25 sad animated films
25 Sad Animated Movies on Netflix That Will Make You Cry (2023) | Update
Last updated June 3, 2023 at 8:19 p.m.
Sometimes we come across films that not only make us cry with their moving storyline but leave a deep impression in our souls. That's why today we recommend 25 sad ones on Netflix that will make you cry (2023).
These films are all critically acclaimed and will make you cry tears of joy and misery alike. We have ranked these movies based on their ratings.
So without wasting any more time, go ahead and read our list of 25 sad animated films on Netflix that will make you cry.
Contents
25 Sad Animated Movies on Netflix That Will Make You Cry
25) NiNoKuni
| IMDb rating | 6.1 |
| Gender | Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance |
| Studio | OLM |
| First | 2019 |
| Duration | 1 hour 46 minutes |
Yuu, Kotona and Haru are best friends enjoying their lives until Kotona is stabbed by a mysterious attacker. As Yuu and Haru try to take him to the hospital, they are almost hit by a truck. But in typical Isekai fashion, they end up in a new world rather than dying.
In this new world, wheelchair-bound Yuu can now walk and their missing friend Kotona resembles the country's Princess Asha. The film shows two parallel worlds connected by a thread and is as adventurous as it is sad.
24) Flavors of youth
| IMDb rating | 6.6 |
| Gender | Drama, Romance |
| Studio | CoMix corrugated films |
| First | 2018 |
| Duration | 1 hour 14 minutes |
Set in the cities of China, Flavors of Youth is an introspective play that questions the transience of youth and the inevitable changes that come with adulthood. It's divided into three distinct pieces, each focusing on a certain aspect of youth that we all lose over time. Each story has its own theme to offer, and the entire journey is poignant in its relatability.
23) Just a few steps away
| IMDb rating | 6.7 |
| Gender | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
| Studio | Colorful studio |
| First | 2020 |
| Duration | 1 hour 44 minutes |
Miyo Sasaki is a vivacious high school student who has a crush on her classmate, Kento Hinoda. But Kento doesn't notice her presence and her feelings. So, she turns into a cat to be close to him. As a cat, she becomes his beloved companion and learns about his life.
Now Miyo must make a choice: become human again or live as a cat forever. What will she do when this option brings her closer to Kento but takes away her humanity forever?
22) Words bubble like Pop Soda
| IMDb rating | 6.8 |
| Gender | Drama, Music, Romance |
| Studio | Signal.MD, Sublimation |
| First | 2020 |
| Duration | 1 hour 27 minutes |
Words Bubble Up Like Pop Soda follows Yui Sakura, aka Cherry, who expresses himself through the haiku he posts on the internet, and Yuki Hoshina, aka Smile, a cheerful social media influencer who makes everyone smile but hates his own smile covered with braces.
When they start working together at a welfare center, they meet Fujiyama, an old man looking for an old vinyl record, and they decide to help him find it.
21) Ride your wave
| IMDb rating | 6.8 |
| Gender | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
| Studio | SARU Sciences |
| First | 2019 |
| Duration | 1 hour 35 minutes |
This is another sad anime that fans can watch on Netflix. The story is about Hinako, who loves surfing and lives in a coastal town. One day, when her apartment catches fire following an accident, Minato, the young firefighter, saves her.
They instantly make a connection and become intrigued by each other's interests. Hinako begins teaching Minato how to surf, and in doing so, they both fall in love.
20) Maquia: When the promised flower blooms
| IMDb rating | 7.4 |
| Gender | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
| Studio | Sound work |
| First | 2018 |
| Duration | 1 hour 55 minutes |
is one of the sad animated movies on Netflix. This animated fantasy film on Netflix is about Maquia, who hails from a mystical race called Iroph. They are immortals who live separately from the outside world and do not venture outside their home.
Their lives change for the worse when a power-hungry king invades their country and kills most of their people. In this turmoil, Maquia finds a little boy and decides to raise him herself.
19) The garden of words
| IMDb rating | 7.4 |
| Gender | Drama, Romance |
| Studio | CoMix corrugated films |
| First | 2013 |
| Duration | 46 minutes |
This is another very important and sad film with beautiful visuals. Here, we notice the life of Takao, who wants to become a shoemaker.
One day, he skips his classes to go to a garden and draw some pictures. There he meets a woman called Yukari for the first time.
18) Meteor with you
| IMDb rating | 7.5 |
| Gender | Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
| Studio | CoMix corrugated films |
| First | 2019 |
| Duration | 1 hour 52 minutes |
This is the latest project from famous director Makoto Shinkai, which became the sixth highest-grossing animated film of all time. The story focuses on a young boy called Hodaka who comes to Tokyo to escape his past. Here he meets Hina, an exceptional girl who has the power to control the weather.
As Tokyo recently suffers from unusual rains, they decide to use his powers to clear the sky. But this power comes at a price, and they must decide whether they are willing to pay it or not.
