Best Anime Series with Emotional Storylines: 15 Tearjerkers That Will Break Your Heart

If you watch anime only for big fights and flashy powers, you are missing out on some of the most emotional stories out there. Some of the best anime series with emotional storylines are quiet, slow, and deeply human. They are not about saving the world. They are about saving yourself.

These shows focus on grief, healing, love, regret, and growing up. They are made for viewers who want to feel something real. Sometimes that feeling is soft and bittersweet. Sometimes it hits like a truck and leaves you staring at the screen with red eyes and tissues everywhere.

Anime is often seen as action, comedy, or fan service. In reality, many series are character driven dramas that just happen to be animated. They explore trauma, loneliness, found family, and second chances in ways that feel honest and surprisingly relatable. When an anime invests time in character development, even a single smile or goodbye can hurt more than the biggest plot twist.

In this guide, we will look at some of the best anime series with emotional storylines. You will find shows that explore different types of pain and healing. Some focus on romance and heartbreak. Some deal with war and trauma. Others feel like quiet reflections on life, time, and memory.

From the haunting letters of Violet Ever Garden to the family struggles in Clannad: After Story, and from Your Lie in April to Attack on Titan, these stories stay with you long after the credits roll. If you are ready for anime that makes you cry, think, and feel, this list is for you.

What Counts as an Emotional Anime Series?

Not every sad scene makes a show truly emotional. A few tragic moments or a shocking death are not enough on their own. The best anime series with emotional storylines work because they build strong characters and relationships first. Then they let those characters face real consequences.

More Than Just Sad Moments: It Is About Emotional Depth

A good emotional anime is not only about suffering. It is about depth. The characters feel real, with flaws, dreams, and fears. They grow over time, and their choices matter.

You will often see:

• Characters who change in believable ways.
• Relationships that are tested by time, distance, or hardship.
• Conflicts that cannot be solved with a fight or a simple apology.

These shows make you care about the cast so much that even small scenes can hit hard. A quiet dinner, a letter, or a simple goodbye can feel heavier than a big battle. Emotional depth comes from empathy. When you understand why a character acts a certain way, their pain becomes yours too.

Themes That Make These Anime Hit Hard

Emotional anime often shares a few common themes. Each one speaks to something we deal with in real life.

Grief and Loss
Many series explore the pain of losing someone or something important. It might be the death of a loved one, the end of a friendship, or a dream that never came true. The story follows characters as they try to accept that loss, or fail to do so.

Trauma and Healing
Some emotional anime focus on trauma. The characters might be survivors of war, abuse, bullying, or neglect. The story shows how those wounds affect their present life. Healing is not quick. It is a slow, messy process. These series are powerful because they show progress in small steps.

Love and Heartbreak
Romance is a huge part of many emotional anime. It is not always cute or perfect. Sometimes love is complicated, one sided, or destined to end. These shows capture the sweetness of first love and the pain of letting go. They remind us that love can change us, even if it does not last.

Regret and What Ifs
Regret is another strong theme. Characters might wish they had spoken up, stayed, or chosen differently. Some stories even use time travel or letters from the future to explore the idea of second chances. These plots ask a simple and painful question: what if you could go back and fix your biggest mistake?

Growing Up and Letting Go
Coming of age stories are often very emotional. Growing up means facing reality, making hard choices, and letting go of parts of your past. This anime shows how scary and sad that process can be, but also how important it is.

Why We Love Emotional Anime Even When It Hurts

So why do people seek out anime that makes them cry? The answer is simple. It feels honest.

Emotional anime lets us experience intense feelings in a safe space. You can sit on your couch and cry with a character who lost a parent or a friend. You can feel less alone when you see someone on screen dealing with depression, guilt, or trauma.

There is also catharsis. Sometimes you carry stress or sadness you cannot fully name. Watching a tearjerker anime can help release some of that. After a good cry, you might feel lighter, even if the story itself is sad.

At the same time, it is important to remember that these shows are not a replacement for real support. They can be comforting companions, not full solutions. If a story hits too close to home, it is okay to pause or step away.

