The Tear-Jerking World of Heart-Piercing Anime Songs
Do you have an anime that you got so hooked on it moved you to tears?
When you encounter a work like that, sometimes just hearing a single line of the theme song out of the blue can make you cry.
Maybe the song didn’t hit you at first, but the closer the finale gets, the more heartbreakingly it starts to feel…
In this article, we’ve gathered anime songs that will make you cry and cry and cry.
We’ve included both old and new anime, so it should resonate with a wide range of generations.
By all means, enjoy the works themselves along with the songs.
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- [Nostalgic] Classic and Popular Anime Songs Recommended for People in Their 30s
- The nostalgic atmosphere tugs at your heartstrings. Tear-jerker songs from the Showa era.
- Anime Love Song Special [Heart-Fluttering & Tearjerkers]
- [So touching it makes you cry] A heartbreakingly wistful and sad song that tightens your chest
- [Just the Lyrics Make Me Cry] Tear-Jerking Songs That Touch the Heart
- Tear ducts guaranteed to burst! Heart-wrenching masterpiece songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- [Collection of Epic Songs] A compilation of cool anime songs chosen by anime fans
- [Today's Tearjerker Song] Tear ducts destroyed! Timeless and trending tracks that will make you cry no matter what
- Tears won’t stop with these sentimental lyrics! Heisei-era tearjerker songs
[Tearjerker] The World of Heart-Piercing Anime Songs (21–30)
peace signKenshi Yonezu
It’s the opening theme for the first cour of Season 2 of the YTV-affiliated anime “My Hero Academia.” This song could be called the very definition of bittersweet rock.
Behind its coolness, you catch glimpses of sorrow and sadness.
It makes you want to sing and shout while crying.
〜Yui final ver.〜LiSA
It’s the ending theme of the anime “Angel Beats!”.
Listening to this song after watching the anime makes it even more moving.
I felt the lyrics express Yui’s gratitude toward Hideki Hinata, who saved her.
It’s a song that makes you realize you are who you are because someone helped you, and that’s why you can move forward in life.
PrologueNornis
Nornis, a unit formed by Nijisanji virtual livers Toko Inui and Chima Machita, released their 3rd single in October 2025.
It was selected as the opening theme for the TV anime “Material Collector’s Another World Travelogue.” This medium-tempo rock ballad is based on a band sound, sprinkled with the refreshing tones of folk instruments.
Its warm arrangement, where gentleness and strength coexist, evokes anticipation for a new world.
It’s an anime song that gives a supportive push to those about to embark on something new.
Your Memorymao
The ending theme of the anime Hakuoki.
The melody sits mostly in the mid to low range, slow and weighty.
It’s a love-themed song, and you can feel the emotions for the beloved person throughout the lyrics.
In the final chorus there’s a brief moment of held-back rhythm, and the vocals resonate deeply in your heart.
It makes you realize you can’t forget the one you truly loved, and there’s no substitute for them.
Is there still anything that love can do?RADWIMPS
It’s a grand piece that questions the possibilities of love and hope for the future.
Even in the face of a global crisis, it portrays the strength to believe in the bonds with loved ones and the power of love.
Created by RADWIMPS in July 2019, this work was produced as the theme song for director Makoto Shinkai’s film Weathering With You.
In resonance with the film’s story, the protagonist’s determination to keep moving forward under harsh circumstances is powerfully expressed through a fusion of orchestral and rock sounds.
It’s a song that resonates in moments when you feel on the verge of losing hope or when you want to sense the bonds with those you cherish.
And yet, tomorrow will come.Yume Suzuki
It’s the ending theme of Ninku.
Yume Suzuki is a singer-songwriter who performed all the opening and ending themes for the anime Ninku.
“Soredemo Ashita wa Yatte Kuru” was released as the B-side to “Kagayaki wa Kimi no Naka ni,” the series’ opening theme.
Diamond CrevasseSheryl Nome starring May’n
The first ending theme of Macross Frontier.
It also appears as an insert song in the series and is one of the tracks that represents this anime.
The overwhelming vocals of Sheryl, the character voiced by May’n, bring tears to your eyes.
It’s a grand ballad.