I looked around the forums but couldn't find anything quite like what I was hoping for.

I'm looking for well written manga with a tragedy tag that doesn't end unhappily.

I like a healthy amount of angst, but if I invest my emotions into the characters of a manga I want to walk away at the end of it feeling happy about having read it. I don't mind if the tragedy is partway through and the story continues on long enough for the other characters come to terms with the loss and move on.

Bittersweet is fine partway through, but the ending should be mostly sweet.


Any genre is fine, as long as:

Must haves -
* Decent plot and/or characters.
* Sad beginning or middle. Happy end
* Romance of any kind whatsoever - even super subtle (like No.6)

Can't haves -
* Incomprehensible or silly plot
* Mind break
* If it deals with multiple relationships, the tragic relationship is not the main or final couple so you get a chance to see the surviving character be happy again (like Biyaku Cafe).

Would prefer to have little-to-no -
* Love triangles
* Misunderstanding driven plot
* Harem
* Ecchi (smut, adult, and mature is fine)


Some examples: (Spoilers ahead, of course)

Love Mode
Under Grand Hotel
Basara
Fullmetal Alchemist
Kitchen no Ohimesama
Hakuji
Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu
Biyaku Cafe

Last edited by jungen8 at 2:52 pm, Aug 15 2012

Kurohime
Um... kinda tired atm; I'll see if I can add more later.

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threads of time
hiiro no isu
kagen no tsuki
return
please save my earth
fairy cube
endless world
kiss me princess
let dai
angel sanctuary
arigatou - might be considered as mind break

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if there is an option between "to do" and "not to do", I will always choose the latter.

"what kind of crazy, twisted conclusion is that...?" - banana bread no puding

Bitter Virgin
Will edit post when I remember more.

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I'm not quite sure if shoujo is the type of thing you are going for but KITCHEN PRINCESS[m] is a tragedy with a happy ending. sorry if that doesn't help :/

Cross Game
Touch
Basara
Please Save My Earth
Angel Sanctuary


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I can't really call that a happy ending...

It's not a sad ending, I guess... but hardly a "happy" one.

Thanks for all these, been working my way through. I think my favourites so far are Fairy Cube, Kiss Me Princess, Let Dai and Bitter Virgin


Would love more, if anyone has any ideas?

watashitachi no shiawase na jikan
solanin

endings are pretty bittersweet for both of those. but happy enough for me at least

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;D

Bokurano, a realistic manga about a group of kids, chosen to save the world by battling giant robots. Bittersweet? Definitely.


These aren't bad too!

How about Love in the Mask?
This was one of my fav mangas for a long time, though it's a little cheesy.
It's nice and long too, and VERY romantic.
Another is Cut, but its a yaoi.
Since there were some in your list, I assumed it would be okay.
Hope I helped!

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don't click this link...

I kinda wanna revive this thread...so I'll recommend Real Fake Princess.

Scrapped princess will have you crying for her in almost every chapter, but the ending is worth it.

Baku story! Super sad but has a happy ending!
Good ending (GE)
Child hazard was really short but super cute
Don't know if you will like this one, but try shin Angyo no onshi. (The girl does wear a really really really slutty outfit, but if you ignore that and read past the first few chapters then you'll start to notice what a great manga it is) p.s it does have a love story for the mc, and if you read long enough the mc will teach you what true love really is, and you'll be bawling and absolutely in love with him by the end. Or at least, I was ! <3

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eat, sleep, kickass repeat.