While it’s rare for anime fans to universally agree on certain topics, every once in a while, the community comes together to reach a consensus. One such case is the existence of anime-original endings, which heavily deviate from the source material. These finales are, on most occasions, widely regarded as inferior or outright bad, with several fans claiming they can even ruin an entire series.
Although rare, there are examples of this practice that can lead to an equally good, or even better, finale than the one offered by the manga series. The alterations made by these endings work perfectly due to a variety of factors. Whether it is because they managed to expand the lore of an existing franchise in an effective way or due to the anime allowing the story to correct its mistakes, these anime-only finales are both beloved and compelling.
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8
The Relationship Between The Characters Feels Much More Personal in A Silent Voice
Known for being one of the most iconic and beloved anime movies in existence, A Silent Voice tells the story of Ishida, a teenage boy who carries a massive regret for bullying his deaf former classmate, Nishimiya. Years after their paths diverged, the two meet by coincidence, giving rise to a deeply moving and personal story of growth, forgiveness, and the struggles of social anxiety.
While the Silent Voice film remains fairly true to the overall plot of the manga, it removes several scenes revolving around supporting characters to put a major emphasis on Ishida’s life and his relationship with Shouko. The biggest change to the plot occurs right at the end, as the movie completely erases the final scene of the couple reuniting with their old elementary classmates. Instead, the final moments depict Ishida letting go of his regret and opening up to the world once again.
7
The Summer Hikaru Died Managed To Blend Cosmic Horror and Emotive Storytelling
Adapted from one of the best psychological horror manga of the last few years, The Summer Hikaru Died story focuses on the aftermath of a tragic accident that took the life of the titular Hikaru. After his death, Hikaru’s corpse is possessed by an enigmatic and ancestral being who wishes to understand humanity better, with the only flaw in his plan being that Yoshiki, the dead boy’s best friend, saw the accident happen.
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Due to The Summer Hikaru Died being released while the original manga is still being published to this day, the team behind the anime was forced to create a new ending for the first season. They managed to close out this chapter of the anime in a bittersweet yet satisfying way, depicting the struggles the people who once loved Hikaru have to deal with, as well as the guilt that is beginning to consume the entity. It is not a perfect closure, but it is quite well executed.
6
K-On! Took a Short Comedic Series and Turned It Into a Fully Fleshed Slice-of-Life
Yui’s arrival at Sakuragaoka High School was akin to a miracle for the members of the Light Music Club, as their beloved band was about to be dissolved due to not having the necessary four members. While most of their time is spent drinking tea, gossiping, and eating treats, the four girls soon develop a tight bond, which only increases with every difficulty they go through together.
The original K-On! manga was a popular Japanese 4-panel comic that told unrelated and light-hearted short stories revolving around Yui and her friends. The anime improved on this concept by a large margin, not only delving deeper into the lives and dreams of the protagonists, but also including a touching finale in which the girls graduate and go on to search for their own paths.
5
Third Aerial Girls Squad OVA Is Much More Hopeful In the Anime
Set in the fictional universe of Shirobako, Third Aerial Girls Squad is a fictional anime imagined by the protagonists of the manga, who are chasing their dream of becoming popular anime creators. The story of this non-existent show follows a group of students tasked with piloting advanced war jets to protect humanity from a race of dangerous monsters.
In 2015, to celebrate the success of Shirobako’s anime adaptation, an OVA was released, depicting what the Third Aerial Girls Squad finale would be like in real life. The manga has an extremely bleak finale, with the protagonist’s best friend dying in combat and causing her to give up on her dreams of flying. The OVA fixed this hopeless situation by having the main character rediscover her passion for flying by traveling to her friend’s home village and meeting her little sister.
4
Bunny Drop Improved the Story By Ignoring the Manga
Arguably one of the most heartwarming Slice-of-Life anime released during the last couple of decades, Bunny Drop is a charming series about found family and the bonds that can exist even without sharing blood. After finding out 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 he can.
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The original manga was praised by many during its time being published for the realistic and wholesome dynamic between the father and his adoptive daughter. As such, when the final arc of the manga was released, and a teenage Rin began dating Daikichi, most fans could not believe their eyes. The anime completely ignored this portion of the story, instead ending its run when Rin is still a young girl, being pampered by her father.
3
Trigun’s Finale Respected Vash’s Pacifist Ideals
Madhouse
Madhouse
In the far-off future of the 25th century, humanity has finally conquered the stars, creating colonies on several distant planets. It is in one of these new destinations that lives Vash the Stampede, a cosmic being with the power to devastate entire planets if he so desired. Yet, even with these amazing powers, the protagonist refuses to allow violence to guide his hand, holding onto his pacifist ideals.
Trigun is by far one of the best classic stories from the 90s, as it preferred to follow its own path instead of adopting the typical Shonen tropes of the time, with a hero who preferred to talk before resorting to fighting. The 1998 anime, which ended many years before the manga reached its epic ending, managed to stick to these ideals, having Vash best his brother in a brutal combat without having to kill him, leaving fans with hope for both their futures.
2
The Movie Ending of The Girl Who Leaped Through Time is Significantly Happier
Right before dying in a tragic accident, Makoto is sent back in time thanks to a small marble-like device she found lying on the ground. Through various experiments, she discovers that she can now travel to the past as long as she can jump forward while holding the object. What seems to be a marvelous gift soon turns dangerous, as the girl notices how much her adventures through time have changed the world for the worse.
A true classic of Japanese cinema, The Girl Who Leaped Through Time has a simple but significant difference that made audiences prefer its ending much more than the manga’s. During her final moments as a time traveler, Makoto can prevent herself from taking the device, allowing her friend and love interest, Chiaki, to return to his time in the future. Unlike the manga, in which they are forced to say goodbye and forget each other, the movie gives audiences hope of a possible reunion.
1
Death Note’s Finale Added a Subtle Yet Vital Alteration
Objectively one of the most popular anime ever created, and with good reason, Death Note is a story that needs no introduction. Light’s quest to become the God of the New World by eliminating anyone he deems a criminal or a threat to his rule is beyond iconic among anime fans. Although the series is incredibly complex and well-written, fans have often complained about its finale, in both the manga and anime versions.
Nonetheless, there is a clear but pivotal difference that makes the animated depiction of this ending superior. In the manga, Light finds himself trapped inside the warehouse, surrounded by his former allies. In a panic, the protagonist begs Ryuk to kill all of them, only to be shot and killed while he cries and crawls away in a truly pitiful manner. The anime gives Light a chance to find a small moment of peace before his death, during which he becomes regretful and accepts his fate, a much more fitting ending.
