The conclusions determine whether the anime is a hit or miss. While some shows have pleasant endings, others leave viewers feeling let down and angry. Even the most beloved series can be overshadowed by a lousy ending, which can created by rushed conclusions, deviation from the source material, or just awful storyline choices.
Although some anime shows can’t be categorized as good or bad, occasionally, a well-received series fails to meet expectations and ruins the potential for a new masterpiece. This is especially heartbreaking for fans who have invested time and emotions into following a series, only to be left with an awful ending.
Here are five such animes that suffered due to awful endings, despite their potential and popularity.
Berserk
Based on Kentaro Miura’s manga, the original Berserk anime enthralled viewers with its complicated world-building, dark and gruesome plot, and engaging characters. The show centers on the adventure of “Black Swordsman” Guts, who has a traumatic past, and his complicated relationship with the charismatic Band of the Hawk leader Griffith.
However, the ending left the fans confused. The show abruptly ends at an important stage, when Griffith betrays his allies and Guts goes through unspeakable terrors. Viewers are left hanging as there is no conclusion or follow-up. Since Guts was unable to exact his vengeance on God’s Hand, everything becomes even more tragic. While the Black Swordsman plot is carried over into the 2016 anime Berserk, it is still a considerably worse series than its ’90s counterpart.
Death Note
In the 2000s, Death Note became one of the most prominent and impactful anime shows. It was a remarkable series due to its captivating plot, ethical questions, and the intense mind game between the lead character Light Yagami, and the intelligent detective L. However, a lot of fans think the series’ legacy was destroyed by its ending.
One of the most controversial parts of Death Note was L’s death, which shifted the dynamic of the series. In addition, the introduction of less interesting characters like Near and Mello as well as the deterioration of Light’s character resulted in the degradation of the second part of the series.
The Promised Neverland
While The first season of The Promised Neverland was a thrilling experience, the second season was a huge letdown. The story revolves around a group of children uncovering the dark secret of their orphanage and planning their escape. But the second season skipped over entire arcs from the manga, shortened the story, and gave an abrupt and disappointing ending.
The story’s emotional effect was ruined by rushing and the removal of important characters and elements from the manga. Both manga readers and anime-only viewers were let down by the decision to deviate from the original work to such an extent.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion has been praised for its unique take on the mecha genre, deep characters, and complex psychological concepts. Many viewers found a connection in the story of the teenage pilots battling their traumas while defending Earth from mysterious creatures known as Angels.
However, the series’ original ending episodes were rather abstract and introspective, which left fans unsatisfied due to its low-quality animation and the spontaneous nature of the story. As a result, The creator, Hideaki Anno even got several death threats. To make up for this, the action-packed and more logical finale of “The End of Evangelion” movie was created.
Dragon Ball GT
After the huge success of Dragon Ball Z, fans had high expectations from Dragon Ball GT. This series was an original story produced by Toei Animation, not based on Akira Toriyama’s work. However, it struggled to capture audiences due to its lackluster ending. The series faced massive criticism for its inconsistent theme, underwhelming villains, and the controversial decision to turn Goku back into a child.
Even while it made an effort to wrap things up and give the characters a fond farewell, it ultimately failed. A rushed fight against the Shadow Dragons and Goku’s heartfelt yet confusing parting were highlights of the last episodes. Many fans felt that Dragon Ball GT was an unwanted addition to Dragon Ball history because, despite a few memorable moments, the series fell short of the dramatic ending fans had hoped for.
An excellent ending should provide the story with a satisfying conclusion, leaving the fans fulfilled. Sadly, the disappointing endings of these anime overshadowed the excellent narratives that preceded them. These shows still have their fans and followings, but their sloppy endings serve as a reminder of how crucial a well-written conclusion is to make a story everlasting.
