If you’re in the mood to binge-watch a heartbreaking love story play out on screen, you’ve come to the right place for recommendations. It can be an incredibly cathartic experience to watch a sad media and purge our own emotions.
We get it. So without further ado, let’s dive into the list.
Your Lie in April (2014)
The loss of Kousei’s mother and his eternal yearning and love for music are not the only components of the tragic thread that runs throughout the series. The bond Kousei shares with his love interest Kaori Miyazano is also one major heartbreaking aspect of Your Lie in April.
To get to know someone who helps you revisit the passion for something you’ve lost is a beautiful bond to have. After seeing Kousei regain his love for music through Kaori, viewers will definitely feel the bittersweet pang knowing that his love for his deceased mother is the one thing that he’ll never remanifest in his life again.
Hotarubi no Mori e (2011)
Hotarubi no Mori e follows the story of Hotaru who encounters a lonely spirit called Gin in a mysterious forest. Hotaru consistently goes to visit him and romance blooms between the pair, violating the forest’s sacred rule.
This is a tale of unwavering friendship and tragic romance between two lovers who never should have crossed paths, as their lives become hopelessly intertwined.
5 Centimeters Per Second (2007)
Successfully portraying the realistic struggles in maintaining a relationship with a significant other, 5 Centimeters Per Second is undoubtedly one of Makoto Shinkai’s best movies. The film intricately shows the difficulties in maintaining a long-distance relationship between the protagonists Takaki Tono and Akari Shinohara.
Real life is perfectly represented in this movie as the couple slowly drift apart. Outside of their broken relationship, the film emphasizes the daily life struggles they face in their new places, alluding to how their environments affect their old feelings for each other.
Orange (2016)
The story of Orange starts when Naho receives a strange letter from her future self telling her not to repeat her past mistakes and to pay special attention to a new transfer student, Kakeru who she befriends. She learns from the letter that Kakeru is not around in the future anymore.
This is a poignant tale about life, friendship, regret and love. There is a big sense of bittersweet and nostalgic feelings and will seriously make your cry.
The Wind Rises (2013)
Amidst the tragedies of war, The Wind Rises highlights the sacrifice the male protagonist, Jiro must endure when he comes to know that his lover Naoko is slowly dying.
What truly makes the angst hit home in this story is that Jiro must hold his sadness from showing so as to let Naoko’s final moments feel happy and joyful.
