How are you feeling today, friends? Are you having a good time so far? Just so you know, I’m here to ruin your day and introduce five different anime into your life that will definitely cause you to shed a tear, make your heart hurt, or even reconsider your life’s choices that have brought you to this article. 

Did you come here looking to cry, or were you in search of something to watch that would get you in your feels? Well, look no further, because I’ve compiled a list of anime that should definitely check off those boxes. If you think your heart can handle it, the following anime are perfect for testing your emotional resolve:

5. Wolf Children, 1h57m

Hana is a young woman who falls deeply in love with a man who can turn into a wolf. They have two children, Ame and Yuki, who are half-human and half-wolf. This is a movie that depicts their family’s journey as their children grow and try to find their own way of life. At 1 hour and 57 minutes long, Wolf Children is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Funimation.

Wolf Children is a beautiful, yet heart-wrenching story of love and loss; it captures the joys and hardships of both childhood and parenthood in a way that envelops the viewer in the emotions each of the main characters feel.

Whether it is because I’m a mother myself or because I’m just super emotional, this movie really struck a chord in me that is hard to forget. It’s difficult not to root for everyone as they navigate through the trials that their lives put them through, and once the final credits roll, your heart is likely to feel heavy and full at the same time. Regardless of if you’re a parent or not, I highly recommend this anime because it carries a powerful message of love and acceptance that everyone can benefit from. 

Watch on Crunchyroll.

4. Naruto Shippuden – 21 Seasons, 500 Episodes (Complete)

There is a reason Naruto is part of The Big Three. Not only is this an anime that is jam-packed with action, growth, and  rife with struggle, 

Naruto: Shippuden picks up 2 ½ years after the original Naruto series and while it’s not absolutely necessary to watch Naruto before starting Naruto: Shippuden, I highly recommend it in order to fully appreciate the depth in which his story is written. 

This series follows Naruto’s path to realizing his dreams and becoming the Hokage, the leader of Konohagakure/Hidden Leaf Village. As we follow along on Naruto’s journey to becoming the strongest ninja, he’s tasked with difficult missions and finds himself facing enemies that threaten to alter the world as he knows it. Naruto: Shippuden is filled with heart, and with that comes a lot of heartbreak.
Watch on Crunchyroll.

3. Hotarubi no mori E, 45m

Man, oh man. This is a standalone, 45 minute short film that reduces me to tears every time I watch it. It’s short, it’s sweet, and once in a blue moon, I’ll think about how I haven’t had a good cry in a while – which can only mean that it’s time for yet another watch to keep me in check.

Without going into any details, it is a story about love. The main characters are Hotaru and Gin, who develop an innocent friendship that evolves over the years. Hotaru travels to the country and visits her grandparents during the summer. This is where she meets Gin, a boy wearing a fox mask, after getting lost in the mountain forest near their home. 

She learns that Gin lives in the forest and is not an ordinary human, but somewhere between that and a spirit; furthermore, if he is touched by a human, he’ll disappear forever. He leads her out of the forest and from that point forward, Hotaru spends the rest of her trip visiting him and becoming friends. 

Every summer, she returns to spend more time with her dear friend and as the years pass and Hotaru becomes older, the bond between the two grows stronger. If you want something that will make your heart ache in record time, this is definitely the one to watch. 

Watch on Bilibili.

2. Your Lie in April – 1 Season, 22 Episodes (Complete)

I’ve mentioned above how every now and then when I feel the need for a good cry, I watch Hotarubi no Mori e for a quick, angsty fix. Similarly, the seasons inevitably change and with the arrival of spring comes a mandatory Your Lie in April binge. This is a series that I watch every April; it’s a slower paced slice of life that will really draw you into the lives of Kosei, a former pianist and Kaori, a violinist. 

Kosei was a child prodigy at the piano and has a technical skill that is unmatched; after a traumatic event in his life, he becomes unable to hear the sound of his own playing and stops playing the piano. Years later, he meets Kaori, and she enlists his help as an accompanist for her violin playing. Her style is very free and passionate, which is the opposite of Kosei’s controlled performances. As they continue to play together, Kosei learns to be freer in his playing and together, they make incredible music and you can’t help but root for them both. 

This series is something I consider a must-watch for any anime fan. You’ll fall in love with the characters, but make sure to keep some tissues handy because before you know it, your heart will be broken

1. Made in Abyss – 2 Seasons, 25 Episodes (Season 3 TBD)

Made in Abyss is an anime that will stay with you long after you’ve finished watching it. The first season is 13 episodes, available on both Amazon Prime Video and HIDIVE. 

Made in Abyss tells the tale of Riko, an orphaned girl, who searches for relics within the Abyss – a giant hole that travels deep into the Earth where mysterious creatures reside. She meets Reg, a boy who is part-robot, and together they journey through the caves to get to the lower levels of the Abyss in search of her mother.

Those traveling through the Abyss must possess the guts and grit to get through the different levels and return with their lives intact, with each one becoming more and more dangerous as they descend further. Riko and Reg’s adventure is full of twists and turns, and while they make friends along the way, they must also fight to survive the perils of the Abyss. 

There are several anime series out there where the protagonists might fight through a system of increasingly difficult levels, but none quite like this one. After a certain point in the series, it gets very dark, very fast. By the end of season one, you may just find yourself like I did, crying so hard that it was difficult to breathe. 

Once you’ve composed yourself, grab yourself a new box of tissues and mentally prepare for Season Two of Made In Abyss; the second installment in the series dropped in 2022 and is available exclusively on HIDIVE.  

Watch on HIDIVE.

If you really want a challenge, watch all of these series back-to-back and try not to let the tears flow. What’s your go-to cryfest-inducing anime? Does your favorite appear on this list? Head on over to the comments and let us know!