The length of an anime can vary greatly. Some end after a single season, while others span for decades with no end in sight. Given the format of certain shows, their runtime almost always feels perfect, which is a testament to how masterfully most shows are animated and paced. Even if certain anime feel like they've overstayed their welcome, there are always several redeeming qualities that make them well worth the time invested.
Of course, most anime need to have great endings to justify their legacies as well. While this is the norm in most cases, certain anime don't really have the kind of ending that most people would expect. Somehow, even when these shows don't have the best ending around, they still end up being quite memorable in their own right. The following shows are proof of this.
10 Fullmetal Alchemist
Fullmetal Alchemist has received two anime adaptations, with Brotherhood being the superior one that follows the story of the manga. However, the first adaptation also did a pretty decent job in its own right.
The anime did indeed go off the rails a bit after veering off on an original track, but it didn't stop being entertaining at least. That being said, the ending did come out of left field and was pretty unsatisfying.
9 Bleach
Bleach is a series that elicits some strong emotions from people. Most people talk about the manga and how badly it ended, which is a shame since its anime adaptation was actually pretty great. Of course, that adaptation cut off before adapting the final arc in the series. It's a shame, since Bleach goes through an inconsequential Fullbring arc before ending on a rather tepid note.
8 Claymore
Claymore started on a really strong note, with the series featuring a great premise and intense battles. Unfortunately, the anime ended its run before adapting the entire manga and concluded on a rather odd note instead.
Chances for a Brotherhood-style reimagining seem rather unlikely, but Claymore could definitely benefit from such a decision. It's a unique anime that deserves way more love.
7 Yu Yu Hakusho
Yu Yu Hakusho is a classic shonen manga that came from the mind of Yoshihiro Togashi, a legendary figure in the community. The anime adaptation of this series was also great, with the Dark Tournament arc being one of the most classic and enjoyable shonen tournament arcs of all time.
However, after losing faith in his artistic abilities, Togashi lost passion for his project and ended Yu Yu Hakusho on a rather lazy note. This was a shame, especially since the anime was treading on some promising ground at that point.
6 Neon Genesis Evangelion
It's a shame that one of the most legendary anime of all time ended on such an odd note. The brilliance of Neon Genesis Evangelion's narrative completely fell flat within the last two episodes, which tried way too hard to be introspective and artistic.
Thankfully, a movie came out to give more context to the show's ending and satiated most fans. However, without this accompanying piece of media, the anime would've ended on a particularly sour note.
5 Dragon Ball GT
Most people hated Dragon Ball GT for the liberties it took with the established formula in Dragon Ball Z. However, it can't be denied that the anime is still pretty great in its own right and has its fair share of iconic moments.
However, the manner in which this show ends feels pretty disappointing and rushed. After defeating Omega Shenron with a Universal Spirit Bomb, Goku ends up riding with Shenron to a different realm altogether. It comes out of nowhere and feels like a rather shoehorned way to add a token conclusion to the series.
4 Soul Eater
Soul Eater is a show that is absolutely brilliant throughout its initial run...before collapsing near the end and becoming a shadow of its former self. It's a disappointing end to an otherwise brilliant anime.
All the plot development throughout the anime is forgotten in favor of pure spectacle, which really hurts the quality of this conclusion. However, the series is still great otherwise and makes for a memorable time before this ugly ending rears its head.
3 Deadman Wonderland
A big reason why most anime endings fail is a lack of proper closure, making these conclusions extremely unsatisfying. Deadman Wonderland is a perfect example of this.
Given the wondrous nature of the show's setting, it's downright criminal that Deadman Wonderlandran for a total of twelve meager episodes. The manga might pick up the slack, but the lack of a new season is still grating to this day.
2 Akame Ga Kill
Akame Ga Kill is a show whose pacing was all over the place. While the anime was still pretty riveting in its own right, it was painfully clear from the get-go that a single season wouldn't be enough to cover the wealth of material present in the manga.
As a result, the show moves at a breakneck pace with major plot points happening way too quickly for viewers to process them. This culminates in an underwhelming ending that feels like it was just trying to escape the trappings of the show instead of actually trying to create something memorable.
1 Future Diary
The enduring mystery of Future Diary and its thrilling sequences were undoubtedly the highlight of the show. It helped that Yuno is one of the most legendary yandere characters of all time, whose love for Yuki causes her to sacrifice her own life and leave Yuki as the god of a new world.
However, after this happens, Yuki pretty much just wallows in his misery for thousands of years before the anime ends. It's a rather unexpected and unsatisfying ending to what is otherwise a brilliant show.