Slice-of-life anime is commonly mixed with comedy and romance to create a carefree and stress-free environment. However what occurs when it incorporates extra somber moments? On this article, we are going to discover the other finish of the spectrum: the highest 18 saddest slice-of-life anime of all time (together with films).
Editor’s Word: Whereas some anime films and TV collection talked about is probably not explicitly labeled as slice of life, they include parts of the style and have been included on this record.
1. Your Lie In April
- Kind: TV Collection
- Genres: Drama, Music, Romance
- Aired: 2014 – 2015
Your Lie in April is a narrative a few younger pianist named Kōsei who loses his means to listen to after his mom dies. Years later, he meets Kaori, a free-spirited violinist who helps him rediscover his love for music.
The anime is thought for its stunning animation and shifting soundtrack. What makes it unhappy are the tough matters it offers with, comparable to loss and grief, that are sadly a part of the human expertise.
That being mentioned, additionally it is a narrative of hope and the significance of dwelling life to the fullest.
2. A Silent Voice
- Kind: Film
- Genres: Drama, Slice of Life, Faculty
- Aired: 2016
A thought-provoking and unhappy slice-of-life film, A Silent Voice follows Shōya Ishida, a former bully who’s ostracized by his classmates after teasing a deaf woman named Shōko Nishimiya. Years later, Shōya seeks out Shōko to apologize and make amends.
The anime is known for a lot of causes, however its highly effective storytelling stands out amongst them. The themes it tackles are sometimes fairly miserable; nonetheless, it approaches them with sensitivity and empathy. Moreover, the characters are complicated and relatable, making the film so shifting that it’ll stick with you lengthy after you’ve completed watching it.
3. Angel Beats
- Kind: TV Collection
- Genres: Motion, Comedy, Drama, Supernatural
- Aired: 2010
Angel Beats! is a well-liked anime that mixes parts of comedy, drama, motion, and slice-of-life. The story takes place within the afterlife, the place college students who died earlier than graduating highschool are despatched to a purgatory-like world known as the Afterlife World Entrance (AWF).
The AWF is a spot the place college students can struggle again towards the god-like entity often called “God” who controls their afterlife. The principle character, Otonashi, joins the AWF’s SSS Membership, a gaggle of scholars who insurgent towards God and search to seek out that means of their afterlife.
The unhappiness is rooted in its exploration of heavy matters, together with loss, grief, and the aim of life. Nonetheless, it additionally has a powerful comedic aspect, which helps to stability the emotional depth of the story.
4. I Need to Eat Your Pancreas
- Kind: Film
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Aired: 2018
Life, dying, love, and friendship—these themes are current in each individual’s life on this earth. Maybe that’s why I Need to Eat Your Pancreas, a tragic slice-of-life anime film that appears into these themes, stays among the many hottest, regardless of airing six years in the past.
The story follows Sakura Yamauchi, a highschool woman who’s recognized with a terminal sickness, and her classmate, Takumi Tanabe, who discovers her secret.
As Sakura’s situation worsens, Takumi turns into more and more hooked up to her and begins to understand the worth of life.
5. Welcome to the NHK
- Kind: TV Collection
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Psychological
- Aired: 2006
Regardless of the recommendation discovered on platforms like Reddit and Quora advocating for remedy, psychological sickness sadly stays taboo in lots of nations. Welcome to the NHK seeks to confront this stigma by shedding gentle on heavy matters comparable to social isolation, melancholy, and psychological sickness.
The principle character of the collection is Tatsuhiro Satō, a NEET (Not in Employment, Schooling, or Coaching) who turns into an increasing number of withdrawn from society. As he offers together with his loneliness and nervousness, he meets different remoted individuals who create a singular neighborhood.
6. Anohana: The Flower We Noticed That Day
- Kind: TV Collection
- Genres: Drama, Supernatural, Slice of Life
- Aired: 2011
If there’s an anime that masterfully creates a relatable story for anybody who has skilled loss, it’s Anohana. It fantastically depicts friendship, loss, and even the method of shifting on. The characters’ struggles with their emotions of loss and guilt really feel actual and heartfelt.
On this anime, we comply with a gaggle of childhood pals who reunite after the dying of their pal, Meiko “Menma” Honma.
As they cope with their grief and attempt to fulfill Menma’s last want, the group confronts their very own private struggles and learns the significance of cherishing the time they’ve collectively.
