Mood
Melancholic anime
There's a specific beauty in the bittersweet — stories that aren't out to break you, just to leave you thinking, with that nostalgia for something you never even lived.
Melancholic anime
141 results
8.4
6.6
6.0
6.3
5.6
6.2
6.2
5.7
New
Fall 2014
8.5Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso
Winter 2018
9.1Violet Evergarden
Fall 2023
8.6Sousou no Frieren
Spring 1998
8.0Cowboy Bebop
Spring 2011
8.5Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.
Summer 2022
8.4Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Summer 2018
8.1Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai
Spring 2021
7.7Fumetsu no Anata e
Fall 2007
7.9CLANNAD
Summer 2022
8.8Yofukashi no Uta
Winter 2023
8.4VINLAND SAGA SEASON 2
Spring 2019
7.7Seishun Buta Yarou wa Yumemiru Shoujo no Yume wo Minai
Spring 2015
7.2Plastic Memories
Winter 2007
7.5Byousoku 5 Centimeter
Spring 2013
7.8Kotonoha no Niwa
Fall 2017
7.5Mahoutsukai no Yome
Summer 2014
8.0Ao Haru Ride
Summer 2017
8.8No Game No Life Zero
Fall 2008
8.4CLANNAD: After Story
Spring 2018
7.5Steins;Gate 0
Fall 2019
8.3Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld
Fall 2016
8.13-gatsu no Lion
Spring 2023
8.3Tengoku Daimakyou
Summer 2019
7.8Given
Summer 2021
8.5Vanitas no Carte
Spring 2006
7.2NANA
Spring 2016
8.3Kiznaiver
Spring 1988
8.7Hotaru no Haka
Summer 2020
8.0Violet Evergarden Movie
Summer 2011
8.7Hotarubi no Mori e
Fall 2021
8.386: Eighty Six Part 2
Spring 2012
8.5Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki
Fall 2005
7.0Mushishi
Spring 2021
8.5Hige wo Soru. Soshite Joshikousei wo Hirou.
Spring 2020
7.4Fruits Basket: 2nd Season
Winter 2016
6.8Hai to Gensou no Grimgar
Winter 2017
7.7Kuzu no Honkai
Spring 2007
8.9DARKER THAN BLACK: Kuro no Keiyakusha
Spring 2021
7.8Fruits Basket: The Final
Summer 2006
7.6Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo
Winter 2006
6.7Ergo Proxy
Summer 2013
7.4Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!
Fall 2020
8.5Majo no Tabitabi
Spring 2010
8.6Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei
Winter 2010
8.7Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu
Winter 2017
8.2Kizumonogatari III: Reiketsu-hen
Winter 2018
7.2Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarou
Fall 2014
8.4Grisaia no Kajitsu
Summer 2019
7.5Violet Evergarden Gaiden: Eien to Jidou Shuki Ningyou
Winter 2023
7.6Tokyo Revengers: Seiya Kessen-hen
Summer 2023
8.2Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon
Spring 2013
7.7Steins;Gate: Fuka Ryouiki no Déjà vu
Fall 2013
Airing6.7Nagi no Asukara
Summer 2026
6.4Yani Neko
Spring 2026
7.6Saikyou no Ousama, Nidome no Jinsei wa Nani wo Suru? 2nd Season
Spring 2026
Airing6.4Shunkashuutou Daikousha: Haru no Mai
Summer 2026
8.4Koko wa Ore ni Makasete Saki ni Ike to Ittekara 10-nen ga Tattara Densetsu ni Natteita.
Spring 2025
Airing6.6Jujutsu Kaisen: Kaigyoku・Gyokusetsu
Spring 2026
6.7MAO
Winter 2026
6.9ALL YOU NEED IS KILL
Spring 2026
6.7Replica Datte, Koi wo Suru.
