Random Bleakest, Most Depressing Anime (23 items)

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  (#1) Grave of the Fireflies

  • Film

  Grave of the Fireflies follows two siblings struggling for survival in Japan during World War II. It is utterly depressing in its brutally honest portrayal of starvation, the selfish nature of humans, and the stubbornness of pride. The producer pulls no punches when it comes to showing the suffering of societal individuals in war. 
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  (#2) Neon Genesis Evangelion

  • TV Program

  Neon Genesis Evangelion is a classic for a reason, setting the bar for existential crises in anime. Shinji's introversion is painful to watch and relate to, and the deeper you go into each character's personal issues the more depressing it all gets. Also, the rampant death and destruction will leave you wondering about the inherent goodness of humanity.

  While the series grapples with some incredibly complex philosophies, it never loses the resonance of the story or viewers' interest.
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  (#3) Terror in Resonance

  • TV Program

  Terror in Resonance, brought to life by the acclaimed director Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop), follows a cast of haunted and socially distant characters, all of whom need a hug because they obviously haven't had enough of them. From Nine and Twelve's desperate mission to Lisa's frustration at her own helplessness, their story is one of struggle and anger.

  The show boasts stellar animation and emotionally charged scenes, and the whole thing is underpinned with an intense score by brilliant composer Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop, Kids on the Slope). 
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  (#4) Plastic Memories

  • TV Program

  In the world of Plastic Memories, mankind lives with human-like androids called Giftia. The most advanced models are similar in appearance to humans, with personalities, emotions, and opinions. However, Giftia have a lifespan of about nine years before they degrade and sometimes, even become extremely violent. Plastic Memories follows Tsukasa, a guy who works with Terminal Services and collects Giftia that are nearing the end of their lifespan. 

  The show is heartbreaking in that Giftia are very much portrayed in a human fashion. People form emotional attachments to them and struggle with parting ways. It's depressing to not only watch humans grapple with losing a loved one, but also to watch the Giftia resign to their fate. 
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  (#5) Monster

  • TV Program

  Monster, the story of Doctor Kenzo Tenma, deserves every bit of the critical acclaim lit gets. The series deftly confronts questions of morality and the dire consequences that can result from a single decision. Monster unravels some profoundly deep and disturbing perspectives on life, death, power, and politics, providing viewers with incredible character studies and developments.

  This isn't a happy-go-lucky, hope-conquers-all kind of story, but it will have you hooked and keep you guessing.
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  (#6) Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

  • TV Program

  Anohana is about a group of kids who suffered the tragic loss of one of their friends in the sixth grade. Years later, they've drifted apart and one of them, a boy named Jinta, has become a complete recluse. He suddenly finds himself face-to-face with the ghost of the girl who died, and when he tells his old friends, they don't believe him.

  The short 11-episode series follows the teenagers as they explore the bleaker aspects of grief, tragedy, and maturity. It confronts the concept of death unabashedly, challenging viewers to think about how brief life really is. 
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  (#7) Puella Magi Madoka Magica

  • TV Program

  Famous for throwing its viewers for a loop, Puella Magi Madoka Magica is not what most people were expecting from a magical girl anime. Seriously, it's sometimes hard to sit through the amount of suffering on screen. Part of this series' popularity stems from the way it examines the sacrifices, dangers, and hardships associated with gaining otherworldly powers. It provides a tragic view of a classic trope.

  Featuring incredible action, imagery, and character development, the trials and tribulations the cast of girls goes through is worth the heart ache. In the end, the show serves as a reminder to read the fine print, because every deal has a price.
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  (#8) Welcome to the NHK

  • TV Program

  Welcome to the N.H.K. has been known to hit a little too close to home for many anime fans. See, the series explores otaku and hikikomori culture in the lives of several adult individuals. Themes of loneliness, social anxiety, depression, and isolation combine to create an exceptionally poignant series, bringing to light some unpleasant, but very real struggles.

  Despite the heavy content, the great writing and enjoyable cast will take you through to the end.
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  (#9) 5 Centimeters Per Second

  • Film (2007)

  Among the legion anime that deal with childhood promises, Makoto Shinkai's 5 Centimeters Per Second stands out as a film that offers a realistic - if somewhat tragic - depiction of young love. While it might be more fun to watch star-crossed lovers find their way to each other, that's not always the way it works in real life.