7. 5 Centimeters Per Second
- Kind: Film
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
- Aired: 2007
5 Centimeters Per Second is an anime movie directed by Makoto Shinkai that tells the story of a younger boy named Takaki Tōno and his experiences with love and distance. The movie is split into three segments, every specializing in totally different phases of Takaki’s life. It begins together with his childhood friendship with a woman named Akari Shinohara. They share a deep bond, however as they get older, circumstances pull them aside.
The film exhibits the ache of unrequited love and the eager for somebody who is much away. Takaki and Akari wish to keep linked, however life retains getting in the way in which, making it exhausting for them. It additionally highlights emotions of loneliness and isolation as Takaki’s recollections of Akari change into bittersweet. The gorgeous animation and music add to the emotions of loss and nostalgia, making viewers actually really feel for the characters.
8. Backyard of Phrases
- Kind: Film
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
- Aired: 2013
The director of The Backyard of Phrases, Makoto Shinkai, is a famend Japanese animator and filmmaker identified for his dazzling and emotional works, comparable to Weathering with You and Your Identify. These movies have resonated with audiences and proceed to seize their consideration, setting a excessive bar from the beginning.
The story follows a highschool pupil named Takao, who meets an older girl named Yukari in a park on wet days. As their unlikely friendship develops, they share their struggles, however the story finally reveals the ache of unfulfilled connections and the truth of their separate lives, making a bittersweet expertise.
Now, The Backyard of Phrases doesn’t disappoint. It’s a film that’s each unhappy and delightful, exploring themes of loneliness and isolation whereas highlighting the therapeutic energy of nature. The movie options completely mesmerizing photographs of rain and greenery, making it actually eye sweet.
9. Scum’s Want
- Kind: TV Collection
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Psychological
- Aired: 2017
A darkish and provocative anime, Scum’s Want is meant for an grownup viewers. Whereas it’s tempting to say it needs to be cherished, this collection is really unsettling, revealing the darker sides of human nature, particularly in relation to like.
Lust, intercourse, dishonest, and betrayal are all central themes; Scum’s Want covers all of them. Human relationships are complicated, and this anime captures that actuality. Don’t anticipate something heartwarming—Scum’s Want is genuinely one of many saddest slice-of-life anime for a purpose.
On this anime, we comply with two highschool college students, Hanabi and Mugi, who faux to be in a relationship to deal with their emotions for others they can’t be with.
10. Plastic Recollections
- Kind: TV Collection
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
- Aired: 2015
Plastic Recollections might need an odd title nevertheless it suits it completely. In any case, the anime is about synthetic people often called Giftias. Specifically, it facilities round a Giftia named Isla who’s nearing the top of her lifespan, and a younger man who works for the corporate producing Giftias who begins creating emotions for her.
If you happen to’ve ever puzzled whether or not AI can change into aware or have emotions, this anime delves into that concept. It explores what it means to be human, to have a soul, and whether or not romance between a human and a man-made being is feasible. Total, it’s one of many saddest slice-of-life anime with a really bittersweet ending.
11. Wolf Kids
- Kind: Film
- Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Slice of Life
- Aired: 2012
A touching and mawkish film, Wolf Kids is a few younger girl named Hana who falls in love with a person who can rework right into a wolf. They’ve two youngsters collectively, Yuki and Ame, who inherit their father’s means to change into wolves. After their father dies, Hana is left to boost her youngsters alone, struggling to guard them whereas permitting them to decide on between dwelling as people or wolves.
Simply by studying the synopsis, you may inform it is a unhappy slice-of-life film. It delicately tackles themes of loss, single motherhood, and the challenges of elevating youngsters who’re totally different. Hana’s journey is crammed with love, but in addition with hardship and sacrifice.
12. Violent Evergarden
- Kind: TV Collection
- Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Slice of Life
- Aired: 2018
At first look, Violet looks as if an extraordinary younger girl. Nonetheless, that couldn’t be farther from the reality; in actual fact, she was raised as a soldier. After the conflict ends, she struggles to seek out her place within the “new world”.
Struggling to attach with others is a typical expertise. For a lot of, exploring the that means of affection—whether or not in romance or friendship—is a problem. Violet Evergarden is named a heartfelt anime that tackles themes of loss, trauma, and connecting with different folks. Whereas there are numerous unhappy themes on this eye-catching collection, it’s additionally crammed with hope and inspiration, as Violet learns the true that means of affection and discovers the great thing about life.
