Ask John: Has Anime Ever Made John Cry?

Question:
Has there even been an anime you cried over or almost wanted cry but held it in?

Answer:
In all honesty, I’m not a typical American anime fan, so the way I react to anime is sometimes different from the way other fans react. For better or worse, I believe that I take anime a bit more seriously than many viewers do. I’m more inclined to create personal emotional connections with anime, and more receptive to the reactions anime hopes to generate than many other viewers are. So, for better or worse, I think that anime often has a more intense impact on me than it does on many average viewers. I know that it’s almost humorously cliché to say that I’m confident enough in my own masculinity to admit that “cartoons” do sometimes make me cry, but it’s true. I’m not ashamed to admit that there have been many times that anime has brought tears to my eyes; tears of both joy and sadness.

There are certain anime that are acknowledged tear-jerkers. It takes a viewer with a very cold heart, or a viewer with no empathy whatsoever to be able to watch Graveyard of Fireflies, Saishuheiki Kanojo or Fushigi Yuugi without crying. These are extremely powerful, intensely moving dramas specifically designed to create empathy between viewer and characters and make viewers sympathize with the tragic fates of the characters. I consider it a given that viewers that intently watch these anime will be shocked and emotionally stricken. But in my case, there have also been many other anime titles that have had a similar effect on me. The Nausicaa movie, for example, brings a tear to my eye almost every time I watch it because I find it gut wrenching to spend two hours getting to know the courageous princess Nausicaa only to witness her selfless pain and multiple sacrifices during the film’s climax. It’s hard for me not to feel pity over the hardships Nausicaa perseveres through. Her determination and selflessness are inspiring and very moving, which makes the film’s conclusion all the more inspiring and heartwarming.

More recently, the Kurau ~Phantom Memory~ TV series and the 12th episode of the Ojamajo Doremi Naisho series have had a profound effect on me. I find it a bit discouraging that the Saishuheiki Kanojo anime series is so well known and respected among American fans while the similarly powerful Kurau series is virtually unknown. Saikano is a morbid and terribly depressing series about the power of love and hope. Kurau is also a haunting show about love and hope and the value of life. But while Saikano is ruthlessly depressing, Kurau is imbued with only a sense of loneliness, tragedy, and sadness, alternating with moments of spirituality, humanity, and compassion. Kurau is a masterfully moving and powerful show that’s more subtle and less manipulative than SaiKano. More than once Kurau had me choked up over its depictions of tender sadness and crushing loneliness and regret.

My next example may contain a mild spoiler about one particular episode of the Ojamajo Doremi anime, although anyone that’s familiar with the Doremi anime should be aware that the show has the potential for heartbreaking content. The twelfth episode of Ojamajo Doremi Naisho literally brought me to tears because of it’s touching and affirming climax in which Harukaze Doremi comes to terms with the death of a dear friend. I’m aware that many American fans commonly dismiss Ojamajo Doremi as merely a disposable children’s program or an extended marketing tool for children’s toys, but I don’t think very many American viewers have actually watched any Doremi anime. The Doremi anime has a lot of personality and character, and it periodically makes a pointed effort to present melancholy episodes, I think, as a way of educating children that tragedy, loss and sadness are a natural part of life. Doremi’s grief over the death of her friend in Ojamajo Doremi Naisho episode 12 is obvious, but it’s her method of coping with the tragedy that’s satisfying and moving because it’s very considerate and surprisingly mature. I was moved to tears by the simple, understated beauty of this sequence.

So far I’ve provided examples of tragic and sorrowful anime that creates a tearful response in viewers. Anime has also, at times, made me weep with joy. I’m talking about a mild reaction well short of sobbing bursts of tears, but nevertheless still a tearful reaction. I’ve had tears in my eyes particularly when I’ve been awe struck by the overwhelming beauty of particular anime. Watching Princess Mononoke in a theater overwhelmed me with a sense of awe at seeing such literally gorgeous anime in larger than life theatrical scope. The same thing happened when I had an opportunity to see the fourth One Piece motion picture in a theater in Shinjuku, Tokyo. I literally couldn’t contain my excitement over watching one of my favorite anime screened in a theater in Japan first hand. But in these cases, my reaction wasn’t caused primarily by the content of the anime but rather mainly by the circumstances involved in me watching the anime.