30 Depressed Anime Characters We Can All Relate To

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A guide to anime characters who battle with inner demons

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Shoya Ishida (A Silent Voice)

2 Tatsuhiro Sato (Welcome to the N.H.K.)

3 Rei Kiriyama (March Comes in Like a Lion)

4 Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

5 Guts (Berserk)

6 Saitama (One-Punch Man)

7 Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)

8 Ai Enma (Hell Girl)

9 Rika Furude (Higurashi When They Cry)

10 Zeref Dragneel (Fairy Tail)

11 Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)

12 Nico Robin (One Piece)

13 Itachi Uchiha (Naruto)

14 Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

15 Nana Osaki (Nana)

16 Sayaka Miki (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

17 Tomoko Kuroki (No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!)

18 Revy (Black Lagoon)

19 Lain Iwakura (Serial Experiments Lain)

20 Violet Evergarden (Violet Evergarden)

21 Meliodas (The Seven Deadly Sins)

22 Natsuki Subaru (Re:Zero)

23 LaLa-Ru (Now and Then, Here and There)

24 Kakeru (Orange)

25 Aang (Avatar: the Last Airbender)

26 Crona (Soul Eater)

27 Sakata Gintoki (Gintama)

28 The Elric Brothers (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

29 Kafka Hibino (Kaiju No. 8)

30 Mamimi Samejima (FLCL)

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Co-authored by Nicole Favarelli and Jennifer Vasquez, BA, MA

Last Updated: July 9, 2026 Fact Checked

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While some anime characters captivate you with their charm, others express a sadness that draws you in. Many anime characters have tragic backstories or traumatic experiences that make them endearing and relatable. We talked to anime experts to get their insight on some of the most depressed anime characters out there. The ones included on this list may battle depression, but they also prove to be strong and resilient.

Who are some of the saddest anime characters?

Depressed anime characters often have experienced intense trauma and tragedy. Some of the saddest characters in anime include:

• Shoya Ishida (A Silent Voice): Trying to make up for being a mean-spirited bully
• Tatsuhiro Sato (Welcome to the N.H.K.): Suffers from paranoia and is socially withdrawn
• Ai Enma (Hell Girl): Treated brutally by others and now seeks vengeance

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1

Shoya Ishida (A Silent Voice)

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1. 
   Shoya Ishida experiences deep regret for bullying a classmate. He’s the protagonist in the series, A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi). In the sixth grade, he bullied Shoko Nishimiya and was, overall, a rowdy and mean kid. Years later, he and Shoko become friends, and he’s now trying to come to terms with how cruel he was to her. He deals with constant self-loathing and is trying to rediscover self-worth.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Nicole Favarelli is an anime expert who also has a passion for psychological horror and emotionally centered storytelling.

   Brandon Riley is an anime and manga enthusiast who shares his takes on anime in videos he creates for social media.

   Alli Oshida is an anime expert and cosplayer who shares anime-related content with her more than 164k social media followers.
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2

Tatsuhiro Sato (Welcome to the N.H.K.)

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1. 
   Tatsuhiro Sato is a shut-in who grapples with paranoia. In Welcome to the N.H.K., he’s depicted as an extremely isolated character who’s socially withdrawn. He has hallucinations caused by psychological trauma and his fear of social interactions make it challenging for him to build friendships. He finds comfort in the world of fiction, RPGs, and online forums.

3

Rei Kiriyama (March Comes in Like a Lion)

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1. 
   Rei Kiriyama feels alone after losing his family at a young age. He’s the central character in the series March Comes in Like a Lion. His parents and sister died in a tragic accident, and he was taken in by his father’s friend. But, Rei has a hard time feeling he belongs or fits in anywhere. He dealt with bullying as a child and has grown to not be the most trusting of others. Although soft-spoken and shy, he tries to forge connections with other people.
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4

Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

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1. 
   Shinji Ikari questions his self-worth while having to be a skilled pilot. In Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shinji is responsible for piloting an advanced aircraft to fight monsters. But, on the inside, he’s dealing with low self-esteem and emotional intimacy issues. He hates confrontation, is afraid of being judged, and doesn't know how to connect with people. Eventually, he has to learn the importance of trusting others to save humanity and himself.

5

Guts (Berserk)

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1. 
   Guts is tough on the outside, but fragile inside. He’s the main character of Berserk and is plagued by a heavy past. He had to serve as a mercenary as a young child and was the victim of physical and mental abuse. His inner darkness is his constant companion, but he’s managed to develop meaningful relationships with a few individuals. His is a journey of self-discovery and finding purpose.

   • Get inspired with iconic Berserk quotes.
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6

Saitama (One-Punch Man)

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1. 
   Saitama may be powerful but undergoes a self-imposed existential crisis. He’s the main character in One-Punch Man and seems to be very average, from his appearance to his interests. However, he’s the most powerful superhero in the world with the ability to take down enemies easily. The lack of challenging opponents has made him indifferent to life. He’s lost his passion and motivation and struggles to find the thing that will bring back the spark that’s missing.

