Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for each anime series discussed.
The concluding part of Attack on Titan's final season has been confirmed for 2023 and will likely air in January. With the last season being split into three parts, there are many fans frustrated but excited to finally see how the series will wrap up its epic story
As the Attack on Titan anime reaches the conclusion that split opinions among the original manga's many fans, it can be fun to reflect upon other anime and manga series and their conclusions. Whether it's a season finale or the ending to an entire series, the best endings among anime series each packed a real wallop.
Naruto
While the way the Naruto ending was reached wasn't always well-loved, the actual ending was amazing.
The final battle of Naruto vs Sasuke was a fight that many fans had long been anticipating. The conclusion led to a draw with each of them losing an arm and Sasuke admitting defeat. This conclusion to their rivalry symbolized the original unification of the Hidden Leaf and the respect shinobi show each other as equals. Fans also see a glimpse of Naruto as the Hokage in the epilogue, finally reaching his goal.
Dragon Ball GT
Fans were always split about the original ending to Dragon Ball Z. While it may have been a fitting conclusion for Goku's character, most fans thought GT gave a better overall conclusion.
Dragon Ball GT gives a nostalgic end to the series that has both Goku and Shenron departing together for one final journey. It's an odd twist that no one really expected, but one that gives finality to both Goku and the Dragon Balls. In many ways, it worked as the perfect end to the series. It also doesn't betray the spirit of the original ending as once again it's Goku leaving his family and friends to go off and train.
Your Name.
Your Name. is a passionate film where a boy and girl swapped bodies, fell in love, and saved many lives.
Your Name. has long been regarded as one of the best anime original films and the ending to the movie certainly helped give it that title. Throughout the film fans feel this subtle tension between these two characters, desperately desiring for them to meet. The two are separated by alternate timelines and realities until they save everyone. In the end, the two of them finally meet as adults and, it's implied, fall in love again.
Gintama
Gintama had a long run and gave fans a spectacular conclusion with a film wrapping up the series titled Gintama: The Final.
The ending to Gintama is bittersweet as the lead-up to the end sees the death of Takasugi. Takasugi's conclusion is an ironic and incredible scene that showcases his development brilliantly. He initially hated Gintoki for cutting off the head of their master and the last thing he saw before being blinded in one eye were the tears of Gintoki. As his other eye finally shuts, having made peace with Gintoki he closes his right eye seeing Gintoki's smile. Gintoki then leaves, returning to his friends and living in peace.
Steins;Gate
The wildest things never stopped in Steins;Gate with twisting and turning with the dramatic deaths that Okabe tried to stop.
The main objective of the series seemed to be to stop the death of Mayuri. However, that ended up not being the final death as Okabe remembered Kurisu's. While it seemed at first that Kurisu's death was meant to happen, that ended up not being the case and they were able to save her too. This story wrapped up nicely letting fans get all of their characters back.
Death Note
Light Yagami may have been one of the smartest anime characters of all time, but eventually, he overstepped and lost in the end.
This is a "justice will always prevail" type of ending that concludes with the death of Light Yagami. The foreshadowing had long been in place that Ryuk would be the one to write Light's name in his Death Note, a fitting end for a character who murdered thousands that way. While things seem to revert rather peacefully in the anime, the manga shows that Kira still has a rather large impact on the world and even then people question whether or not what he did was right.
Love is War: Season 3
As of now, there is no confirmation whether Love is War will have a season 4 or not, but many fans feel that it wouldn't be so bad if the anime ended things here. Regardless there is plenty left to adapt for this long-running manga ending in 2022.
While Love is War has been becoming increasingly more popular with each season, the ending to the anime could have given a perfect conclusion. As many fans had been longing for, Kaguya and Miyuki have finally ended up together. The primary objective of the series was to make the other confess first and now that is done. The anime went big, making the kissing scene between the two spectacular and giving an emotional montage of their best moments together.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
There are technically four endings to NGE, but here only End of Evangelion will be discussed. The ultimate conclusion to one of the best anime set during an apocalypse.
The End of Eva is an incredible experience with shocking scenes and wild psychological scenes. In the end, it appears that only Shinji and Asuka survive the Third Impact. The ending is incredibly dark with a lake of blood before the two with Shinji trying to kill Asuka but deciding not to. In many ways, this conclusion symbolizes Adam and Eve. But is it because these two will rebuild humanity or do they simply represent the last of humanity?
Monster
Naoki Urasawa can always brilliantly give fans chills with his continuous plot twists in his thriller series. Monster is just one of those and the ending is absolutely brilliant.
While there are many ways to interpret the conclusion commonly referred to as "the empty bed" one of the most agreed-upon beliefs is that Johan returns to his task to wipe out humanity. As the story began, it ended. Johan is shot in the head and Dr. Tenma performs surgery on him, saving him. The horrifying realization of this comes when viewers see at the very end that the bed is empty and that once again, Johan has left.
Code Geass
When anime endings are talked about, Code Geass is always going to be a large part of the conversation.
Code Geass's ending is still the greatest in anime and likely will continue to be for many years to come. Lelouch masquerading as a villain and putting the sins of all the evil in the world on himself is something not many characters would be willing to do. Lelouch clears the name of many innocents and even villains in the series. Though he was the one who saved the world, he will forever be hated as the evilest man in the world.