10 Twisted Anime Finales

Article Overview

The darkest anime endings can still be satisfying conclusions, providing emotional weight and powerful storytelling.

Despite their somber mood, these timeless anime series remain meaningful and unforgettable, demonstrating the profoundness of their narratives. The conclusions, although gloomy, maintain a profound effect and are undoubtedly a must-watch for anime enthusiasts, delivering resolutions that are simultaneously poignant and impactful.

10. Princess Mononoke

Whether the Characters Will Learn from Their Mistakes is Left Unanswered

Overall, despite its hefty price, Princess Mononoke has a relatively optimistic conclusion, although there is no guarantee that the achieved peace will endure in the long term. The Forest Spirit and San's adoptive mother Moro have perished, leaving both Iron Town and the forest in ruins. However, Ashitaka's curse has been lifted, the people of Iron Town have survived, and Lady Eboshi appears determined to harmonize with nature moving forward, leading to the gradual restoration of the forest through the reappearance of a solitary kodama spirit.

9. Code Geass

However, the film leaves room for doubt regarding Lady Eboshi and the residents of Iron Town's dedication to living in harmony with nature. It is evident that there exists a potential for Iron Town to regress to its previous state of greed and exploitation of the natural world. Consequently, this could ignite a repetitive cycle of violence and revenge, mirroring the initial conflict depicted in the movie.

Lelouch Destroys Himself to Save the World

Lelouch utilizes both his innate wit and his extraordinary Geass abilities in Code Geass to manipulate the various political factions, aiming to dismantle the oppressive Holy Britannian Empire and free Japan from its grasp. His strategy involves presenting himself as a ruthless tyrant, thereby rallying the entire world against him. Essentially, Lelouch creates a formidable antagonist and orchestrates a crisis to unite the characters and factions that would otherwise be at odds with one another.

Lelouch's Geass is derived from an Irish mythological concept known as 'geas' or 'geis'. It is pronounced as 'gesh' and refers to a supernatural obligation imposed on individuals, which carries dire consequences if broken.

In Code Geass, Lelouch's grand plan ultimately proves successful as he orchestrates his own assassination. In doing so, he not only sacrifices his own life but also tarnishes his reputation for the greater good of the world. The true tragedy lies in the fact that Lelouch will forever be remembered as a despised tyrant by the entire world, while his immense sacrifices to create a better world remain unknown.

8. Cowboy Bebop

Spike (Probably) Goes Out in a Blaze of Glory

The final episodes of Cowboy Bebop take a dramatic turn before Spike's ultimate confrontation with Vicious and the Red Dragon Syndicate. The departure of the show's beloved comedic characters, Ed and Ein, sets the stage for the intense climax. After bidding farewell to Jet and Faye, Spike embarks on a dangerous mission to face the entire Red Dragon Syndicate alone, fully aware of the risks involved. Despite prevailing against Vicious, the series concludes with a heavily wounded Spike, provocatively pointing a finger gun at the camera, uttering "bang," before his collapse.

Although the ending of Cowboy Bebop is abrupt and leaves Spike's fate uncertain, the presentation of the scene suggests that his survival is unlikely. Even if Spike manages to survive his injuries, the overall outcome is still tragically bleak. In order to ultimately defeat Vicious and the Red Dragon Syndicate, Spike had to sacrifice practically everything, including the connections he had formed with the rest of the Bebop crew.

7. Witchblade

Masane Gives Up Everything for the Sake of Her Daughter

The anime version of Witchblade, which is one of several adaptations of the Image Comics series that follows the individuals who possess the Witchblade artifact, depicts a post-apocalyptic world filled with gripping action. However, at its core, the series explores the theme of motherhood. Masane Ahama, a single mother of six-year-old Rihoko, becomes the wielder of the Witchblade in this captivating narrative.

Masane's relentless efforts to safeguard Rihoko from the perilous grasp of both the Witchblade itself and a nefarious mega corporation culminate in a selfless act where she sacrifices her own life to obliterate the threat posed by genetically engineered living weapons. The immense tragedy of Masane's sacrifice is somewhat assuaged by the fact that Rihoko not only survives until the end of the series but also finds solace and security within a newfound family consisting of Masane's loyal companions and allies.

6. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Madoka Leaves the World Behind to Become the Embodiment of Hope

While traditional Magical Girl anime have occasionally touched on dark themes, Puella Magi Madoka Magica fully embraces the inherent darkness of its premise: young girls battling terrifying monsters. The series repeatedly demonstrates that directly confronting these Witches is a flawed approach, resulting in the deaths of the characters and subsequent resets of the timeline.

Ultimately, the Witches are defeated only when Madoka makes a wish that creates a time paradox, preventing the Witches from ever existing. Tragically, in the process, Madoka sacrifices her physical being and becomes a goddess-like spirit of hope and guardian for the souls of magical girls. While this elevates Madoka as one of anime's strongest characters, Homura is profoundly affected by the loss as Madoka's wish essentially erases her from existence. Except for Homura and Madoka's little brother, no one remembers that she ever existed.

5. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Phantom Blood

Dio's Victory Sets the Rest of the Series into Motion

Despite being a villain, Dio Brando holds significant importance within the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise. Acting as the primary antagonist in the initial and third parts, Dio's impact is enduring, resonating throughout the entire series. Dio's continued relevance, whether through direct involvement or the continuation of his legacy by subsequent villains, can largely be attributed to his victorious outcome in Phantom Blood.

