Spoiler Warning!!
The world of anime is expansive and offers many unique stories with compelling characters, engaging plots, and epic moments. While some anime come and go, others deliver unique and memorable experiences. Those types of anime typically contain well-written storylines and characters.
In our latest article, we’ll be highlighting 10 of the most heartbreaking anime deaths of all time. From grand masters to wonderful support characters, we’ve searched through the archives to bring you the most depressing ones of the batch.
Of course, there are spoilers below for the following anime: Naruto, One Piece, Clannad, Grave of the Fireflies, Assassination Classroom, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Monster, Your Lie In April, Oshi No Ko and Vinland Saga.
Feel free to leave your comments about our choices below. Once again, do be warned that this post contains massive spoilers!
Jiraiya (Naruto Shippuden)
The Naruto franchise introduced anime fans to many phenomenal characters over the years. From its amusing lead Naruto to the motivational Rock Lee, there were many characters in Masashi Kishimoto’s story that fans could resonate with. Additionally, Kishimoto wasn’t afraid to let some iconic figures perish in this tale. One of them is the pervy sage himself, Jiraiya.
Jiraiya perished during his epic battle against Pain (Nagato). His death carried immense weight in the fandom and impacted Naruto’s character to greater heights. Thankfully, Jiraiya continued fighting to the bitter end and showed the audience why he earned his legendary status.
Portgas D. Ace (One Piece)
One Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy forged many tight connections with folks over the years, regardless of if they were a part of his crew or not. Portgas D. Ace was an important figure in Luffy’s life, especially during our protagonist’s childhood years. Unfortunately, Ace met his end with Admiral Akainu during One Piece’s Marineford story arc.
However, Ace secured Luffy’s existence in the world, allowing our tale to continue exploring Luffy’s growth in future arcs. Moreover, Ace’s death affected other folks from the powerful pirate Edward Newgate (Whitebeard) to Marine Vice Admiral Garp. This demonstrates how impactful Ace’s death was on the world at large, not just one side.
Setsuko (Grave of the Fireflies)
Grave of the Fireflies is one of the most depressing anime you’ll ever encounter. It follows the journey between two siblings named Setsuko and Seita who try to survive during World War II. Although Seita sets fans up for a depressing roller coaster of emotions during the anime’s start, seeing his sister Setsuko perish in the fashion she does will make any fan shed a tear.
The anime exceptionally builds up to this hopeless scenario well throughout its run by placing Setsuko and Seita in cold-hearted situations. Despite constant scolding and mistreatment, Setsuko and Seita cling to hope in their unspeakable situation. Setsuko’s death illustrates the devastating human toll of war and the tragic fate that awaits those caught in its midst.
Ushio (Clannad: After Story)
Setsuko’s not the only anime child whose met an unfortunate demise. Clannad’s second season, After Story, aimed to hurt fans where it hurts most – their hearts, despite the first season offering a wholesome wrap-up. This season cranked up the drama tenfold, offering audiences wonderful deep dives into our cast’s adult lives.
Ushio is Tomoya and Nagisa’s (our protagonists) daughter who met a tragic fate several episodes after her mother did. While After Story mends fans’ hearts with a satisfying resolution, the scenes before said resolution were depressing. This is because After Story effectively develops Tomoya and Ushio’s bond over time through heartfelt interactions and fun activities.
Experiencing these characters’ trials and tribulations helps audiences become attached to them, making Ushio’s inevitable death all the more gut-wrenching.
Koro-Sensei (Assassination Classroom)
Assassination Classroom was a wonderful action-comedy with an interesting premise. It involved a group of students being tasked with a mission to murder their octopus-like teacher Koro-sensei in a given time frame. Otherwise, the world would face his wrath. However, by the series’s conclusion, you’ll root for the students to plot against that goal.
Unfortunately, Koro-sensei perishes near the anime’s finale, leaving fans with a bittersweet conclusion. Koro-sensei, despite his otherworldly appearance and abilities, serves as a phenomenal mentor figure and friend for his students and fellow staff members. Throughout the series, he provides compelling guidance, support, and invaluable life lessons to everyone.
His positive influence on his students and quirky personality makes him a character you wouldn’t want to see die.
Kamina (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann was an amazing sci-fi anime that entertained thousands with its over-the-top mecha battles and bombastic characters. At the same time, fans didn’t expect Kamina, one of the show’s great leads, to bite the bullet as soon as he does. Kamina instilled hope, determination, and confidence in people like Simon, Yoko, and others.
He never backed down from a challenge and faced death with absolute enthusiasm. His death influenced Simon to become the heroically bold individual he becomes by the anime’s finale. Therefore, with his iconic catchphrases and indomitable spirit, Kamina’s death is not only heartbreaking but an important one.
Wolfgang Grimmer (Monster)
Well-written supporting characters can be challenging to come by in anime. While many help our leads in fights, others go the extra mile to leave a mark on them and their series’s fanbase. Wolfgang Grimmer from Naoki Urasawa’s Monster is one of those characters. From Grimmer’s tragic past to his unwavering optimism, his death will deeply affect you.
Although he appears as a one-off character Kenzou (our protagonist) meets during his hunt for Johan, Urasawa finds a way to involve Grimmer in Monster’s plot. Additionally, he explores Grimmer’s gloomy upbringing in this tale and showcases Grimmer’s effort to overcome those personal demons in authentic ways. This makes Grimmer’s death during the anime’s final moments unfortunate and downright upsetting to watch.
Kaori Miyazano (Your Lie In April)
Kaori Miyazano from Your Lie In April’s passing is worth acknowledging due to the influence it has on Kousei (our protagonist) and the audience. The series depicts Kaori as a vibrant, passionate, and inspirational musician. Her passion for music and life rubs off on Kousei and aids him in reigniting his adoration for piano, something he lost due to his mother’s passing.
Additionally, the series spends time developing their connection throughout its run, making Kaori’s departure from its narrative gut-wrenching. Therefore, viewers will find Kaori’s passing heartbreaking due to her deep connection with Kousei and her likable traits.
Askeladd (Vinland Saga)
Vinland Saga’s Askeladd is depicted as a cunning, charismatic, and ruthless individual in the Vinland Saga universe. Additionally, our protagonist Thorfiin sought revenge against Askeladd due to Askeladd murdering his father. Despite this, Askeladd’s death managed to leave fans reacting in a way they didn’t anticipate during the anime’s start.
Throughout Vinland Saga, we see Askeladd and Thorfinn’s relationship evolve into one of mentorship and respect. When Askeladd meets his end by another’s hand, Thorfinn gives off an intuitive reaction to it all. This leads Thorfinn to embark on a new introspective endeavor, showcasing how one’s target can impact them in unexpected yet meaningful ways.
Ai Hoshino (Oshi No Ko)
Oshi No Ko took the anime community by storm when it aired during the Spring 2023 season. This series started with a detailed first episode that explored Ai Hoshino’s life as a mother and an idol. While her life had its highs and lows, fans were compelled to see the young star interact with her children Aqua and Ruby, who ended up taking over as the anime’s protagonists after her passing.
Ai’s passing served as a stern reminder of the challenging life idols lead. From stalkers to harsh criticism, Ai’s experiences will entice viewers to ponder what life looks like in the eyes of famed celebrities, influencers, etc. It was heartbreaking to watch Aqua witness Ai’s slow demise in episode one since no child should experience that.
So, there we have it, our picks for the 10 best heartbreaking anime deaths of all time!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!