Anime franchises often suffer from disappointing conclusions that deviate from the original source material, leaving fans feeling disheartened and frustrated. While the journey matters, the final impression is crucial, as it’s what lingers in the audience’s memory. A subpar ending can tarnish the entire viewing experience.
Several anime series have fallen victim to these lackluster finales, often due to unfaithful adaptations or character misrepresentation, leaving fans empty and angry.
Kuma Miko: Girl Meets Bear
Kuma Miko presents a relatable story of a country girl striving to make it in the bustling city. Her journey involves acquiring new skills and adapting to the overwhelming urban environment. However, the ending takes a discouraging turn. After winning a contest, the protagonist, Machi, succumbs to stage fright, regressing into a naive child and abandoning her dream. This twist undermines the show’s aspirational messages, leaving viewers questioning its purpose.
Dragon Ball GT
Dragon Ball GT is often considered the black sheep of the Dragon Ball franchise, and its ending exacerbates this perception. Following the lackluster Shadow Dragons arc, Goku abruptly departs from his friends and family, leaving them behind. The series then jumps decades into the future, with the only surviving hero being Pan, a character fans can do without. The subsequent film, “A Hero’s Legacy,” delivers yet another disappointment with an uninspired scavenger hunt and a deus ex machina resolution, leaving fans reluctant to revisit this chapter in Dragon Ball history.
Death Note
Death Note’s appeal hinges on the intense cat-and-mouse game between the villainous Light and the relentless detective, L. Their rivalry culminates in a riveting confrontation, but the anime’s continuation with a new antagonist, Near, feels lackluster and contrived. Near’s victory relies on plot conveniences rather than earned success, disappointing both Light’s character arc and the overall story.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion is known for its complex themes surrounding religion and depression, but its ending falls short of expectations. The final episodes devolve into confusing pseudo-intellectual musings, coupled with inconsistent animation and reused footage. This decline in quality leaves viewers questioning whether it resulted from budget constraints or pretentiousness, ultimately delivering an unsatisfying conclusion.
Fullmetal Alchemist
The original Fullmetal Alchemist anime, which aired before the manga’s completion, manages to provide engaging filler content that deepens the bond between the Elric brothers and fleshes out the world. However, the series takes a disappointing turn in its last episode, stranding Edward Elric in another world and failing to deliver on the promised reunion. This abrupt downer ending leaves viewers unsatisfied, prompting a remake, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, to provide the resolution the story deserves.
Soul Eater
Soul Eater offers a blend of over-the-top action and cheesy entertainment with a hint of strategy. However, the final battle takes a misstep, as Maka defeats the main villain with a single punch, sidelining the strategic depth that characterized previous fights. This climax leans heavily on the cliché power of friendship, sacrificing what made Soul Eater unique and concluding the series on a cringe-worthy note.
In conclusion, the endings of these anime series often betray the expectations and investment of their dedicated fan bases, leaving a lasting sense of disappointment and missed opportunities.
