Let’s face it people, we all have anime characters we get attached to. Here we are minding our own business and all of a sudden BAM they die, or a series of our favorite characters die. I dunno about you, but there are some that have still messed me up and I think about to this day. Here is to the good days where our characters survived. And having them die on us was not an option at all. As always there are spoilers here, so please don’t blame me for ruining any of these for you.
10. Nicholas D. – Wolfwood Trigun
Ugh, this really messed me up when I was watching it for the first time in the early 2000s. My friends and I talked about how messed up it was, that he was scared to die and didn’t want to die because he had so much more to do with all of them. Let’s be real, he wanted to be with Milly. I can still hear her crying in my head. The anime put them together a little but more than the manga. They even spent the night together, and I bet it wasn’t for talking.
9. Setsuko –Grave of the Fireflies
Oh man, I had to step away from this one. I only saw this movie once, and that was enough for me. It was bad enough that Seita had to witness his own mother die and be thrown into a pit to be burned with the rest. BUT THE FACT THAT HE FINALLY GOT FOOD FOR HIS SIBLING AND SHE LOOKS AT HIM THANKING HIM BEFORE SHE DIES WAS ENOUGH TO SEND ME OVER THE EDGE. YES CAPS ARE NECESSARY!
8. Chiriko – Fushigi Yuugi: The Mysterious Play
Okay I will admit each of the deaths was pretty bad and it was a toss up between Nuriko and Chiriko, but the more I thought about it, the more I was upset about Chiriko. One, he is so small and so happy. And the fact he is lying there and dying with his character song playing (it’s a very cute upbeat song) only adds to the sadness of it all.
7. Nina Tucker – Fullmetal Alchemist
We only knew her for a short time but she was there long enough for all of us to love this loveable child. The fact we hear her say “Big Brother” oh, it ended right there. And her death was all the more tragic. Father of the year, am I right?
6. Spike Spiegel –Cowboy Bebop
How do you make a list like this and not include Spike? We was our hero and main protagonist for an amazing series. Witty lines and an attitude that wouldn’t quit. I distinctly remember sitting in Japanese 102 and my friend John blurts out “Spike dies!” my reaction “Wait he dies!?” yeah, talk about spoilers. I knew it was coming, but this, still gets me to this very day.
5. Charlotte Elbourne –Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
One of my favorite movies growing up. Everything about this was pure perfection. Charlotte loves Meier so much. In the beginning you think he kidnaps her, but no she went willingly. Sigh to see her die in the arms of her loved one, and the face Meier gives still tears me apart inside. They wanted to be together, pure and simple.
4. L – Death Note
Ah, Death Note, so many deaths. L was the worst one to me, he knew what he was getting into the second he took the case. It was heartbreaking to see Rem go, she was my favorite character. Light planned everything out to detail about, how he would get the book back and how he would get rid of L. That smile Light gives sent chills down my spine first time I watched it. And I can still hear my friends crying because L had just died.
3. Nephrite – Sailor Moon
Bad guy goes good for love. Man, even today this one still makes me mad. Because Naru and him together were so cute. He went out of his way to save her and even defy the others [Generals]. And tells her that he can’t keep his promise for another date. Dying while Naru is crying and holding onto him. Back in the 90s I was struck with sadness. Sailor Moon has a lot of deaths, but this ranks high for me.
2. Pip – Hellsing
I am a big time Hellsing fan and have read all the manga and watched the original 13 episodes and even went to AX for the Hellsing Panel and have them show us the trailer for the OVA. To see Pip I was beyond excited. But to see him die is another thing. Kept his weirdness to the end. And when he offers Seres to drink from him so she can live, is wild. She couldn’t even see his stupid face when he stole that kiss because her eyes were gouged out. Ugh, this one hurts.
1. Nagisa Furukawa –Clannad
If you have never seen Clannad I recommend you get off the computer or your phone and do so instantly. This one right here has messed me up since I first saw it so many years ago. I would also like to add that Nagisa is probably one of the most likable characters I have ever came across. She may have weak health but always thought of others. Dying after giving birth to her baby daughter with her husband (Tomoya) present just sends me into a spiral loop of depression every time.
These are only a small portion of the anime deaths that have forever scarred us. I could make a longer list, but I fear half of it would be from Sailor Moon and the rest from Dragon Ball. Honorable mentions include:
Vegita Dragonball Z
Lelouch Lamperouge Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Kaori Miyazono Your Lie in April
Otanoshi Angel Beats
Kamina Tegen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Asuna Sword Art Online
