Some anime endings can make you happy, while others can make you cry. However, there are also some endings that fall in between. This can mean that characters find success but at the cost of something great. At times, the characters will feel the weight of this loss, while at other times, they are content just to have made it to the end of the story.
For the viewer, this can leave a lasting impact as the credits roll one final time. From magical girl anime that see the magic fade away to coming-of-age stories that end by leaving the status quo behind, here are great anime with bittersweet endings.
8
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
To The Moon
David Martinez is one of the many tragic characters that anime has to offer. With society constantly rejecting him and the unfortunate demise of his mother, David’s only solace is a military grade body modification called the Sandevistan and his romance with Lucy.
While this grants him power and temporary happiness, life in Night City eventually gets too dangerous. When Lucy is taken hostage, David puts it all on the line and pays for it with his life. However, these efforts are not in vain as Lucy manages to escape the chaos of Night City, and the end shows her living her life on the Moon.
7
Jojo Stone Ocean
The Power Of Made In Heaven
Every part of Jojo has fan-favorite characters that end up dying. However, Stone Ocean not only kills off nearly every member of Jolyne’s crew but also kills off Jotaro and, finally, its main Jojo. This leads to an unexpected final battle between Father Pucci and Emporio, who uses a borrowed stand to finish the job.
While things seemingly go back to normal at the end, the characters who take the place of Jolyne and her comrades are not exactly the same. They lived better lives this time around, but they aren’t the characters you get to know throughout the part, with only Emporio remembering the full extent of their journey together.
6
Princess Tutu
When A Magical Girl’s Duty Ends
If you ever wanted to feel bad about a duck, Princess Tutu will get the job done. This anime follows the story of a duckling named Ahiru, who becomes a magical girl. Her newfound powers allow her to take the form of a human as she fights for love and all that is right.
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However, this story doesn’t exactly end the way you would expect it. In the finale, Ahiru is forced to give up her power to save the day and permanently turns back into a duck. Even though love is reciprocated despite the sudden change, her return to duck form cuts her off from the same level of communication or even relationships she could have kept as a human.
5
Erased
A Much-Debated Ending
Erased has an interesting premise. Its protagonist, Satoru Fujinuma, returns to his childhood to solve the murder of his mother in the present. Along the way, he must change the lives of his fellow schoolmates, some of whom will become victims of a serial killer in town.
The most captivating relationship, though, is the one shared between Satoru and Kayo. All logic dictates that they end up together in the future. However, when Satoru ends up in a coma, he awakens as an adult, having missed out on much of his life. This includes Kayo ending up with another would-be victim of the murders. While the anime ends on a high note, fans can’t help but feel bittersweet at the turn of events.
Satisfying In A Different Way
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood has one of the most satisfying endings of all time. On the other hand, the 2003 version of the anime ends on a rather bittersweet note. This is because Full Metal Alchemist (2003) deviates from the manga plot by giving characters different backstories, identities, and even destinies.
The end of the anime finds Edward Elric trapped in a parallel world meant to be our own. There is no alchemy, only science. While this leaves the brothers separated, they later reunite in the movie Conqueror of Shamballa. While everything turns out okay in the end, the idea that both of our heroes will never see their old friends again is bittersweet.
3
Azumanga Daioh
The End Of An Era
Azumanga Daioh does not kill any of the main characters, nor does it have anyone give up something important. This is a slice-of-life comedy anime about a group of girls going through high school. However, it also has a bittersweet ending that is relatable to anyone entering a new stage of their life.
This is when the girls graduate high school and realize their lives are about to change forever. There will be no more classroom hijinks or daily interactions with their favorite teachers. In fact, they may not even be able to see each other as often as before. However, their friendship is strong and promises to be long-lasting.
2
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
The Forgotten Hero
If any ending is bittersweet, it’s Gurren Lagann. Its main character, Simon, goes from being a nobody to being a hero who frees his world from the confines of the underground. Thanks to his efforts, humanity is able to prosper even when a new threat emerges that might wipe it out completely.
By the end of the series, humanity is mastering space travel, having civil relations with other species, and even keeping the world safe without his help. However, as time goes by, Simon himself is forgotten as life goes on.
1
Pompoko
Life Goes On Even In Nature
Pompoko will make you appreciate nature more, especially when you see construction happening. Pompoko follows a group of Tanuki who try to prevent their forest habitat from being destroyed through construction. They do everything possible to save their habitat, only for them to fumble constantly.
While many Tanuki end up dying in the process, the remaining manage to live happy and fulfilling lives in the city. They no longer live in the forest but in the grassy fields of small parks. They might not have what they did before, but at least they find a way to be happy after long days of posing as humans.
