Unfortunately, greatanimeendings are rare, and shows that are able to land even awkwardly by the time their credits roll are typically celebrated for simply finishing the job. Countless mediocre series come to mediocre endings every season, and in even rarer cases, shows have been able to construct finales that save the entire production. The most tragic fate, however, is when an anime is all set for greatnessand fumbles the bag entirely by the time it reaches the finish line.
There are countless reasons a series can fall off a cliff. Some run out of time and resources during their week-to-week production, while others might become overly ambitious in their narratives to come to a satisfactory close. Likely the most common cause is a series failing to faithfully adapt its source material, or running out source material entirely before they can reach their endings. Bad anime endings are incredibly common, but they sting just a bit morewhen they close out an otherwise great show.
Death Note
Cast
Death Note follows high school student Light Yagami, who discovers a mysterious notebook granting the power to kill anyone by writing their name in it. As Light uses the notebook to enact his own sense of justice, he attracts the attention of the enigmatic detective known as L, leading to a complex game of cat and mouse. This Japanese anime series explores themes of morality, power, and the consequences of absolute authority.
Nearly 20 years after its premiere,Death Noteremains an incredibly popular and influential anime series. Countless budding fans of the medium continue to flock to the series early in their anime-watching journeys, and countless morecontinue to hold the show in high regardyears after their first viewing. However,Death Note’s final act isn’t all that great, at least compared to the narrative it puts to rest.
The death of L shifts the series' focus onto another investigator years down the line, before finally culminating in Light’s death.L’s removal from the series takes much of the wind out of its sails, and Near’s time in the spotlight just cannot stack up to the cat-and-mouse games played between L and Light. The anime also awards the series' main character a more cinematic end, while the original manga paints his death in a much more pathetic light.
Platinum End
Platinum End follows Mirai, a troubled adolescent, who receives salvation from an angel during his graduation. Entrenched in a divine battle against 12 other chosen individuals, Mirai must navigate a perilous path for the chance to become the next god, aided by his celestial guardian.
Another anime series based on an original manga by the creators ofDeath Note,Platinum Endis a bit like the edgier cousin of the widely acclaimed 2006 anime. The central premise of a jaded teenager given great supernatural power before taking part in a death game is familiar territory, yetPlatinum End’s final act is even more disappointing than that of its spiritual predecessor.
When the final candidate is elected to become God’s replacement, he believes humanity doesn’t need him and ends his own life, resulting in the end of all life on Earth. The finale is as abrupt and pessimistic as they come and really offers no satisfying conclusion to the events of the series leading up to that point. Likely intended as a metaphor for the importance of living, the ending plays a bit like the final act ofNeon Genesis Evangelion,without the all-important and triumphant clapping and congratulations.
Fullmetal Alchemist
Fullmetal Alchemist follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric who, after a failed alchemical experiment, embark on a journey to find the Philosopher’s Stone in an effort to restore their bodies. Set in a world where alchemy is a widely practiced science, the series explores themes of sacrifice, brotherhood, and the consequences of seeking power.
Based on the originalShōnen Jumpmanga of the same name by Hiromu Arakawa, 2003’sFullmetal Alchemistis a case of an anime adaptation that simply ran out of source material to cover. Interestingly enough, however,it was Arakawa who requested the studio create their own unique ending to the series, as the original creator wished to continue working on her manga unburdened by a set conclusion.
TheFullmetal Alchemistmanga series finally came to an end nearly six years after the 2003 anime’s finale,and took the story in quite a different direction. Though the series still has its vocal fans, 2009’sFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,which rebooted the animein an effort to more faithfully adapt its source material, has largely overshadowed it in the years since release.
Darling in the Franxx
2018’sDarling in the Franxxwas shrouded in controversy well before it reached its conclusion.A mecha series with an intense focus on romance and coming-of-age elements, the anime’s abundance of overly fan-servicey moments in lieu of critical character and plot development drew criticism from many. Others felt the anime’s blend of action and drama made for an overall enjoyable viewing experience.
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Regardless of its early reception, however,Darling in the Franxxleft fans on both sidesin agreement that its eventual ending was largely flawed. A case of a series becoming too ambitious for its runtime, the anime’s second half features incredibly rushed pacing and seemingly unending hurried plot developments, culminating in a final half that ultimately squanders its moments of greatness during the series' earlier portions.
During the airing of its opening few episodes, 2021’sWonder Egg Priorityseemed destined to become another one of anime’s trademark single-season, 12-episode classics. With a unique premise that wasn’t shy about integrating darker themes and ambitious visual sequences reminiscent ofPuella Magi Madoka Magica,the series was garnering an incredible amount of attention from all corners of the anime community. Today, however, few anime fans care to rememberWonder Egg Priority.
By the time the series reached its fifth or sixth episode,production issues began to plagueWonder Egg Priority. An underpowered staff and a lack of time and resources caused several episodes to be finished only hours before airing. The anime’s eighth episode wasn’t completed on time, and had to be substituted with a recap episode, causing the series to fall behind even further. Uneven pacing and questionable narrative choices throughout the second half led to an ending that was underwhelming, sinking a series that had great potential.