With that in mind, let us look at some of the best anime series with emotional storylines that you can add to your watchlist.

The Best Anime Series with Emotional Storylines 

Below are a curated list of emotional anime series and a few movies that are too powerful to ignore. Each title brings something unique, but all of them aim straight for the heart.

1. Violet Evergarden – Learning to Feel After the Trauma of War

Violet Evergarden follows Violet, a former child soldier who knows only how to follow orders. After the war ends, she becomes an Auto Memory Doll, a ghostwriter who writes letters for others. The problem is that Violet does not understand emotions, including her own.

At first, she treats letter writing like a mechanical task. Over time, through her clients, she learns what love, regret, and grief look like from the outside. Each episode focuses on a different person or family. Many of these stories are self-contained tearjerkers. There are episodes about a dying mother writing letters for her daughter, a playwright dealing with loss, and more.

The series is a visual masterpiece, with stunning animation and music that supports its emotional weight. The real power, though, lies in Violet’s gradual transformation. She starts as a tool of war and slowly becomes a person who can understand and express her feelings.

If you enjoy anime about grief and healing, and you like slow, contemplative storytelling, Violet Evergarden is a must watch. It is one of the best anime series with emotional storylines for viewers who want to see trauma handled with care and beauty.

2. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – Time, Regret, and the Weight of Memory

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End begins where most fantasy anime end. The demon king has already been defeated. The hero’s party has disbanded. The world is at peace. Frieren, an elf mage who ages very slowly, returns to wandering after saying goodbye to her human friends.

Decades pass, but for Frieren it feels like a short time. When she returns to visit her old companions, she realizes something painful. Their lives are nearly over, while hers has barely begun. She did not truly value the time they spent together, at least not in a way she understood then.

After a key loss, Frieren starts a new journey. This time it is not about saving the world. It is about understanding humans, memory, and the past she took for granted. Along the way, she travels with new companions and slowly learns to express feelings she ignored for years.

The tone of Frieren is quiet and reflective. It is less about big battles and more about small moments. A sunset. A shared meal. A memory triggered by a spell. It is perfect for viewers who enjoy bittersweet and reflective stories that explore how time changes our view of the people we once walked beside.

3. Your Lie in April – Music, First Love, and the Pain of Letting Go

Your Lie in April tells the story of Kousei, a piano prodigy who stops playing after his abusive mother dies. The trauma is so deep that he can no longer hear the sound of the piano while performing. He lives in a dull, muted world, going through life without passion.

Then he meets Kaori, a free-spirited violinist who plays with wild emotion rather than strict precision. She forces her way into his life, drags him back onto the stage, and challenges every rule he follows. Through her, Kousei begins to reconnect with music and feelings he has tried to bury.

The series mixes bright, almost whimsical visuals with heavy emotional beats. It explores love, guilt, and grief through performances and everyday moments. The concerts are not just musical events. They are emotional battles where characters confront their past and their fears.

Your Lie in April is one of the most famous romance and heartbreak anime. It is full of sweetness and humor, but it also builds toward a painful and beautiful conclusion. If you are looking for an emotional anime that blends art and feeling, this one should be near the top of your list.

4. Clannad: After Story – The Most Devastating Family Drama in Anime

Clannad: After Story picks up where Clannad leaves off. It follows Tomoya, once a drifting high school delinquent, as he steps into adult life. He starts working, builds a family with Nagisa, and faces the challenges of supporting himself and the people he loves.

At first, the show still has some light and funny moments. You see the warmth of everyday life, simple dates, and small victories. Then the tone shifts. Tomoya and his family are hit with serious hardships. The series explores themes like illness, parental responsibility, and the crushing weight of grief.

What makes Clannad: After Story so emotional is the way it builds its world. You spend many episodes getting to know the characters and the town they live in. When tragedy strikes, it does not feel like a random plot device. It feels like something that happened to people you know.

This anime is often called one of the saddest anime shows of all time. It is not light viewing, but it is powerful and unforgettable. If you want one of the best anime series with emotional storylines that focuses on family, growing up, and loss, this is an essential watch.

5. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day – Childhood Guilt and Saying Goodbye

Anohana follows a group of childhood friends who drift apart after a tragic accident. Years later, they are teenagers living separate lives. One day, the ghost of their friend Menma appears to Jinta, the former leader of the group. She looks the same as she did as a child and says she cannot move on.

This event forces the group to reconnect. Each member carries guilt and unresolved feelings about Menma’s death. Some blame themselves. Others resent how things changed. As they try to fulfill Menma’s final wish, they are also forced to confront their own pain and regrets.

The series is short, only eleven episodes, but it is tightly written and emotionally heavy. It deals with grief in a very direct way. There are awkward confrontations, tears, and honest confessions. The final episodes, especially the group scene near the end, are known for breaking even strong viewers.

If you want an emotional story that does not require a huge time investment, Anohana is a great choice. It is a clear example of how anime about grief and healing can hit hard without needing a complex plot.

6. A Silent Voice (Movie Spotlight) – Bullying, Guilt, and Self Forgiveness

While not a series, A Silent Voice deserves a place in any list of emotional anime. It begins with Shoya, a boy who bullied a deaf girl named Shoko in elementary school. His behavior led to serious consequences for her and eventually for him.

Years later, Shoya is a teenager who lives with deep self-hatred. He is isolated, depressed, and convinced that he does not deserve happiness. He decides to find Shoko and try to make amends. The story that follows is not a simple redemption arc. Both of them carry scars that do not fade easily.

The film tackles bullying, disability, social exclusion, and suicidal thoughts with sensitivity. It also shows how hard it is to forgive yourself, even when others start to forgive you.

A Silent Voice is a strong example of trauma and healing in anime. It does not offer easy answers, but it does show that reaching out, even in small ways, can change a life. If you are interested in psychological emotional anime that deals with heavy themes, this should be on your must watch list.

7. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Emotional Core Inside Intense Action

At first glance, Demon Slayer looks like a stylish action series. It follows Tanjiro, a kindhearted boy whose family is slaughtered by demons. His sister Nezuko survives but is turned into a demon herself. Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps to find a way to cure her and to protect others.

What makes Demon Slayer stand out emotionally is the way it treats its characters, including the demons. Many antagonists have tragic human pasts. Before they became monsters, they were often victims themselves. As Tanjiro fights them, he feels compassion and sorrow, not just anger.

The bond between Tanjiro and Nezuko also drives the story. He never gives up on her humanity, even when others see her as a threat. Their relationship, along with Tanjiro’s encounters with friends and mentors, brings heart to a series filled with battles.

If you want emotional anime with plenty of action, Demon Slayer is a strong pick. It proves that a show can be visually intense and still carry a sincere emotional core.

8. Attack on Titan – War, Freedom, and the Cost of Revenge

Attack on Titan begins as a survival story about humans trapped behind walls, fighting man eating titans. As the series progresses, it becomes a complex political and psychological drama. The truth behind the titans and the world changes everything the characters thought they knew.

Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and others are forced to confront not only external enemies but also their own beliefs. As the story darkens, lines between hero and villain blur. Characters carry heavy trauma from war, loss, and betrayal. Their choices come with terrible costs.

Emotionally, Attack on Titan hits hard because it shows how hatred and fear can twist people. Friendships fracture. Ideals crumble. Even characters you once admired make decisions that are painful to watch.

This is one of the best anime series with emotional storylines if you are interested in moral ambiguity and the human cost of conflict. It is not an easy watch, but it is gripping and thought provoking.

9. Mushishi – Gentle, Haunting Stories About People and Spirits

Mushishi follows Ginko, a wandering expert on mushi, strange life forms that exist between the natural and spiritual worlds. Each episode is a self-contained story about people affected by mushi.

The series is slow, quiet, and atmospheric. It does not rely on big twists or dramatic speeches. Instead, it focuses on small, haunting tales. Many episodes touch on loneliness, illness, memory, or the relationship between humans and nature.