4. Cyberpunk Edgerunners

Despite Jonathan's interference in Dio's plans during Phantom Blood, it ultimately cost him his own life, resulting in only a temporary setback for Dio rather than a complete stop. Although Jonathan's sacrifice prevented Dio's victory from being total, the ending of Phantom Blood still remains quite bleak, particularly considering Dio's continued involvement in the series all the way up to Stone Ocean.

True to the Genre, the Anime Doesn't Have a Happy Ending

In line with the typical traits of Cyberpunk stories, Cyberpunk Edgerunners presents a bleak narrative with its morally corrupt and visually striking settings. This series, like its predecessors, is no exception to the grim atmosphere found in the original Cyberpunk tabletop game and its video game counterpart, Cyberpunk 2077. As the heists take a turn for the worse, the story sees the demise of key characters even before the formidable Adam Smasher enters the scene, obliterating the remaining individuals single-handedly. Surviving the chaos are Lucy and Falco, the sole main characters who manage to stay alive. However, despite Lucy achieving her long-desired goal of reaching the Moon, the price paid to attain it leaves her questioning its true worth.

3. Basilisk

A Ninja-Themed Spin on Romeo and Juliet Comes to its Inevitable Conclusion

This entry contains discussions of suicide.

The tragedy underlying Basilisk stems from the intense historical drama of Japanese politics. Manipulated by the Shogun and his court, the rival ninja clans of Koga and Iga are pitted against each other. Despite a preexisting truce between the clans at the beginning of the series, the court orders them to engage in combat in order to determine the Shogun's successor. This dire situation places Gennosuke of the Koga and Oboro of the Iga, both heirs of their respective clans, in a Romeo and Juliet-esque predicament. While deeply in love, they find themselves entangled in the deadly feud between their families.

2. Grave of the Fireflies

By the conclusion of the Basilisk tale, every identifiable member of both clans has met their demise, typically in a visceral and merciless manner. However, Gennosuke and Oboro, in a tragic twist, find themselves united only in death as they both choose to take their own lives. In a rather technical sense, the Iga clan emerges as the victors, though this is due to Gennosuke's poignant decision to declare them as such in tribute to Oboro, moments before succumbing to his grief-stricken demise.

An Unflinching Depiction of the Closing Days of World War II

Grave of the Fireflies, a masterpiece by Studio Ghibli, delves into the heartbreaking story of Setsuko and Seita, two orphaned siblings navigating their lives in the aftermath of the devastating Allied bombing of Kobe in March 1945. The film vividly portrays the horrifying impact of the bombing and the arduous trials the siblings face in its aftermath. Every step of the way, Grave of the Fireflies maintains a dark tone, culminating in the tragic deaths of Setsuko and Seita. However, amid the bleakness, a glimmer of hope emerges as the spirits of Setsuko and Seita witness the revived city of Kobe in the modern era from the realms of the afterlife. Renowned for its profound emotional impact, Grave of the Fireflies stands tall as one of the greatest anime films ever created.

1. Berserk (1997)

The Anime Adaptation Ends with the Manga's Bleakest Moment

The Eclipse stands as an pivotal moment in the Berserk saga, encapsulating both its darkest and most horrifying aspects. Within this haunting event, Griffith makes a harrowing choice, offering up the remaining members of the Band of the Hawk to the Godhand in order to manifest as the formidable Femto. Meanwhile, Guts and Casca are subjected to relentless physical and psychological torment, while witnessing their comrades gruesomely devoured by ravenous demons. Ultimately, this cataclysmic climax concludes the series in a gripping manner.

The only moment of hope comes in a brief scene after the credits, where Guts embarks on his quest for revenge against Griffith. However, there is no assurance that Guts will achieve his goal. The characters and the audience are left without any time to process the unsettling events they have just witnessed. While the manga eventually showcases Guts finding hope and a sense of belonging, the 1997 anime fails to depict that, making it the bleakest anime ending ever.

While the 1997 anime is not currently accessible for streaming, viewers can watch the 2022 adaptation Berserk: The Golden Age - Memorial Edition on Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime Video.

The 1997 anime adaptation of the original manga, which ended right after the Eclipse, had no other story arcs to draw from. This resulted in a bleak and open-ended conclusion, which was the only option available. The challenging nature of adapting the Berserk manga has led to subsequent adaptations largely focusing on the Golden Age Arc, with the Eclipse serving as the inevitable endpoint. Despite their dark nature, the most impactful anime endings offer a satisfying resolution to the plot and can be appreciated by fans seeking powerful storytelling.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about these dark and twisted anime finales. On one hand, I appreciate the fact that these endings are not afraid to challenge viewers and leave them feeling emotionally disturbed. I believe that these types of endings can be just as powerful, if not more so, than happy endings. On the other hand, I can also understand why some people might find these endings to be too depressing or nihilistic.

Overall, I think that these dark and twisted anime finales are a testament to the power of the medium. Anime is not afraid to tackle difficult subjects and explore the darker sides of human nature. These endings are a reminder that anime is not just for kids, and that it can be a powerful tool for storytelling.