10 Heartbreaking Anime That Have Happy Endings

Although there are several heartbreaking anime with heartbreaking endings, there are a few that end on a happy note. 

Anime is a diverse medium with a variety of concepts and storylines packed into several unique genres. There is an anime to go with any emotion that viewers want to feel while watching — whether it's blood pumping action, adventure, comedy, drama, or something else entirely.

However, not every anime is filled with cheer and happiness. In fact, many shows have distressing moments that end up leaving viewers sad or upset. Although there are several heartbreaking anime with heartbreaking endings, there are a few that end on a happy note — as much for their characters as the audience.

10. Tokyo Ghoul — Kaneki Gets His Happy Family

Tokyo Ghoul definitely has its tragedies and tearjerking moments — There is no lack of death and destruction throughout the series, but there are also small glimpses of happier occasions, mainly through character relationships and comedic moments.

Viewers come to care about Kaneki and those he surrounds himself with, both as a human and a ghoul. Despite the issues fans have with the anime as an adaptation, it does have a happy ending. All of those tragedies pale in comparison with seeing Kaneki survive, not to mention getting to live with Touka and their daughter.

9. Given — Mayufu Finds His Passion For Music

On the surface, Given doesn't necessarily sound like it's going to be a heartbreaking anime. It focuses on Mafuyu, who convinces one of his classmates to teach him how to play the guitar that he always carries around with him. However, the anime goes a lot deeper than what its viewers may think — discussing the realities of loss and not knowing how to deal with a loved one's death.

Viewers are taken on an emotional, and at times, heart-wrenching journey as Mafuyu finds a passion for music and learns that it's okay to move on. He gets to fall in love with Uenoyama and continues to explore his music with the band.

8. Naruto — Naruto And His Friends Get Married And Have Children To Carry On Their Legacies

Naruto may not seem like an obvious example of a heartbreaking anime, given that it fits the action, adventure, and comedy genres much better. Throughout the franchise, though, many characters experience heartbreaking moments.

Seeing characters struggling with their problems, and sometimes even dying along the way, would pull at the heartstrings of any viewer. In the end, all of the death and destruction is left behind when Naruto and his friends obtain their happy endings — getting married and having children to carry on their legacies.

7. Death Parade — Chiyuki Helps Decim Come To Terms With Human Emotion

Death Parade is an anime that centers around death and the afterlife. It takes place in a gigantic hotel, located somewhere between Heaven and Hell. The story focuses on Decim, who is an Arbiter: he decides if souls are to be reincarnated or sent into the void.

Working with Decim is Chiyuki, a black-haired woman whose identity is a mystery at the beginning of the series. Regardless of the show's dark theme, the ending can be seen as bittersweet — Chiyuki helps Decim come to terms with human emotions before she is reincarnated.

6. Kiznaiver — The Characters Carry On Their Lives While Supporting Each Other

Kiznaiver is centered around human connection viewed through the lens of pain. Its seven main protagonists are chosen for an experiment, in which they are all physically connected in such a way that they share each other's pain — whether physical or emotional. The anime asks questions about how people connect with each other and whether they can feel each other's pain after building a connection.

Audiences are taken on an emotional journey with these seven teenagers — a few parts of the story are devastating, but the happy and hopeful ending is worth all the sadness. The characters in Kiznaiver carry on with their lives, building on their friendships and relationships while continuing to support each other.

5. Charlotte — Yuu Rebuilds His Friendships Without Worrying About Being Hunted For His Ability

Charlotte is set in an alternate reality in which a select number of children develop special abilities. These abilities appear when they are in their preadolescence and disappear at the end of puberty. It focuses on Yuu, who can possess other people for five seconds at a time. When he's forced to transfer high schools, he joins the school council whose job is to protect students who have these special abilities.

Charlotte sometimes misses the mark with pacing and comedy, but it has its fair share of depressing moments. Yuu endures a lot, but his ending is filled with hope for the future. He may lose his memories of his friends, but he is going to build new memories with them, anyway — all without having to worry about being hunted for his abilities.

4. Your Name — Mitsuha And Taki Are Destined To Meet Each Other Again

Your Name is an anime movie whose main plotline revolves around body-swapping. It follows Mitsuha and Taki, two teenagers who begin swapping bodies with no explanation as to what exactly is going on. As they both realize what's happening, they begin to leave notes for the other person when they are in each other's bodies — until the messages suddenly stop one day.

The twist in the middle of Your Name is guaranteed to break the hearts of viewers. The ending, however, leaves the film on a happy and hopeful note: Mitsuha and Taki are destined to meet each other again.

3. Weathering With You — Hakoda And Hina Are Happy To Find Each Other, Even Years Later

Weathering With You focuses on Hadoka, a high schooler who runs away from home to Tokyo. He finds a new family in the people he meets there, especially a girl named Hina — who seems to be able to control the weather — and her little brother. Weathering With You delivers some devastating blows about the reality of climate change, as well as about love and family.

Audiences are left rooting for Hadoka and Hina, regardless of the consequences of the two of them being together. Despite how heartbreaking Weathering With You can be in some places, the movie gives its audience a happy ending in which Hadoka and Hina find each other again, even if it happens years later.

2. Violet Evergarden — Violet Continues To Understand Human Emotions And The People Around Her

The title character of Violet Evergarden begins her story as an orphan who is later turned into a child soldier. After the war is over, she becomes an "Auto Memories Doll" —  writing letters for other people. Viewers are taken on a journey with Violet as she tries to comprehend human emotions.

It's particularly sad that the last words her mentor says to her are "I love you." The anime deals with heavy topics such as war, loss, and love. In the end, though, Violet finds her purpose in life, continuing to understand human emotions and the people around her.

1. Steins;Gate — Seeing Mayuri And Kurisu Alive At The End Is Worth It

Steins;Gate follows a scientist named Okabe, who runs a science lab in his apartment with his friends. When he is attending a conference on the science of time travel, he finds a dead body — Okabe panics and proceeds to text his friends about his discovery.

Interestingly, the text message seems to appear a few days earlier than he actually sends it, leading them to discover that the microwave they have been working on can be used to send messages into the past. Although confusing at times, Steins;Gate packs an emotional punch, especially when things go wrong. Nevertheless, seeing Mayuri and Kurisu alive at the end makes the journey feel like it's worth it.