17) 5 centimeters per second
| IMDb rating | 7.5 |
| Gender | Drama, Romance |
| Studio | CoMix corrugated films |
| First | 2007 |
| Duration | 1 hour 3 minutes |
It is one of Makoto Shinkai's first films to gain international fame. The film is about love and loss and shows us the reality of life.
Here we see two individuals meeting in an elementary school in Tokyo. As Takaki and Akari both look similar, they quickly become close and fall in love. But fate has other plans for them as they quickly drift apart while promising to stay in touch.
16) Healing
| IMDb rating | 7.6 |
| Gender | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy |
| Studio | Studio Ghibli |
| First | 2008 |
| Duration | 1 hour 41 minutes |
The Studio Ghibli version of The Little Mermaid follows a little goldfish who wanders away from home to explore the world. She meets Sousuke, a little boy living in a house by the sea with his parents. After Ponyo heals her wound by licking it, he affectionately names her Ponyo.
After being caught by her father, Ponyo rejects her identity and wishes to live on earth with Sousuke. Thanks to Sousuke's blood, she finds arms and legs and finally finds her friend. But his decision comes at a cost that will destroy the very balance of nature.
15) Only yesterday
| IMDb rating | 7.6 |
| Gender | Drama, Romance |
| Studio | Studio Ghibli |
| First | 1991 |
| Duration | 1 hour 59 minutes |
Another one of the beautiful and sad animated films on Netflix that questions the differences between a person in youth and adulthood, Only Yesterday begins with an independent young woman, Taeko Okajima, visiting her family in the countryside to rest from his city life.
During her journey, she reflects on her days as an awkward teenager, and the dreams and aspirations she had. In her village, she bonds with family and friends and spends joyful times farming, a direct contrast to the fast-paced world she now lives in.
14) The wind rises
| IMDb rating | 7.7 |
| Gender | Drama, Romance |
| Studio | Studio Ghibli |
| First | 2013 |
| Duration | 2 hours 6 minutes |
This is another Ghibli film that is very close to our hearts. It may not start off as a sad movie, but it definitely ends on a tragic note.
Here we witness the life of Jirou, a young man who always wanted to become a pilot. But due to his poor eyesight, he decided to become an aeronautical engineer.
He goes on to produce the infamous Mitsubishi A6M0 aircraft, and it is his journey that we witness.
13) When Marnie was there
| IMDb rating | 7.7 |
| Gender | Drama, Mystery |
| Studio | Studio Ghibli |
| First | 2014 |
| Duration | 1 hour 43 minutes |
This Studio Ghibli film is a heartwarming and sad film about two friends. Anna, who suffers from frequent asthma attacks, moves to the countryside to get better.
Here she meets Marnie, a mysterious girl in an abandoned house. They quickly become friends and start spending time together.
12) The girl who crossed time
| IMDb rating | 7.7 |
| Gender | Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Science fiction |
| Studio | Crazy's house |
| First | 2006 |
| Duration | 1 hour 38 minutes |
The sci-fi romantic film features unique themes and likable characters. Makoto is an optimistic and lively girl, who one day suddenly gains the power to jump through time.
After discovering this power, she uses it for various things, such as avoiding any mishaps or singing karaoke to her heart's content. But she soon realizes that her time jump can affect others and that she can only jump a limited number of times.
11) In this corner (and other corners) of the world
| IMDb rating | 7.8 |
| Gender | Drama |
| Studio | MAP |
| First | 2016 |
| Duration | 2 hours 9 minutes |
This animated film is the sad but powerful story of a young girl who faces the terrible consequences of World War II. Suzu is a pure and forgetful girl who lives in Hiroshima.
Once an adult, she leaves her home to live with her husband. She tries to adapt to her new country as Japan becomes part of the war.
Her life completely changes when she falls victim to the Hiroshima attacks.
10) Whisper of the heart
| IMDb rating | 7.9 |
| Gender | Drama, Romance |
| Studio | Studio Ghibli |
| First | 1995 |
| Duration | 1 hour 51 minutes |
In this beautiful tale from Studio Ghibli, we see Shizuku Tsukishima, a 14-year-old girl who loves reading and writing poetry. After discovering that a boy named Seiji Amasawa has also checked out all the library books she has looked at, she wants to meet him.
On a train, Shizuku meets a strange cat who leads her to an antique store. There she finds a cat statue named The Baron and meets a boy who turns out to be Seiji. After befriending him, Shizuku begins to think about her own talents upon learning of Seiji's passionate dream.
9) The Tale of Princess Kaguya
| IMDb rating | 8.0 |
| Gender | Drama, Fantasy |
| Studio | Studio Ghibli |
| First | 2013 |
| Duration | 2 hours 17 minutes |
Studio Ghibli's version of the ancient tales is both beautiful and haunting. The Tale of Princess Kaguya is no exception. It is indeed one of the best sad animated movies on Netflix that touches our hearts.
The story begins with Okina, a bamboo cutter who finds a small child inside a glowing bamboo shoot. He takes the child home, believing that she is a gift from the celestial beings, and he and his wife raise the child, naming her Kaguya.
