I would say spirited away...
that was really sad...

o74ku91n0y

i'm shocked to see that KGNE hasn't been posted as often......i mean....i guess it's a love-hate thing.....mostly because most of the people that i talk to that hated have never been in a relationship before...but that's besides the point......
the ending is the kicker....it gives you an ultimatum that you just cannot refuse....

The series is great, but i hated the ending just because haruka went through all that, and then takayuki leaves her. But it wouldn't be the same any other way, giving it the happy ending where hes with haruka would take something away, make it feel to clean, so to speak.

Another series i didn't say before, which some have is saikano. Definately not the most beautifully drawn series, IMO, but the story is something quite incredible. I loved the ending, they leave it happy, with the two of them overlooking the city, but you know what happened...

the soundtrack is as great as the story. Sayonara and the electric guitar instrumental version especially are 2 of my FAVORITE songs.

Oh nice to see other Chrno Crusade fans...its so good to know I wasn't crying alone there... =)

oh thank you for reminding me of Yukikaze...yes that one definitely had me in tears. I just go so attached to Rei, Frank and Yuki for that matter. I'm amazed at the emotion a person can pack into just 5 ova's.

And another post reminded me...Wolf's Rain.

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I don't think many series have hit me as hard as the final episodes for Wolf's Rain. Watching them all die, one after another. It just tore me up. I had to actually stop during episodes and leave the room for a bit. I couldn't believe how attached I got to them and even the ways they died hurt!

Full Metal Alchemist

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When Hughes died ... it was just sad I loved Hughes

Saber Marionette J

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Although the anime is a bit older when Lime, Cherry, and Bloodberry have to send back whatever his name is .. (long time can't remember think it might have started with an m ... dunno) Anyways before all the sequels and stuff you actually thought they might have sacrificed themselves for him

Hajime No Ippo ... I know what your thinking ... boxing anime ? but bear with me

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When Vorg gets defeated by Sendo and you realize he has to go home because they don't have the funds to keep him on ... it was just sad for him because he could have had what it takes

Onegai Teacher

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The only real sad part I thought was when Mizuho erased Kei's memory and he meets his friends and finds the pocky in his pockets ... and he starts crying but you can noticeably tell that he's trying to hold it back. I think it's sad because it's like he's so emotionally distraught he can't hold back his tears and he doesn't even know what he's crying about

Initial D ... this one is more of a personal sadness

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I really don't remember his name ... but Takumi's friend who works at the gas station not the spaz but the other guy who can semi drive and isn't annoying as hell... but yeah, I think it's in stage 2 when Takumi races those girls with the Sileighty and one of them falls for his friend ... I dunno y it made me sad but I really wanted them to get together and that whole last part where he finally realizes what an idiot he was and tries to make it over but traffic and too late and yeah ... I had to stop watching that anime for the rest of that day just because i was so disappointed ... haha

Chrno Crusade

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Man I really got to start watching these animes over so i can remember their names ... but when Chrno and "the main girl character" are dying together at their own little house ... it was moving ... they did so much for the world and only had a little time for their own love. *tear*

Can't think of any others off the top of my head but im sure there are more ... none of these have actually made me cry but i've gotten that feeling of just ... downright melancholy. Sometimes its just sad to me because i wanted things to turn out a different way but yeah .. =P

Air:
The entire show gets progressively more depressing.

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When I reached the end of episode 11, I thought "This must have a happy ending, after its been such a sad show the entire time." Then she DIES. That depressed me.

Love Hina:
This depressed me because the show started out so great and by the time it reached Love Hina Again everything about the show (including the graphics) had degenerated.
Kanon:
This show also gets progressively more sad, until the very end. The Shiori/Kaori story, as well as Makoto, and

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Ayu's "death"

show how bad the lives of some of the characters are.
Karin:

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Elda's unsuccessful romance story that she tells Karin is very sad, since it mirror's Karin and Kenta's relationship. I want to find out how that show ends.

