no one escapes the story unscathed. I have the original DVDs around here somewhere.