"Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day," commonly known as Anohana, has gained popularity among the many anime genres as a truly tear-jerking anime. Even today, it's still one of the most popular tear-jerkers. So, I'd like to introduce the top 5 most tear-jerking scenes from Anohana, ranked by category!
Top 5 Tear-Jerking Scenes: 5th Place: "Yukiatsu in Drag"
One of Anohana's most haunting scenes? That one. Yukiatsu, the cool, handsome, high-achieving, and athletically perfect Matsuyuki Shuu (aka Yukiatsu), despises Jintan, who claims to be able to see Menma and continues to dwell on the past. However, in reality, he behaves in a rather twisted way, buying a dress like the one Menma wore, smelling her, and even claiming to have seen Menma himself.
Let's show him what you are
However, Tsuruko knew better than anyone that Yukiatsu was still hung up on Menma. So when Poppo heard that Menma had been seen in a white dress, he seemed to realize something. Tsuruko urged Jintan to say something that would irritate Yukiatsu. Though Yukiatsu pretended to be calm, he was actually quite shaken. Then, distraught, he opened his closet and muttered something cryptic.
Menma Running Through the Fields at Night
Everyone chases after the Menma? Menma and Poppo saw in the mountains. However, the Menma he found was not Menma, but Yukiatsu in drag. Yukiatsu believed that he was the cause of Menma's death. So he thought it would be strange if Menma were to show up, but in front of him, who holds a grudge. It was this trauma that drove Yukiatsu to act in this way. After Yukiatsu let it all out, Jintan told him what Menma had said to him: "Thank you, Pachinko, I'm sorry."
Top 5 Tear-Jerking Scenes - No. 4: "Family Time Begins to Move Forward"
After Menma's death, time stopped for Jintan and his family, leaving each of them with deep trauma. But the trauma and time stopping wasn't just a shock to Jintan; it was also a huge shock to Menma's family. His mother couldn't accept Menma's death, his father refused to face Menma's death or the family he left behind, and his younger brother, Satoshi, felt lonely because his parents didn't pay him any attention.
Invitation
Menma's mother was unable to accept Menma's death and harbored hatred for Jintan and the others, who had grown up without Menma. This hatred led her to sabotage Jintan and the others' plans to make fireworks together for Menma. Menma's family also received an invitation to the fireworks display, but Menma's mother had no intention of accepting it.
Facing Family
However, Menma's brother was willing to accept the invitation. When he suggested that Menma's brother had stopped paying attention to him since Menma's death, Menma's mother broke down in tears. Menma's father decided to face his family and said that the three of them should accept Menma's death. It was a heartbreaking, but tear-jerking scene.
Top 5 Tear-Jerking Scenes - No. 3: "It reminded me of A Dog of Flanders"
Jintan is determined to grant Menma's wish, even if it means pushing himself too hard, but granting her wish means being separated from her. His desire to be with Menma forever and his desire to grant her wish are at odds. With these thoughts in mind, Jintan's tears begin to flow uncontrollably in front of Menma.
Was Patrasche happy?
Jintan, not understanding why so many tears are flowing in front of Menma, desperately tries to explain away, saying, "It reminds me of... A Dog of Flanders." It's such a poor explanation that even Menma wonders what it means, but she desperately comforts him, saying, "I'm sure Patrasche was happy!" In fact, this incident was a big moment for Menma, too. She tries to hold herself back, but still can't hold back and bursts into tears. It's a tear-jerking scene that many modern people may have experienced.
Top 5 Tear-Jerking Scenes - No. 2: "The Fireworks Disappeared into the Sky..."
Believing that Menma's wish was to "launch a huge fireworks display for Jintan's mother, a promise that they had all planned without thinking about the consequences before she died but ultimately forgot about," the group makes a plan to launch fireworks together. Jintan, however, was torn between wanting Menma to stay the same forever and wanting to grant Menma's wish, and was unsure about launching the fireworks until the very end. Granting Menma's wish would mean her disappearing.
Menma Disappears...
The fireworks finally launch into the sky, each carrying their own thoughts and feelings, watched over by the Super Peace Busters and Menma's family. The fireworks create beautiful patterns and eventually end. Once the fireworks are over, it's time to say goodbye to Menma. That's what we were supposed to say, but Menma hasn't disappeared. The scene where the fireworks are launched is filled with a sense of loss, and it's a tear-jerking moment to think that this will be our final farewell to Menma.
Top 5 Tear-Jerking Scenes - No. 1: "I've Been Found..."
Menma didn't disappear even after the fireworks. The five members, excluding Menma, confessed that they hadn't truly cared about her, but had instead been trying to help her find peace for their own reasons. After listening carefully to Menma's story, they decided to finally send her off. Jintan tried to take Menma to his secret base, but Menma was already fading and unable to stand on her own. Menma's wish had almost come true.
I Found Menma
When Jintan and Menma arrive at the secret base, even Jintan can't see Menma. Menma says, "It's hide-and-seek," and everyone frantically searches through the mountains, while Menma desperately tries to leave a letter. Eventually, everyone finds the letter Menma left behind, but it's not over until they find Menma. They keep calling out to Menma, asking, "Are you ready?" and she replies, "Yes, I am," and her voice reaches not only Jintan but everyone else. Everyone is able to see Menma, and they all call out, "I found Menma!" Finally, Menma is able to pass away with everyone by her side. It's a truly tear-jerking final scene from Anohana.
A Summary of Tear-Jerking Episodes of Anohana
Anohana has a lot of tear-jerking scenes. The final scene in particular was incredibly well-directed and truly emotional. The direction is just too unfair! There are many heartbreaking scenes, but if you watch it to the end, I think you'll be glad you watched it. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it!
