Grief is a potent emotion, one that we will all experience at some point in our lives. Although there have been various mediums that have covered the theme of grief, anime has not only produced some of the best shows and films that masterfully depict the difficult cycle of dealing with such an emotion but also helps viewers process their own grief.
These anime shows portray heartfelt and highly emotional moments, with characters learning how to tackle their grief in order to move on or use their grief to discover new things about themselves. There may be comedic, lighthearted elements in each of the shows, but they’re all guaranteed to have you reaching for a tissue box by the end of it.
2008
The second season of Clannad covers the After Story arc, which sees the continuation of protagonist Tomoya Okazaki’s story and the beginning of his relationship with Nagisa Furukawa. This 25-episode season (including the OVA episode) highlights why Clannad is one of the best anime romance dramas ever made, showcasing the realistic struggles of marriage and adulthood, as well as a harrowing portrait of loss and the difficulty in overcoming it.
As referenced earlier, Tomoya and Nagisa end up getting married and are soon expecting a child. However, Tomoya’s bliss is brief as Nagisa dies during childbirth, leaving him to raise their daughter, Ushio, alone. He struggles to move on and build a relationship with Ushio, but Tomoya’s suffering continues. Clannad: After Story is guaranteed to change youroutlook on life, leaving you teary-eyed and introspective by the end.
7Ride Your Wave
2019
Directed by Masaaki Yuasa and written by Reiko Yoshida, Ride Your Wave is a sad, bittersweet tale of lost love. The movie’s premise follows Hinako, whose life is saved by firefighter Minato, and the pair grow close and fall in love. But Minato’s accidental death tears Hinako’s life apart, and we see her struggle to move on when she sees Minato in the water when no one else can see him.
Hinako is ecstatic to see Minato again, although, throughout the film, Minato’s spirit urges Hinako to move on. With a gorgeous art style and great execution in delivering emotional impact, Ride Your Wave is a must-see film delving into, not only loss, but the depiction of mental health.
6Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
2011
One of the best anime of the 2010s, Anohana tells the story of a group of once-close childhood friends who are suffering from the death of one of their own. Menma’s death strained the bonds of friendships these teens once shared, until at some point, Jinta is visited by Menma’s spirit, and the story follows Jinta and his former friends reuniting to figure out Menma’s final wish.
Along the way, old regrets resurface, and they start to reconcile and heal from the guilt they felt from being responsible for Menma’s death. The anime not only did a fantastic job establishing and developing the relationships between the remaining group of friends but hammered in a powerful message regarding addressing your emotions, with an ending that’ll have you smiling and weeping.
5Your Lie In April
2014
One of the most memorable music anime alongside Nodame Cantabile, 2014’s Your Lie In April is a verifiable classic. Naturally, the accompanying music score is as touching as the story being told, focusing on classical pieces that become central to each of the characters.
The story follows a talented, renowned young pianist named Kosei Arima, who is so severely affected by his mother’s death that he ceases to play the piano. He then meets violinist Kaori, and their burgeoning friendship (and romantic feelings) reignites Kosei’s love for music, though Kaori’s illness and a love triangle result in complications between the characters. With its top-notch characterisations and compelling plot, Your Lie in April is a beautifully melancholic tale that will not fail to touch your heart.
4Erased
2016
Erased is one of the besttime-travellingmystery thrillers with heavy themes of grief, loss, friendship and guilt. Not only is the plot complex with an excellent build-up that leads to incredible twists, but this 12-episode anime displays protagonist Satoru’s emotional highs and lows very well, as well as gifting sufficient development to the secondary characters.
The premise involves manga artist Satoru Fujinuma, whose consciousness is transported back to his ten-year-old self after his mother’s murder. Even before his mother’s murder, Satoru experiences momentary flashbacks to the past called ‘Revivals’, and is haunted by the murders of his classmates. Satoru, now ten years old again, tries repeatedly to save the lives of his murdered classmates and nail down the real perpetrator, motivated by guilt, the need for justice and using the grief he experienced to push himself to continue.
3Kotaro Lives Alone
2022
Kotaro Lives Alone may appear to be a fluffy and lightheartedslice-of-life anime, but its entire storyline is so heart-wrenching that it’ll cause you to bawl your eyes out. The show’s premise revolves around a four-year-old boy, Kotaro, who is oddly eloquent for his age and lives alone. Kotaro quickly wins hearts with his adorable appearance and good manners, managing to befriend his neighbour, Shin, and several other residents of his apartment building.
However, Kotaro’s strange mannerisms are later revealed to be the result of his abusive and traumatic childhood. Both Kotaro’s story and that of his newfound friends (who are also his pseudo-paternal and maternal figures) are explored, which carries themes of parental neglect, abandonment and compassion. The anime also explores Kotaro’s journey in not only grieving for the loss of his parents but also accepting this loss and healing with the help of Shin and the other adults in his life.
2Violet Evergarden
2018
Violet Evergarden presents a poignant and beautiful portrayal of grief and reconnecting with one’s emotions. The story takes place in the direct aftermath of a war, centring on the protagonist, Violet, a soldier who has robotic arms after losing them in battle. She is taken in by the Evergarden family and starts work as an Auto Memoir Doll, ghostwriting letters for customers.
But Violet’s main preoccupation is with the words her superior, Major Gilbert, said to her before they were separated. Due to being raised in the army, Violet doesn’t understand the nuances of words and emotions, which she has begun to learn through her work colleagues and friends, as well as comprehend the emotions she feels for the Major. Throughout the anime, we basically see the characters around Violet also undergoing various stages of grief due to the war, and the aftereffects while readjusting to peacetime.
1Grave Of The Fireflies
1988
One of the most heart-rending, bleak anime movies, 1988’s Grave of the Fireflies is a war classic produced byStudio Ghibli. Based on a 1967 short story of the same name, Grave of the Fireflies is set near the end of Japan’s role in World War 2. It shows the perspective of average Japanese civilians and how severely affected they are by the war, experiencing never-ending loss, starvation and hopelessness in this cinematic, storytelling masterpiece.
The story follows two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, who lose their mother during an air raid. Things are dire for the average person during this time, and Seita goes through hell trying to feed Setsuko. We see their desperation intensify as Japan nears defeat, and how children suffer the worst during wartime. Grave of the Fireflies not only deals with grief as Seita losesbothhis parents but is achingly realistic in its depressing ending for these poor siblings.
