Have you ever watched an anime and remembered only the ending of it? Most series often followed the common format of series. There are of course other experimental series but most series that I have watched followed this sequence of action.
Background/Climax –> Build up character –> Lead up –> Climax –> Conclusion
Generally, every single part of an anime is very important. Having a strong start but eventually spluttered after a mid start would not work because you will alienate the audience. An example that comes to my mind will be Chokkoto Sisters (didn’t watch it) but I have heard enough to categorize this. Sometimes, having an awfully slow start would not be able to save the series, even though the ending might get more exciting. One that I can possibly relate to was Shuffle, which started rather generic as a harem series until the later portions. It was only then when the drama portions came (lead up) that Shuffle! really shone. However, many people gave it up.
So what else is important for an anime to be great? To me, the last episode had to be at least memorable. It is the last stand, one that led to the conclusion of all the plot that is provided by the series.
That is one thing that many anime often neglected, the need for a powerful climatic ending that brings you to your feet, clapping in sheer admiration of the series. That is often the point that many anime missed out. In fact, some of the best anime I watched had pretty bad endings, with the last episode spoiling my entire mood due to my expectations. Mai-hime came to mind with a really cool build up but the rather “oh everyone is alive” last episode made me go meh at it. It was blatant fanservice.
Another one would be Samurai Champloo, where I was completely unsatisfied when the series ended because the conclusion was rather empty. I went like…so what happened? It was way too open ended for me and pretty anti-climatic.
Lastly, the one that I had a lot of problems with was Peacemaker Kurogane. If they had ended it when Tetsu killed the master, it would be a really nice ending. However, they went into an incoherent peacemaker sub story for the last episode that made absolutely no sense to me. Hence, that spoilt my whole anime watching experience. I am sure that many of you experienced this where you wait with bated breath for an explosive ending, only to feel completely empty when it ended?
Let me list even more series. GetBackers was clearly a rushed ending. It felt like “oh, we have no more budget and we do not know how to end it, so yea” feeling to me. GetBackers was by all means, a very nice series but the ending did not give it enough credit in this pretty good shounen series. Also, I felt that Rozen Maiden: Traumend was horrible because it felt like “hey, we gonna make a 3rd series, so yea”. I bet that many of you felt like what I did after episode 10 that they were definitely going to have a 3rd series, which was why everything seemed so rushed.
I felt that often but there are some animes that really blasted me off with their endings. Here are my top 3 anime endings in no order of preference. Note that these are all series with at least 3 episodes and I am talking about its last episode.
1. Ginban Kaleidoscope- 13th episode
Never in my life have I seen such a beautiful and powerful symbolization expressed through the artistic motion of a ice skating dance. Ginban, by all means, was a slightly above series, with decent humor and average character development. However, the ending was very realistic. It did not stoop down to fanservice for a happy ending as it went for a beautiful bittersweet ending that to me gave me plus points. The whole projection of love through the dance was touching, with the words that were spoken makin g it a beautiful melody of remembrance for me.
If anything, Ginban made me cry badly. It was just so beautiful and pure, that pure connection of love between the two leads. Separated by body and space, they continued to love. A really wonderful way to wrap a shoujo series.
2. AIR the tv Series -12th episode
I omitted the 13th episode as the ending as it is merely a summary of everything. Hence, I believed that the 12th ending was probably the most touching scene ever. I mean, the part where Misuzu walked slowly and peaceful across the beach still gave me that shudder effect when the whole scene was captured so beautifully. I am seriously charmed even though there were many plot holes in the series (like Yukiko and the crow) and the likes. The ending, however, was clearly one fine art of work and it was the start of why I fell in love with Kyoto Animation.
I still remembered vividly about the last episode and refused to re-watch it. It is not because it has no re-watch value but I know i will definitely cry if I watch it again.
3. Haibane Renmei - 13th episode
Haibane Renmei was an anime that was philosophical on many counts. To me, it reaccounted as a series that was talking about the pains of growing up and the symbolization of growth at the fine line of adolescence and maturity. Hence, the last episode really summarized the agony of someone who was never to grow up due to her sins and how she redeemed herself. That character was Reki. The ending was one where she was tied to a train railway where she was waiting to die, once again in that abandoned dream that she never got out of.
That ending was one of the most artistic touch ever, with the great use of silence for the few seconds of time stopping. The simple words that came through her mouth was a very memorable line in my opinion.
“Save me.”
Such simple words but beautifully and powerfully presented in that context. Just that line earned its place in my top 3 anime endings.
