One of the many popular anime genres is the one known as Isekai, which literally translates to “another world.” In these stories, the hero or heroine is transported to a completely different realm from hers, usually a fantasy world or within a video game.
For the most part, they are tales full of fun and adventure. However, there are certain moments in Isekai’s anime where something really heartbreaking happens that devastates both the characters and the viewers. Whether it is a loss or a painful memory, these moments remind us that sadness cannot be avoided, regardless of the world we find ourselves in.
10 Overlord: The destruction of the swords of darkness
In the virtual fantasy Isekai Sir, Swords of Darkness is a group of adventurers who befriend the protagonist Ainz on a mission. Unfortunately, they are decimated by the sadistic villain Clementine shortly after this mission. Three of the four members become zombies, while the fourth is tortured to death.
Although Ainz is usually unemotional, the loss of Swords of Darkness affects him and he soon takes bloody revenge for his murders. It’s exciting to see the powerful Overlord take care of anyone other than him.
9 Escaflowne’s vision: Folken’s death
A mix of fantasy and wick anime, Vision Of Escaflowne tells the story of a girl transported to a parallel world on the brink of war. One of the antagonists in the anime, Folken, is the older brother of the hero Van and, although at first they fight each other, they eventually unite.
Unfortunately, Folken’s past actions result in a reduced useful life and the siblings have to separate permanently. When Folken dies in an attempt to defeat the evil emperor, Van’s anguish resonates from the screen and goes straight to the hearts of the fans.
8 Rising Of The Shield Hero: Past of Raphtalia
A newer Isekai, Hero of the shield lifting he follows a young man as he is summoned to another world to become a hero. His first true companion is Raphtalia, who is trying to recover from a great trauma.
Her parents are not only killed in a monster attack, but she also sells herself as a slave and watches as her captors kill her best friend. Seeing his terrible experience in flashbacks and how he has overcome it in the present makes Raphtalia really endearing to viewers.
7 Sword Art Online: Yuuki’s death
While the virtual reality anime Sword art online provokes mixed reactions among the fans, there is no denying that he has his moments of tears. One of them involves the Yuuki character from the Fairy Dance bow.
Although she is an extraordinarily skilled fighter in the Sword art online game, is sick in the real world. When she finally dies, she chooses to spend her last moments in the game with those who love and respect her. The pain Asuna feels holding her dying friend is the same pain the audience feels.
6 Digimon: Wizardmon’s death
One of the favorites of the early 2000s, Digimon follows a group of children as they try to save a digital world full of digivolving creatures. One of these creatures is Wizardmon, who apparently works for the evil Myotismon but secretly helps DigiDestined.
When Myotismon attacks Gatomon and Kari, Wizardmon protects them but loses his life as a result. The words of separation between him and Gatomon broke the hearts of many a Digimon spectator; Wizardmon does not die for the good of the future, but for the good of his friend.
5 Fushigi Yuugi: Nuriko’s death
The classic isekai Fushigi Yuugi follows the modern teenager Miaka and her adventures with the seven Suzaku warriors. One of the fans’ favorites among these warriors is Nuriko, the cross-dressed dress and her extreme strength draw a lot of attention.
Unfortunately, Nuriko dies after fighting an enemy of the Seiryuu faction. As a moral support for his team and his first major casualty, his loss is a severe blow to all Suzaku warriors, especially Miaka, as fans empathize deeply with their disbelief and pain.
4 Angel Beats !: Goodbye Canada
Angel Beats! is part of a subgenus Iekai where the alternative world is the afterlife. Teenagers there can leave and reincarnate after fulfilling the unfulfilled desires of their previous life.
A boy, Otonashi, falls in love with the mysterious Kanade and asks her to stay with him in the afterlife. However, Kanade’s final wish is to thank her heart donor, who turns out to be Otonashi himself. Seeing her say goodbye while fulfilling that wish is totally heartbreaking.
3 Inuyasha: Kikyo’s death
Throughout the whole Inuyasha series, the resurrected priestess Kikyo is a constant presence due to her past relationship with the titular protagonist. He tries to defeat the demon Naraku, but fails, ending up powerless and dying.
The conclusion to one of InuyashaThe saddest stories, his last moments are spent in the arms of his former love Inuyasha before he died. After all that has happened to these two, it is impossible not to feel immense sadness in this last separation. The only consolation is that Kikyo finally finds peace after walking the earth as a soulless entity.
2 Re: Zero: The Torture of Rem
Re: zero he is a rather tragic Isekai in general; the main character, Subaru, dies constantly and is resurrected through the inversion of time. However, a particularly heartbreaking moment is when the antagonist, Petelgeuse, captures him and his friend Rem.
Rem is subjected to horrific torture while Subaru is forced to watch her suffer. Before finally dying from his injuries, Rem helps Subaru escape and confesses that he loves her. The emotional knife twists even further as Subaru carries her lifeless body for miles to get her home.
1 Magic Knight Rayearth: The Death of Emerald
In the classic Isekai Magic Knight Rayearth, three high school girls are summoned to Cephiro’s world to save his pillar, Princess Emeraude. In one of the most shocking and devastating twists of the anime, it is revealed that the real reason they are summoned is to do the exact opposite by killing the corrupt princess and saving the world from collapse.
With Emeraude crying to die to be reunited with her love and the young women crying over what they have to do, there’s no way fans can see this scene without breaking some tissues.
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