Whether it’s due to budget issues, popularity, or just a bad artistic decision, some anime are ended before their time. There’s nothing more frustrating for anime fans than to stumble on an incredible show with great characters and story only to reach the end of the series after 12 episodes of amazing build up that leave loose ends with more questions than answers.
There are far too many great anime that seem to have been rushed in the last few episodes in an attempt to quickly wrap up a great story. This results in plot holes and a lack of emotional weight that a lengthier series could provide through greater attention to detail.
10/10 Hunter X Hunter May Have Joined The Big Three Had It Continued
Hunter X Hunter
Despite its abrupt ending, Hunter X Hunter is often mentioned as one of the best anime series. Its character development and fight scenes have put it in the top tier for fans of shonen anime. Still, it’s also a commonly cited issue held by fans that the series ended way too quickly.
Part of the issue is the fact that the manga itself was cut short due to the mangaka, Yoshihiro Togashi, going through stress-induced health problems. However, Shonen Jump recently announced that the manga would finally be continuing, with the newest issue releasing in November, 2022.
9/10 Cowboy Bebop Had More Space To Grow
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is one of the most critically acclaimed and fan-loved anime series of the late ’90s. The dark tone, futuristic setting, and memorable characters made it an instant classic. Part of the allure of the show itself is derived from its abrupt ending, which was in itself controversial.
Though the ending itself wasn’t bad and didn’t necessarily take away from the overall mood of the series, it was disappointing that such a great series ended after only 26 episodes. Even if Spike didn’t return, fans would have liked to see how the stories of Jet Black, Faye Valentine, and Ed would have panned out for at least another season.
8/10 The Promised Neverland Never Got To Live Up To Its Promise
The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverland had one of the most unique and interesting storylines in anime. Its characters were lovable and the lore of the world made their fate both mysterious and terrifying. With all the good plot elements and character development, fans were left wishing the show would have continued into another season.
Instead of following the manga source material faithfully as the first season did, the show began to taper off and resulted in an unsatisfactorily rushed ending which played out like a significantly less artistic version of Neon Genesis Evangelion‘s finale. Producers should have stuck to what made the first season one of the most exciting moments of anime in recent years.
7/10 Akame Ga Kill Could Have Found Another Team For Writers To Kill Off
Akame Ga Kill
Akame Ga Kill is full of likable characters and a unique story dynamic that fans either love or hate. However, one of the biggest problems with the show that many take issue with is its lackluster ending. Akame’s story could have easily gone for another season to really bring things together
For all the awesome fights and well-thought-out character development, rushing through the ending does the show a disservice. Even though Akame’s squad was entirely killed off, writers could have surely had her join another crew to kill off for a second season.
6/10 Darling In The Franxx Is Still A Darling In Fans’ Eyes
Darling In The Franxx
Despite being a very short series, Darling In The Franxx has amassed a loyal, cult-like following among anime fans. However, its notoriously bad final episode seemed to come out of the blue in a way that made it feel like the writers just threw it in quickly to end the show.
It was pretty clear to fans that it still had a lot of plot points it could have expanded on in the backstory of its female protagonist, Zero Two. The fact that the series still has a following in spite of its short length and terrible ending shows that the likability of the characters. The unique aspects of its mecha system could also have taken the series way further.
5/10 Berserk’s Original Anime Rendition Is Still Its Best
Berserk
Though Berserk had a more recent animated rehash, the original ’90s anime rendition is generally seen by fans as the definitive version. Though it wasn’t perfect (translating the incredible art from the Berserk manga would likely be impossible), the anime did a good job of presenting the story and kept the tone dark enough to satisfy fans looking for an animated version of Guts’ journey.
However, the anime only really covered the beginning of Guts’ backstory and what made him into the black swordsman but never had time to expand into the further arcs that many fans enjoy the most. With the mass disapproval that the most recent failed Berserk experiment has received, anime fans deserve to see a return to form.
4/10 Bleach Still Deserves A Proper Continuation
Bleach
Bleach is perhaps the most extreme example of one of the greatest, most beloved anime series of all time being cut short. Bleach‘s manga continued with arcs following the Lost Substitute Shinigami arc that the anime ended with. Though the ending in the manga itself is controversial, Tite Kubo explained that this was due to health issues that arose from being overworked.
This seems to be an ongoing struggle that many other mangaka express, and fans certainly can’t argue against their favorite artists finding peace. However, being that the manga itself at least received an ending, it only makes sense for the anime to follow suit. Luckily for fans, the anime has finally been announced with a proper end to its 10-year hiatus in October, 2022.
3/10 Yu Yu Hakusho Had Way More Adventures In The Spirit World To Explore
Yu Yu Hakusho
Yu Yu Hakusho has gained a reputation that placed it in the classic ’90s anime category alongside favorites like Cowboy Bebop and Rurouni Kenshin. However, similar to the other aforementioned series, Yu Yu Hakusho also ended before its time. Though the manga itself received a definitive ending that was justified by the mangaka, the anime never explored it.
The ending in the manga brought a dark turn that reflected Yoshiro Togashi’s mental state at the end of the series, but it was all but left out in the anime adaption, which concluded on a more light-hearted note. Togashi’s creations often leave fans wanting more due to the unique level of depth he gives his characters.
2/10 Rurouni Kenshin’s Battosai The Manslayer Had More Atoning To Do
Rurouni Kenshin
In terms of underappreciated anime series, Rurouni Kenshin leads the pack. It’s the quintessential samurai story of redemption and love, and its historical setting and more realistic battle mechanics set it apart from other battle shonen. Kenshin himself had one of the most well-developed backstories in anime, which informed much of his story in interesting ways.
Though the anime was brought to a close with a heart-warming story of Kenshin and Kaoru’s engagement and the suggested birth of a son, fans couldn’t help but wish to see more of Kenshin’s adventures. Despite running for 95 episodes, Kenshin’s story still left room for further development — or even the possibility of a spin-off exploring some of its other characters.
1/10 Soul Eater Left Fans Starving For More
Soul Eater
Soul Eater has at times received mixed reviews from fans who aren’t used to its unique art style and humor. However, those who have given it a fair chance discovered an enjoyable experience full of elements that make it unique from other popular series.
Despite having amassed a loyal following, Soul Eater is another example of a great show that was brought to a close via a subpar ending. Instead of rushing the final battle between Maka and Asura to literally consisting of one punch, the anime could have stuck closer to the manga and even continued into another season.