Ask John: Why Do So Many Anime Have Bad Endings?

Question:
Why is it that a good number of anime series have weak, confusing, unsatisfying or just plain bad endings? Gainax series like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Mahoromatic and His & Hers Circumstances are notorious for that, but pratcically every other studio in Japan is equally to blame for leaving a bad taste in the mouths of viewers who expect solid conclusions to stories they invested time and money in, but, in most cases, don’t get. I, for one, find that terribly frustrating. Does this have something to do with a cultural divide between Japan and America? Do Japanese animators place less value on a resounding finish to a story than Americans viewers expect?

Answer:
I’m honestly not sure that there is a conclusive explanation for the frequency of unresolved, confusing or unsatisfying endings in anime. More specifically, there are many possible explanations and factors which affect the way anime series end, including differences between the tastes of Japanese and foreign viewers and a multitude of production limitations.

It’s easy to say that Americans just don’t understand anime or think differently than Japanese viewers or prefer different styles of story climaxes. But such explanations are inadequate to address the fundamental requirements of effective narrative literature. In some cases, such as the original TV series ending for Evangelion, the main theme of the series is concluded effectively in the original TV series ending, but many viewers were left unsatisfied because so many of the show’s supplemental plot threads were left unexplained. It’s quite possible that animators sometimes want their shows to have an ambiguous conclusion in order to force viewers to interact with the work and develop their own interpretations. It’s also possible that Japanese viewers may appreciate and enjoy mysterious endings more than American viewers, who prefer clear-cut and obvious resolutions.

But these potential explanations are only part of the equation. Weak endings are often affected by practical situations. In many cases anime TV series are based on long running manga, which may not have conclusions when the anime ends. I don’t mean to disrespect the ability and effort of Japanese animators, but, after all, the skill of animators lies in drawing, not writing. So is may be expected that an animation staff may have a hard time developing an original ending to another artist’s story. In the case of series such as Twelve Kingdoms, Berserk, His & Her Circumstances, and Pilot Candidates, since the original stories these anime were based on were still ongoing when the anime finished, the anime series didn’t have definitive climaxes. They simply ended wherever they were in the ongoing original storyline. It’s also conceivable that anime productions may encounter rushed production schedules as they approach their endings, or may find their budgets almost empty by the end of the production, forcing compromises in final episodes.

Fans who are expressly concerned about seeing a satisfying, fulfilling climax in the anime they watch may be advised to read reviews of shows before investing in them. My advice to everyone else is to remember that an anime consists of more than just its climax. I won’t deny that a weak conclusion can influence a viewer’s perception of a show, but if the episodes leading up to the climax are enjoyable, that alone should be enough reason to watch the show. Having the perspective that an ending is merely one part of an anime, and not the sole reason for watching a particular show, should improve one’s attitude about anime and enable a viewer to enjoy an anime in spite of an unsatisfying conclusion.