If you’re looking for an emotional experience, you can dive into a heartfelt drama, listen to moving music, or watch a sad romance anime. We’ve made a list of 18 amazing sad romance anime TV shows that will surely touch your heart.
Even if you’re someone who usually keeps things bold, it’s perfectly fine to express your feelings and enjoy a variety of emotions. So, if you’re up for it, take a look at our selection of the most heart-wrenching romantic anime series. These shows are designed to evoke a range of emotions, and who knows, they might even bring a tear or two to your eyes.
18. Air
At the start of the list for the saddest romance anime is Air. The main character, Yukito Kunisaki, is on a journey to find the Winged Maiden, who was bound to the sky centuries ago.
Inspired by a tale from his mother, Yukito sets off on this adventure and encounters a unique girl named Misuzu. Falling into the genres of drama and slice of life, this sad romantic anime debuted in January 2005 and ran until March of the same year.
17. Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara
Also known by its English name “Iroduku: The World in Colors”, this anime spans genres like romance, drama, and school, and it chronicles the story of Hitomi Tsukishiro and how his world goes from a very sad, dull, and emotionless, to an extremely colorful with the help of his grandmother and an artist in high school.
16. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
Having a very long Japanese name “Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai”. this is another good sad romance anime that was released in October of 2018 and takes us on a heartwarming journey where teenagers experience a rare and unexplainable disease known as Puberty Syndrome. A disease with such supernatural effects, many don’t understand it at all.
15. Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo
When abandoned kittens and his good conscience force second-year Sorata Kanda to move into Suimei High School’s infamous Sakura Hall, it is especially difficult for Sorata considering how crazy the other occupants of the hall are.
First released in October of 2012, this is a good sad romance anime, filled with drama, some comedy moments, and motivational situations, as well as having an ending that you probably would not expect.
14. One Week Friends
Sixteen-year-old Yuuki Hase finally finds the courage to speak to his crush and ask her if she wants to become friends. His crush happens to be a girl by the name of Kaori Fujimiya and is a quiet and reserved girl who cuts herself off from everyone and does not spare him the same blunt rejection she gives everybody else.
However, the more time they spend together, the more she begins to open up to him but, nearing the end of the week, she starts to push him away once more. As you watch this school romance anime you will soon realize why this is classified as really sad.
13. Bokura Ga Ita
First seen in July of 2006 and continuing until December of that year, this is a sad romance anime that will make you cry. Classified into the shoujo section, Bokura Ga Ita is a drama romantic story that follows a girl named Nanami Takahashi, who is filled with the hope of making new friends in her first year of high school.
12. White Album
White Album is one of the saddest romance anime of all time that will takes you on a journey through the life of an up-and-coming idol singer named Yuki Morikawa and college student Touya Fujii. and how their relationship continues in a world where Yuki is becoming more and more famous. How does Touya feel about everything, and what does this mean for their relationship together.
11. Nagi no Asu kara
Also known by its English name “A Lull in the Sea”, this is a sad tv show that tells us about how humans used to live under the sea and use the power known as “Ena” to breathe underwater.
When a group of humans decides they want to rather live on the land, as opposed to in the sea, they lost their ability to breathe underwater.
First seen in October of 2013, we have a sad romantic anime with a story that chronicles the drama and funny moments of some kids who are forced to attend school on the land and leave the sea.
10. Rumbling Hearts
Rumbling Hearts is a touching romantic anime that tells the story of Haruka Suzumiya and Takayuki Narumi. Their lives are wonderful as Haruka confesses her feelings to Takayuki, and he reciprocates. However, tragedy strikes, leading to a heartbreaking turn of events. The anime, known for its emotional depth, falls into the genres of drama and love stories, capturing the saddest moments in the characters’ lives.
9. EF: A Tale Of Memories
On Christmas Eve, Hiro Hirono runs into Miyako Miyamura, a frivolous girl who “borrows” his bicycle in order to chase down a purse thief.
After Hiro finds his bicycle wrecked and Miyako unconscious, the two unexpectedly spend their Christmas Eve together. This leads to many things ranging between love, rejection, acceptance and most importantly memories.
8. Golden Time
Golden Time stands out as one of the most beloved sad romance anime. The protagonist, Banri Tada, faces amnesia, erasing memories of his hometown and past. Despite this, he chooses to forge ahead and starts afresh at law school in Tokyo. As he starts settling into college life, the entrance of the enchanting Kouko Kaga dramatically disrupts Banri’s world. Their unexpected encounter sets the stage for a memorable and poignant year.
7. Plastic Memories
Plastic Memories is a touching and emotional anime that might bring tears to your eyes. It premiered in April 2015 and consists of 13 episodes. This sci-fi, romance, and sad drama follows Tsukasa, who works for a company creating human-like androids. His job is to retrieve these androids before they reach their expiration date, leading to a heartfelt and emotional journey.
6. Angel Beats
Even though Angel Beats! has action and comedy, it’s not just a lighthearted anime. As the story unfolds, you’ll encounter moments of sadness, romantic challenges, and darker elements that might bring tears to your eyes. The plot follows Otonashi, the main character, as he explores the mysteries of the afterlife. Alongside his gun-wielding companions, they engage in a war against an angelic girl. However, Otonashi discovers that the mystery runs deeper than a simple “good versus evil” scenario.
5. Guilty Crown
Guilty Crown is a dark apocalyptic anime set in the future. The main character unexpectedly gets involved in a romantic story with a sad girl, which eventually leads him to join a rebel group fighting against private military forces. The military’s initial goal is to contain a deadly virus called the Apocalypse Virus.
4. Orange
High school life can be fascinating, and Orange adds a unique touch to the typical high school setting with its sad romance story. Naho Takamiya’s sophomore year starts with an unusual twist when she receives a letter addressed to her from her future self, a decade ahead. Initially skeptical, Naho becomes convinced as events predicted in the letter unfold.
The message reveals a life filled with regrets, urging her to correct past mistakes. It also warns her about Kakeru Naruse, a new transfer student. Naho must navigate her decisions carefully, knowing Kakeru won’t be there in the future. With the letter as her guide, Naho has the chance to change her destiny and protect Kakeru from future regrets.
3. Anohana
First seen in April of 2011, and covering themes like drama, supernatural and slice of life, we have a sad romance anime known as “Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day”. The story focuses on Menma’s friends, who meet up five years after her death to help her remember and make her wish come true so she can pass on into the afterlife. Anohana is one of the tear-jerking anime that has been released and it should only be watched when you are really ready to cry.
2. Clannad
Tomoya Okazaki, a troublemaker who thinks life is boring and lacks purpose, often skips school with his friend, intending to drift through high school without achieving much. One day, on his way to school, Tomoya encounters a quiet girl named Nagisa.
They become friends, and Tomoya discovers that life can be more interesting than he believed. llow yourself to shed some tears when watching this touching yet sad romance anime series. It’s a heartwarming tale that might leave you reaching for the tissues until you’ve cried your heart out!
1. Your Lie in April
Topping our list is Your Lie In April, a famous sad romance anime series, especially known for its heart-wrenching story that can bring tears to your eyes. Kousei Arima, the main character, is a young piano prodigy. His life takes an unexpected turn when a violinist asks him to join her for a musical competition. Little did they know that their lives would undergo significant changes after this encounter.