  It's a tragic reality of existence that sometimes people move on while others remain stuck in the past. This film, a visual masterpiece, captures that kind of loneliness almost too well. If nothing else, you'll never look at falling flower petals the same way again.
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  (#10) Berserk

  • TV Program

  Guts' life has been an unrelenting nightmare from start to finish. Born from the deceased body of his mother, abused by his stepfather, he finally finds solace in the Band of the Hawk, a group of mercenaries who will do anything for one another. That is, until he's betrayed by his best friend in the most brutal way imaginable.

  But Guts can't give into his misery. Thanks to the Brand of Sacrifice burned into his flesh, he's constantly attacked by the souls of the damned. Can Guts possibly find meaning in a life that resembles Hell on Earth? 
• 

  (#11) Clannad: After Story

  • TV Program

  The first season of Clannad has some depressing moments, but in After Story, things get real. After leaving high school, Tomoya and Nagisa want to start a new life together as a married couple. Though they have their love for one another and the support of Nagisa's parents, life keeps getting in their way.

  Nagisa has an unidentified illness that makes it hard for her to work and regularly puts her life in danger. Meanwhile, Tomoya has a lot of unresolved issues with his father that he needs to work through. Their problems come to a head when Nagisa gets pregnant.

  We won't spoil what comes next - all we'll say is be prepared to cry.
• 

  (#12) No. 6

  • TV Program

  In a dystopian city divided by an enormous wall, the privileged live in luxury on the inside while those on the outside live in destitution and fear. No. 6 doesn't pull any punches in its portrayal of the harsh living conditions and sickening experiences the poverty-stricken citizens are subjected to, making the pessimistic outlook adopted by deuteragonist Nezumi perfectly understandable.

  While main character Shion attempts to maintain a more optimistic perspective, the constant violence and degradation of those around him slowly break down this attitude. Their journey and relationship is full of twists and turns, and despite the bleak nature of the show there's no doubt you'll be rooting for the friends every step of the way.
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  (#13) Serial Experiments Lain

  • TV Program

  Serial Experiments Lain is a meditation on the blurred lines between technology and reality. Because it first aired in 1998, it may feel a bit dated and inaccurate when it comes to technological specifics. But if you're looking for an anime with a bleak philosophical outlook, Lain is spot-on. 

  After 14-year-old Lain Iwakura receives an email from a classmate who took her own life, she's sucked into the world of the Wired, a virtual world that resembles the Internet. There, she encounters disturbing and mysterious phenomenon that she can't explain, and encounters people who know her better than she knows herself. As the real world and the virtual world begin to intertwine, Lain's grip on reality begins to slip. 
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  (#14) Banana Fish

  • Company

  Ash Lynx has had a rough life. After ending his little league coach's life for abusing him, he finds himself caught up in gang life. He's forced a nonconsensual relationship with a mafia boss named Dino and groomed as his successor. He eventually breaks free and starts his own gang, but he's constantly hounded by Dino. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to get away from a life of crime - and what's more, he doesn't think he deserves to.

  When Ash meets Eiji, an ex pole vaulter from Japan, he starts to feel like life is worth living. Eiji makes him feel things like love, connection, and hope for the future. But with his current enemies and the secrets of his past constantly threatening him, their bond risks Eiji's safety. It looks like he might be doomed to suffer alone. 
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  (#15) Death Parade

  • TV Program

  Don't let the high kicks and dance numbers in Death Parade's opening fool you, this show examines some dark and upsetting concepts. It's set in the afterlife, where two souls compete in games in order to determine whether they are reincarnated or descend into the void.

  In each episode you watch two souls get pushed to their limits, forced to confront not only how they died but the circumstances of their lives: their regrets, their losses, their dreams. If you're not into series with episodic structures, the overarching plot between the main characters is one of the most enjoyable and moving parts of the show.
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  (#16) Elfen Lied

  • TV Program

  Lucy is a Diclonius, a human-adjacent species that has invisible telekinetic arms called vectors. After being subjected to cruel experimentation in a government laboratory, she finally gets the chance to escape - but she has to end everyone she encounters to do so. While escaping, she sustains a head injury that gives her a new personality - that of a sweet, innocent girl.

