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Sep 29, 11:44 AM
#1

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nhk made me sad more than anything really
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Sep 29, 12:06 PM
#2
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May 2023
413
Yeah, that show hits hard in my opinion for two main reasons:

1. The issues are based in realism and the characters are relatable and believable and it doesn't pull a magic trick at the end like "friendship is magic and fixes it all" or "if you only work a bit harder you can achieve anything"

2. The story doesn't feel constructed around showing you the most amount of drama in an emotionally manipulative way which some other shows take it so far that it breaks the immersion

The single best other candidate I can think of is:

March comes in like a Lion

Pretty good still:

Monster

Oshi no Ko

Angel Beats

Being a bit too constructed with the suffering:

Banana Fish

It started great and kept going pretty well for really long stretches, but then it eventually comes down to 'friendship is magic':

Fruits Basket

Good for the most part, some traces of issue 1+2, but nothing major, but one can't ignore that it stays goofy for longer than NHK:

Trigun (original series)

Barely passes, but visually unmatched:

Violet Evergarden

Stay away emotionally manipulative sob-bait:

86

To your Eternity

Your lie in April

Planetarian
Sep 29, 12:10 PM
#3

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Sep 2024
26
Reply to Mazoy
Yeah, that show hits hard in my opinion for two main reasons:

1. The issues are based in realism and the characters are relatable and believable and it doesn't pull a magic trick at the end like "friendship is magic and fixes it all" or "if you only work a bit harder you can achieve anything"

2. The story doesn't feel constructed around showing you the most amount of drama in an emotionally manipulative way which some other shows take it so far that it breaks the immersion

The single best other candidate I can think of is:

March comes in like a Lion

Pretty good still:

Monster

Oshi no Ko

Angel Beats

Being a bit too constructed with the suffering:

Banana Fish

It started great and kept going pretty well for really long stretches, but then it eventually comes down to 'friendship is magic':

Fruits Basket

Good for the most part, some traces of issue 1+2, but nothing major, but one can't ignore that it stays goofy for longer than NHK:

Trigun (original series)

Barely passes, but visually unmatched:

Violet Evergarden

Stay away emotionally manipulative sob-bait:

86

To your Eternity

Your lie in April

Planetarian
@Mazoy thanks alot, i appreicate the effort u put into classifying them, ill be sure to consider every one of them, ur awesome
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Sep 29, 12:30 PM
#4

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Jan 2022
1028
A Place Further Than The Universe

@Mazoy

Your Lie in April passes reasons 1 and 2 with flying colors for me, but it could be that I could relate to the story in a very personal way.

Anohana, while I found emotionally manipulative and melodramatic, is usually considered depressing.
mo_laveSep 29, 12:33 PM
Sep 29, 12:49 PM
#5
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May 2023
413
Reply to mo_lave
A Place Further Than The Universe

@Mazoy

Your Lie in April passes reasons 1 and 2 with flying colors for me, but it could be that I could relate to the story in a very personal way.

Anohana, while I found emotionally manipulative and melodramatic, is usually considered depressing.
@mo_lave I have to absolutely agree that Anohana is much worse than YLIA. For
. Also mind that I only mean to stay away for the reasons I pointed out that NHK stands out among other shows. That's the entire reason I added the last four shows - that OP can still decide to watch them if they are more like "Oh, but I actually WANTED to watch a show like that" you know? :)
Sep 29, 12:57 PM
#6

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Sep 2024
26
Reply to mo_lave
A Place Further Than The Universe

@Mazoy

Your Lie in April passes reasons 1 and 2 with flying colors for me, but it could be that I could relate to the story in a very personal way.

Anohana, while I found emotionally manipulative and melodramatic, is usually considered depressing.
@mo_lave ive been meaning to rewatch anohana, i watched it years ago when i couldnt really interpret deeper meaning that would provoke any real sadness. what would you watch first out of the shows listed above?


@mazoy im contemplating going with violet evergarden or banana fish


wondering if u guys know abt clannad? ive heard it effected some people deeply
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Sep 29, 1:01 PM
#7
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May 2023
413
Reply to xsty
@mo_lave ive been meaning to rewatch anohana, i watched it years ago when i couldnt really interpret deeper meaning that would provoke any real sadness. what would you watch first out of the shows listed above?


