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 this 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 begin.

10. Rei Ayanami – Neon Genesis Evangelion

The enigmatic, genetically engineered clone, Rei Ayanami, is often called a "doll" for her lack of emotions. Much of her life is dictated by her value as a mecha pilot, making her disposable and uncertain of her individuality.

Being unable to establish meaningful social interactions and express emotions to those around her gradually left her vulnerable over time. Who knows what kind of past led Rei to become such a mysterious person, but one thing is certain: 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 truly feels and thinks.

She can't 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 forward 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 only with 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 torture, all to transform her into 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 brilliant and beautiful female cast. However, amidst a group of strong, colorful, and beautiful women, Hotaru Tomoe stands out as an anomaly due to her complex characterization.

Whether it's her past inability to save her friends or her mother's death, Hotaru's mental turmoil has always dominated her. It's no wonder she ends up being one of the sad anime female 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 never found peace because her resurrection burdened her once again with 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 Ai Enma is both 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 ash, 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's nothing sadder than that, but fate took her where she belonged.

4. Haruka Kotoura – Kotoura-san

Many people think the life of an anime psychic is more fun than trouble, but ironically for Haruka Kotoura, her powers made her an outcast, leading her to deep sadness and depression. Since childhood, born with the ability to read minds, Haruka found it difficult to fit in with others.

She often revealed everyone's thoughts, which made it difficult to form genuine connections with others. Over time, Haruka became isolated and cold to everyone, unwilling 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 has an air of depression surrounding her, especially considering how human she feels. Of course, it's because of 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 meant 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's 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's humbling to see how she processes her emotions and finds herself, however 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 girl, she faced relentless bullying and isolation due to her disability and highly introverted nature.

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

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