Endings Rant!

So I've seen quite a bit of anime that had so much potential to be great yet the writers f***ed it up with one thing! The Ending! I mean I think it's either because they underestimate how important the ending is or they intentionally want us to feel disappointed. Nevertheless I feel the ending is very important if not probably the most important thing in making a good story. The ending is where you will leave your audience and make a lasting impression on them. Depending on how you do it you can make your audience feel great and excited about a possible sequel, make them feel satisfied, or make them feel disappointed with what they've just watched and want the time they wasted watching the anime. Endings can either make it or break it for an anime. I feel the ending should give you a good feeling or answer any unanswered questions about a story. Personally, I like the happy ending theme but I will also settle for bittersweet endings or ones where we have to decide what happened. If the ending is not satisfactory, then the anime can never earn 5 stars from me! Now this is my opinion and it may differ from yours and that's absolutely fine! And since I will be talking about endings... (I mean do I really have to say it?)

************************!!!!!!!!!!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!************************

Worst Possible Endings
There are many bad endings and it's so infuriating because many had so much potential to be great if they hadn't f***ed up the ending. I feel there is much more importance to the ending most think. I hate when the ending just slaps you in the face and makes you feel you wasted your life away watching the anime. Now some bad endings:
Clannad: After Story- Now many of you will disagree with me on this and that's fine. A slice of life romance between Tomoya and Nagisa. Nagisa dies during childbirth due to poor health. Their daughter Ushio then dies from the same disease that took her mother. Tomoya (almost forever alone) makes a wish which comes true which both Nagisa and Ushio live. Ouch my brain, slice of life? Time Travel? Wish coming true? Disney Much?
Happy Lesson- a cute harem anime with Chitose as the center who lives with 5 moms. Once love interest confesses her feelings to Chitose and find love only to not remember what happened.
School Days- Probably the most f***ed up anime. A boy named Mokoto falls in love with Katsura. He dates another girl named Saionji and sleeps with a bunch of other girls. Eventually he gets Mokoto. Katsura fins a murdered Makoto then lures Saionji and shows her the head and kills her.
Magikano- (Harem/erotic anime) Haruo is possessed by the demon king and his friends just turn back time with no recolection of what happened. Essentially they are doomed to repeat things no matter how many times.
Your Lie in April- I know this is supposed to be a tragedy but seriously, Why did Kaori have to die?
Kosei finally found true love and the strength to play piano only for his true love to die.
To Love-Ru- Rito accidentally confesses his love to multiple girls. Typical for a bad harem to have that. Like just pick one girl and get on with it.
Death Note- So Light Yagami manages to looses to Near's plan. After he defeats L. (I'm not into suspense, horror, or gory anime)
Wind: A Breath of Heart- Minamo confronts Makoto about her feelings but not in a good way. She asks him if he hates her and declares that no matter what she never stopped loving him. The anime then cuts after that. Like WTF that's how you end. Like have a sign that the two still love each other or something. This is yet another anime that had much potential to be great yet the ending f***ed it over.

Okay Endings that Could've been better
What I hate is when a show had so much potential to be great but then the writers just f*** it up with the ending. Like seriously! My cousins can write a better ending and they're 3 years and 8 months old respectively. My grandpa and grandma could write better endings and they're dead! They are not bad endings but they definitely could've been much better and I would give most of these shows a full 5 stars if they had much better endings. I feel sometimes the writers tried to be funny which the ending is probably the worst time to be funny. The ending should be good, NOT funny! I think endings should also focus on the main characters as they are the point of the story. Also many of these, the manga runs longer and ends better so I will probably read the mangas.
Ai Yori Aoshi- Kaoru's American friend Tina Foster is headed to America and has to leave the group. Now Kaoru and Aoi have built up quite a strong relationship and I would expect this romance to end with them, the main characters but it doesn't! It ends with an episode about Tina! Not a bad ending but the manga ended with Kaoru and Aoi getting married. You could't have just put a last scene with Kaoru and Aoi kissing or an engagement, or just a plain romantic scene? That would've made this anime soooo much better!
Toradora: Final scene of a tsundere anime, a lovely moment? No! Taiga headbutts Ryuuji for not saying he loves in a romantic enough situation. Really, that's the last scene to a good series? I mean come on do something better than that.
Love Chunibyo and other Delusions-Heart Throb- Do I really need to explain? Yuuta and Rikka were about to kiss when Yuuta's phone rang with news his cat has kittens. They then head home to check it out. Like really the worst possible time for that news to be delivered! On the bright side Yuuta and Rikka are an official couple as Yuuta declares he loves Rikka and she's the only one for him and Rikka probably feels the same. But really you had to to an almost kiss at the ending?
This Ugly Yet Beautiful World (Kono Minikuku mo Utsukushii Sekai)- Takeru stops Hikari from destroying the earth with his love. Hikari now lives in the stars with her sister Akari but plans to return. I really wanted this anime to end with Takeru and Hikari as well as Ryou and Akari being together again and it is one of the ones that had so much potential to be great.
Princess Tutu- I understand the whole concept of fate and free will but I really wanted Ahiru and Fakir to like end up as a couple. I mean all they went through and Ahiru looses her powers and remains a duck forever! You had Mytho and Rue end up as a couple but not Ahiru and Fakir who were really the ones who deserved it! Like f*** Mytho and Rue, ok that was a little harsh but still Ahiru and Fakir would've been a much better lovestory. Many of you will disagree with me on this and that's fine!
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles- Thought not a tragedy it is disappointing with the fact that I know CLAMP knows how to make great endings from watching their other anime. Sakura and Syaoran continue their jouney to search for more feathers to return Sakura's memory. In the manga they confess their feelings and depart as Sakura returns to her kingdom. I wish Clamp would've at least had them kiss or an engagement or something and I know they can make better endings than that. With the new manga Tsubasa World Chronicles now in production, I will say this; Sakura and Syaoran had better get married! I mean of everything they've been through it is pretty freakin obvious they are in love and deserve each other. I repeat they better get married or I will go ballistic!
Mahoraba Heartful Days- I'm not going to explain this one much. It was happy but the manga ended much better and revealed more as Shiratori and Kozue get married.
Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu (Iriya's Sky, Summer of the UFOs)- Really wish Iriya and Asaba could stay together with each other on earth. I mean they were a pretty cute couple but Iriya just had to return to outer space. I know the writers probably wanted a bittersweet ending but this anime would've been better if Iriya and Asaba stayed together.