@mazoy im contemplating going with violet evergarden or banana fish


wondering if u guys know abt clannad? ive heard it effected some people deeply
XDmyst said:
wondering if u guys know abt clannad? ive heard it effected some people deeply


Haven't seen it myself!
Sep 29, 1:03 PM
#8

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Sep 2024
26
Reply to Mazoy
XDmyst said:
wondering if u guys know abt clannad? ive heard it effected some people deeply


Haven't seen it myself!


what influenced u more violet evergarden or banana fish
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Sep 29, 1:16 PM
#9
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May 2023
413
Reply to xsty


what influenced u more violet evergarden or banana fish
XDmyst said:
what influenced u more violet evergarden or banana fish
Banana Fish was the better experience and kept my interest more, because I'm not usually coming to shows just for the drama and heartache, however it did start to feel really repetitive and cruel and sad for sadness sake around the mid point. In all seriousness I wish I could go back in time and tell my old self to just stop watching after episode 13, because that's a good point to nope out of the rest. Also beware the trigger topics.

Violet Evergarden is absolutely strong when it comes to the secondary stories (as is Dororo as well, which I haven't yet mentioned). The overarching main character story is emotional and conclusive and then at the end they dropped it down the toilet in my opinion. There is a movie. There didn't have to be a movie.

But again, the visuals. There's no way Banana Fish could compete with the Violet Evergarden Visuals and they're not trying to, instead you get a good bit of MAPPA action instead, which is also not a bad thing.

But if you're really asking what affected me most personally, it would be 'March comes in like a Lion' and 'Trigun'.
Sep 29, 1:36 PM

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Jan 2022
1028
Reply to xsty
@mo_lave ive been meaning to rewatch anohana, i watched it years ago when i couldnt really interpret deeper meaning that would provoke any real sadness. what would you watch first out of the shows listed above?


@mazoy im contemplating going with violet evergarden or banana fish


wondering if u guys know abt clannad? ive heard it effected some people deeply
@XDmyst If you're talking about Mazoy's list, Violet Evergarden first (I'm biased, and am regularly rewatching this), then Your Lie in April (also a regular rewatch), then 3-Gatsu no Lion. These happened to also be the first, third, and fourth animes I've watched when I started getting serious about it. Never looked at the medium seriously until I saw and finished Violet for the first time.

If my list is included, I'll add A Place Further Than The Universe (also a regular rewatch).

About Clannad, the visual novel is the superior experience.
Sep 29, 1:40 PM

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Jan 2022
1028
Reply to Mazoy
@mo_lave I have to absolutely agree that Anohana is much worse than YLIA. For
. Also mind that I only mean to stay away for the reasons I pointed out that NHK stands out among other shows. That's the entire reason I added the last four shows - that OP can still decide to watch them if they are more like "Oh, but I actually WANTED to watch a show like that" you know? :)
@Mazoy
Sep 29, 1:44 PM

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Sep 2024
26
Reply to Mazoy
XDmyst said:
what influenced u more violet evergarden or banana fish
Banana Fish was the better experience and kept my interest more, because I'm not usually coming to shows just for the drama and heartache, however it did start to feel really repetitive and cruel and sad for sadness sake around the mid point. In all seriousness I wish I could go back in time and tell my old self to just stop watching after episode 13, because that's a good point to nope out of the rest. Also beware the trigger topics.

Violet Evergarden is absolutely strong when it comes to the secondary stories (as is Dororo as well, which I haven't yet mentioned). The overarching main character story is emotional and conclusive and then at the end they dropped it down the toilet in my opinion. There is a movie. There didn't have to be a movie.

But again, the visuals. There's no way Banana Fish could compete with the Violet Evergarden Visuals and they're not trying to, instead you get a good bit of MAPPA action instead, which is also not a bad thing.

But if you're really asking what affected me most personally, it would be 'March comes in like a Lion' and 'Trigun'.
@Mazoy again really thanks for ur input, ngl nhk kinda put me in a weird crippled mood for like 2 days haha (didnt help i dedicated a whole day to completing it all at once) depression reveals painful truth its valuable anyway, im starting to enjoy heart wrenching shows

i wanted to ease in into something march comes in like a lion because ive heard abt how special it is in sadness. i think ill go with violet evergarden next


thanks for the help


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Sep 29, 1:52 PM

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Sep 2024
26
Reply to mo_lave
@XDmyst If you're talking about Mazoy's list, Violet Evergarden first (I'm biased, and am regularly rewatching this), then Your Lie in April (also a regular rewatch), then 3-Gatsu no Lion. These happened to also be the first, third, and fourth animes I've watched when I started getting serious about it. Never looked at the medium seriously until I saw and finished Violet for the first time.

