Key foods
- Not all anime endings are bad. Some are just controversial and have sparked heated debates in society.
- The endings in anime like Oreimo, Tokyo Ghoul, and Soul Eater have left viewers with mixed feelings and unfulfilled expectations.
- Controversial endings like School Days can be brutal, but they ensure that the anime remains a hot topic of discussion.
One of the hardest things in storytelling is “sticking the landing.” A masterpiece of a story can be ruined by a bad ending. But sometimes, the ending really isn't that bad. It's just controversial

related
18 Most Satisfying Anime Endings
Not every anime has a great conclusion. But these works were able to keep the audience satisfied with the end of the story.
Anime is no stranger to this, as the variety of stories the medium tells means there are endings that people struggle to come to terms with. As mentioned before, these endings aren't necessarily bad, but they did cause a lot of debate in the community, with some loving them and others hating them.
Spoiler alert: This list contains spoilers for the endings of many of the anime in question.
10 Orimo
The end of dissatisfaction
Orimo
- Publication date
- October 3, 2010
- Seasons
- 2
- Studio
- Construction of AIC
Many will simply throw away Orimo as a show of adultery in which a brother and sister fell in love with each other. He said, many of those who gave Orimo A surprisingly good story, characters and a taboo topic that many were still interested in exploring took a chance.
However, the ending really left viewers with mixed emotions. The main character of the story, Kyosuke, rejects all the girls who are in love with him, especially the fan favorite, Kuronko, in favor of his sister, Kirino. Worse (or better, depending on the perspective), they don't actually end up together, but only briefly. So, Kyosuke ends up being a beauty without anyone Controversial ending of the anime.
9 Darling in France
A master class in how to screw up an ending
Darling in France
- Publication date
- January 13, 2018
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures, Trigger, CloverWorks
Darling in France At one point, it was the most popular show of 2018, and while the show's experimental execution of mechanics was questionable, everyone could relate to its “anime”.

related
Darling in the Franks: Any Place, Ranked
Darling in the Franxx is one of the defining titles of the mecha anime genre. Here is every location in the anime ranked by power.
By the time episode 15 came out, people were sure that Darling in France It's considered one of the all-time classics, but a rushed final game and an empty showcase that no one asked for really ruined things for many. The fact that it ended with Hero and Zero 2 sacrificing themselves just to “reincarnate” made people feel a little satisfied. It was very controversial because it could have been so much better.
8 Tokyo Ghoul: Root A
A different story done wrong
Tokyo Giant
- Publication date
- July 4, 2014
- Seasons
- Studio
Tokyo Giant It was all the rage in 2014. The story of the mild-mannered Kaneki Ken almost being killed by a giant while on a date and then becoming part of the giant himself was very interesting. Then, the season ends with a gruesome torture scene and Kaneki enters his own scene.
Expectations for the second season were high and when Tokyo Ghoul: Root A It happened, people were a little surprised at how different it was from the manga. The show itself wasn't great because it left people with more questions than answers, and the ending with Kaneki carrying his best friend Hide's body in the snow was just the tipping point for everyone's disappointment.
7 Claymore
An anime without a real ending
Claymore
- Publication date
- April 4, 2007
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- crazy house
The Claymore are a race of half-human/half-demon creatures created expressly to destroy the demons known as Yuma. Claire is a Claymore and meets a young boy named Rocky who allows her to follow him on his journey as he seeks revenge on a certain Yuma.

related
The 7 most infamous anime demons
The evil character trope is not uncommon in the world of anime series. These are the most famous anime demons known to fans.
Claymore A great story is rushed with a controversial ending. Like many shows that don't stick to the manga's conclusion, Claymore It ended up showing a death that no one wanted. Also, the story was never picked up and fans have been waiting for almost two decades at this point. It just leaves a bitter taste in one's mouth.
The bittersweet ending was not everyone's cup of tea
All metal alchemist
- Publication date
- October 4, 2003
- Studio
- bones
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood It's considered one of the best anime of all time, but it's existence comes at the cost of losing some very good anime – All metal alchemist (2003).
the first FMA ever made only followed the manga to a point before branching off on its own path. This also meant that it had a different ending than a more positive one brotherhood In the end, however, the prospect of Edward retrieving his brother's body, but resulting in their separation, struck a chord with some people. brotherhoodA happier ending, many even forgot about the original. It's a shame because, controversial or not, FMA (2003) was a great watch.
5 Tuppa Gorn Lagan Strait
A melodramatic ending that left a sour taste
Goren Lagan
- Publication date
- April 1, 2007
- Seasons
- Studio
Tuppa Gorn Lagan Strait A show about the struggle and determination required to rise above impossible odds. Simon is a tragic figure. Losing his home and everything the war took from him, including his mentor, Kamina, Simon must rise above and lead his allies to victory.
So, when Simon manages to win against the Serpent against all odds, he finds it a little difficult not to end up with Nia, the love of his life. His death so soon after they were married was a little too much for many, and besides, Simon wasn't left to lead the people he had fought so hard to save.
4 death note
It ended with L's death
Death Note (2006)
- Publication date
- October 4, 2006
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- crazy house
death noteThe ending wasn't so much controversial as it was disappointing. The series was best known for the charming cat and mouse play of Kira the assassin and the detective prodigy, L. After that he came.

related
Death Note: Each user's Death Note is explained
Explore each Death Note user from the series, manga, and expanded canon, detailing their characters, motivations, and impact on the narrative.
However, death note With L's successors, Nir and Melo, ending with Kira's entrapment and death. This was controversial, as it robbed many people of the satisfaction of L catching Kira or seeing the two mutually destroy themselves.
3 soul eater
soul eater
- Publication date
- April 7, 2008
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- bones
soul eater Many fondly refer to it as one of those underrated shows that can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the greats. It follows Maka and her weapon, the Soul, as they plan to transform the Soul into a death scythe fit for Lord Death.
In 51 episodes, soul eater It was a good show until people realized that the manga was going on longer. This manga continued until 2013, four years after the end of the anime. So, for some, soul eater It never reached the end it deserved and with fire brigade to be connected to soul eater The world, as well as finding its own result, many still consider soul eater A flawed show and hopefully it will come back somehow.
2 Neon Genesis Evangelion
An ending that was so controversial that they had to make another one
Neon Genesis Evangelion
- Publication date
- October 4, 1995
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Gainax, Tatsunoko Production
Neon Genesis Evangelion It's a must-watch for anyone who connects with anime on a deep level, with the series being touted as one of the most essential viewing experiences out there.
However, the anime infamously ends with a very different kind of direction, as Shinji learns to accept himself and is congratulated by everyone he cares about in an unforgettable scene in his mind. The ending was incredibly controversial, as fans felt it ignored the stakes in the world and was something of a cop-out for a bittersweet ending. The “real” ending was done in the movie, The end of Evangelionpublished in 1997.
1 school days
One of the most infamous anime endings of all time
school days
- Publication date
- July 4, 2007
- Studio
- TNK
Almost every anime fan has heard of it school daysAnd while they may not know a single thing about the show, they've most likely heard about its ending. school days It's about Makoto Ito, an ordinary high school student who falls in love with the girl he likes, Kotonoha Katsura, and how things go from there.
school days It was adapted from an eroge visual novel game, and the anime decided to go the most evil route, ending with Makoto's “friend” and the girl he had an affair with, Sekai, brutally stabbing him to death. delivered Scene For some, this was the biggest thing that could happen in anime, and honestly, it's the only reason the series is still talked about. However, it undoubtedly was The controversial ending of the anime.

more
7 anime that have cruel endings
Everything comes to an end, but these anime series end in a shocking way that viewers never expect.