Anime, in various forms of artistic expression, can evoke a wide range of emotions for viewers, from joy and excitement to sadness and humor. Particularly poignant is the experience of reaching a heartbreaking conclusion, which resonates deeply with audiences. To explore the most tragic endings in anime history, Goo Ranking conducted a survey among fans in Japan, collecting 500 votes to compile a top 20 list of the most heartbreaking anime endings, as shown below:
- 19 (tie). Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket / 18 votes
- 19 (tie). Mobile Suit Gundam MS Igloo 2: The Gravity Front / 18 votes
- 16 (tie). Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 / 19 votes
- 16 (tie). Genesis of Aquarion / 19 votes
- 16 (tie). The Wings of Rean / 19 votes
- 15. Saikano / 23 votes
- 14. Hell Girl / 24 votes
- 13. Cowboy Bebop / 24 votes
- 12. Shinsekaiden Mars / 25 votes
- 11. Mobile Suit Z Gundam / 28 votes
- 10. Death Note / 31 votes
- 9. School Days / 33 votes
- 8. Space Warrior Baldios / 33 votes
- 7. A Dog of Flanders / 39 votes
- 6. Fullmetal Alchemist / 41 votes
- 5. Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato / 50 votes
- 4. Phoenix / 55 votes
- 3. Rose of Versailles / 65 votes
- 2. Space Runaway Ideon / 94 votes
- 1. Grave of the Fireflies / 100 votes
It is not surprising that the animated film “Grave of the Fireflies” ranks first on this list, given the profound emotional impact it has on its audience. Even renowned film critic Roger Ebert once wrote that it evokes such strong emotions that it leads viewers to reflect on the animated medium itself. Alongside this, many other series featured in the list (such as “Gundam”, “Rean”, and “Ideon”) are known for their richly dark themes, reflecting the melancholy of Yoshiyuki Tomino.
Stunned by the Cosplayers at Tokyo Comic-Con 2016
