Saddest anime deaths?

I would say the more "noticeable" deaths of Elfen Lied. One of the very few shows that made me feel sad for the characters. Also, Light's death at the end of Death Note was sad to me.

Only Tee hee Tum Tums and Jorge C mentioned Clannad? I'm with you guys! That was the only show that ever made me <del>shed one, and only one manly tear.</del> curl up in a fetal position and cry like a little girl.

<font color="red"><strong>@ Amezuki<BR> I totally agree. When Shirley died in Code Geass, it phucked me up. I can't believe I forgot about that. Maybe I just wanted to forget. I had a very difficult time not crying in front of my anime bros during that scene. It was kinda like my JFK moment. I think it top's Tomoe Himura's death.</strong></font> <P> <img src="http://lostlink.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/code-geass-r2-13-shirley-lying-in-a-pool-of-blood.jpg"> <P> <font color="blue"><strong>Kinda off topic but my saddest fictional character death is "John Coffey" from "The Green Mile". The execution scene made me cry like a little bitch.</strong></font>

@Yuusaku: I think what did it for me is that it was just the last straw on the pile of injustices heaped upon her. Of all the characters in that show, Shirley is one of the ones who *least* deserved any of the horrible stuff that happened to her. I think she was one of his last restraints keeping him from crossing the moral event horizon, and when she was gone--especially in the way that she went out--that was one of the points of no return for Lelouch.

I've seen a lot of anime with a lot of tragic events, but nothing got me torn up as much as finding out that **** (don't want to spoil anyone) died. This makes me all the more hesitant to watch Grave Of The Fireflies.

Tsume, Hige, Toboe from Wolf's Rain Kamina from Gurren Lagann

Although it's not canon when Kenshin died at the end of Samurai X: Reflection