Best Endings
I believe a good ending is one that raps up the series very well and gives you a great feeling about what you just watched. Also two characters we want to become a couple should become one in the end or a already formed couple should end it with a cute moment, kiss. engagement, wedding, or something. Plus if it is a harem/reverse harem anime, have some type of obvious sign of which love interest will be with the main character (engagement, wedding, kiss etc.). Good endings don't necesassirly have to be happy as some can be tragic though, something is learned from the series and there may be a happy twist to it too. Most of the ones with great endings also tend to be the underrated anime too that I think more people should watch and as well ship the couples.
Angel Beats- Otonashi wants to live with Angel in the afterlife. However it can't happen because Angel fell in love with a man who donated his heart to her. Angel finds out it is Otonashi's heart in her and her soul would resolve if Otonashi confesses his feelings. Otonashi confesses his feelings and Angel consends to her new life. Angel says thank you and disappears. Though not happy it is beautiful ending.
Plastic Memories- Isla and Tsukasa spend one last time together before Isla's time expires. Tsukasa returns 9 months later to meet his new Giftia. Not a happy ending but it teaches us how we must accept death and tragedies and whatever life will through at us.
Shakugan no Shana- There are mixed opinions about the ending to this but I thought is was a great ending for an anime with a tsundere lead female. Yuji and Shana kiss and Yuji becomes a real existence and no longer a torch. Life returns to normal in Misaki City. Yuji and Shana then head to Xanadu together. While some may consider it tragic as everyone will forget Yuji and Shana I find it kind of happy as Yuji and Shana are now together and reunited. They will probably spend the eternity with the one they love the most so it seems it's a happy ending for them as well.
Grave of the Fireflies- I did like this even though physically it was a tragic ending. Setsuko dies of malnutrition and her brother Seita cremates her body. Seita then dies as well. In the final scene, Seita and Setsuko are seen healthy, well dressed, and happy sitting in the night looking at the modern city of Kobe. I thought the last scene was kind of a bittersweet ending as it probably shows Seita and Setsuko's ghosts or spirits or something after they died and because both died they can now be together in heaven.
The Familiar of Zero (Zero no Tsukaima)- Saito and Louise get married and return to Saito's world together! Great way to end an anime especially this tsundere theme too. Though Saito did steal a jet and might get in trouble in his world plus will they ever see their friends from Louise's time again?
Golden Time- Banri and Koko meet and recall their promises: that as long as they remember one another, they will stay together. Banri then gives Koko a ring which she accepts. The anime ends with Banri and Koko by each other's side and sharing a kiss with Koko wearing the ring Banri gave her. While some wanted Banri and his childhood friend Linda together I support Banri and Koko. I believe the lesson in this anime is that friends come and friends go. Childhood friends won't always end up together and you may find someone new who is truly the one for you. Overall this is probably one of the best romance anime's I've seen and I think now Banri and Koko are probably going to get married and life their lives together. Great way to end.
Brighter than the Dawning Blue (Yoake Mae yori Ruriiro na: Crescent Love)- Probably one of the best ending's I've seen. Tatsuya and Feena get married and finally bring peace between the earth and moon. What a great way to end this star-crossed lovers themed anime! Even though it is cliche it is a great anime because of the way it ends. Kind of strange though that Tatsuya and Feena look the same they did a few years earlier.
Gift: Eternal Rainbow- Not going to get into much detail with this harem, romance anime. Haruhiko and Riko share a romantic kiss in the last scene. This is a great way to end a harem as Riko was the childhood friend and the love interest the anime started on and the last scene shows that she will be the one who ends up with Haruhiko.
Lamune- Kenji wakes from his comatose and reunites with Nanami. The credits show Kenji recovering from his accident and checking out of the hospital. The final scene shows Kenji and Nanami sitting on a beach together. This is a very underrated anime and the childhood friends end up together. Plus the almost tragedy that happened was kind of a good fit because it definetly brought the characters close together.
Hani Hani: Operation Sanctuary (Tsuki was Higashi ni Hi was Nishi ni: Operation Sanctuary)- Naoki and his childhood friend and caretaker Honami get married. Great way to end as Honami was probably the one who deserved Naoki.
Nanatsuiro Drops- Masaharu fullfills his promise to continue to love Sumomo even if his memories are lost. The two share a kiss.
Mysterious Girlfriend X (Nazo no Kanojo X)- Urabe and Tsubaki visit Tsubaki's mother's grave. They then exchange drool and realize they share each other's feelings or something. They then walk off together with Tsubaki narrating about his first girlfriend, Urabe and how they now have a deep bond together.
Dragon Crisis!- Ryuji declares he loves Rose and then the two kiss to perform the lover's engage and defeat Onyx. They then return to their school life with Ryuji and Rose hold each other's hands and becoming an official couple.
Happiness!- Another underrated magical girl romance series. Haruhi kisses Yuma and the Yuma seals away the monsters. Yuma transfers to the magic section and is with Haruhi. In a nutshell Yuma and Haruhi are now together and an official couple.
Mermaid Melody- With the villains defeated, Kaito and Luchia share another romantic moment with a kiss. I'm guessing they will be getting married as well.
Cardcaptor Sakura- One of CLAMP's good endings. At the end of the second movie Sakura confesses her feelings toward Syaoran thinking Syaoran has forgotten her. Syaoran then replies he loves her too. The town is restored and Sakura leaps across the clock tower with her "I love you" confession into Syaoran's arms. The movie cuts to the credits but a movie poster released shows Sakura made the jump. The manga ends with Sakura confessing her feelings as Syaoran is moving away. Two years later as Sakura is heading to school she meets Syaoran who's moved back. She then tells him they'd be "together forever." I'm looking forward to the new Clear Card Arc and show to see where Sakura and Syaoran go next with their relationship and the cover shows Sakura and Syaoran holding hands and smiling so this should be interesting.
Chobits- Another one of Clamps good endings. Now I'm just going to use a sentence or two. Freya subsides and disapears which leaves Chii and Hideki to return to their normal lives and live together happily ever after.
Kobato- Fujimoto meets Kobato at his old estate. Her memory is restored by the konpeito Fujimoto gives to her. Kobato and Fujimoto then embrace and all the lives Kobato touched are reviewed.
A Bridge to Starry Skies (Hoshizora e Kakaru Hashi)- A great ending to a harem romance anime. Kazuma confesses his feelings to Ui and Ui reciprocates. The final scene shows Ui and Kazuma sharing a kiss under the milky way. What made this harem good is that it was clear who would end up with Kazuma especially in the end.
Inuyasha- With the main villain Narauku defeated. Sango and Miroku and get married and have 3 children. Kagome manages to return to the Feudal Era and marries Inuyasha there is a recap of what happened and how life has changed. The final scene shows Inuyasha and Kagome standing on a hill together.

