Source
r/anime•
Segaco

To those who never cry, what anime got you the closest to shedding tears?

Discussion

Excuse the probable awkward title.

I can feel all kinds of emotions while watching anime (frustration, joy, surprise, sadness), but I never, ever, get to shed a tear. What I feel at most in emotional moments are goosebumps.

This happens in non-anime media too, and I hate it.

But I know all hope is not lost, because last year an anime got my eyes to water. If my eyes can water at a fictional story, then it's possible for me to cry at a fictional story.

With that in mind, I created this thread so people like me can find a show to cry to among the huge pile of sad anime.

If you hardly ever/never cry, please do comment a show that was/got close to be the exception.

(And watch your spoilers!)

Edit 2 days later:

It would appear most anime commented here are the most popular ones I already know about. I have yet to watch them though, so I guess this was just another push to finally watch those.

Just in case someone like me stumbles upon this thread, I made a list summarizing the comment section (also because there are some untagged spoilers down there). If you've watched all sad and popular shows you're probably not going to find anything new:

  • Violet Evergarden - this is my own recommendation and one that is repeated in many comments.
  • Your Lie in April - another recommendation repeated several times. Must be noted that one person who also never cries said this anime got them the closest.
  • Clannad (specifically the second season) - a third recommendation repeated non-stop. Honestly if you haven't watched this it should be the first show you watch before you look anywhere else.
  • To Your Eternity - this one I fear was another frequent recommendation because of the seasonal hype. At least I wasn't impressed, but since it was a common rec you should check it out.
  • Anohana - yet another popular recommendation.
  • I want to eat your pancreas - with that name I'm surprised it exists. Imagine my face when reading people recommending it.
  • Made in Abyss
  • Assassination Classroom (specifically the second season)
  • Devilman Crybaby - I thought this was an anime adaptation of Devil May Cry lol

And now some shows that weren't as frequently recommended but had lots of upvotes:

  • Wolf Children - it's a movie
  • Koe no Katachi - it's a movie
  • Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms
  • Orange
  • A Place Further Than The Universe
  • Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai - Someone recommended the movie sequel, but I'll recommend the show here because I'm sure that had I been in the right frame of mind I would have had my eyes wet.
  • Shirobako - anime about making anime lol

There are some more, but those were the ones that struck out. Good luck in your crying journey

Posted May 15, 2021, 2:43 PM UTC · edited

3794
LightThatIgnitesAll•

Clannad: After Story Episode 18

25
I-ce-SCREAMhttps://anilist.co/user/Rahimdas•

I could relate to it so much I just watched it yesterday and it was first anime episode that made me ugly cry

3
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
SegacoOPhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco•

Since I created this I'll start.

Most of the anime I found okay, but Violet Evergarden had an episode unrelated to the main story towards the end that was nearly perfect. I experienced goosebumps like in most sad anime, but my eyes got super wet too!! And I had blurry vision!!!

I tried to get the tears out but they refused, so the water in my eyes were for both sadness and frustration.

18
LightThatIgnitesAll•

Have you watched:

  1. Orange
  2. Clannad
  3. Devilman Crybaby
  4. To Your Eternity

Not sure if you would cry but they are very enjoyable.

7
SegacoOPhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco•

Clannad I watched yes, it was good. To Your Eternity I just watched the latest episode and I felt it was a tad strange but still emotional (sadly no crying though).

The other two I've heard of, Orange is about the future letters right? I think I stopped watching after the first episode.

As for Devilman Cry(baby), isn't that a game?

3
LightThatIgnitesAll•

Orange is about the future letters right? I think I stopped watching after the first episode.

It has some very strong and emotional episodes in the middle.

Devilman Cry(baby), isn't that a game?

Devil May Cry is a game. Devilman Crybaby is an anime.

1
SegacoOPhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco•

Are the game and the anime related? Or are they completely different things?

1
namewithak•

Which episode was it?

3
SegacoOPhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco•

Episode 10

10
namewithak•

Ah yes. I found that episode annoying in the beginning because the kid just irritated me, but the ending was perfect.

4
Andreas260899•

Just saying that the more you try, the less it’s likely to happen.

18
SegacoOPhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco•

A plan I have is to get all the anime here into my PTW list with high priority. Then when I check in a few weeks I'll have completely forgotten why I added them (and then proceed watch them)

6
Andreas260899•

That might sound like a plan. Also a thing. I order for you to shed some tears, you gotta be highly invested and care for it. It’s not enough it only being a sad and sorrow anime. You gotta feel it in your core. That sounded cringe, but you get the picture.