The emotional impact is subtle but strong. You may not cry loudly, but you might feel a lingering sadness or calm after each episode. The show is perfect for viewers who enjoy bittersweet and reflective anime that feel like gentle ghost stories.

10. Made in Abyss – Innocence, Horror, and Emotional Resilience

Made in Abyss centers on Riko, a girl who dreams of exploring the Abyss, a vast pit filled with relics and strange creatures. She meets a robot boy named Reg and decides to descend into the depths to search for her mother.

At first, the art style is cute and charming. As they go deeper, the tone shifts sharply. The Abyss is dangerous and cruel. The children face intense physical and emotional suffering. The show explores themes of obsession, sacrifice, and the cost of chasing a dream.

This series is emotionally powerful but very dark. It combines a sense of wonder with scenes that can be hard to watch. If you plan to see it, it is fair to include a content warning for disturbing imagery and body horror.

For viewers who can handle heavy material, Made in Abyss is a unique and intense emotional experience.

11. 5 Centimeters Per Second – Distance, Time, and Unfinished Love

5 Centimeters Per Second is a film made of three connected stories about Takaki, a boy who slowly drifts away from his childhood friend Akari as they grow older. They start close, but distance, time, and circumstance pull them apart.

The film focuses on quiet, everyday moments. Missed trains. Unsent messages. Silent looks. There are no huge confrontations. Instead, it shows how life gently nudges people away from each other.

The emotional weight comes from how realistic it feels. Many viewers recognize that sense of “what could have been” from their own lives. It is a perfect example of bittersweet and reflective storytelling.

12. Additional Emotional Favorites

Here are a few more emotional anime worth mentioning. They may not all be full series, but they fit the themes of this guide.

Angel Beats!
Set in a high school in the afterlife, this series follows students who died with regrets. They rebel at first, but over time, each character confronts their past and finds a way to move on. It mixes comedy with sudden emotional punches and ends on a strong, bittersweet note.

March Comes in Like a Lion
This series focuses on Rei, a young professional shogi player who struggles with depression and isolation. Through his interactions with a warm family of sisters and other players, he slowly begins to heal. The show treats mental health with empathy and shows that progress can be slow but real.

Fruits Basket (2019)
This remake tells the story of Tohru, a kind girl who meets the Sohma family, members of which are cursed to turn into animals of the zodiac when hugged by the opposite sex. Beneath the cute premise lies a deep exploration of abuse, trauma, and self-worth. Many characters have painful backstories, and the series follows their path toward acceptance and freedom.

These titles add more variety to the list and help show how wide the range of emotional anime really is.

Different Flavors of Emotional Anime (Find What Fits Your Mood)

Not every emotional anime feels the same. Some are quiet and introspective. Others are intense and dramatic. It helps to know what kind of emotional experience you want before you start watching.

Bittersweet and Reflective Stories

These shows and films do not always try to make you sob. Instead, they leave you with a soft ache and a lot to think about.

Examples include:

• Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
• Mushishi
• 5 Centimeters Per Second

They are great for nights when you want something thoughtful and calm, with a touch of melancholy. The sadness is present, but it is gentle.

Romance and Heartbreak

If you enjoy love stories that come with plenty of tears, this flavor might be for you. These anime focus on relationships that shape the characters deeply, even if they do not last forever.

Examples include:

• Your Lie in April
• Clannad and Clannad: After Story
• Other romance drama series you might explore

Expect moments of joy, awkwardness, and genuine tenderness, followed by scenes that hurt. These shows are perfect if you want to feel everything that comes with love, both good and bad.

Trauma and Healing

Some of the best anime series with emotional storylines focus on characters who have been through very difficult experiences. They may be dealing with war, bullying, family abuse, or deep regret. The core of these stories is the journey toward healing.

Examples include:

• Violet Evergarden
• A Silent Voice
• March Comes in Like a Lion

These series can be heavy, but they are often very comforting too. They show that pain does not define a person forever. With time, support, and effort, it is possible to move forward.

