It's rare for anime fans to universally agree on a topic, but every now and then the community comes together and reaches a consensus. One such example is the existence of the anime's original ending, which deviates significantly from the source material. These finales are widely considered to be inferior or downright bad in most cases, with some fans claiming they could even ruin the entire series.
Although rare, there are examples of this practice that can lead to an equal or better finale than what the comic series provides. This change in endings works perfectly due to a variety of factors. Whether it's because they were able to expand the story of an existing franchise in an effective way, or because they allowed the anime to correct mistakes in the story, these anime-only finales are beloved and fascinating.
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The quieter voices make the relationships between the characters feel much more personal.
Known as one of the most iconic and beloved animated films in existence. quiet voice It tells the story of Ishida, a teenage boy who harbors great regret for bullying his deaf classmate Nishimiya. Years after their paths diverged, the two meet by chance and create a moving and personal story about growth, forgiveness, and the struggles of social anxiety.
during quiet voice The film remains fairly faithful to the overall plot of the manga, removing several scenes revolving around supporting characters to focus on Ishida's life and relationship with Shouko. The biggest change in the plot occurs right at the end. The movie completely erases the final scene where the two reunite with their elementary school classmates. Instead, the final moments show Ishida letting go of his regrets and opening his heart to the world once again.
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Summer Hikaru is dead. A mix of cosmic horror and moving storytelling.
It's an adaptation of one of the best psychological horror comics of the past few years. Summer Hikaru is dead The story focuses on the aftermath of a tragic accident that took the life of a man named Hikaru. After Hikaru's death, Hikaru's corpse is possessed by a mysterious ancestral being who wants to better understand humanity, the only flaw in his plan being that the dead boy's best friend, Yoshiki, witnessed the accident happen.
because Summer Hikaru is dead With the anime released while the original manga is still published to this day, the animation team had to create a new ending for the first season. They end this chapter of the anime in a bittersweet yet satisfying way, depicting the hardships those who once loved Hikaru must go through and the guilt that begins to consume that substance. It's not a perfect finish, but it's pretty well executed.
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K-On! It turned a short comedy series into a full-blown slice of life.
Yui's arrival at Sakuragaoka High School was like a miracle for the light music club members. Because the band they loved was about to disband because it didn't have the four members it needed. Although most of their time is spent drinking tea, chatting, and eating snacks, the four girls soon form a close bond, a bond that grows stronger as they face challenges together.
text K-On! The manga was a popular Japanese four-panel comic containing unrelated, light-hearted short stories centered around Yui and her friends. The anime greatly improves on this concept by not only delving deeper into the lives and dreams of the main characters, but also including a touching finale in which the girls graduate and find their own paths.
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The 3rd Sky Girls' Corps OVA is much more hopeful in the anime.
Set in the fictional world of Shirobako, 3rd Aerial Girls' Corps is a fictional animation imagined by cartoon characters pursuing their dream of becoming popular animation creators. The story of this non-existent show follows a group of students tasked with piloting a high-tech fighter jet to protect humanity from a dangerous race of monsters.
In 2015, to celebrate the success of the Shirobako anime adaptation, an OVA was released depicting what the Third Air Girls' Corps finale would look like in real life. The comic has an extremely grim ending, with the protagonist's best friend dying in battle and causing her to give up her dream of flight. The OVA resolves this hopeless situation by having the protagonist travel to his friend's home village, meet his sister, and rediscover his passion for flying.
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Bunny Drop improved the story by ignoring the cartoon.
Arguably one of the most heartwarming slice-of-life anime released in the past few decades. bunny drop This is a fascinating series about family found and the bonds that can exist even without sharing blood. After learning that his recently deceased grandfather left behind a six-year-old illegitimate daughter named Rin, Daikichi decides to raise her as his own with as much love and care as possible.
When the original comic was published, it received favorable reviews from many people for depicting a realistic and healthy dynamic between a father and his adoptive daughter. Likewise, when the final arc of the manga was released and teenage Rin started dating Daikichi, most fans couldn't believe their eyes. The anime completely ignores this part of the story and instead ends its run with Rin being pampered by her father while she is still a young girl.
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Trigun's Finale Revered Vash's pacifist ideals
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In the distant future of 25 yearsDay In the century, humanity finally conquered the stars and created colonies on several distant planets. One of these new destinations is home to Vash the Stampede, a cosmic being with the power to devastate an entire planet if he chooses. But despite these incredible powers, the protagonist refuses to let violence guide his hand and adheres to pacifist ideals.
trigun It's one of the best classic stories of the '90s, as it preferred to follow one's own path instead of adopting the typical shonen tropes of the time, with a hero who preferred dialogue before resorting to fighting. The 1998 anime, which ended years before the manga's epic conclusion, adhered to these ideals, having Vash defeat his brother in brutal combat without killing him, leaving fans with hope for both futures.
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The ending of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is much happier.
Just before he dies in a tragic accident, Makoto travels back in time through a small marble-like device lying on the floor. Through various experiments, she discovered that she could travel to the past as long as she could grab an object and jump forward. What seemed like an incredible gift soon becomes dangerous as time passes and the girl realizes how much her adventures have changed the world for the worse.
A true classic of Japanese cinema, The girl who leapt through time There is a simple but important difference that makes audiences much prefer the ending to the comic. In his final moments as a time traveler, Makoto prevents the device from being taken, allowing his friend and love interest Chiaki to return to the future. Unlike comics where people have to forget each other and say goodbye, movies give audiences hope for reunion.
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A subtle but significant change has been added to Death Note's finale.
It's objectively one of the most popular anime ever made, and for good reason. death note This is a story that needs no introduction. Light's quest to become God of the New World by eliminating criminals or anyone he considers a threat to his rule is iconic among anime fans. Although the series is incredibly complex and well-written, fans often complained about the finale in both the manga and anime versions.
Nonetheless, there are clear and important differences that make the animated depiction of this ending superior. In the comics, Light finds himself trapped inside a warehouse, surrounded by his former colleagues. The protagonist, embarrassed, begs Ryuk to kill them all, but Ryuk is shot and dies, crying and crawling away in a truly pitiful manner. The anime gives Light a chance to find a brief moment of peace before his death, during which he expresses regret and accepts his fate. This is a much more fitting ending.