What are your top 3 endings? Tell me and justify it if you wish ^+^
13 Comments
The air tv ending was sad, but confusing, i dont kno if they reincarnated into the kids on the beach, or they just stayed the way they were. Air TV in summer was nice too
1. Full Moon wo Sagashite
2. Kannazuki no Miko
3. Maria Sama ga Miteru
As for bad ones, Loveless and Utawarerumono from recent ones…
1. Fate/Stay Night. Even if the series overall wasn’t that great the ending rocked with great action, Gilgamesh’s gar death scene, and the rockin ending song
2. Gankutsuou. Though the final episode was more retrospective the final scene with Albert walking and all the character pictures, set to ” We Were Lovers ” is heartbreaking, more so than AIR to me.
3. Futakoi Alternative. The last four episodes form a tetralogy of badassness and moe that redeems the crappy middle part. I can’t not love a series that ends with killing a giant squid with a super kick.
Though really my opinions change all the time.
Off of the top of my head, I think Onegai Teacher had the best ending of the ones that I watched. It perfectly fit the buildup of events that preceeded the episode, and how the world ‘restarted’ to when Kei and Mizuho met was perfect to symbolize how their relationship had evolved.
But unfortunately, that’s the only really good ending that I can think of. That shows how much medicore endings are out there…
Chrno Crusade- it’s probably the only ending that could make me tear up every single time I watched it.
Robotech season 1- I was a little kid and it was my first taste of a romantic drama and action mix, I loved the ending and how mature I felt after watching it.
Koi Kaze- I’ve never had an experience of such a bittersweeting and refreshing finale. Made me appreciate watching the anime and also gave me the feeling of lying in cold fresh swimming pool on a hot summer day.
One that comes to mind was the ending to Full Metal Panic Second Raid – A very nice ending to a short series. It was so awesome to see Sousuke being encouraged by Chidori, whom he thought was dead, to pilot the mech again (well, after being beaten up by her though, lol) Especially the scene where he was about to defeat Mr. Gates and affirms his own identity as a student and not just as a mercenary of Mithril….pure win!
If you had watched Cowboy Bebop then you would probably have expected Samurai Champloo’s ending. Both of them are similar “slice-of-life” animes which just slice out a portion of the characters’ lifes to show us and thus there’s no real ending.
The 3 of them had no more reason to stick together anymore so they simply went on their own ways. The anime was just telling the story of their journey together.
1. Gungrave
If you weren’t moved by Brandon and Harry’s last bit gesture for each other, I don’t know what will. Its the most powerful and moving anime I’ve ever watched.
2. Speed Grapher
For once, an anime in which the protagonist didn’t actually save the day, but it screamed “reunion” everytime I watched the climatic last episode
3. Gunslinger Girl
Didn’t really feel like the story was complete, but it always felt like each episode was an ending in itself, talking about the lives of each of the girls, their fates. Absolutely touching.
1. The Nanoha series.
Simply put, all the big battles ended on the 12th episode and they spent the full 13th episode to wrap up the story. Haven’t seen something like this since Godannar.
2. Kaleido Star
I’ve seen season 1′s ending and it’s one great way of ending one’s career with a bang and the aftermath setting in. I’ve yet to see season 2′s ending but from what I’ve seen of episode 52, it should be a great end too.
3. The Twelve Kingdoms
Well to be precise the end of Youko’s story arc. From a whinny spineless high-school student to an strong willed, confident ruler of a kingdom. What more can I ask for.
Honourable mentions:
Zone of the Enders Dolores, i, Sugar, Princess Tutu, Maria-sama ga Miteru, Koi Kaze, Hantsuki, Giban Kaleidoscope, Godannar, Kannazuki no Miko, and a few others I can’t think up at the moment.
Wanted to add that for a drama-type of anime, Planetes had the best ending for me. Saying anymore would spoil it but anyone who has watched it should know what I mean
Slam Dunk had a pretty unconventional ending where the main cast didn’t actually accomplish what they set out to do. I guess you can say that the journey was more important than the result.
JW, you’re talking about the manga right? Because the anime surely didn’t that way. The manga felt more ‘complete imho’.
Yeah the anime ended even more stupidly. The story was just left hanging out there -_-
I wish he made a sequel to Slam Dunk though hahaha
It’s that I’ll have to make do with it’s spiritual successor, Eyeshield 21.
The ending for Princess Tutu ruined the series. I had recommended it to people with young daughters or geanddaughters and they loved it, until the end. To the girls Ahiru and what happened to her was the story. All girls go through that thinking they are a “ungly duckling” stage and they identified with Ahiru, they understood that Princess Tutu was part of Ahiru, just as they hoped that someone could see the Princess Tutu in them, but what they really loved was that the boy she camed to love could see her for what she was and still love her, thats why they hated the ending: Ahiru’s reward for all of her courage is to remain a duck, to every day see the boy she loves but never be with him! It also hurt them that Ahiru’s friends forgot about her. To them the theme of the story was that, through courage and love, individuals, even if they were chacters in a story, could change their fate: But Ahiru’s fate was to remain a duck.