How to Watch Emotional Anime in a Healthy Way

Emotional anime can be powerful, but they can also be triggering or exhausting. It is important to take care of yourself while watching them.

Check Triggers and Content Warnings First

Many emotional anime deal with serious topics such as suicide, self harm, abuse, war, or serious illness. Before you start a new series, it can help to quickly look up basic content information.

If you know you are sensitive to certain themes, choose carefully. There are many emotional shows that do not rely on very graphic or intense scenes, so you can still enjoy deep storytelling without pushing yourself too far.

Pace Yourself. It Is Okay Not to Binge

It is tempting to watch an entire season in one or two sittings. With emotional anime, that can be draining. After several heavy episodes in a row, you might feel overwhelmed.

Try watching one or two episodes at a time, especially if the story is intense. Pair your emotional show with something light, such as a comedy or slice of life, to balance your mood. Giving yourself time to process what you saw can make the experience more meaningful and less tiring.

Let Yourself Feel, but Reach Out If It Is Too Much

It is normal to cry over fictional characters. Feeling sad, numb, or thoughtful after a strong episode is part of the experience. Emotional anime are designed to make you care.

However, if a show is making you feel worse in your real life, or if it brings up very painful memories, it is okay to stop. Talk to friends, share your thoughts with an online community, or simply step away for a while. If the feelings are very intense or persistent, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. Your well being matters more than finishing any series.

FAQs About Emotional Anime Series

Here are some common questions people have when they start exploring emotional anime.

• Which Anime Series Has the Saddest Storyline?

There is no single answer, because sadness is personal. However, a few titles are often mentioned when people discuss the saddest anime shows.

Popular candidates include:

• Clannad: After Story
• Your Lie in April
• Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
• Grave of the Fireflies (a movie, not a series)

Each of these focuses on different types of loss and pain. The one that hits you hardest will depend on your own experiences and what themes you connect with most.

• Are Emotional Anime Shows Good for Beginners?

Yes, emotional anime can be great for beginners, as long as you are okay with heavy topics. Many of these series are very accessible because they focus on universal feelings like love, regret, and grief.

Good starting points include:

• Your Lie in April
• Violet Evergarden
• A Silent Voice
• Anohana

These are easy to follow, visually engaging, and strongly emotional without needing deep knowledge of anime culture.

• Do Emotional Anime Always Have Bad or Tragic Endings?

Not always. Some emotional anime end in a very sad or bittersweet way. Others are hopeful, or even uplifting. The journey may be painful, but the destination can still offer comfort or a sense of peace.

For more hopeful outcomes, you might look at:

• Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
• Fruits Basket (2019)
• Parts of Violet Evergarden

These shows acknowledge pain, but they also focus on healing, growth, and the idea that life can improve after hardship.

• Why Do People Enjoy Anime That Makes Them Cry?

It might seem strange to seek out sadness, but emotional anime can be very rewarding. They often have strong writing, complex characters, and meaningful themes.

Crying can provide relief. Seeing a character work through something similar to your own struggles can make you feel less alone. You may also gain new insight into your own feelings. Emotional anime does not just hurt. They help you understand why that hurt exists and what can be done with it.

Final Thoughts – Let These Emotional Anime Stories Stay with You

The best anime series with emotional storylines are more than simple entertainment. They are stories about loss, love, regret, and healing that stay in your mind and heart long after you finish them. They remind you that it is okay to feel deeply, to cry, and to care about fictional characters.

The list in this guide is not complete. There are many more emotional anime out there waiting for you to discover them. Think of this as a starting point. You can explore titles that match your mood, whether you want reflective, romantic, or intense stories.

If you enjoy this kind of storytelling, share your experience. Which emotional anime hit you the hardest? Which scene made you cry the most? Your recommendations might lead someone else to a show that helps them through a tough time.

In the future, you might explore related topics, such as the saddest anime movies, comfort anime that feel like a warm hug, or the most wholesome emotional anime that heal more than they hurt.

Whether you are looking for a good cry or a quiet reflection on life, these emotional anime series are ready to take up permanent residence in your heart.