Top 10 Saddest Cartoon TV Deaths Of The 2010s

 
This is a list of somber deaths that occurred between 2010 and 2019 in animated tv shows. Anime will be included on this list. 

#10: Brian Griffin- Family Guy

To be honest, Brian originally topped the list due to the impact and shock factor of the death. Brian’s literally been part of the show since day 1 and there seems to be no point in killing him off if they were just going to bring him back just 2 episodes later. Honestly, part of me believes that Brian was supposed to be dead permanently, but the writers were caught off guard by the negative response from fans and they brought him back as a result. But I also can’t help but feel that Brian might’ve been better off dead considering his character degradation in future seasons. Plus, I liked Vinny. My point is, looking back at Brian’s death as a whole, it would’ve been more impactful if he had not been brought back just to lose what made him likable and a decent character. Brian also lost his position due to a TV series I started watching recently. I’ll explain more later on.

#9: Wally West/Kid Flash- Young Justice

Not much of a Young Justice fan, so if anything mentioned in this commentary is misinformation I apologize. The nephew and protege of Barry Allen, Wally West (AKA: Kid Flash) served as one of the founding members of Young Justice. It is to my understanding that his romantic situation with Artemis was a memorable part of his time on the show. He would eventually retire from the team only to return to provide assistance for an alien invasion. Unfortunately that did not end very well for him as he would end up sacrificing his life as a result of a bomb. Again, I’m not a fan of Young Justice so this analysis may not be accurate. But I’m willing to acknowledge the impact of the show. And from my judgement, Wally has one of the most notable deaths of the 2010s and possibly in cartoon history.

#8: Kanan Jarrus- Star Wars Rebels

I HATE Star Wars (which I have mentioned on the blog before), but I have seen bits and pieces of Rebels. This is probably one of the few scenes from the show that I actually remember and the one that I've watched the most. If my memory is correct, his love interest Hera (whom I believe was pregnant at the time) picked the worst possible time to confess her love for him as immediately after the fuel tanks were shot. Kanan was able to get the others to safety with a little help from “the force”, but unfortunately he dies in the explosion as a result. The only reason I remember this more than the previous entry is because I’ve watched this scene many times while I’ve only ever watched Wally’s death once or twice. I also believe this death is more emotional than the previous one as Kanan regains his eyesight right before dying. Ouch.

#7: Ashi- Samurai Jack

Ashi is one of 7 daughters from her future boyfriend’s arch-nemesis Aku. It is to my understanding that she was initially under the impression that Jack was the bad guy only to realize that it’s the other way around. Her and Jack became closer throughout season 5 to the point where it becomes romantic. You’d think Jack would finally get his happy ending after taking down Aku, leaving Jack and Ashi free to get hitched. But unfortunately for them both, time would catch up with Ashi and she would disappear from existence, right in front of her fiance, during their wedding. That’s messed up on so many levels. It’s like even when Aku loses, he still wins and continues messing with Jack even in death. While I’m aware Ashi’s death is averted in the video game Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, I’m still counting her.

#6: Master Splinter- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Splinter had always been one of the best parts of the 2012 rendition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He was probably one of the most well-written characters on the show and even made us laugh every now and then. The scariest part about when his time on the show finally did come to an end was that he obviously knew he was about to die. He probably didn’t know exactly how, but he knew it was coming. After an intense fight with the Super Shredder, Splinter seemingly came out victorious. That is until Shredder makes a surprise move from behind and stabs him. The turtle’s reactions did not make this any easier, in fact it made it worse. Thankfully, Leo would avenge his father and master in the following episode. Shredder’s death will never stop being satisfying as Splinter’s death will never stop being heartbreaking.

