The movie cinema offers the viewers a more grandeur experience than just chilling on top of the sofa watching a few episodes of an anime series. Thus, the movie is usually packed with emotional storytelling that can be enjoyed in one sitting. Even more so if the anime movies where the main character dies.
Below, we have a list of the best anime movies where the main character dies. Beware that this list will include heavy spoilers, so move forward at your discretion. Let’s dive in!
Read Also: Top 10 Anime Series Where The Main Character Dies
10 Must-See Movies Where The Main Character Dies
ENJOY! 🙂
10. Sakura Yamauchi (I Want to Eat Your Pancreas)
The first anime movie where the main character dies is I Want To Eat Your Pancreas. The movie is about Haruki Shiga who met a girl, Sakura Yamauchi, who is suffering from a pancreatic disease. Knowing her fragility of life thanks to her terminal illness, without showing pity, he decided to accompany her for her remaining days. After spending days with her, now he knows the true meaning of life.
After reading the lovely synopsis, you may guess how the movie ends. Sakura died from her illness and Haruka cried beside her. Nah, Yoru Sumino, the original creator, makes sure he adds a plot twist that no one can think of. Guess, what? Somehow Haruka doesn’t die from her illness, rather she dies for another reason even before his pancreatic disease claims her life. Meanwhile, Haruki gets the news while having a cozy dinner. Way to go for a twist! Jokes aside, the movie turned out to be the best “tearjerker” movie in 2018.
9. Koro-sensei (Assassination Classroom: 365 Days)
Sure enough, this movie is a compilation of two seasons of the Assassination Classroom series. It also includes the epilogue which doesn’t appear in the original series. However, viewers should be advised to watch the original series before watching this movie. Because the purpose of this movie is to close the lid on the E-class story.
In a nutshell, the movie only includes brief early episodes about who Koro-sensei is and how Nagisa takes note of his weakness. In the second half, it adapts to the Final Assassination arc where the whole students kill their beloved teacher.
8. Makoto Yuuki (Persona 3 The Movie)
Who doesn’t know the famous Atlus game “Persona”? Every avid anime fan should at least hear it once even though it is a game rather than an anime. Even more so the Persona 5 was a hype among the circle from years back. However, most agree that Persona 3 forms a solid foundation for the upcoming Persona series.
It is also the only Persona game that gets 4 movies. What differentiates this series from others is that the movie has a bad ending. At the end of this anime movie the main character dies in the lap of Aegis. It is thanks to the final duel between him and Nyx. As Makoto seals away Nyx, he sacrifices his soul to bury the shadow away forever.
7. Madoka Kaname (Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie)
The message we can get from Madoka is don’t ever blindly trust something because it is cute. The horror of Madoka Magica still lingers in anime fans today. Moreover, we will get the fourth movie soon.
Looking back, there was no sign of bad things happening in the early episode. However, that anime turned from good into worse and ended up being the worst. Of course in a good way. At the end of the second anime movie the main character dies as a person and turns herself into an omnipotent being.
6. Saber (Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel)
For those who don’t know, Fate/Stay Night is originally an eroge. Yeah, you heard it right. The story is based on 18+ games with branches into several routes depending on the heroine you focused on. Meanwhile, in Heaven’s Feel, Shirou will go into Sakura’s route.
That’s when our Saber goes rogue. Being a main heroine in several Fate series, she takes a role as a fallen knight after being consumed by the Holy Grail during a battle with True Assassin. Known as Saber Alter, she runs amok in the Holy Grail war before being subdued by his lover from another life, Emiya Shirou. At the end of the day, Fate/Stay Night is also one of the anime movie where the main character dies.
5. Violet Evergarden (Violet Evergarden: The Movie)
There is no doubt that Violet Evergarden is one of the best romance anime in 2018. Some fans may be satisfied with the ending of the original series, but the story moves on to give Violet’s fans a piece of mind.
In the movie, she finds out that her beloved Major survived the war. At the same time, she also feels terrified about facing him after a long time. This vortex of emotions stirs for the rest of the movie. But the question is, how is she on this list? Well, the epilogue mentions that the era of Auto Memories Doll already ended. It implies that Violet is no longer alive in the far future. Maybe she already spends his days with Gilbert. Anyhow, the movie lets you experience countless emotions, and hopefully, you’ll enjoy watching it. The topic of Gilbert’s death is also a huge debate in the anime community, as almost till the end, fans believe that he died.
4. Mitsuha Miyamizu (Your Name)
One day, the shrine maiden of a rural village, Mitsuha Miyamizu, switches bodies with a boy from Tokyo. Unknown to her, the counterpart phenomenon also happens to Taki Tachibana. At first, they are bewildered, but somehow, they try to understand how it happens.
When they want to meet in real life and talk about it, Taki discovers a shocking truth. Not only are they from places apart, but they are also from a different timeline! Mitsuha, who he knows, died three years ago. A meteor struck the village she resided in and ended up killing everyone. Thanks to their power of love, Taki eventually overcomes the difference in timelines and saves Mitsuha. In the end, in this movie anime the main character doesn’t die.
3. Takasugi Shinsuke (Gintama The Final)
Once a best friend, always a best friend. In the early story, Takasugi seems to appear as the main villain from Gintama. However, when the past story is revealed, the opinion of him begins to change. It turns out that he just has a different perspective from Gintoki.
While Gintoki is a textbook pacifist, Takasugi sows anarchy to get revenge for his deceased teacher. Despite his ominous look, deep inside, he still thinks of Gintoki and Katsura as brothers. At the end of the movie, we can see how he really feels. Hats off to the best anti-hero in Gintama.
2. Rengoku (Demon Slayer The Movie – Mugen Train)
At the end of season 1, we see Hashira as the creme de la creme of the Demon Slayer squad. They appear to be mighty, invincible, and powerful regardless of their unique traits. One of the most spirited ones, Rengoku, shows a high vigor reflecting his fire breath technique. Sure, he isn’t the main character in the series. However, he holds the role of the key character in the movie.
It is surreal how this nice guy just got punched to death in one arc after the introduction. Not to mention after showing his uncharted skill against the First Lower Moon. However, maybe because Koyoharu Gotouge, the creator of Demon Slayer, wants to stack up the power of Upper Moon, he decided to make the anime movie where the main character dies.
1. Setsuko (Grave of the Fireflies)
No word can describe this movie other than heartbreaking. Studio Ghibli created this war drama based on the final month of the Second World War. Universally acclaimed, the movie is considered the best war animated film ever created.
It tells about two siblings and war orphans, Seita and Setsuko. Their story reflects the horror of war. Their suffering mirrors the reality of how the Japanese youth suffer from the after-effects of World War. In the end, they can’t keep up with daily necessities and two anime movie main character dies from starvation.
Final Notes
Finally, those are the best movies you can enjoy if you’re expecting the anime movies where the main character dies. So, how was it? Which one has the most impactful moments? Unfortunately, you can’t watch them in the cinema anymore unless there are events or something. But, hey, most of them are available on several streaming platforms.
Do you want more of an anime list like this? Just stay tuned to Anime Fleek for more future anime updates!
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Setsuko die in Grave of the Fireflies?
She died from starvation. Even watermelon can’t save her after getting grave malnutrition.
Did the Violet Evergarden Movie mention the death of Violet?
Not really, the epilogue implies that there was Automatic Memories Doll in the past. The movie suggests that there is no Doll again in the era which means she is dead.
How many Persona anime are there?
There are three Persona animated series starting from Persona 3, 4, and 5. However, only Persona 3 has a movie format while Persona 4 and 5 have the usual anime series format.