   • Find out which One Punch Man Character you are!

7

Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)

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1. 
   Eren Yeager is a complex guy who’s faced with a bleak destiny. He’s the protagonist of Attack on Titan and is committed to freeing his home from a sinister force. Seeing his mother get eaten by a Titan haunts him forever. He’s experienced plenty of pain and loss and uses that to fuel his fight against evil. He hopes to build a better future for others even if he’s not a part of it.
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8

Ai Enma (Hell Girl)

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1. 
   Ai Enma embodies vengeance. She’s the star of Hell Girl and a 13-year-old bent on revenge. She was bullied by classmates and forced to be a human sacrifice by her village. Her parents were also killed by the villagers. She’s buried alive, but her spirit returns to avenge her death and the death of her parents. She travels across the globe looking for people to send to Hell. Talk about emotional trauma.

9

Rika Furude (Higurashi When They Cry)

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1. 
   Rika Furude is a tragic character surrounded by death. She’s a young girl who’s an important part of the events that unfold in Higurashi When They Cry. She has an adorable appearance but is very mature and wise. She becomes trapped in a never-ending time loop where she has to witness the horrible deaths of her friends. This triggers her depression and an alternate personality.
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10

Zeref Dragneel (Fairy Tail)

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1. 
   Zeref Dragneel’s immortality causes him deep despair. He’s a character in Fairy Tail with impressive magical powers. He was an evil mage but is trying to atone for that. He isolates himself from others to avoid causing harm and longs for death. His immortality makes him loathe humans’ tendencies for hate. But, he does his best to do good in any way he can.

11

Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)

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1. 
   Ken Kaneki went from being a normal guy to a suffering ghoul. The series Tokyo Ghoul unravels Ken’s tragic story. He starts off as a typical college student, but his life changes when he undergoes a transplant. Doctor’s transplant a ghoul’s organs into him, turning him into a half-ghoul. As a hybrid creature, Ken is forced into an entirely different existence and suffers the loss of his humanity.
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12

Nico Robin (One Piece)

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1. 
   Nico Robin has learned to survive in a cruel world. She’s one of the characters of One Piece and has been labeled a “Demon Child” by the World Government. She’s no stranger to loss and death as everyone on her island was killed when she was young. This trauma has led to her deep melancholy and feelings of self-hatred. Since she’s been singled out as a “demon,” she often feels the urge to self-destruct to keep others safe.

   • Test your knowledge of the series by taking our One Piece trivia quiz!

13

Itachi Uchiha (Naruto)

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1. 
   Itachi Uchiha is made to be viewed as the villain. In Naruto, death and destruction plague Itachi at a young age. He sacrifices his clan to save his brother and lives life as a double agent. At his core, his intentions are pure and good. Anime expert Nicole Favarelli comments that this anime character radiates emo vibes because he’s super intelligent but wants to be on his own. Itachi is the lone, misunderstood hero of the series.
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14

Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

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1. 
   Asuka Langley Soryu struggles with inadequacy and abandonment issues. On the outside, she’s presented as a tough, aggressive character in Neon Genesis Evangelion, but she carries a lot of emotional baggage and was abused by her adoptive mother. Anime and manga enthusiast Brandon Riley explains that she’s harsh because she’s very traumatized from her past. She starts off as violent, he continues, but reveals a softer, vulnerable side as the series goes on.

15

Nana Osaki (Nana)

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1. 
   Nana Osaki has a dark alternative look that matches her dark past. A central character in Nana, she was abandoned by her mom as a child and raised by her grandmother. As a teen, she has trouble making friends and is wrongly accused of prostitution. She leaves for Tokyo to join a band. Anime expert and cosplayer Alli Oshida shares that Nana’s naivete leads her into an abusive relationship. She adds that the character experiences a lot of heartbreak as she navigates life as a young adult.

   • Curious to check out this anime? See our guide to find out where to watch Nana.
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16

Sayaka Miki (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

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1. 
   Sayaka Miki’s selflessness leads to a fragile mental state. She’s one of the five main Magical Girls in Puella Magi Madoka Magica. She’ll do anything to protect her friends and is very loyal, but her high ideals cause her more pain than joy. She has trouble separating selfless acts from selfish desires and she struggles accepting that becoming a Magical Girl stripped her of her soul.

17

Tomoko Kuroki (No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!)

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1. 
   Tomoko Kuroki wants to be liked but has a hard time socializing. Tomoko is the main character in No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular! She’s a teen who’s trying to figure out how to be popular in school. Despite her efforts, all she really wants to do is retreat into her private space and be alone. She’s developed a grim outlook on life and struggles to get by, but she still tries.
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18

Revy (Black Lagoon)

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1. 
   Revy is trying to make it in a corrupt world. Part of the Black Lagoon cast, Revy has had a tough childhood filled with trauma. She was abused as a child and has grown a hard shell as an adult because of it. She’s seen as aggressive and bloodthirsty, but her destructive behavior hides the pain and emotional scars she bears.

