Shoujo anime often have upbeat stories that can encourage fans to move away from reality for a while. However, some shoujo anime can make fans feel torn apart because they show sad endings. Because anime like that has a happy and cheerful beginning tone, a sad ending can have a surprising effect.
The happy ending in shoujo anime can indeed make fans cheer with joy because they feel relieved. However, sad endings are no less interesting because shoujo anime like this have a bigger impact. From several shoujo anime that ended sadly, here are five of the best anime that can definitely make you remember for days.
Shoujo anime Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (2006)
Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo tells the story of Makoto Konno, a high school girl who realizes that she has the unique ability to travel through time. At first, he used that ability to avoid scenarios he didn’t want. However, he begins to realize that time traveling can negatively affect other people.
Initially, Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo presents a fun light story. However, things get worse when two of Makoto’s friends get hit by a train. As a result of the tragedy, he made Chiaki Mamiya take part in freezing time. Unexpectedly, he starts to like Chiaki who turns out to be from a different time period than him. He also had to witness Chiaki who disappeared when time was resumed.
Shoujo anime Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (2014)
Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso is perhaps the shoujo anime with a sad ending that fans know best because this anime manages to present an emotional story that stirs up feelings, like a rollercoaster. This anime follows Arima Kousei, a talented piano player who chooses to quit after losing his mother. In high school, he met Kaori Miyazono, a girl who is good at playing the violin.
At the beginning of the series, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso presents a warm story when Arima starts to get to know Kaori closer, and vice versa. However, everything changed when he learned the fact that Kaori had died. The ending of the series becomes even more heartbreaking when he reads a letter that was entrusted to him containing Kaori’s feelings for him which were secretly hidden due to Tsubaki Sawabe who also likes him.
Banana Fish (2018)
Ash Lynx and Eiji Okumura (doc. MAPPA/Banana Fish)
Banana Fish follows Ash Lynx going about his daily life while taking care of his brother Griffin, a war veteran who was traumatized after returning from the battlefield. He also has to uncover the hidden meaning behind the word Banana Fish which continues to haunt Griffin.
While investigating the Banana Fish problem, Ash begins to develop strong feelings for Eiji Okumura, a young man who decides to help him in solving the mystery. Gradually, he realized the danger that was stalking Eiji so he stayed away from the man, despite their shared feelings. The series ends tragically when he dies from a stab wound.
Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou (2018)
Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou takes place in a fantastical world where people of Lolphs, mystical creatures that can live for hundreds of years, live side by side with humans. This anime follows Maquia, a Lorp girl, who finds a human baby left alone and decides to raise the baby as her own.
Maquia was indeed able to give her adopted son, Ariel, a long life, but that still didn’t change the fact that Ariel couldn’t live much longer. He watched Ariel who was only able to fall asleep in bed. Even though the ending of Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou is sad, he still feels happy with Ariel’s presence.
Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara (2019)
Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara starts off lightly when college student Hinako Mukaimizu meets Minato Hinageshi, a firefighter who saves his life after nearby fireworks set fire to his apartment. When she got to know Minato and fell in love, she had to accept the harsh reality that the man had died after saving a drowning jet skier.
Minato’s sudden death shatters Hinako until she realizes that singing their favorite song can summon the boy’s spirit. She also felt happy because she could see the man her idol was slowly starting to realize that she had to return to the afterlife. Although he accepts that, Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara ends sadly when he sings their favorite song next to a fountain, an act that will never be able to summon Minato’s spirit again.