If my list is included, I'll add A Place Further Than The Universe (also a regular rewatch).

About Clannad, the visual novel is the superior experience.
@mo_lave awesome violet evergarden it is, excited for it, looks elegant, ill see it how it holds. i rmmbr the piano one your lie in april, it was sad but unfortunately i didnt find it relatable or realistic enough to continuously make me question some element in my life.

thanks for the help, u both gave some excellent looking experiences
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Sep 29, 2:00 PM

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Sep 2016
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https://myanimelist.net/anime/578/Hotaru_no_Haka
DesuMaiden said:
Nobody resembles me physically because I don't even physically exist.
Sep 29, 5:04 PM
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Hotaru no Haka

Now and Then, Here and There

those 2 are the first ones that come to mind
Oct 1, 1:01 AM

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Sep 2021
1123
I consider the word depressing to mean something different than sad. Most of those are sad but not depressing, because they let you release your emotions and then feel relieved, and maybe have a happier ending.

Depressing show you feel worse about life after watching. They might not even be that sad.
I think Jin-Roh and Attack on Titan and maybe Madoka Magica are depressing.

If you just want something sad, try
Mo Dao Zu Shi
Plastic Memories
anohana
To Your Eternity
Shigatsu no lion
Oct 1, 1:52 AM

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Oct 2021
602
It's just a movie, but I still recommend it: Grave of the Fireflies

Bokura No might be worth a shot as well.
Oct 1, 1:57 AM

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Jan 2009
101866
devilman crybaby gets my vote
Oct 1, 2:23 AM
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May 2024
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Barefoot Gen as we had to watch it at school. It is based on a manga made by Keiji Nakazawa who was an actual survivor named of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima.
Oct 1, 2:39 AM

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101866
jin roh wolf brigade and metropolis are sad too
Oct 1, 8:10 PM
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May 2024
8
Although it's a pretty basic answer, I would recommend Madoka Magica! And if you want to watch anime that makes you rage, I recommend you watch Onegai My Melody (specifically KuruKuru Shuffle, there's a reason why I put it on hold...)
Oct 1, 8:35 PM
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Sep 2024
36
Surprisingly, the most depressing anime I've seen---well, genre---is Isekai because it makes me lose faith in humanity.
Oct 1, 8:37 PM
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Oct 2019
2192
Reply to Hiim00hiii
Surprisingly, the most depressing anime I've seen---well, genre---is Isekai because it makes me lose faith in humanity.
@Hiim00hiii so you saw 393 isekai to get to that conclusion? How you do that with a 0 list.
Oct 1, 9:11 PM
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Reply to Otakupervert890
@Hiim00hiii so you saw 393 isekai to get to that conclusion? How you do that with a 0 list.
@Otakupervert890

Are you actually that stupid?

POV: you don't list every single anime you've seen on an internet forums account, especially when you only posted your first message a day ago... but sure, yea, I haven't actually seen any animes, let alone Isekai.

Oct 2, 10:33 AM

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1173
I am surprised nobody said Terxhnolyze
Oct 2, 12:39 PM

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Dec 2017
81

for me its stuff like grave of the fireflies and koe no katachi, though those are films. theres also made in abyss.

and otherwise just read houseki no kuni. trust.
Oct 2, 9:09 PM
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Jul 2018
562462
Now and Then Here and There the most depressing anime I still shock no one said this
Oct 6, 10:14 PM

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52
Glad someone mentioned Grave of the Fireflies. Here's one I haven't seen mentioned: Key the Metal Idol. While it's not all depressing, there's a certain part of it that I found very depressing.
Natsukashii Anime, reviewer of anime old and new, with an emphasis on nostalgia.
Natsukashii Anime Reviews
Oct 7, 3:29 AM
Magical Girl

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Jan 2020
629
Reply to JoeChip
I am surprised nobody said Terxhnolyze
@JoeChip I'll say it as well: Texhnolyze was depressing as fuck (and I haven't even finished watching it)
Oct 7, 3:49 AM
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

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Nov 2015
54
rainbow nisha rokubou no shichinin
Oct 7, 12:32 PM

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Feb 2022
773
Elfen Lied

Yosuga no Sora - it's not exactly depressing but it was something, and last arc was one of the greatest in fiction.
[/url]
Oct 12, 3:29 AM

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Feb 2023
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Grave of the Fireflies.