Spring 2026
8.0Snowball Earth
I Byeore Piryohan
Fall 2025
Airing6.5Shuumatsu Touring
Summer 2026
6.1"Kimi wo Aisuru Ki wa nai" to Itta Jiki Koushaku-sama ga Naze ka Dekiai Shitekimasu
Summer 2025
Airing5.2Kizu darake Seijo yori Houfuku wo Komete
Summer 2026
4.5Iwamoto-senpai no Suisen
Spring 2026
6.9Daikenja Riddle no Jikan Gyakko
Spring 2025
5.1Tamaranai no wa Koi nano ka
Fall 2025
6.7Heika Watashi wo Wasurete Kudasai
Winter 2026
Ao no Miburo: Serizawa Ansatsu-hen
Winter 2026
7.2Kusunoki no Bannin
Spring 2025
5.6LUPIN THE IIIRD: Zenigata to Futari no Lupin
Spring 2025
6.1Mumei no Jinsei
Kujira wo Yumemu
Summer 2025
5.6Summer Pockets: Naruse Shiroha-hen
Spring 2025
6.8Bousei no Volicia Dai Ni Shou: Gunjou
Yuanshen: Huanghun
Spring 2026
6.1Entotsu-machi no Poupelle: Yakusoku no Tokei-dai
Bai Yao Pu: Luoyang Pian
Fall 2025
LOCA!
Fall 2025
Wadachi wo Koete Yuke
FOXING: Kitsuné-tsuki
Ai no Yakusoku
Winter 2022
Shiyakusho
Summer 2026
5.8Sazin no Nakade
Yuanshen: Ping Zhong de Xinyuan
Yuanshen: Ci Shi Zhi Yi
LUCA
Summer 2026
Rusuban
Summer 2026
4.8Moshi, Korekara Umarerunonara
Winter 2025
Galaxy Apartment★Cosmo Hills
THE FOX ELEVATOR BOY RENARD
Akai Kitsune Midori no Tanuki Web CM: Hitori no Yoru to Akamidori
Ninifuni no Niwa
First Light
Spring 2026
Eri
Kaguya-hime
Fall 2024
Shoujo Kakumei Keikaku
Fall 2024
Sayonara End Roll (Short Douga)
Kaguya-hime (1972)
Winter 2023
Samishii Anata
Winter 2000
Shinsengumi
Summer 2021
MAHOROBA
Jiangtun: Feng Shi Wu
Tamagoyaki no Asa
Very Chubby Belly
Summer 2022
Muhou no Ai
Ninjin wa Matte Kurenai
Summer 1992
Kero Kero Keroppi no Kyouryuu ga Deta
Fall 2020
Haruzora to Akizora
Winter 2000
Ginga Tetsudou 999: Glass no Clair (3D)
Ukare Violin
Metamorphose.
Winter 2026
Han ye Deng Zhu
Crater no Naru Ki
REST
Fall 1987
Seishun Meisaku Anime
Fall 1989
Sensuikan ni Koi wo Shita Kujira no Hanashi
Tsuru no Sugomori
Yobi to Amari
Kawauso
Hua Qian Gu: Hua Hun Zhi Lu
I
Glass and Kumo
Rakugaki
Ari to Hato
Heya Nikki
ERASER WARS
Saka no Me
THE CRYSTALLIZATION
GOOD-MOURNING
Kinjo no Numa
Monogatari: Flanders no Inu
Shinsei: Tamamizu Monogatari
Winter 1993
Terajimachou Kidan: Ginnagashi
Sinbi Apateu Teukbyeolpan: Joseontoemasillok
Gaksital
Guskou Budori no Denki (1998)
Sinbi Apateu: Geumbit Dokkaebiwa Bimirui Donggul
Yuanshen: Zuìhou de Yíchan
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Melancholic anime anime
Is a melancholic anime the same as a sad one?
Not quite — sadness aims to hurt, melancholic aims to leave you thinking, with that bittersweet nostalgia for something you never even lived yourself.
Do these all lack a happy ending?
Not always — what they share isn't the ending, it's the tone: stories that aren't trying to break you, just leave you with a feeling that sticks around a while.