Leaving a good first impression is vitally important, as it is what most people are likely to remember after experiencing something -- and this rings true in anime as well. With a slew of new series released every season, most -- if not all -- are judged on their pilot episodes. It is easy for a viewer to drop the entire series should the debut fail to deliver, especially with numerous other options to choose from. While the first episode is undeniably important, the final episode is just as crucial.
The finale of every anime should serve as a closure for the viewers who have loyally followed the narrative. Unfortunately, anime in general aren't famed for delivering great endings. Far too many finales leave a sour taste in viewers' mouths, though that certainly doesn't mean every anime has suffered such a fate. There are some exceptional series that flawlessly concluded their story -- and here are the best among them.
Assassination Classroom Had Long Foretold Its Eventual Ending
Assassination Classroom offers fans an interesting narrative. Like a lot of other shonen anime, Assassination Classroom features a class of high school students. The catch, however, is that the teacher is showing his students assassination techniques that could ultimately end his life. Koro-sensei is considered to be the world's greatest assassin and most dangerous criminal. As such, the class he takes under his wing is also tasked to kill him. Koro-sensei is fully aware of this and even encourages and gives them pointers to better their assassination attempts. Most of all, he ensures that nobody is harmed in the process.
Assassination Classroom's finale delivers what the show promised during its first episodes. After saving the world from a copycat assassin, Koro-sensei is rendered helpless. It comes to a point where the only choice is whether his students or the government gets to end him, so the teacher chooses his students to do the deed.
His death serves as the perfect closure to the series and his students since it also serves as their graduation event. However, that doesn't necessarily mean everyone wanted him dead. Through the class' numerous slice-of-life interactions, fans of the series have long been attached to the teacher. They fervently hope for Koro-sensei's imminent death not to occur, making the anime's ending even more effective.
Clannad: After Story Brings Long-Awaited Closure
Clannad is undeniably one of the most heartbreaking series in anime history. It offers a simple narrative, telling how the delinquent Tomoya Okazaki discovers more about life by getting closer to the sickly Nagisa Furukawa. While they may have had a rocky start, they become closer and more intimate the more they spend time together. Ultimately, the two start dating and eventually get married, but life isn't so kind to them; Nagisa dies just after giving birth to their daughter.
Unlike most sequels of popular romance anime, Clannad: After Story doesn't tell what happens after the happily-ever-after bit. Tomoya succumbs to loneliness after Nagisa's death, which leads to him neglecting their daughter. After Story then focuses on how Tomoya regains his will to live. This time it's not for Nagisa's sake but Ushio's, though the latter still dies at a certain point. However, that's not how After Story ends; the finale reveals Ushio to be the girl in the illusionary world. After collecting enough light orbs, Tomoya gets to go back in time and change its course, giving the tragic saga a much-deserved happy ending.
Death Note's Ending Brings the Legendary Anime Full Circle
Death Note is one of the most popular mystery thriller anime, enjoying its status as a cult classic for many years now. The story follows Light Yagami, a high school student who finds life to be boring. However, that changes after he stumbles upon the titular notebook and uses its power to deliver justice to criminals. But when the brilliant detective L starts to hunt him down, Light starts to turn into a megalomaniac. He uses the Death Note to outmaneuver and even kill L. But Light doesn't simply triumph in the end; he later faces off against L's proteges and eventually gets killed by his own Shinigami, Ryuk.
What makes Light's death glorious is the fact that Ryuk had long warned him about it. When Light first gained possession of the Death Note, Ryuk tells him that anybody who uses it suffers a tragic end -- and that's exactly what happened. Not only does Light die at Ryuk's hands, his death also remains unknown to the world, much like his persona Kira. In addition to that, Light's cause of death is exactly the same as most of his victims: a heart attack.
Code Geass Has The Best Anime Ending
When it comes to great anime endings, Code Geass can't be excluded. The the story follows protagonist Lelouch vi Britannia, the exiled prince of the Kingdom of Britannia. He uses the power he received from C.C. to lead the resistance against the empire. This epic battle for the freedom of Japan brought in many fans, but what gives the series its great fame is its marvelous ending.
In Code Geass' finale, Lelouch sacrifices himself to redeem both those who are innocent and those who have committed crimes. He channels the entire world's anger toward himself and uses his death to quell it. As such, he will undeniably become one of the worst personas in history. Only those close to him know the true, noble reason behind his selfless sacrifice.