A Journey Through the 10 Most Depressed and Sad Anime Personalities

Cheerful and lively female characters are considered the charm of any anime series as they evoke a wide range of emotions in viewers. But amidst a group of cheerful girls, there are certain sad female anime characters with depressive personalities who face emotional challenges and battle their inner demons.

These characters invite viewers to connect with them, allowing for a subtle exploration of mental health and fostering empathy and understanding. In this article, we’ll explore a selection of sad female anime characters with depressive personalities who face adversity throughout their lives. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

10. Rei Ayanami – Neon Genesis Evangelion

The enigmatic, genetically engineered clone Rei Ayanami is often referred to as a “doll” for her lack of emotions. Much of her life is dictated by her worth as a mecha pilot, making her disposable and uncertain of her individuality.

Not being able to establish meaningful social interactions and express emotions to those around her gradually left her in a vulnerable state over time. Who knows what kind of past led Rei to become such a mysterious person, but one thing is for sure: she is one of the most “bitterly unhappy” female anime characters.

9. Yukari Yukino – The Garden Of Words

People who wear masks all the time can be some of the loneliest and most depressed, and Makoto Shinkai's "The Garden of Words" portrays the same painful feeling of loneliness through 27-year-old high school teacher Yukari Yukino, who never expresses how she really feels and thinks.

She is unable to cope with the mental exhaustion caused by the false rumors of an affair and divorce, sending her into a miserable spiral of loneliness and shame. Only after Yukari reveals her true emotions and thoughts does she find it easy to move on with her life and work.

8. Sakura Matou – Fate/Stay Night

Sakura Matou is a key figure in the Fate franchise, whose origins are filled with nothing but tragedy. It wouldn't be wrong to say that her life was extremely troubled from birth, as she was first separated from her twin sister and then abandoned by her own family.

After being sold to the Matou family, Sakura is fed special worms and subjected to unfathomable levels of torture, all to make her a powerful weapon. Needless to say, being violated and exploited throughout her life has left Sakura an emotionless shell.

7. Hotaru Tomoe – Sailor Moon

Revered as a pioneer of the modern magical girl genre, Sailor Moon is best known for its bright and beautiful female cast. However, amidst a group of strong, colorful, and beautiful women, Hotaru Tomoe stands out as an anomaly because of her complex characterization.

Whether it was her inability to save her friends in the past or the death of her mother, Hotaru's mental turmoil has always taken over her. It's no wonder why she ends up being one of the sad female anime characters with a depressive personality whose only option is to live with sadness.

6. Kikyo – Inuyasha

Inuyasha's Kikyo represents one of the most emotionally charged and sad backstories in anime. Even after dying centuries ago, her soul has never found peace because of her resurrection that burdened her once again with the memories of her past life and the pain of betrayal by the man she loved.

At every turn on her journey toward forgiveness and acceptance, Kikyo has struggled with her emotions and her complicated relationship with Inuyasha. But despite her tragic past, Kikyo refuses to be defined by her pain and melancholy.

5. Ai Enma – Hell Girl

The entire existence of Oh Enma is half tragic and full of revenge. At just seven years old, she was feared and shunned by her village after bringing a dead butterfly back to life, which led to her being burned alive by the villagers, the starting point of everything going wrong.

She returned as an evil spirit and burned the entire village to ashes, showing no remorse or empathy. One thing led to another, and Ai ended up spending her entire afterlife being called “Hell Girl” as punishment for her crime. There could be nothing sadder than that, but fate took her where she belonged.

4. Haruka Kotoura – Kotoura-san

Many people think that the life of an anime psychic is more fun than trouble, but ironically for Haruka Kotoura, her powers have made her an outcast, leading her to deep sadness and depression. Ever since she was a child, born with the ability to read minds, Haruka has found it difficult to blend in with others.

She would often reveal everyone's thoughts, which caused her trouble forming genuine connections with others. Over time, Haruka became isolated and cold towards everyone, as she did not want to get close to anyone, only to be pushed away later.

3. Annie Leonhart – Attack On Titan

Annie Leonhart may not be categorized as one of the sad female anime characters in the eyes of many fans, but she does have an air of depression around her, especially considering how human she feels. Of course, it's because of the peer pressure from her hometown and her upbringing that made her act this way.

She sees herself as nothing more than a monster, but to everyone else, Annie is a smart, beautiful, and highly likable soldier. Her calm facade is to hide her depressed existence, caused by years of anguish and a terrible early life.

2. Violet – Violet Evergarden

In “Violet Evergarden,” our charming heroine Violet embodies the pain of veterans who don’t know what it’s like to live a life without fighting for survival. Raised as a child soldier, she lost both her arms and the only person who ever showed her kindness in a horrific war.

After deciding to become an Auto Memory Doll, she is suddenly exposed to so many emotional and sensitive letters that Violet finds herself prone to crying on behalf of her clients. As she helps others, it is humbling to watch her process her emotions and find herself, no matter how dark it may be.

1. Shouko Nishimiya – A Silent Voice

The next character on the list of sad anime girls is Shouko Nishimiya, who stands as a beacon of kindness and forgiveness. When she transferred to a high school as a deaf young girl, she faced relentless bullying and isolation due to her disability and highly introverted nature.

As a result of all the pushing, Shouko never made any friends and developed a very negative view of herself and the world around her. Her resilient quietness and tender-hearted nature despite painful experiences is what makes Shouko such an inspiring personality.

Which of these sad anime characters with depressive personalities is your favorite? Feel free to comment your thoughts and also be sure to recommend other characters similar to the ones listed above. Also, don’t forget to share this article with your otaku friends.