  When she's rescued by some kind, well-meaning humans, things seem like they're looking up for Lucy - but eventually, her past is going to catch up with her. 
• 

  (#17) From the New World

  • TV Program

  From the New World is not something you can just watch casually. You might even have to take breaks in order to take it all in. The character dynamics are defined by angst, hardship, and longing, and the lives of the cast are at the mercy of their mysterious society.

  They discover gruesome truths as they learn more about themselves and their personal histories. Frankly, it's likely to leave a bitter taste in the mouths of many viewers. All that said, the originality and the innovative story structure makes From the New World a series you'll definitely want to be a part of. 
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  (#18) The Tale of Princess Kaguya

  • Film

  Directed by Isao Takahata, the man behind Ghibli's most depressing movie ever, Grave of the Fireflies, The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a beautiful and tragic coming of age story. The film explores the concept of freedom and what it means to truly live a life that is your own.

  Princess Kaguya faces the suffocating expectations brought on by both her time period and her gender, and deals with the oppression of her aspirations and exuberant spirit. Supported by expressive animation and an incredibly moving soundtrack by veteran composer Joe Hisaishi, this story is guaranteed to inspire some tears and quiet contemplation. 
• 

  (#19) Psycho-Pass

  • TV Program

  A real treat for cyber-punk fans, Psycho-Pass considers a civil system where psychological and emotional states determine civil judgment. Basically, you can get executed if you're not considered "normal" psychologically. This abuse of psychosis forces characters to examine the role emotional responses play in administering control of a society, and the limits of relying on computer technology.

  In addition to some heartbreaking deaths (that might make you ugly-cry), the main villain harbors views and ambitions you probably won't find all that unreasonable. It's a captivating, if mostly depressing, journey. 
• 

  (#20) Devilman Crybaby

  • TV Program

  After Akira Fudou's best friend Ryo Asuka asks him for help protecting humanity from demons, he agrees. Sure he's scared, but if he can prevent someone else from suffering, he's going to do it. Sadly for him, Ryo has no desire to help humanity. Instead, he takes Akira to the Sabbath, a bacchanal of debauchery in which he's fused with a demon himself. 

  With his new form, he has the power to destroy demons as planned, but his own humanity is slowly eroding. He's becoming what he always feared, and that's exactly what his demonic friend Ryo wants. Ryo has plans for the world that are beyond anything that Akira can imagine, and Akira may not be able to stop him in time. 
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  (#21) Parasyte: The Maxim

  • TV Program

  Parasyte asks what it means to be human, following the main character as he slowly loses his emotions and struggles to retain his empathy. As if that wasn't sad enough, you also find yourself sympathizing with the aliens' attempts to find meaning in their existence, making it difficult to see them as true villains.

  Despite unexpected deaths that will likely leave you a sobbing mess, the tumultuous story of the main duo will keep you coming back for more.
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  (#22) Attack on Titan

  • TV Program

  Despite its intense popularity and mainstream appeal, Attack on Titan is exceedingly depressing. Almost every episode delivers some sort of hope-crushing moment that makes humanity's chance at survival seem increasingly futile.

  If you're the type of fan that gets attached to characters easily, you're probably in for a bad time. On the lighter side of things, Attack on Titan boasts some really interesting themes, an outstanding soundtrack, and exciting action sequences, all of which are worth the watch.
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  (#23) Now and Then, Here and There

  • TV Program

  Now and Then, Here and There is technically an isekai, but it doesn't have the cheerful vibes and infinite power-ups that can be found in isekai. Instead, it features themes like war, trauma, totalitarianism, and torture, and takes them seriously. 

  Shuuzou "Shuu" Matsutani is a young boy leading an ordinary life - that is, until he tries to rescue a girl named Lala-Ru from being kidnapped and ends up in a desert-like world. It turns out that Lala-Ru has the ability to produce and manipulate water, a crucial resource in a world with hardly any of it. But she needs a magical pendant to use her powers, and now the pendant is lost. When Shuu is blamed for the loss, his life is put at risk. 

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