Top 20 Soul Crushing Anime Deaths

We're still not over these. Join Ashley as we count down our picks for the most devastating deaths across anime, as seen in series such as "My Hero Academia", "Oshi no Ko", "One Piece", and more! Which of these demises broke you inside? Let us know in the comments!

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#Anime
#Manga
#OshinoKo
#OnePiece
#MyHeroAcademia

[WatchMojo]

Meanwhile, this lot CAN'T die! Check out our new list:
Top 20 Hardest to Kill Anime Characters

[grayshigami]

Ai's death is heart wrenching but is also upsetting, she was living a happy life with her kids and an incel ends it because the kids weren't his

[sweetandsourdish]

The deaths of Ai, Ace, Koro-sensei, Kamina and Sir Nighteye shattered my heart into so many pieces. I may never get past them. 😭😭😭💔💔💔

[kingjamos]

Ushio's death wasn't just heartbreaking to me, it was soul breaking. The protagonist having lost the love of his life to child birth had finally found happiness again when reunited with his daughter. It was heartwarming to see him find a reason to live again. Then the illness that caused her mother to die found its way to Ushio. The whole scene made me a blubbering mess. I had to briefly stop the show to get the crying out of my system. Definitely not something I will forget any time soon.

[donovan]

I went into Oshi Ko No thinking it was just a fun and charming anime about a pop star taking on the world and showing what she’s got, and then I find out it was more than that and a hell of lot more devastating. She was living a beautiful life. Ai was living a beautiful like with two beautiful children. 😭🥺 From that moment, I wished nothing but karma things for her killer.

[BigFella]

Maes Hughes was my favorite side character of Fullmetal Alchemist. His death and his funeral broke my heart the first time I saw it, and his daughter crying over wondering where her dad was hit me even harder

[BIIIIGBODDY]

I'M STILL NOT OVER AI DONT SHOW ME THIS WATCHMOJO

[nintendolife]

I’m still not over Rengoku’s death, man. It just hits me so hard….

[twist]

Jiraiya and Neji’s untimely demises really shook me to my core. It wasn’t fair they perished too soon without seeing Naruto officially becoming Hokage and being a married man with two kids.

[ShiraFuyu]

The sad part about Ai's Death is how it can actually be happening in our time period. I think I remember an Idol that got stabbed just because she returned one of her "Fans" Presents

[yewonnam-pulz]

Koro Sensei's death was so sad, especially when you hear the ending song, and you realize that it was the end of Assassination Classroom. It was heart breaking to watch since the students had just lost the best teacher they could have. RIP Koro Sensei <3

[THE_Dodge_Morningstar]

“Don't believe in yourself. Believe in me! Believe in the Kamina who believes in you!” That one always stuck with me.

[Dorian_Scott]

Hoshino Ai's death hurt my soul more than anything else. All she ever wanted was to be a great mother to both Aqua & Ruby and for her appreciation for her fans to be genuine.

[ztmusic]

#20: Sir Nighteye (My Hero Academia)
#19: The Night Raid (Akame Ga Kill)
#18: Himeno (Chainsaw Man)
#17: Joe Yabuki (Ashita No Joe)
#16: L (Death Note)
#15: Ushio (Clannad: After Story)
#14: Nicholas D. Wolfwood (Trigun)
#13: Miki Makimura (Devilman: Crybaby)
#12: Kite (Hunter x Hunter)
#11: Kyojuro Rengoku (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)
#10: Jiraiya (Naruto Shippuden)
#9: Korosensei (Assassination Classroom)
#8: Shirley (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion)
#7: Caesar (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
#6: Ace (One Piece)
#5: Setsuko & Seita (Grave of the Fireflies)
#4: Kaori (Your Lie in April)
#3: Ai Hoshino (Oshi No Ko)
#2: Maes Hughes (Fullmetal Alchemist)
#1: Kamina (Gurren Lagann)

[Superhoodie-X]

Joe Yabuki’s death will always be in top lists like this cause how much it influenced anime to this day. He went through so much hell, losing Rikishi, Carlos becoming mentally damaged, getting punch-drunk syndrome, he was truly anime’s Rocky Balboa. The sight of him smiling, his inner monologue before passing, and the song ‘Joe Forever’ playing is both beautiful and heart breaking😢

[pavelmarchand]

Kaoris death was the very first time an anime ever ever made me cry like a little kid. I couldn’t take the fact that not only someone so young was taken too fast but the future she could of had with the mc was the one thing everyone was looking for. And finally the fact that she lied instead of at least live those last months with the love of her life. Just broke me

[Animeguy]

Ace's death to save Luffy not just soul crunching but heart breaking moment

[manuelacosta]

Jiraiya's was a gut punch. He was an ace Ninja, a perverted goofball, and dedicated to the Leaf enough to threaten even Tsunade with death if she turned traitor. He was indeed Naruto's father figure if not outright.

[thebestfrom]

I was in shock after Kamina died. I didn’t want to believe it. I genuinely thought he was the true hero to the story. Although thinking back, I’m pretty sure he was.

[emiebex]

L's Death hurt even worst because he saw Light as his best friend, but Light never saw him the same way.