There are a lot of reasons why people watch anime. For some, it’s the usual getaway from the world to wind down and relax. For others, it’s part of the culture or a way to differentiate between something unusual and more mainstream. Whatever the reason, there’s an anime movie or show for every taste. Today, we are talking about the saddest anime in particular. So, get some tissues ready, as some entries on this list are real tearjerkers!
Sad anime quotes often make their way into regular, non-anime-watching people’s lives, proving that the power of writing these creations is on a level that might surpass Hollywood. So, to find the saddest anime of all time, you’d have to spend hours and hours researching, watching every minute of each episode, and even then, you wouldn’t be close. It might be a more straightforward case with anime movies, but we believe you’d still struggle to document everything. Dubbing something “the saddest” is highly subjective since there are many different approaches, and what’s sad for one might not be for another.
However, much like sadness is a universal emotion, some things naturally evoke negative emotions. Often, sad anime movies and series are inspired by tragic real-life events. For example, Grave of the Fireflies is based on the author’s experience during WWII, which, as you can imagine, wasn’t a pleasant time for anyone. It’s no secret that harsh life experiences often inspire the most remarkable works. While it’s sad to think that anyone had to suffer through something like this, emotional anime shows like the ones on this list can surely build you up a different worldview.
If you’re not afraid to take risks, dig into this list of the saddest anime series and see if you can recognize some of them. If not, well, now you have another great show to watch! Also, don’t forget to share this article with your fellow anime lovers and vote for your favorites.
#1 Grave Of The Fireflies
1988 | 1h 29m | Directed by Isao Takahata | IMDB: 8.5/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Towards the end of WWII, the American army is terrorizing the local population of Kobe. 14-year-old Seita sees his mother dying in front of his eyes, in agony from the extensive burns on her body. With no parents to take care of him, he’ll have to survive through the end of the war while also becoming a parental figure for his 4-year-old sister. Grave Of The Fireflies is based on the author’s personal experience during the Kobe firebombing in 1945. It was written as a personal apology to Keiko, his little sister, who he failed to save from starvation.
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#2 Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
2011 | 11 episodes | Directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai | IMDB: 8.2/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
A group of six childhood friends drifts apart after one of them dies in an accident. Ten years later, the group leader, Jinta Yadomi, gathers the group back after seeing the ghost of their late friend. Anohana is widely known for being one of the saddest anime series ever, and that’s the reason why it took me so long before watching it. This emotional anime crushes your heart like few other things out there, and I honestly wept for days just thinking about it.
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#3 Your Lie In April
2014 | 22 episodes | IMDB: 8.6/10
No surprise this one is so high on the ranking. Your Lie In April falls under the sad romance anime category. It follows the story of a young pianist, Kоsei Arima, who loses the ability to hear the piano after his mother’s death. However, upon meeting violinist Kaori Miyazono, he slowly regains his footing. The series director, Kyohei Ishiguro, wanted his adaptation to be appealing to those people who usually do not watch anime. In our eyes, he succeeded at this task with flying colors!
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#4 A Silent Voice
2016 | 2h 10m | Directed by Naoko Yamada | IMDB: 8.1/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
A Silent Voice follows a former bully turned outcast who decides to reconnect and befriend the deaf girl he had tormented when he was a kid. The movie covers some heavy themes like suicide, disability, bullying, social alienation, and the pursuit of redemption. A Silent Voice is a little gem that deserves all its recognition.
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#5 Assassination Classroom
2015 | 49 episodes | IMDB: 8.0/10
The story here is quite an unusual one. It follows the daily life of a powerful octopus-like alien working as a junior high teacher. The creature’s students are tasked to assassinate him, as asked by their government, thus trying to prevent the planet’s obliteration. And who’s gonna teach them how to use weapons and strategy to kill him? The professor himself! This popular anime series can sound like it oversteps the “weirdness line”, but trust me here: there’s no way to stop binge-watching Assassination Classroom.
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#6 Your Name
2016 | 1h 47m | Directed by Makoto Shinkai | IMDB: 8.4/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
If you’re an active member of the anime community, there’s a 100% chance that you’ve heard about this movie. It depicts a high school student in Tokyo and a high school girl in the Japanese countryside who suddenly and inexplicably begin to swap bodies and live each others’ lives. This one has everything you can look for: outstanding graphics, a catchy soundtrack, a breathtaking plot, and of course, the tears.
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#7 Clannad After Story
2008 | 25 episodes | IMDB: 8.6/10
Personally, I think Clannad After Story has some of the saddest anime episodes ever. As Clannad’s sequel, it follows the story of Tomoya and Nagisa right where it was left with the first season. After the end of their school years, they enter adulthood with all its challenges. But their future seems to be darker than they ever expected it to be. A lot of angst and little comfort, still, it deserves so much!
