Top 20 Anime Where Everyone Dies

These anime don’t just end with sadness—they go all the way, featuring total destruction, complete resets, or worlds where everyone perishes. They explore ultimate endings like the annihilation of humanity, the death of the universe followed by a fresh start, or timelines left utterly desolate. Prepare for epic, world-ending conflicts, thought-provoking conclusions, and stories that intentionally choose oblivion as their final statement. Here are twenty examples, with each title’s release year listed.

‘Devilman Crybaby’ (2018)

The story centers on Akira Fudo, who transforms into a Devilman to combat a growing demon threat. As fear takes hold, society breaks down and war breaks out worldwide. This leads to a devastating conflict between demons and humans that engulfs the entire planet. Ultimately, the world is destroyed, leaving no one alive in the present day.

‘Space Runaway Ideon: Be Invoked’ (1982)

This movie ends the story of ‘Space Runaway Ideon’ with the ultimate use of its incredibly powerful weapon. Fighting between the human colonists and the alien enemies causes a disaster that quickly spirals out of control. The Ideon’s final act results in the destruction of everything, and what’s left hints at a complete restart after all life is gone.

‘Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion’ (1997)

When NERV and SEELE clash, a process called Human Instrumentality begins. This plan merges all human bodies into a single, unified existence within LCL, essentially erasing individuality. The film depicts a world where people no longer exist as they once did, focusing instead on the aftermath of a decision made after almost complete destruction.

‘Saikano’ (2002)

A tender love story develops while a top-secret military experiment transforms a young girl into a powerful weapon. As the conflict intensifies, the world steadily diminishes. The final stages of the war eliminate any chance of return for everyone involved, both civilian and military. Ultimately, the Earth is left uninhabited.

‘Texhnolyze’ (2003)

The series follows the downfall of an underground city, where gangs, scientists, and old customs struggle for control. As tensions rise, it’s discovered that the world above is a desolate wasteland. Systems begin to fail, leading to the collapse of both society and life itself, ultimately suggesting the extinction of humankind.

‘Casshern Sins’ (2008–2009)

A strange and destructive force is causing both people and robots to fall apart. Casshern travels through ruined cities and among those who are dying, trying to discover what’s causing this disaster. Every person he meets reinforces the grim reality that no one will ultimately survive. The story ends with a sense that everything is slowly fading away.

‘Cat Soup’ (2001)

This strange and beautiful film depicts a brother and sister traveling through a series of dreamlike moments where time and reality bend and break. Normal rhythms of life are disrupted – the sun stops moving, and the world seems to pause. Throughout the film, we see life gradually losing its energy, ultimately leading to a final scene that suggests a quiet and simple end.

‘Angel’s Egg’ (1985)

The movie follows a girl and a soldier traveling through a desolate, flooded world littered with the fossilized remains of the past. Empty cities and the ghostly echoes of extinct creatures define the landscape. The film uses powerful imagery to explore themes of destruction and ultimate consequence, ultimately suggesting a future where humanity is gone.

‘Devil Survivor 2: The Animation’ (2013)

When alien forces invade, society rapidly falls apart over several days. The decisions players make determine which populations survive, but ultimately lead to total annihilation. The story involves repeatedly restarting after everyone dies, and the only way forward is to explore a world that has already been destroyed.

‘X’ (2001)

Two groups are locked in a conflict for control of Tokyo, which will ultimately decide the future of humankind. As ancient predictions come to light and psychic powers clash, the stakes become incredibly high, hinting at a catastrophic end. The story culminates in a vision of Tokyo’s destruction and the extinction of humanity, suggesting that fulfilling destiny will come at the cost of everything.

‘Gyo: Tokyo Fish Attack’ (2012)

A strange epidemic unleashes mechanical fish across Japan, creating a deadly, foul odor. The infection quickly spreads, turning local terror into a nationwide disaster. Efforts to stop it are unsuccessful, and the problem expands beyond Japan’s borders. The story suggests this could ultimately lead to the extinction of humanity.

‘Digital Devil Story – Megami Tensei’ (1987)

Okay, so this movie… it really dives into a terrifying scenario. We’re talking about forbidden experiments gone wrong, ripping holes between our world and… well, let’s just say not-so-friendly dimensions. Demons start pouring into modern Japan, and it’s not a pretty sight. Cities are being overrun as these powerful summoners and ancient gods start battling it out, and honestly, humanity doesn’t stand a chance. It feels less like a fight for survival and more like watching the inevitable end unfold. The whole thing is unsettling because it feels less about if humanity will fall, and more about when. It’s a bleak, but gripping, ride.

‘Pale Cocoon’ (2005)

Inside a protected enclosure, archivists are examining remnants of a lost Earth. Old recordings reveal a world where nature has overtaken humanity. Today’s small communities are facing decline and a loss of direction. Ultimately, they discover that the Earth as it was known is truly gone.

‘Devil Lady’ (1998–1999)

Something terrible is happening: people are changing into monstrous beings, and no one can stop it. As the transformations spread, chaos erupts and society falls apart. Everything is heading towards a devastating climax, with nowhere left to hide. The story ends with the complete loss of what it means to be human, and ultimately, the end of life as we know it.

‘Casshan’ (1973)

Robots rebel, and a long war begins, one that humans are consistently losing. With each battle, more human settlements fall and fewer people survive. Although Casshan fights bravely, he can only postpone humanity’s ultimate defeat. The story ends with a bleak outlook for the future of humankind.

‘King of Thorn’ (2009)

Volunteers frozen for the future wake up to a world devastated by a deadly disease. The research facility they were in is now a dangerous labyrinth filled with mutated creatures. As they struggle to survive, they uncover clues revealing the outbreak is linked to a worldwide extinction event, and the future looks bleak – a planet with no one left.

‘Now and Then, Here and There’ (1999–2000)

As a film buff, I was completely floored by this story. It follows a young boy who gets thrust into a future ravaged by a desperate fight over water. It’s not just about battles, though; every win comes at a terrible cost – entire communities are wiped out. The worst part is, the environment is so broken down that there’s no coming back from it. The film ends with a truly bleak vision of a world that simply can’t support human life anymore. It’s a tough watch, but incredibly powerful.

‘Blue Gender’ (1999–2000)

Earth has been overrun by insect-like creatures, pushing humanity to the edge of extinction. Despite numerous attempts, the military hasn’t been able to win back the planet. As supplies dwindle and hope fades, the remaining human settlements are falling, and it looks increasingly likely that humankind will not survive.

‘Bokurano’ (2007)

Kids are made to fight in a massive robot, unknowingly battling to save alternate versions of Earth. But each win comes at a terrible cost: a pilot dies, and another Earth is destroyed. The rules of this system show that with every battle, someone loses their very humanity. Ultimately, the story suggests accepting that some loss is inevitable in order to break the cycle of destruction.

‘Apocalypse Zero’ (1996–1997)

Monstrous creatures are destroying a shattered city, and the few people left are struggling to survive. Every battle causes even more destruction, leaving little of their world intact. Attempts to help and rebuild aren’t succeeding, and it seems unlikely anyone will be left to tell the tale. Ultimately, the city will be a silent wasteland.

Share your picks in the comments and tell us which bleak finales you think belong on this list.

2025-10-24 02:16