#5: Kaori- Your Lie In April

 

Kōsei Arima is a piano prodigy whose passion for music is interrupted when his mother passes away. After suffering a breakdown on stage, the boy stops playing piano for about 2 years. Then he meets a girl by the name Kaori who lifts his spirits. He becomes so fond of her that she restores his love for the piano once more. Unfortunately, the anemic Kaori does not have the greatest health. As her health deteriorates, she agrees to take a surgery that unfortunately results in her end. Adding insult to injury, her surgery and death happens during a piano competition just as Kōsei’s performing. Plus her spirit appears to him during his performance, so that also doesn’t help. This is obviously an anime selection and there is at least 1 more after this. This is also probably the most dramatic death on the list as well.

#4: Tarrlok & Noatak- Legend Of Korra

The first season of Legend Of Korra was the only season of the show that I actually fully watched, and I intend to keep it that way. With that being said, the characterization of Tarrlok and his brother (who also served as the season’s villain) Amon (born Noatak) was probably one of my favorite things about that season. Say what you want about LOK, but I was sincerely intimidated by these 2. Their story as a whole was EXTREMELY compelling. Both me and my sister had a hunch that the 2 were brothers, so it was not at all a surprise when that was confirmed. After his downfall, Amon asks his brother to run away with him, describing him as “all he has left in the world”. Tarrlok seemingly agrees, but then makes a surprise move. Probably the darkest death on this list, Tarrlok takes an equalist glove and blows up the boat, killing them both.

#3: Pops- Regular Show

I’m not the biggest fan of Regular Show. I’m not even sure if I’ve ever actually fully watched it, the show itself has never really been interesting to me. So in a way, It’s in the same category as Young Justice, hopefully this commentary is accurate. If not, of course I apologize. The show’s swan song episode features the main duo and company taking on Pops’ twin brother Anti-Pops as he fights his brother in an ultimate showdown. The final battle eventually ends on a sad but heartwarming note as Pops makes the ultimate sacrifice. He grabs his brother and the 2 fly into the sun. Not only do the twins make peace as they’re about to die, but Pops also has an emotional goodbye with Mordecai and Rigby as well (telepathically anyway). The very last image of the show features Pops watching over his friends in Heaven through a video tape labeled “Regular Show”.

#2: Ace- One Piece

The last anime character to be featured on this list, Ace originally was not placed. Given how ridiculously long One Piece has been on air, I kind of assumed that Ace’s demise occurred during the 2000s. Then for some strange reason, I decided to look up the air date for the episode on which his death took place, learning that the original air date was actually in 2011 for both Japan and the US. An attack from Akainu towards Luffy causes Ace to shield his brother from harm. Unfortunately, he’s fatally injured as a result. I’m not a doctor, but I’m pretty sure having a giant fist jabbed through your chest is not good, At All. The death itself is pretty brutal, but Luffy’s immediate reaction is probably what makes it sting even more. Fast-forward to over a decade later, and Ace’s demise is considered one of the saddest in anime history. But with all due respect, I think one death hits even harder.

Before I reveal my top pick, here are some honorable mentions.....................................................

Zane- Ninjago                     Avocato- Final Space

-Supposedly underrated                                                    -Same

Birdperson- Rick & Morty Big Henry- Gravity Falls

- This was so stupid                                                            -Also lost a spot

Caesar-Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

-More anime

#1: Sarah Lynn- BoJack Horseman

I did recently start watching BoJack Horseman. Despite only being on season 2, I am well aware of what will happen to Sarah Lynn in the following season. After not drinking or doing drugs for about 9 months, the troubled popstar ends her sobriety after BoJack offers her a bender. The bender gets severely out of hand as it lasts a little over a month, and ends in a planetarium where Sarah Lynn suffers a drug overdose. To make matters even worse, it is later revealed that BoJack waited 17 minutes after Sarah Lynn passed out to call 911 in an effort to cover up his involvement in breaking her sobriety. She dies at the hospital as a result. Sarah Lynn’s passing was definitely quieter in comparison to Ace’s but that strangely makes it more effective. The silence allows us to absorb the unfairness of the situation. So this is why Brian lost his spot.

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