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#8 I Want To Eat Your Pancreas
2018 | 1h 48m | Directed by Shin’ichirô Ushijima | IMDB: 8.0/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
I’ll be honest with you. The first time I read the title of this animated movie, I thought it was one of those zany comic movies full of stupid jokes. Like, c’mon, who came up with that name? Clearly, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. The movie follows a student who discovers that a popular classmate suffers from a fatal pancreatic illness. This secret between them will get them to spend a lot of time together, both aware it won’t be for long.
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#9 Plastic Memories
2015 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 7.3/10
In a near future, humans live alongside androids with human-like emotions and memory. SAI Corporation, the leading android production company, designs androids to live no more than about 9 years and to be dismissed before their “expiration date”. Otherwise, it could cause violent outbursts. Prepare your tissues; this anime series will make you cry so hard.
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#10 Violet Evergarden
2018 | 14 episodes | IMDB: 8.4/10
The story follows Violet Evergarden’s journey of reintegration back into society after the war is over. Now that she’s no longer a soldier, she’s looking for a new life purpose. A brilliant storyline and an excellent presentation of human emotions that will not disappoint you.
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#11 Angel Beats!
2010 | 15 episodes | IMDB: 7.6/10
Angel Beats follows Yuzuru Otonashi, a teenager who wakes up in the afterlife with no memory of his life or how he died. Here, he gets to attend a unique school, a sort of limbo for people whose lives were filled with tragedy and hardships. The students here must overcome these traumas before passing on and getting reincarnated. This preview has all the elements to make this one of the saddest anime you could watch!
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#12 Banana Fish
2018 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 8.2/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Here we are with a personal favorite. Banana Fish is one of those masterpieces that steal your heart and change it forever. The series follows the relationship between Ash Lynx, a young gang leader in New York City, and Eiji Okumura, a Japanese photographer’s assistant documenting the daily life of American gangs. Their meeting will change everything for both of them as they feel like they found the person they needed the most. Be aware of the heavy topics depicted throughout the series, including pedophilia, prostitution, mafia, rape, war, and graphic violence.
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#13 Wolf Children
2012 | 1h 57m | Directed by Mamoru Hosoda | IMDB: 8.1/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Best Animation Film at the Japanese Academy Awards of 2013. After her werewolf lover dies in an accident while hunting for food, a young woman is left alone to raise their werewolf children while keeping their real nature hidden from society. A heart-wrenching movie that shows how strong a parent can become for the sake of their own children.
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#14 Clannad
2007 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 7.8/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
The rebel student Tomoya Okazaki and the shy girl Nagisa Furukawa couldn’t be more different. Feeling like there’s nothing better to do, he aids Nagisa in her quest, and Tomoya himself begins to open up, enjoying and appreciating life a lot more. Clannad is still considered one of the best anime series of the 2000s.
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#15 Erased
2016 | 12 episodes | IMDB: 8.5/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
An anime treasure from the last few years. 29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma is sent back 18 years in the past to prevent the events leading to his mother’s death. Satoru realizes that what happened to his mother is related to a series of kidnappings and homicides in which the victims are all children from his old school. The series’ graphics look amazing, beautifully capturing the downbeat nature of the story.
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#16 Charlotte
2015 | 14 episodes | IMDB: 7.5/10 |
In an alternate reality where a small percentage of children manifest superhuman abilities, Yuu Otosaka acquires the ability to temporarily possess others. This brings him to the attention of a school founded as a haven for children with such skills. Charlotte will surprise you with its unpredictability, evocative moments, and intriguing characters.
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#17 Orange
2016 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 7.6/10
You just found an anime you’ll want to rewatch over and over again. Naho Takamiya’s life gets turned upside down when she starts receiving letters from herself in the future. At first, she thinks this is just a bad joke, but when the events told in the letters start happening for real, she has to change her mind. The future Naho ends her letters asking her to take care of a new student who will die soon.
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#18 Akame Ga Kill!
2014 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 7.8/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Akame Ga Kill centers around Tatsumi, a young country boy who moves to the Capital to raise money for his home. Upon arriving, he discovers that the system is rotten and corrupt beyond repair. Out of exasperation, Tatsumi becomes a recruit for an assassin group called Night Raid battling against the Empire. Plenty of chilling moments, near-death experiences, and thrilling adventures! But, besides that, this anime series is also a brutal commentary on corruption and various social issues.
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#19 Into The Forest Of Fireflies’ Light
2011 | 45 minutes | IMDB: 7.8/10
Young Hotaru is rescued by a human-like spirit when she gets lost in a forest. The two immediately bond, despite the spirit revealing that, because of a curse, he will disappear forever if he’s ever touched by a human. If you’re in for an emotional journey, this short movie will let you in on an unforgettable love story.
