Most depressing animated film ever

I'm sure it's been mentioned elsewhere on this thread, but have you seen Grave if the Fireflies? I was left shattered by that, a truly beautiful, moving and devastating film.

Watership Down was serious, but has so much light and life in it as well as the heavier sectionsbthat its easy yo dwell on. I saw this as a young child, I was 7 or 8 when it was released and saw it at that time. No harm done, loved the film, always have. I think as well as protecting our kids we have to let the learn about the world too.

Films can be a great way to introduce ideas, and help them deal with emotions. My daughter is almost 8, and I'vejust dug out a DVD of this which I'll be watching with her soon. She'll be waiting a while for Fireflies though!

plague dogs was even more depressing, save the late edit they did to add the scene after the credits.. which was done because PD was sooo freakin depressing.. same production company.

Grave of Fireflies also comes to mind.

Try the animated version of "Animal Farm".

The perpetual sell-out crappiness of Dreamworks films is a hundred times more depressing than this. 

The Plague Dogs takes the award for being a truly violent and miserable film.

It's actually one of very few animated movies based on books where they make the ending WORSE than the book.

In the book, Snitter is actually rescued by his owner at the end, and survives. We know for sure that he does. The movie instead leaves Snitter and Rowf swimming towards an island that doesn't exist... and most certain death.

I very much agree. My parents rented out this movie when I was about 8 as my sister was interested in watching it. I still to this day wonder what the hell they were thinking given I was an extremely sensitive, rabbit owning, vegetarian kid. It did not take long before I was howling.

I saw through all sorts of horror movies and was fine, but this is something different.

Not animated as far as I know, but Animal Farm is far worse. It is also an anti-totalitarian parable featuring animals which has been filmed.

Go to a random, mindless Pixar sequel. You can turn your brain off and feel better.