Hal (2003)

You've maybe already guessed that it's an anime romance that relies on sentimentality, which it is and does, but it's not as painfully twee or wishy-washy as the clichéd shōjo cover art implies. It has tragedy in its make-up.
It's a tale of two lovers, one of whom meets a sudden end. The other becomes withdrawn, lost in a memory-filled state of grief. A selfless robot takes on the appearance of the deceased and attempts to ignite the healing process.
At only one hour in length it feels a little rushed, but it manages to get its emotional content to a satisfying level within that time. By doing — and sharing in — kind deeds for others the robot learns more about itself.

3 buttons out of 5