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#20 Elfen Lied
2004 | 14 episodes | IMDB: 7.9/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Two university students come across a seemingly harmless girl named Lucy, unaware that she’s actually a Diclonius, a murderous creature developed by the government to be the ultimate mass murder weapon. Be aware this disturbing anime falls in the horror genre and is not for everyone. The brutal and gruesome scenes could be too much for some people.
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#21 5 Centimeters Per Second
2007 | 1h 30m | Directed by Makoto Shinkai | IMDB: 7.5/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
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#22 To Your Eternity
2021 | 41 episodes | IMDB: 8.4/10
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#23 The Promised Neverland
2019 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 8.2/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
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#24 Steins;Gate
2011 | 26 episodes | IMDB: 8.8/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
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#25 Death Parade
2015 | 12 episodes | IMDB: 7.9/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
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#26 Terror In Resonance
2014 | 11 episodes | IMDB: 7.8/10
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#27 Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion R2
2006 | 54 episodes | IMDB: 8.7/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
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#28 Given
2019 | 11 episodes | IMDB: 8.3/10
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#29 No. 6
2011 | 11 episodes | IMDB: 7.4/10
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#30 Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai
2018 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 8.1/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
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#31 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
2006 | 1h 38m | Directed by Mamoru Hosoda | IMDB: 7.7/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
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#32 Wolf’s Rain
2003 | 30 episodes | IMDB: 7.9/10
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#33 Spirited Away
2001 | 2h 5m | Directed by Hayao Miyazaki | IMDB: 8.6/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
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#34 Death Note
2006 | 37 episodes | IMDB: 8.9/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
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#35 Neon Genesis Evangelion
1995 | 26 episodes | Directed by Hideaki Anno | IMDB: 8.5/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
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#36 Fruits Basket
2001 | 26 episodes | IMDB: 7.9/10
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#37 In This Corner Of The World
2016 | 2h 9m | Directed by Sunao Katabuchi | IMDB: 7.8/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
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#38 Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
2009 | 11 episodes | IMDB: 7.8/10
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#39 Cowboy Bebop
1998 | 26 episodes | IMDB: 8.9/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
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#40 When Marnie Was There
2014 | 1h 43m | Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi | IMDB: 7.7/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
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#41 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
2009 | 68 episodes | IMDB: 9.1/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
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#42 Fullmetal Alchemist
2003 | 51 episodes | IMDB: 8.5/10
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#43 Another
2012 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 7.5/10
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#44 Black Butler
2008 | 43 episodes | IMDB: 7.7/10
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#45 The Seven Deadly Sins
2014 | 101 episodes | IMDB: 7.8/10
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#46 The Wind Rises
2013 | 2h 6m | Directed by Hayao Miyazaki | IMDB: 7.7/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
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#47 Attack On Titan
2013 | 98 episodes | IMDB: 9.1/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
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#48 Puella Magi Madoka Magica
2011 | 12 episodes | IMDB: 8.2/10
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#49 Toradora!
2008 | 25 episodes| IMDB: 8.0/10
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#50 Children Who Chase Lost Voices
2011 | 1h 56m | Directed by Makoto Shinkai | IMDB: 7.1/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 68%
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#51 Ride Your Wave
2019 | 1h 35m | Directed by Masaaki Yuasa | IMDB: 6.8/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
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#52 Grimgar Of Fantasy And Ash
2016 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 7.3/10
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#53 Chobits
2002 | 27 episodes | IMDB: 7.3/10
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#54 Trigun
1998 | 26 episodes | IMDB: 8.2/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
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#55 Fireworks
2017 | 1h 30m | Directed by Akiyuki Shinbô and Nobuyuki Takeuchi | IMDB: 5.5/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 43%
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#56 Perfect Blue
1997 | 1h 21m | Directed by Satoshi Kon | IMDB: 8.0/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
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#57 The Garden Of Words
2013 | 46m | Directed by Makoto Shinkai | IMDB: 7.4/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
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#58 Mirai
2018 | 1h 38m | Directed by Mamoru Hosoda | IMDB: 7.0/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
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#59 Made In Abyss
2017 | 26 episodes | IMDB: 8.4/10
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#60 Tokyo Ghoul
2014 | 12 episodes | IMDB: 7.7/10
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#61 Darling In The Franxx
2018 | 26 episodes | IMDB: 7.3/10
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#62 Weathering With You
2019 | 1h 52m | Directed by Makoto Shinkai | IMDB: 7.5/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
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#63 Noragami
2014 | 29 episodes | IMDB: 7.9/10
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#64 Beyond The Boundary
2013 | 18 episodes | IMDB: 7.2/10
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#65 Nana
2006 | 50 episodes | IMDB: 8.5/10
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#66 Lost Song
2018 | 12 episodes | IMDB: 7.0/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
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#67 Berserk
1997 | 25 episodes | IMDB: 8.7/10
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#68 Hell Girl