8) Perfect Blue
| IMDb rating | 8.0 |
| Gender | Drama, Mystery, Thriller |
| Studio | Crazy's house |
| First | 1997 |
| Duration | 1 hour 21 minutes |
This psychological thriller is a masterpiece from the famous director Satoshi Kon. It focuses on Mima, a member of the Japanese pop group CHAM! .
After being part of the group, she decided to pursue an acting career. But things aren't as easy for her as she hoped.
Acting is detrimental to one's mental and physical well-being. Plus, unwanted attention from an obsessive fan makes her life worse than it has ever been.
7) I want to eat your pancreas
| IMDb rating | 8.0 |
| Gender | Drama, Romance |
| Studio | Studio VOLN |
| First | 2018 |
| Duration | 1 hour 49 minutes |
This romantic drama film is another sad film that fans can watch on Netflix. The film focuses on Haruki Shiga, who is an aloof bookworm. He is very apathetic and disinterested in everything.
He too is sure that no one is interested in him. His life changes when he finds a book called Living with Death. This book is actually the diary of the popular Sakura Yamauchi in her class.
6) Castle in the Sky
| IMDb rating | 8.0 |
| Gender | Adventure, Fantasy |
| Studio | Studio Ghibli |
| First | 1986 |
| Duration | 2 hours 5 minutes |
In a world where planes and airships are common means of transportation, government agents kidnap a little girl named Sheeta to gain access to her crystal amulet. But when pirates attack their ship, Sheeta flees amid the chaos and meets a boy named Paz who dreams of seeing Laputa, the flying castle.
Becoming friends, the duo embark on an adventure to go see Laputa, while trying to get away from the agents who have their own agenda to get to Laputa.
5) Wolf children
| IMDb rating | 8.3 |
| Gender | Drama, Fantasy |
| Studio | Studio Chizu |
| First | 2012 |
| Duration | 1 hour 57 minutes |
This film is another heartwarmingly sad film available on Netflix. The story is about Hana, a hard-working student who falls in love with a man who attends college with her.
But it is revealed that he is not actually a student there and is a werewolf who transforms into a wolf on a full moon night. They both marry and Hana gives birth to two werewolf children.
Tragedy strikes when Hana's husband dies suddenly, leaving her alone to care for the children.
4) A silent voice
| IMDb rating | 8.1 |
| Gender | Drama |
| Studio | Entertainment in Kyoto |
| First | 2016 |
| Duration | 2 hours 10 minutes |
is one of the best sad animated movies on Netflix. The film touches on themes like bullying, depression, etc.
The film begins with the role of a rowdy elementary school kid who tries to escape boredom in several ways. When Shouko, a young deaf girl, moves into his class, tormenting her becomes a new habit for him. But when his wrongdoings attract more attention, his friends turn into bullies and antagonize him.
As a changed man in high school, he wants nothing more than to ask Shouko for forgiveness for his misdeeds, and it is his journey to redemption that we witness.
3) Violet Evergarden: the movie
| IMDb rating | 8.3 |
| Gender | Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
| Studio | Entertainment in Kyoto |
| First | 2020 |
| Duration | 2 hours 20 minutes |
: The film is haunting to watch and is one of the best sad animated films on Netflix that make us cry ugly. It follows Violet, a former child soldier turned Auto Memory Doll who writes letters for others while trying to understand emotions.
Still held by the tender confession of "I love you" that she longs to understand, Violet's world turns upside down when she discovers that Gilbert Bougainvillea, the man who said these words to her, may still be envy.
2) Your name.
| IMDb rating | 8.4 |
| Gender | Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
| Studio | CoMix corrugated films |
| First | 2016 |
| Duration | 1 hour 46 minutes |
is one of the most famous animated films of all time. Fans love it for its emotional storyline and breathtaking visuals. The story is about two individuals who live in very different places and exchange souls.
Mitsuha wants to live in a city while Taki is a city boy who lives a busy life. Then one day, Mitsuha wakes up to find herself in Taki's body and realizes how things are no longer normal. They must now work together to solve this problem.
1) Grave of the Fireflies
| IMDb rating | 8.5 |
| Gender | Drama |
| Studio | Studio Ghibli |
| First | 1988 |
| Duration | 1 hour 29 minutes |
Grave of the Fireflies is definitely one of the best sad animated films on Netflix. It deals with World War II and we see how innocent people suffered because of the war.
The story features the lives of two siblings, Seita, the older brother, and Setsuko, the younger sister. Because of the war, they not only lose their homes and the chance for a bright future, but also their parents.
After being homeless, they must survive on their own, traveling from place to place and feeding on whatever they can find.
With this, we conclude our article on 25 Sad Anime Movies on Netflix That Will Make You Cry (2023). We hope this list increases your watchlist and gives you a taste of the sadness fans of these anime felt. Stay tuned to get more updates on your favorite topics.
Do small things with lots of love.
Follow us for more updates.
Read also:
