There is always something to love when it comes to anime. Whether it’s hard-hitting action, valuable life lessons, or genuine laughs, fans can find a show to satisfy their needs. But while action and laughs are a dime a dozen, sometimes the hardest-hitting stories are the ones that can bring about a sympathetic tear.
There are lots of moments in anime that can offer up a wallowing punch to the heart, but this doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. The moments on this list come from some of the hottest anime shows today and are here because they give fans a reason to cry tears of joy. Here are seven of the best happy cry moments in anime.
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7 Nezuko Wakes Up — Demon Slayer
Ufotable
After most of the Kamado family was brutally murdered by Muzan Kibutsuji in Demon Slayer, Tanjiro and his demon sister Nezuko fall under the care of Urokodaki, the former Water Hashira. Tanjiro underwent his brutal training regime for two years to become a demon slayer, all while Nezuko slept without stirring an inch the entire time. Tanjiro often wondered if she would wake up or if he would find her dead. When the time finally came to take the final selection, Tanjiro wasn’t told that Urokodaki’s pupils never come back from the trial, but he would become the first. Hobbling back to his master’s home on a stick, he wasn’t ready to see Nezuko awake at last to greet him. Tanjiro’s hard work had paid off, and his reward was seeing his sister awake for the first time in over 700 days. It was a powerful moment, not just for him but for Urokodaki as well. Not even he knew if Tanjiro would return, but to see the two children he had come to see as his own alive and well brought the hardened demon slayer to tears as he hugged both of them.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
6 Usopp Rejoins the Straw Hat Pirates — One Piece
Toei Animation
In One Piece, it’s not uncommon for a member of the Straw Hats to leave the crew. Nami, Nico Robin, and Sanji have all taken their time away for one reason or another, but if anything can be said about Captain Monkey D. Luffy, it’s that he never gives up on his friends without a fight. In this instance, Usopp had decided to briefly end his tenure with the Straw Hats when he refused to abandon the unassailable Going Merry while at Water 7. It was a hard choice for everyone, but the sniper wouldn’t take it lying down and fought Luffy in a losing effort. His anger wasn’t just from losing the Merry, but also his insecurity about his lack of power and feelings of inferiority to the others. However, like everyone who leaves the crew, he wouldn’t stay away for long and would apologize on hands and knees for forgiveness, which Luffy gave with some blubbering tears of his own. It was a sappy and silly moment, but it still tugs at heartstrings when Luffy extends his long arm for Usopp.
5 Kamina Returns — Gurren Lagann
Aniplex
In the fight against the Spiral King’s forces in Gurren Lagann, Simon finds himself trapped inside the Anti-Spiral, a dream world where he is reverted to his younger self. With no future and dwindling hope, Simon gets aid from an unlikely source. His deceased big bro Kamina, who had died in the series’ eighth episode, returns in all his glory to spur his little bro on. With his support, Simon frees himself from the Anti-Spiral and returns to action. He doesn’t leave without some final words of encouragement, though. Although in a completely different character, It’s heart-warming to see Kamina one last time to remind Simon how much he believes in him. It’s a final farewell that fans weren’t ready for and had many openly weeping manly tears of joy. What’s more, it’s a shining reminder that Kamina is the big bro everyone needs when the chips are down, and the manliest man in anime came through once again.
4 Goku Meets Goten — Dragon Ball Z
Plenty of characters have died in Dragon Ball Z, but some more than others. Having died seven years prior while fighting Cell, Goku returns from the dead once more to compete in a tournament with all his companions. It’s a touching reunion as all the classic characters embrace their long-lost champion, but the most tear-jerking moment came from the first time meeting between Goku and his second son, Goten. There aren’t many moments within the Dragon Ball universe that can bring on the feels, but this moment was something special as fans are reminded that Goku is more than a powerful and limitless warrior — he’s a man and a father who genuinely loves his family. This cheerful moment making up for lost time with Goten is one of the most poignant moments of the series’ final arc, and one fans are forever grateful for.
3 All Might and Midoriya — My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia’s first two episodes take fans on a remarkable tour of the superhero world. Izuku Midoriya is a teenager who always dreamed of being a hero like his idol All Might. Unfortunately, in a world filled to the brim with super-powered people, Midoriya has no quirk of his own. Holding onto the last fragments of his dream, he asks All Might if there’s a chance he could still be a hero, only to be painfully shut down by the man he looked up to the most. However, All Might would come to eat his words when he witnesses Midoriya run into danger with no plan or hope for success, something the number one hero couldn’t bring himself to do. The act moved All Might so much that he chose Midoriya as his successor telling him, “You too can be a hero.” What makes this moment so special is that Midoriya so clearly needed to hear those words as he immediately fell to his knees in tears. All Might was everyone’s hero, and it was at this moment that he would go from Hero to a father figure in the arduous journey of his successor.
2 Alphonse Finally Gets His Body Back — Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Bones, Square Enix Company
Everyone knows the story of the Elric brothers, two alchemists trying to get their bodies back after a failed experiment to resurrect their dead mother. It’s been told over two series and has seen two different endings, but none more satisfying than the realization of their goal in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. In the final fight against Father, the brothers and their friends pulled out all the stops to bring down the pioneer of all Amestris’s bloodshed. Nearing defeat, Alphonse did something drastic: he transmuted himself to get Ed’s arm back after his automail one was destroyed, allowing him to put Father down for good. But Ed wasn’t done yet as now he had to find a way to bring back his brother again. In his final transmutation, Ed traded all his alchemy knowledge, including his ability to use alchemy, to finally reclaim Al’s body. While the younger Elric did reclaim his body in the first Fullmetal Alchemist series, it was a bittersweet moment. The moment in Brotherhood saw the full actualization of the Elric’s shared goal (minus Ed’s leg), giving the brothers the ending fans have been waiting for delivered at long last.
1 Karasuno Beats Shiratorizawa — Haikyu
Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS), Production I.G., Shueisha
Dubbed the flightless crows for their loss in strength over the years, Karasuno was never supposed to make it to the Nationals in Haikyu. Having come back from a hard loss against Aoba Johsai, their last hurdle was against the one team their rivals were never able to beat, Shiratorizawa, a team built for champions with Japan’s #1 ace, Ushijima. His essence alone was enough to make the crows feel crushed. But despite being brought close to the point of throwing in the towel, they fought with everything they had to take the fight right back to their opponents. After an exhausting five-set game of meeting the strongest players tit-for-tat, Karasuno did the impossible and toppled Shiratorizawa. No one could believe it at first, not even Karasuno. The moment their victory set in, everyone was in tears, from the players to the coaches. Even the stoic team manager Kiyoko couldn’t contain herself. It was a long hard fight to Nationals, and watching the underdog team finally achieve their dream at long last is enough to bring any fan to tears. While this by no means ended their journey, it was a pivotal moment in the series and one of the most significant moments in sports anime, period. They were finally going to nationals, and everyone would know who they were.