Spiral/Azumanga Daioh:
My two absolute favorite anime shows, I was depressed to see both of them end. Sprial especially, because I NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS!

Kanon is, by far, the biggest tear-jerker ever. It was one of the first and few animes that made me shed a tear when I was trying my best to hold them back. The ending is such a melancholic mixture of both happiness and sadness.

My choice would be... Tenchi Muyo! Why? Simple - I'm milquetoast, so where are all the ladies?

*unnecessary rimshot that only underscores dearth of laughs*

You've all been great! Tip your veal and try your waitress!

*rimshot*

Hahaha just kidding folks.

Ok, all lolz aside, I'd say FLCL. The ending was more bittersweet than pure sad, but still enough to bring a solitary tear to the eye... /sniff

You don't know sad if you haven't seen Grave of the fireflies. It's an amazing film about 2 kids who live in WW2 Japan. They lose everything and the way it progresses is painfully sad. A must watch.

Grave of the Fireflies. No contest there whatsoever. What made it so sad was that the events really took place and the actions of the characters were very innocent. I felt pretty depressed and sad after watching it. Even though I own it, I don't even have the urge to watch it again. Maybe in a couple more years.

While Grave of the Fireflies is the MOST DEPRESSING anime I have ever watched, and I'm right with you in saying that you don't have the urge to watch it again (it's been 4+ years for me and I STILL don't want to watch it again even though it's a GREAT anime), it didn't so much as make me want to cry as it did just made the world a depressing place to live in for the rest of the day.

The two most saddest animes IMO are Hoshi no Koe and SaiKano. The one thing those series have in common is they both set a sad, depressing tone with the beginning, keep it going consistently through the entire series, and manage to somehow achieve an even more sad ending than you thought was even possible. You have to have a heart of stone to not cry or at least be greatly moved.

Lol..anything with a wacky love story twist where the annoying girl got the guy...that just makes me so angry it just makes me wanna cry...

I agree with everyone who said Grave of the Fireflies... it was so sad, so touching, so moving... it just went straight to your heart. I couldn't watch it again either... it was amazing, but goodness I can't handle that feeling of sadness again just yet.

Mai HiME - when certain characters died who were really close to the main character, and then watching the main characters' pain... very moving.

Fruits Basket - I cried in the last few episodes, like everyone, I'm sure... I just got so caught up with how Tohru must have been feeling in that situation... it was so sad. I also cried in the episode where Tohru got Kisa to start talking again... her compassion and empathy were so moving!

One Piece...

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When Sanji first noticed that Zeff is missing a leg.
When Bellemére said I love you, and got shot by Arlong.
When Dr. Kureha told Chopper that the mushroom he got for Dr. Hiruruk was poisonous. Well more like the ENTIRE CHOPPER FLASHBACK!
When Nico Robin was floating away in the little boat, forcing herself to laugh like Saul...

FMA...

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When Ed asked Tucker where did Nina and Alexander went after hearing that Chimera saying Big Brother...
Hughe's funeral, when Alicia kept asking why they are burying her father. Followed by Roy's "It's Raining" comment.

Hikaru no Go...

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When Sai was disappearing, and the part where he asked the gods why it is Hikaru that gets to keep playing.
Hikaru finally "found" Sai when he was playing Isumi.

Naruto...

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Zabuza's dying word, how he would like to go where Haku has gone.
Gai sensei told Lee that if his operation doesn't go through, he'll die with him.

Sailormoon, AIR, Full Moon wo Sagashite, and Kanon were very sweet and sad at the same time.

*One piece and naruto
Many people died...

*FullMoon Wo Sagashite
The ending so touching.Especially what Meroko did.

Furuba!
Reason? OMG?WTF??!!the whole frig' series is so depressing...Kana and Hatori,Kyo's fate, momiji's mum *cries*, Akito's fate, Yuki's fate...tohru, just everything!AAARGGHHH!