What Are The Saddest Romance Anime Of All Time?
Well, this list includes anime series that span genres like romance and drama. There’s no sweet relationship without sad moments and hardships that lead to a happy ending. Welcome to Bakabuzz!
If you’re a fan of romance anime that depicts sad stories, you’re in the right place. We’re about to showcase classic and new series that are all sad and feature love stories to move you. Let’s countdown our list.
18. Air
Kicking off the list of the saddest romance anime series with “Air”, which is a show with various great characters that depicts a sweet heart-breaking story. This emotional anime is a good recommendation for those who like drama and the supernatural. however, it can be a difficult story for some to follow.
Overall, the show follows Yukito Kunisaki on his adventure of looking for a girl with wings who flies in the sky. During this journey, he stops in a small town for a bit, in order to make some money. There, he meets a strange girl named Misuzu. who invited him to stay and spend some time with her. Yukito decides to settle down in the small town, without forgetting to continue seeking to find the winged girl.
Read Also: Top 20 Romance Anime Series of 2020 to Watch
17. Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara
Irozuku Sekai No Ashita Kara is a school anime has 13 episodes and first aired in the fall of 2018. It covers drama, romance, and magic genres.
The story revolves around a girl who can’t see colors and comes from a family of mages. She gets the opportunity to travel back in time and attends her grandmother’s high school, aiming to connect with her own blocked-off emotions. It’s a sad and romantic journey like no other!
16. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
15. Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo
Known also as The Pet Girl of Sakurasou, this is another good saddest romance anime series, that also has drama, comedy moments, and situations going on too. Produced by J.C.Staff the series takes place at Sakura Dorm, which is a place that gathers the most trouble-making and delinquent students.
Due to keeping a stray cat, Sorata Kanda was punished and found herself joining the Sakura Dormitory too. where it is so hard to fit in with the bizarre collection of dorm residents. The story is enjoyable to watch as it explores their daily lives, talents, hard work, romance, and friendship.
14. One Week Friends
Produced by Brain’s Base Studio, One Week Friends is a slice of life romance comedy anime that explores the emotional story of the main character Hase Yuuki, who is interested in his reserved quite crash Fujimiya Kaori.
So, now that Hase Yuuki has the courage to speak with his classmate, he decides to ask her to become friends. Will they become friends?
13. Bokura Ga Ita
Bokura Ga ita is an amazing slice of life, romance anime series, with sad moments that may even make you cry, the story follows Nanami Takahashi, who wanna make many new friends. Yano Motoharu is a popular boy in the school, but he cares little for Yano and Nanami doesn’t like this attitude either. However, Nanami soon begins to warm up to Yano and takes a liking to him.
The two will starts dating, but the problem is that they will find themselves living in the shadow of Yano’s relationship with his formerly dead girlfriend. Hence, Nanami and Yano struggle to keep their relationship afloat amid misunderstandings and heartache with the certainty of their love for each other.
12. White Album
Well, this is one of the most underrated saddest romance anime that depicts the drama and happy moments of Touya Fujii, who is an ordinary student, along with his famous girlfriend.
So, while it may seem exciting to watch your girlfriend on television, how does Touya really feel about all this? Between the challenges associated with Yuki’s career and other people that Touya meets at his university, their love story may not last…
See Also: 20 Best Sad Anime Series that will Make you Cry
11. Nagi No Asukara
Nagi No Asukara is a solid anime that blends fantasy, romance, and drama genres. The series tells a sad story about a time when everyone lived in the ocean. Some people, desiring life on land, left the ocean and discarded special garments given by the sea god.
This led to a division between sea dwellers and land dwellers, each with their own ways of thinking. Despite the separation, they remained fellow humans, maintaining contact as time passed.
10. Rumbling Hearts
Rumbling Hearts is probably one of the best drama anime i have ever seen, mingled with romance, and a beautiful mess of emotions, some that bring joy, and other that are sad.
this anime really worth watching, as it highlights the daily lives of four high school friends, and the tragic turn of their lives due to an accident that leaves one of them in a coma, leading to a relationship between the girl’s boyfriend and one of her friends. Hence, things are never the same for these four friends again…
9. Ef: A Tale Of Memories
Ef: A Tale of Memories and its other seasons offer a unique viewing experience! This is an anime that covers romance, supernatural, and drama genres, and it’s not your typical show – it’s like a piece of artistic expression brought to life.
