My vote goes to Subaru from Re:Zero. I have never hated an anime character so viscerally.
Not only is he a useless waste of meat, an arrogant prick who refuses to ever learn or better himself in any way despite having the ultimate cheat to do so… He had Rem – the best best girl that ever was best girl – confess to him in possibly the most beautiful moment ever, and he’s like “that’s nice but I still love the boring cardboard elf chick who has been mostly ignoring me all this time.”
Couple of people beat me to Violet Evergarden, which I maintain is my #1 pick for “you will NOT be okay” shows.
BUT
In a thread about “anime that will mess me up,” how has nobody beaten me to Grave of the Fireflies? HO-LY SHIT. If you don’t feel like your soul has been torn out and stomped on watching this movie, you straight up don’t have one.
Came here for Violet Evergarden. My wife could always tell when I was watching it because I straight up sobbed like a child every single episode. Bring tissues; you will not be okay.
Just given how young people are treated socially and legally, you couldn’t pay me enough to go back. I’d rather deal with my adult problems than with the complete lack of all autonomy and basic human respect.
That my family was awful just makes it more true.
You would not believe how many people I usually get lining up to defend both the show and him.
I honestly had to stop watching before it finished because I just could not stand him.