2005 | 27 episodes | IMDB: 7.4/10
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#69 Rurouni Kenshin
1996 | 95 episodes | IMDB: 8.5/10
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#70 Colorful
2010 | 2h 6m | Directed by Keiichi Hara | IMDB: 7.4/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
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#71 Millennium Actress
2001 | 1h 27m | Directed by Satoshi Kon | IMDB: 7.8/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
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#72 The Anthem Of The Heart
2015 | 1h 59m | Directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai | IMDB: 7.3/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
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#73 Air
2005 | 15 episodes | IMDB: 7.0/10
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#74 Devilman Crybaby
2018 | 10 episodes | IMDB: 7.6/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
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#75 Guilty Crown
2011 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 7.0/10
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#76 91 Days
2016 | 14 episodes | IMDB: 7.7/10
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#77 Re:zero
2016 | 78 episodes | IMDB: 8.1/10
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#78 Golden Time
2013 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 7.6/10
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#79 Kokoro Connect
2012 | 17 episodes | IMDB: 7.4/10
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#80 Fate/Zero
2011 | 31 episodes | IMDB: 8.2/10
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#81 Kanon
2006 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 7.5/10
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#82 ReLIFE
2016 | 17 episodes | IMDB: 7.8/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
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#83 Little Busters
2012 | 27 episodes | IMDB: 6.7/10
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#84 White Album 2
2013 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 7.3/10
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#85 Pandora Hearts
2009 | 25 episodes | IMDB: 7.1/10
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#86 Shiki
2010 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 7.6/10
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#87 Brynhildr In The Darkness
2014 | 14 episodes | IMDB: 6.7/10
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#88 Deadman Wonderland
2011 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 7.1/10
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#89 The Troubled Life Of Miss Kotoura
2013 | 12 episodes | IMDB: 6.8/10
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#90 Higurashi: When They Cry
2006 | 26 episodes | IMDB: 7.8/10
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#91 D.gray-Man
2006 | 104 episodes | IMDB: 7.7/10
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#92 The Place Promised In Our Early Days
2004 | 1h 30m | Directed by Makoto Shinkai and Yoshio Suzuki | IMDB: 6.9/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
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#93 The Fruit Of Grisaia
2014 | 19 episodes | IMDB: 7.0/10
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#94 We Were There
2006 | 26 episodes | IMDB: 6.9/10
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#95 Whisper Of The Heart
1995 | 1h 51m | Directed by Yoshifumi Kondô | IMDB: 7.8/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
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#96 Dou Kyu Sei: Classmates
2016 | 1h | Directed by Shôko Nakamura | IMDB: 7.7/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
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#97 True Tears
2008 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 7.0/10
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#98 Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion
2017 | 2h 15min | Directed by Gorô Taniguchi | IMDB: 7.3/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
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#99 March Comes In Like A Lion
2016 | 45 episodes | IMDB: 8.3/10
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#100 One Week Friends
2014 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 7.0/10
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#101 Blue Spring Ride
2014 | 14 episodes | IMDB: 7.5/10
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#102 A Lull In The Sea
2013 | 26 episodes | IMDB: 7.4/10
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#103 The Pet Girl Of Sakurasou
2012 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 7.7/10
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#104 The Future Diary
2011 | 27 episodes | IMDB: 7.5/10
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#105 Parasyte
2014 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 8.3/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
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#106 Darker Than Black
2007 | 42 episodes | IMDB: 7.7/10
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#107 Dusk Maiden Of Amnesia
2012 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 7.3/10
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#108 Demon Slayer
2019 | 55 episodes | IMDB: 8.7/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
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#109 Natsume’s Book Of Friends
2008 | 74 episodes | IMDB: 8.1/10
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#110 Hybrid Child
2014 | 4 episodes | IMDB: 7.3/10
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#111 Phantom: Requiem For The Phantom
2009 | 26 episodes | IMDB: 7.6/10
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#112 Black Bullet
2014 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 6.9/10
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#113 Welcome To The N.H.K.
2006 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 8.3/10
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#114 Sunday Without God
2013 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 6.4/10
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#115 Chrono Crusade
2003 | 27 episodes | IMDB: 7.1/10
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#116 Waiting In The Summer
2012 | 13 episodes | IMDB: 7.0/10
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#117 Shuffle!
2005 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 6.8/10
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#118 Black Lagoon
2006 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 7.9/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
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#119 Fate/Stay Night
2006 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 7.3/10
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#120 Blood-C
2011 | 12 episodes | IMDB: 6.2/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 58%
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#121 Gosick
2011 | 24 episodes | IMDB: 7.3/10
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#122 Poco’s Udon World
2016 | 12 episodes | IMDB: 7.5/10
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#123 Hunter X Hunter
2011 | 148 episodes | IMDB: 9.0/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
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