Himura Yuu, a dedicated student at Otowa Academy, encounters a mysterious girl named Amamiya Yuuko who surprisingly knows him. Reconnecting with Yuuko brings back childhood memories and forces Yuu to confront the regrets and sorrows of their past. There’s much more to discover, so give this amazing series a watch. It’s considered one of the saddest romance anime ever – you can thank me later!
8. Golden Time
Golden Time is a well-known romance comedy that can sometimes be a bit sad. It tells the story of Banri Tada, who suffers from severe memory loss due to an accident. Despite his memory loss, Banri makes friends with Mitsuo Yanagisawa, and they start a new life at law school in Tokyo.
Things get interesting when Kouko Kaga, a gorgeous but obsessive girl, enters his life, marking the beginning of an unforgettable year. Banri realizes that this is a chance for a fresh start—a new life where he can make new friends, fall in love, make mistakes, and grow. This journey leads him to a bright and unforgettable life that he never wants to forget.
7. Plastic Memories
Plastic Memories is another good sad romance drama anime, which will teach how to deal with the inevitable sad ends that approach every day. The story follows Tsukasa Mizugaki who manages to land a job at an Intelligence company and is responsible for the creation of “Giftias” technological species that take the form of normal humans. However, unlike humans, Giftia can only live for a maximum of approximately nine years.
This is one of the top saddest romantic anime that you should watch! as it will get interesting as soon as Tsukasa falls in love with a beautiful Giftia named Isla. who is considered the best in Giftia retrievals? Slowly, their relationship progresses, and as both slowly fall in love, Isla is revealed to be nearing the end of her own lifespan.
Check Also: The Best Romance Movies of all Time to Watch Right Now!
6. Angel Beats
Angel Beats is one of the most emotionally touching romance anime series that will bring tears to your eyes. What adds to the sadness is the beautiful music and stunning visuals, making it one of the saddest anime you’ll ever watch.
Set in a high school in the afterlife, a place where souls reside after experiencing difficulties in their past lives. To move on and be reborn, they must confront and overcome their hardships. The main story follows Yuzuru Otonashi, a boy with amnesia who finds himself in this afterlife.
5. Guilty Crown
You have missed so much in your life if you haven’t seen “Guilty Crown” an anime that cant be created twice. Well, this romance, action, fantasy, and sad dramatic anime series follows the main character Ouma Shu, who has been avoiding making trouble for others.
However, his life will turn upside down upon meeting a beautiful girl called Yuzuriha Inori, a key member of a resistance guerrilla group called “Funeral Parlor”, whose members pilot mecha weapons to fight against the government. The story will develop way more than what you can imagine, wanna know more? go watch this show right now!!!
4. Orange
Orange is one of the saddest romance anime stories of all time, it will make you cry, but In the end, it will make you more appreciative of life and gives it more importance.
Naho is heeding warnings in a letter from her future self, that’s why she wants to fix her mistakes by making sure the Naho from the past can make the right decisions, especially toward Kakeru.
What’s more shocking is that she discovers that ten years later, Kakeru will no longer be with them. With the future letter in her hand, Naho now has the power to watch over Kakeru closely.
3. Anohana
Anohana is one of the saddest and most successful romance anime series ever. Shedding some tears watching this show is not something impossible! because the show will truly touch your emotions and give you a heart-wrenching experience.
The story revolves around a group of friends who grew apart after the death of Menma. However, the ghost of their long-lost friend might be just what they need to reunite. As the group gathers, they aim to fulfill Menma’s dream and help her move on, all while learning valuable lessons to carry on without her. Throughout the story, we’ll see how Menma’s death impacted each friend, forcing them to confront their own struggles and deal with feelings of guilt.
2. Clannad
Produced by Kyoto Animation, Clannad is romance drama anime that will make cry like a “bi*ch”. it consists of two seasons: the twenty-three-episode-long Clannad which is infinitely more sad and depressing. followed-up, up with the twenty-four-episode-long Clannad: After Story.
While the first part of Clannad deals with run-of-the-mill high school drama, mostly friendships and romantic relationships. the second part is much more serious and has an impactful look at the struggles of adulthood (with a strong plot that deals with the importance of family).
1. Your Lie in April
At the top of our list is Your Lie in April, one of the best and saddest romance anime series ever made. It follows Kousei’s journey of recovery as he discovers that music is more than playing each note perfectly; a single melody can bring the fresh air of April.
As Kousei falls in love with Kaori, he learns that beneath her cheerful exterior lies an impending tragedy, much like the anime’s bright color palette. Accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack, Your Lie in April is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about emotional trauma, overcoming loss, and moving forward. Be prepared to shed a tear while watching this touching series.
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