19

Lain Iwakura (Serial Experiments Lain)

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1. 
   Lain Iwakura is introverted and uneasy around people. In Serial Experiments Lain, she’s very shy and wears a bear suit to feel comfortable in the outside world. Social interactions freak her out, but she so longs for friendships. She also hates when bad things happen to people. Lain deals with psychosis and self-neglect and is a complex character.
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20

Violet Evergarden (Violet Evergarden)

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1. 
   Violet Evergarden was forced to grow up too fast. She’s the central character in the anime of the same name, Violet Evergarden. She’s a war orphan who was trained to be a child soldier and fight in battle. She’s seen a lot of violence and death and killed many soldiers. She feels used and suffers from PTSD. She also grieves over the loss of Major Gilbert, the one person who valued her as an individual. She’s a moving character that’s emotional to watch.

21

Meliodas (The Seven Deadly Sins)

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1. 
   Meliodas is a tormented soul plagued by death. In The Seven Deadly Sins, he is forced to witness the woman he loves, Elizabeth, die repeatedly. The couple was cursed by both of their parents. Meliodas is cursed with immortality and Elizabeth is cursed with perpetual reincarnation, being brought back to life only to die in front of her lover. There seems to be no end in sight to their endless cycle of pain.
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22

Natsuki Subaru (Re:Zero)

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1. 
   Natsuki Subaru can’t help but carry the burden of others. He’s the main protagonist in Re:Zero and has a deep desire to help people and make their suffering his own. He’s loyal and caring but deals with low self-esteem, which started when he was just a kid. Despite his emotional battles, he’s very selfless, using his Return by Death to save others from dying.

23

LaLa-Ru (Now and Then, Here and There)

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1. 
   LaLa-Ru has seen the worst in humanity. She’s a central character in Now and Then, Here and There who’s lived for thousands of years. She appears detached but is actually deeply empathetic. She’s seen so much violence that she's lost hope in humanity. She may come off cynical at times, but she’s willing to do what it takes to ensure good prevails.
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24

Kakeru (Orange)

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1. 
   Kakeru longs for death. He’s one of the core characters in Orange, and he’s coping with the fact that his mother took her own life. Falling into a deep depression, he wishes to do the same. That is until Naho, a girl at his school, reaches out to help him through this rough time. Their friendship shows how one caring person can save a life.

25

Aang (Avatar: the Last Airbender)

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1. 
   Aang hides his traumas with a smile. The star of Avatar: the Last Airbender, Aang not only wakes up from a century-long slumber to discover that his family and clan have been wiped out, but it’s up to him to end the war and seek justice. He suffers from survivor’s guilt and often tries to bottle up his emotions. However, he does his best to stay positive and be strong.
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26

Crona (Soul Eater)

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1. 
   Crona faces mental struggles due to her mother. Crona in Soul Eater has experienced abuse from her mother, Medusa Gorgon. She also carries a demon sword made by her mother that causes people to go insane. The dark world she inhabits has given her a pessimistic outlook on life. She writes poetry so depressing that it triggers depression in anyone who reads it.

27

Sakata Gintoki (Gintama)

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1. 
   Sakata Gintoki wallows in bad habits. He’s the main protagonist in Gintama and is haunted by a tragic past. He didn’t grow up with a family and lost many friends in the Joui War. He values his close friends but doesn’t value his own life. He comes across as careless, lazy, and irresponsible, but, deep down, he’s fighting with PTSD and apathy.
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28

The Elric Brothers (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

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1. 
   The Elric Brothers have experienced tremendous loss. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood shares the story of brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric who’ve lost their parents and a piece of themselves. They attempt to bring their mother back, but Alphonse disintegrates in the process and Edward loses a limb. To resurrect his brother from the dead, Edward sacrifices his right arm. It’s a tale of brotherhood, love, and grief.

   • Haven't watched Full Metal Alchemist yet? Discover the best way to watch the series!
   • Find iconic Fullmetal Alchemist quotes.

29

Kafka Hibino (Kaiju No. 8)

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1. 
   Kafka Hibino lost his parents in a violent way. In Kaiju No. 8, the protagonist has a cheery disposition that covers a lot of sadness. His parents died when he was a kid during an attack on his town. He joins the Defense Force as a way to find purpose and help people. He fears hurting others and losing control when he transforms and grapples with trusting himself.
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30

Mamimi Samejima (FLCL)

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1. 
   Mamimi has a hard time dealing with reality. She’s a troubled teen In FLCL who spirals after a breakup. She often retreats from reality into a fantasy world and can be mentally unstable. She tries to make sense of life but isn’t motivated to make better choices for herself. She finds friendship in helpless creatures, enjoying the company and comfort they bring.

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