6
SegacoOPhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco•

Now that I think about it, in that one episode of Violet I got super curious on the setup and tried to figure out what the sad punchline would be. So I probably got too invested and made the punch stronger (I also failed to figure anything out so that may have taken a part in it too).

My point is, you're probably right. Sounds tough, but I'm sure that if I find a show good enough I'll be invested no matter what

4
Amonia_Ed•

Assasination classroom. The only anime that made me feel empty for a week and made me cry there isn’t any other anime that made so sad than that.

15
TaskForceHOLOhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/bronin•

Clannad episode 18. I was ugly crying bro I don't even think I ever cried like that as a child

12
mrdude05https://myanimelist.net/profile/PulpFreeFiction•

I don't think I've ever cried from a piece of media, but a handful of things have gotten close. Wolf Children probably got the closest to making me cry, and I'm pretty sure the only reason it didn't was because I was at a screening and I didn't want strangers to see me cry. Other than that the latest episode of To Your Eternity, episode 13 of Made in Abyss, and episode 12 of Parasyte all got me at least a little misty eyed.

11
SegacoOPhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco•

We have 50% mal affinity so that's probably a good sign

I have to catch up with Your Eternity, I'll do so now and tell you how it went

1
SegacoOPhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco•

Update: I watched the latest episode and I feel it was more strange than emotional, not sure why :(

1
ioniums•

I never really used to be emotional until I started watching anime. Since then I’ve cried over many, some of the hardest hitting off the top of my head were: Violet Evergarden, A Silent Voice, Bunny Girl Senpai, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, Your Lie in April, Weathering With You, Darling in the Franxx and Assassination Classroom. Somehow its very easy to make me cry now.

10
Barry_allen11•

YLIA ,violet evergarden episode 10,clannad after story , I want to eat your pancreas

9
Aussiewithamoustache•

your lie in april and i want to eat your pancreas. Left me with mega feels.

8
FreeSM2014•

Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms

7
matabikujo•

Holy shit yes

3
fafskihttps://myanimelist.net/profile/fafski•

The only time I was really close to crying would be the manga "Aku no Hana". My chest really hurt and I could almost feel tears forming in my eyes.

For anime probably Koe no Katachi or Assassination Classroom

6
DIOsAbortion•

You should read Oyasumi punpun.

5
fafskihttps://myanimelist.net/profile/fafski•

Yeah I really want to, but my list is so full right now.

2
SegacoOPhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco•

I x2 Oyasumi Punpun

I'm not only not able to cry at stories, I'm also hard to please. Yet that manga just shot me into the stratosphere

So pick it up when you can or else!

2
SegacoOPhttps://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco•

Have you watched the Aku no Hana anime? If so, is it the same?

I'd rather stay with anime, but I can move to manga(s?)

3
fafskihttps://myanimelist.net/profile/fafski•

I havent watched the anime but I'd recommend the manga every day. The artstyle and animation of the anime is really odd and it doesnt cover the whole manga.

3
DIOsAbortion•

They only adapted half the manga and its entirely made with raytracing. Story wise it's great but many were put off by its uncanny artstyle and animation. You could see clips of it on YouTube and decide if it's your thing or not.

2
pham1001Custom list link•

Violet Evergarden ep 10, no question asked Same for Maquia

6
Kira_Is_Silent•

Violet Evergarden the episode 10 was just sad as hell. Although i still didnt cry.

A Silent Voice was also sad. But not as much as Violet Evergarden

6
Grexpex180•

The naruto shippuden popsicke scene

6
anonymous2437•

Re:Zero Season 1 Episode 15

Kaguya-Sama: Love is War Season 2 Episode 11

Cross Game Episode 50

Given Episode 9

6
RockoDynehttps://myanimelist.net/profile/RockoDyne•

Shirobako maybe.

5
-Aristocrat•

Anohana and To Your Eternity first episode. I've tried multiple times to cry by watching movies and series but so far Anohana and To Your Eternity are the only ones that have achieved it

5
yukuru•

I'm the same way, I can't cry but I do get a swelling of emotions especially when watching anime. The last episode of Your Lie in April was probably the closest I've been to shedding a tear.

4
Caosunium•

Ansatsu kyoushitsu Aka Assassination classroom

Lmao i never knew i was ever gonna cry in an anime. It made me cry for half an hour

4
Doridosim•

Violet Evergarden Episode 7

3