MALoween✟Mansion 2024


Oct 14, 6:04 PM

Online
Sep 2024
442
Assassination Classroom, it's really depressing when you get to understand the backstory of the teacher plus the ending is very sad.
"When clouds appear, wise men put on their cloaks;
When great leaves fall, the winter is at hand;
When the sun sets, who doth not look for night?
Untimely storms make men expect a dearth."

William Shakespeare
Oct 14, 9:23 PM

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Nov 2018
646
Reply to Kokofish
rainbow nisha rokubou no shichinin
@Kokofish You didn't need to remind of this one... Literally took months to finish it because I couldn't keep going after some episodes.
Oct 14, 11:04 PM

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Nov 2021
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Wolf’s rain and 5 centimetre per second
plin plin plon
Oct 16, 10:20 PM

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Jun 2009
122
Bokurano - this is what you're looking for lol
Oct 17, 8:53 AM

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Oct 2022
1111
Fruits Basket starts off nice but the depression hits hard.
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"Oh no"
Oct 23, 9:08 AM

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Feb 2012
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Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso. That ending though...
Oct 23, 10:27 AM

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Mar 2013
3410
Aoi Bungaku and Shadowstar Narutaru are depressingly gloomy. An honorable mention would also be Girl's Last Tour, which is a lighthearted iyashikei that deals with very serious topics in a pretty cynical world.

https://myanimelist.net/anime/7193/Aoi_Bungaku_Series
https://myanimelist.net/anime/838/Narutaru__Mukuro_Naru_Hoshi_Tama_Taru_Ko
Auroraloose's Aurorasimp
Oct 23, 8:40 PM

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Sep 2024
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Gakkou Gurashi, tha shit hits deep in you,
Oct 26, 3:04 AM
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Mar 2013
133
I don't have a recommendation, just wanted to ask if you are OK. If you are depressed, do yourself a favor and don't watch even more depressing stuff.
Don't you think "Oh, not again" when you hear an anime start with cicadas?
Oct 26, 3:32 AM
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Oct 2019
2192
Reply to Hiim00hiii
@Otakupervert890

Are you actually that stupid?

POV: you don't list every single anime you've seen on an internet forums account, especially when you only posted your first message a day ago... but sure, yea, I haven't actually seen any animes, let alone Isekai.

@Hiim00hiii I saw 146 isekai so at least I watches enough to have a more nuanced opinion rather that the simple extremists avenue you are using.
Oct 28, 3:50 PM
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Feb 2024
53
Frieren. It was really good, but I felt sad the whole time and I’m pretty sure my eyes started leaking more than once.

The whole show is very sad
Nov 1, 11:28 AM
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Jul 2018
562462
Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin

I would not watch it ever again
Nov 1, 2:14 PM

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Oct 2020
23
World end for sure but Orange and Your lie in april also hit me hard
Nov 2, 12:03 AM

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Sep 2023
120
fruit basket .. the starting n ending both are great but the backstories bruh they were so depressing..I nearly had a heart attack when Tohru fell off the cliff..still its a great anime probably one of my top

To your Eternity..from the beginning to the 2nd season last ep everything.. how can a anime be this depressing woh.. its also a great anime. totally loved it

Cyberpunk Edgerunners ... its the best anime ive ever watched.. it wasnt that depressing.. except the last ep.. after finishing this i didnt watch any anime for like 1month.

and at last i would say its Your lie in april.. i think i dont have explain why it was so depressing.. i rewatch this show every april hehe
Nov 9, 2:42 AM

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Jul 2023
371
Reply to Kokofish
rainbow nisha rokubou no shichinin
@Kokofish I gave up after minutes of the first episode. I was warned in reviews that it's immeasurably depressive but I didn't think it could be so dark. I still plan to return to it some day. If I could recover from playing DDLC (only one ending though) then I can probably survive Rainbow too
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