Short anime are often more engaging and intriguing than the never-ending long series – so here’s a list of 8 tear-jerking short anime series.
Anime isn’t always thrilling; some are slow-paced and emotional, which often makes viewers cry. The depth and variety of the anime world are too vast to comprehend properly with just a few titles.
Once hooked, you’ll find yourself sliding through an unlimited collection of shows; it’s difficult to wrap your head around this bottomless pit. While action-packed Shonen franchises are often thrilling to watch, there are countless beautiful short series to check out if you ever need a break from that.
Sad and short anime series always make a long-lasting impact on viewers, leaving you with bittersweet emotions. From painful romance to heartbreaking drama, we bring you a list of the eight most tear-jerking short anime series.
1. Your Lie in April
Your Lie in April is worth every second, especially with such a lovable protagonist, Kaori Miyazono, who helps Kousei Arima break free from his trauma. A “human metronome,” (Kousei) and a “free spirit,” (Kaori) these polar opposites perform together and find their own meaning in music.
The soundtrack is the icing on the cake, especially the blend of violin and piano that strengthens their bonds. The story portrays romance, jealousy, depression, and determination among the characters as they work through their middle school days.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
2. Erased
Erased is a captivating time-travel short anime series. The protagonist, Satoru Fujinima, can travel back in time whenever something unfortunate is about to happen. The difference in time is not much, but it’s enough to help him avoid dangerous situations.
He can only travel back to the exact moment when he can stop the incident from happening. However, when he suddenly gets convicted for his mother’s murder (that he never did), Satoru finds himself 18 years in the past.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
3. Given
Given is a tear-jerking boy’s love and music series centering around Mafuyu Sato and his band members. It’s a story about heartbreak and moving on from your past shackles. The taciturn protagonist carries a Gibson guitar despite not knowing how to play it.
As Mafuyu is unable to deal with his past trauma, he meets Ritsuka Uenoyama and joins his band while discovering his love for music. The story also focuses on the complex relationships of the other band members and Mafuyu’s childhood friends.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
4. Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden may be one of the most visually stunning anime ever, but it’s surely not easy to watch. The story takes place after a terrible war, focusing on a young orphaned girl, Violet. She struggles to fit into an ordinary life after being used as a weapon of war for years.
Violet begins a new life working at CH Postal Services and witnesses the work of an “Auto Memory Doll,” amanuenses that transcribe people’s thoughts and feelings into words on paper. Inspired by the notion, Violet begins to work as an Auto Memory Doll, a career that would ideally lead to self-discovery and take her on an expedition that will change her clients’ lives.
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Where to watch: Netflix
5. Kotaro Lives Alone
At first glance, Kotaro Lives Alone appears to be a light-hearted series. The narrative, however, has a dark undertone that deals with tragedy, trauma, child neglect, and much more. It’s rare to watch heavy topics like that get explored so thoroughly, especially with a 4-year-old toddler as the main character.
These themes combined into a beautiful tale like this are quite unusual, and the series walks the tight line between drama and humor expertly. The story follows Kotaro, who lives alone with a monthly allowance he gets from the “nice people.” His neighbors, curious to find out about his situation, grow fond of them and his seemingly mature yet adorable antics.
Where to watch: Netflix
6. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
Anohana follows the heartbreaking tale of friendship, regret, and pain. This beautiful short anime series unfolds at a slow pace, building to a sudden and powerful ending. Meiko Henmo is unable to pass on even years after her untimely death. The story centers around Jinta Yadomi and his group of friends who grew apart after Meiko’s death.
Jinta lives as a recluse and plays video games all day. Meiko pesters him to grant her wish, but Jinta ignores her, thinking she’s an illusion. Soon after realizing that she is indeed Meiko’s ghost, Jinta and his friends reunite to help her find peace as they heal themselves in the process.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
7. Clannad
Clannad starts off quite humorous and with very great emotions, but gradually becomes melancholy as it leaves us with a heart-wrenching ending. The story follows Tomoya Okazaki, who lost his mother long ago and is fed up with his father’s treatment of him.
He meets Nagisa Furukawa and helps her achieve her dream of reviving the high school drama club. Divided into two seasons, Clannad and Clannad: After Story, the series explores Tomoya’s hardships through his teenage and adult years. Sadly, his sufferings only increase by the end.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
8. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 features the grief, sadness, and loss that come from a natural phenomenon that’s severe enough to change Tokyo’s landscape. The story follows two young siblings, Mirai and Yuki, who were visiting a robot exhibition in Odaiba at the beginning of their summer vacation.
Assisted by Mari, a motorcycle courier, they struggle to reach their parents in Setagaya. Mari is also striving to find her own daughter and mother. The three of them face the mostly destroyed city together, hoping to get home safely to their loved ones.
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
