Highlights
- Anime franchises often suffer from lackluster finales that deviate from the original source material, leaving fans feeling empty and angry.
- Kuma Miko's ending negates all the character progression and sends a discouraging message about giving up on dreams.
- Dragon Ball GT's final episodes and film disappoint fans with lazy writing, the absence of beloved characters, and uninspired storylines.
First impressions are important, but last impressions are arguably just as essential. True, the journey matters more than the destination. However, a story's conclusion is the final beat that audiences remember. It's what the whole narrative is presumably building toward. As such, a bad ending can cheapen the entire experience.
Several anime franchises have fallen victim to this. Their lackluster finales often come from faithlessness, as they deviate from the manga in strange and upsetting ways. On the other hand, they may engage in good, old character assassination. Sometimes, these problems go hand-in-hand. The result usually leaves fans feeling empty and angry.
6 Kuma Miko: Girl Meets Bear
A slice-of-life journey can be just as engaging as the grandest odyssey. Sadly, it can also be more unsatisfying on a personal level. Kuma Miko knows all about that. It presents a simple story of a country girl who wants to make it in the big city. She must learn a plethora of new skills and grow accustomed to the overwhelming setting. Along the way, she ponders how far she's willing to go for her dream. This is a relatable tale for those facing similar struggles in search of self-actualization, but it's not encouraging in that respect.
The anime ends with Machi giving up on her dream. She gets stage fright after winning a contest, retreating to her guardian bear. He tells her not to worry about any such difficulty again. She then reverts to a naive child and nullifies all her progression. This twist makes the whole show a waste of time, seemingly the only purpose being to kill any aspirational messages it sets up.
5 Dragon Ball GT
Fans already consider Dragon Ball GT to be the black sheep of the Dragon Ball franchise, and the ending definitely doesn't help. After the brigade of wasted potential known as the Shadow Dragons, the martial arts adventure sees Goku ride off into the great unknown with Shenron the Eternal Dragon. Yep, he forever leaves his friends and family at the drop of a hat.
The show then cuts to several decades later. The only hero still alive is Pan, the one character whom fans can live without.
The following film--A Hero's Legacy--delivers yet another slap in the face. After Old Lady Pan falls ill, her great-great-grandson whines his way through an uninspired scavenger hunt. This culminates in a deus ex machina from Goku himself, who's apparently gone to a higher plane of existence. Lazy writing and the knowledge that their favorite characters are dead mean fans are loath to revisit this chapter in Dragon Ball history.
4 Death Note
Key to Death Note's appeal is the dynamic between the villainous Light and the dogged detective, L. They create a compelling cat-and-mouse game, and audiences aren't always sure who fills which role. Their rivalry culminates in an explosive confrontation where L meets his end. Unfortunately, the anime keeps going.
Light's new opponent is Near. He feels like a poor man's L at best. Worse, he only wins because of a plot contrivance, meaning he doesn't earn his victory. Thus, the writers cheat both Light and the story at large.
3 Neon Genesis Evangelion
Among the more thoughtful mecha anime is Neon Genesis Evangelion. Sure, it has the robot battles typical of the genre, and these benefit from stellar animation, piercing sound, and high production values all around. However, the anime has far more to offer beneath the surface. It crafts a cerebral story with complicated themes surrounding religion and depression. The downside is that it's sometimes too big for its britches.
That tendency comes to a head in the final few episodes. The narrative devolves into a mess of pseudo-intellectual ruminations. In addition, the presentation starts to falter with inconsistent animation and reused footage. It's unclear whether the budget cuts came from pretentiousness or the other way around. The result is insulting in either case.
2 Fullmetal Alchemist
The original Fullmetal Alchemist anime aired before the manga was finished. This necessitated new content from the TV writers. Such a filler technique is common in the industry, and this show provides some of the better examples. Though not perfect, it furthers the bond between the two brothers and fleshes out the world. What's more, is that it accomplishes these feats in a satisfying way.
That is until the last episode, which leaves Edward Elric stranded in another world. He and Alphonse promise to find each other, but this reunion never happens. It's a cheap tactic to force the story into a downer ending. To make up for it, the studio essentially remade the series with Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, sticking to the source material and giving it the resolution it deserves.
1 Soul Eater
Many people enjoy anime for the over-the-top action and unabashed cheesiness. Soul Eater has those in spades. The show provides all the escapist entertainment that fans could hope for, but it's never brainless. Even the most ridiculous fights have some strategy behind them.
The finale disregards that golden rule. After an admittedly fun battle, Maka dispatches the villain with a pivotal punch. No coordination or teamwork goes into this final blow; it's just the power of friendship. Yes, really. The moment triples down on anime cheesiness without any of what makes Soul Eater unique. In the process, it saddles the show with a cringe-worthy conclusion.