Soul Eater
Soul Eater is an anime series set in the Death Weapon Meister Academy, where students train to become meisters and weapon partners to hunt evil souls. The protagonist, Maka Albarn, along with her living weapon partner Soul Eater, aim to transform Soul into a powerful Death Scythe. The series explores their battles against various supernatural threats and the complex dynamics within the academy.
2008’sSoul Eater, based on the original manga by Atsushi Ohkubo, is another instance of a series running out of source material to adapt,and rushing its way through the dark towards a conclusion. Like aFullmetal Alchemistbefore it,Soul Eaterdeviates drastically from the manga in its later stages, though reaches a conclusion that pales in comparison to evenFullmetal Alchemist’s anime original ending.
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With plot threads left untangled and a big final punch, 2008’sSoul Eaterended, leaving fans incredibly dissatisfied with what they had seen. In the years since, many have called for the series to receive theFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodtreatment, though no plans for a reboot have been hinted towards.
Akame ga Kill!
Akame ga Kill! follows Tatsumi, a young warrior who arrives in the capital to earn money and discovers a city plagued by corruption under a tyrannical Prime Minister. He joins Night Raid, an assassin group aiming to eradicate the corrupt powers oppressing the Empire’s citizens.
Another victim of anime’s kiss of death, 2014’sAkame ga Kill!was forced to come to its own original conclusion, after overtaking the original manga created by Takahiro and Tetsuya Tashiro. In an ambitious move from its creators,the series turned towards shock value in its final half, killing off major characters who would eventually play significant roles in the original manga.
Following a first half that featured relatively tight pacing and a lack of subtlety that came off as somewhat charming,Akame ga Kill!’s second half takes a deep and sudden nose dive,smashing the fast-forward button towards an abrupt and ultimately unearned finale. The manga series would eventually end over two years later, and on a brighter note that fans found to be much more enjoyable.
Erased
Erased is a Japanese anime series based on a manga by Kei Sanbe. The story follows Satoru Fujinuma, a young man with an ability known as “Revival,” which sends him back in time moments before a life-threatening incident to prevent it. After a personal tragedy, Satoru is sent back 18 years to his elementary school days to solve the mystery of a classmate’s disappearance and prevent future tragedies.
2016’sErasedis a unique case of an anime series with an unsatisfactory ending. Though most within the anime community will likely agree that the series' final two episodes could have been better, the show remains one of the more popular and acclaimed in recent years. On Crunchyroll,Erasedhas an incredibly positive 4.9-star rating based on over 40,000 reviews. Even still, the consensus on the series' ending is that it wasn’t very good.
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Erasedended much in the same way its manga source material did, though it cut several important scenes and rushed quite a bit to get there. After building towards a climactic finish over 10 episodes, the anime took only the remaining two to try and wrap everything up nicely. While it isn’t exactly a bad ending, it’s a disappointing experiencecompared to just how greatErasedwas prior.
The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverland is a suspenseful anime series set in an orphanage where children, led by the intelligent Emma, uncover a dark secret about their idyllic home and plan a daring escape.
The Promised Neverland’s first season was a smash hit, gaining immense popularity and reaching beyond the anime community, gaining fans who otherwise would have never sought out the seriesby streaming on Netflix well before the platform’s recent influx of anime options. In contrast, many fans have wished to forget the series ever had a second season. Entire arcs being cut to save time and a bull rush toward its conclusion led to one of the more disappointing anime endings in recent history.
The Promised Neverland’s second season was tragic. Following an incredible first season, defined by the thrilling cat and mouse chase between the orphans and Isabella, the series' follow-up ultimately proved it was more enjoyableto imagine what was beyond the walls of the orphanage than to actually experience it.
Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul is a live-action adaptation of the acclaimed manga series. Released in 2014, it follows Ken Kaneki, a college student who becomes embroiled in the secret world of flesh-eating ghouls after an encounter with a girl named Rize. The film explores themes of identity and survival in a ghoul-infested Tokyo.
During the airing ofTokyo Ghoul’s first season,it seemed the series was primed to become anime’s next big thing. As the second season progressed, however, fans quickly became shocked and confused by what they were watching. DespiteTokyo Ghoul’s source material having already reached its conclusion, Studio Pierrot made the strange decision to go ahead with an anime original ending anyway.
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However,Tokyo Ghoul’s second season couldn’t quite fully commit to that original ending, instead taking elements from the source material and mashing them together with its own version of events to createwhat was ultimately an incoherent conclusion to the beloved series. The follow-up sequel,Tokyo Ghoul:re, then suffered by having to follow up on the manga’s conclusion, which wasn’t covered in the anime. In terms of endings, no series was done dirtier thanTokyo Ghoul, and it’s likely the mostdeserving of a reboot sometime down the line.