Why the Ending is Important
The ending is important because it is where you leave a lasting impression on the audience and answer any unanswered questions. I believe lasting impressions are even more important the first impressions so the ending is probably the most important episode in an anime series. It ticks me off whenever a good series that had so much potential ends up having its ending f*** it up. The ending will also make me decide whether to watch the series again or recommend it to someone else. For anime I review, if the ending is not satisfactory it won't earn 5 stars from me.

My Idea of a Good Ending

Another example of a great ending

I feel the best idea of a good ending is to again answer questions or make something like a couple official. With romance anime the best way to end is having a romantic final scene with a kiss, proposal, wedding, or look into the future with the main couple. The point is to have some sign to show it is official. Bittersweet or tragic endings may work too as they can show how on character has affected the others life but it would be also great to have some glimmer of hope or happiness like the two meeting in heaven or something. With harem anime the best way to end is to end with showing who will officially be a couple with the main character and it should be the one who obviously is the best for him and stands out much like in the ones I mentioned above. With action or adventure I'd like to see the main villain finally get defeated so they others can now live their lives. Another problem is that many writers feel they need to make the ending funny. However, the ending should really be GOOD NOT FUNNY!

This is how an anime should end

Inuyasha and Kagome are now official

Unfortunately after seeing so many bad endings, I have now restored to looking up the anime and reading the script so I won't feel like I wasted my time. I will now even watch the last episode to spoil it for myself and see if the ending will satisfy me enough but at least I won't waste my time anymore. Now keep in mind your opinion may differ from mine and that's absolutely fine. We are all entitled to our own opinions and preferences.