13. Kotaro Lives Alone
- Kind: TV Collection
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life
- Aired: 2022
Kotaro Lives Alone follows the story of a younger boy named Kotaro, who strikes into a brand new condo complicated by himself. Regardless of his age, he exhibits maturity past his years and infrequently surprises his neighbors together with his insights and quirky character. The collection depicts his each day life as he interacts with the residents, every coping with their very own struggles.
Typically praised for its stunning mix of humor with heartfelt moments, the collection showcases the significance of neighborhood and friendship, whereas additionally pertaining to deeper themes like loneliness and resilience.
14. Ladies’ Final Tour
- Kind: TV Collection
- Genres: Journey, Slice of Life, Sci-Fi
- Aired: 2017
Have you ever ever imagined how exhausting it could be to stay in a post-apocalyptic world? For 2 younger women, Chito and Yuuri, that is simply an on a regular basis expertise as they journey by a desolate panorama on their small bike. Regardless of the awful atmosphere, the women discover pleasure in small moments and share deep conversations about life.
Ladies’ Final Tour completely captures the distinction between the women’ innocence and the tough actuality round them. You may’t assist however really feel a way of melancholy as they face loneliness, loss, and the wrestle to seek out that means in a world that has been destroyed.
15. To Your Eternity
- Kind: TV Collection
- Genres: Journey, Drama, Fantasy
- Aired: 2021
To Your Eternity follows the journey of an immortal being, initially a easy orb, that takes on totally different varieties because it experiences the world. It begins as a wolf after which transforms right into a boy named Fushi after assembly a younger boy who teaches it about life and feelings. As Fushi encounters numerous folks and faces each pleasure and sorrow, it learns what it means to be human.
Whereas To Your Eternity began as an underrated anime, it now has practically 1 million followers on MyAnimeList, with a score of 8.34, which is sort of excessive. Its deep storytelling and exploration of themes just like the that means of affection, the ache of loss, and the fleeting nature of life make it one of many saddest but most impactful slice-of-life anime you may watch.
16. Clannad
- Kind: TV Collection
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
- Aired: 2007 – 2008
A well-liked romance anime, Clannad follows the story of Tomoya Okazaki, a highschool pupil who feels disconnected from his life and friends. He meets a shy woman named Nagisa Furukawa, they usually kind a friendship that results in Tomoya getting concerned with a gaggle of pals. Collectively, they face numerous challenges associated to household, love, and private development.
What makes Clannad stand out from different anime is its wealthy character improvement and relatable portrayal of relationships and the struggles of life. However, regardless of its cute artwork fashion, Clannad remains to be fairly unhappy because it tackles heavy themes comparable to household points, loss, and the impression of decisions.
17. Grave of the Fireflies
- Kind: Film
- Genres: Drama, Conflict
- Aired: 1988
There are films that you simply acknowledge as superb however don’t wish to watch once more as a result of they’re simply too heartbreaking. For a lot of, together with me, Grave of the Fireflies is a type of movies.
The film follows the heartbreaking story of two siblings, Seita and Setsuko, throughout World Conflict II in Japan. After their house is destroyed in a bombing, they wrestle to outlive on their very own. Seita, the older brother, tries to guard and take care of his youthful sister, Setsuko, as they face starvation, despair, and the tough realities of conflict.
The impression of conflict on harmless lives is commonly neglected in lots of conflict films. Grave of the Fireflies confronts this actuality head-on, displaying the tough fact behind the glorified conflict. It highlights loss, sacrifice, and the wrestle for survival, usually with out a joyful ending.
18. Colourful
- Kind: Film
- Genres: Drama, Fantasy
- Aired: 2010
I’ve mentioned the significance of psychological well being themes, stressing that it’s essential to speak about them brazenly and take away the stigma. If we succeeded, folks would in all probability be extra prone to search the assistance they want, whether or not from professionals or from family and friends. Colourful is a tragic slice-of-life film that seeks to interrupt the taboo surrounding psychological well being by displaying the viewers the challenges younger folks face and underscoring the significance of understanding and empathy.
On this film, the story follows a lately deceased soul who’s given a second probability at life. The protagonist, often called “Colourful,” inhabits the physique of a boy named Makoto, who has simply tried suicide. As Colourful experiences Makoto’s life, he uncovers the struggles, ache, and feelings that the boy confronted, together with bullying, household points, and emotions of hopelessness.
