Anime has produced some of the most amazing stories ever put to screen, but for every satisfying conclusion, there are endings that leave fans bewildered, furious, or just outright depressed. Whether due to bizarre creative choices, rushed narratives, or unresolved storylines, these finales have sparked endless debate. While many argue that Game of Thrones season 8 had one of the worst endings in TV history, these anime finales may just take the crown for controversy and disappointment.

From abrupt cancelations to questionable creative decisions, there are countless anime endings that leave viewers feeling robbed of a proper conclusion. Some endings were too surreal, others too rushed, and a few even seemed to betray everything the story had built up. But the absolute worst offenders for anime are the controversial endings that make Game of Thrones’ final season look like a storytelling masterpiece in comparison.

13 Kumamiko - Girl Meets Bear

Anime Series by Kinema Citrus and EMT Squared; Based on the Manga by Masume Yoshimoto

At first glance, Kumamiko seems like a wholesome slice-of-life anime about a village girl and her talking bear guardian. However, the finale takes a shocking turn, turning what was meant to be a lighthearted story into a disturbing and surreal nightmare. Instead of showing protagonist Machi overcoming her anxieties, the ending reinforces her fears and trauma, making her regress instead of grow.

The most frustrating aspect of this ending is that it was anime-original, meaning the creative team actively chose to leave the story in this bleak state. The way Machi is treated throughout the series is already questionable, but the finale cements Kumamiko as one of the most unintentionally horrifying "slice-of-life" anime out there.

12 Stars Align

Anime Series by 8bit; Original Work by Kazuki Akane

Few things are more upsetting in anime than a show being cut short before it can reach its proper conclusion. Stars Align was a unique sports drama that dived into deep, emotional topics beyond just tennis. However, it left viewers devastated with an unresolved cliffhanger because the series was originally intended to have two cours but was reduced to just one.

With no source material to fall back on, fans were left without closure, unsure of what would happen to the characters they had grown attached to. The abrupt ending deprived the story of its emotional payoff, making it one of the most frustrating anime finales in recent history.

11 The Quintessential Quintuplets

Anime Series by Tezuka Productions and Bibury Animation Studios; Based on the Manga by Negi Haruba

While the ending of the shōnen romance series The Quintessential Quintuplets was not necessarily bad, it was incredibly divisive among fans. The entire premise of the series revolved around a romantic mystery of whom the protagonist, Fuutarou, would marry. Because the show was built on keeping this a secret, it meant that no single romance could be given enough meaningful development without spoiling the final reveal.

This led to an unsatisfying conclusion where the "winning" relationship felt underdeveloped, as it had to maintain the illusion of an equal playing field until the last moment. While some fans were happy with the result, others felt it made the romantic journey feel pointless, as there was little meaningful buildup to the final choice.

10 Platinum End

Anime Series by Signal.MD; Based on the Manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata

From the creators of Death Note, expectations were high for Platinum End, but it ultimately turned into one of the most disappointing anime series in recent years. The story was already convoluted and frustrating by the time it reached the final episode, but the ending sealed its fate as an irredeemable mess.

Instead of a climactic or thought-provoking conclusion, the anime ends with an underwhelming resolution that leaves viewers wondering why they invested time into it in the first place. Many saw it as a massive waste of potential, and by the time the final episode aired, most fans had long given up hope on it delivering anything worthwhile.

9 Erased

Anime Series by A-1 Pictures; Based on the Manga by Kei Sanbe

Erased is a fantastic thriller with an intense premise, but its ending remains one of the most controversial in anime history. Much of the controversy stemmed from the romantic expectations placed on the protagonist, Satoru. Fans expected him to end up with Kayo, the girl he worked so hard to save, but due to his prolonged coma, she moved on and started a family with someone else.

While this is a realistic and even thematically fitting resolution, many fans were furious that the expected romance never materialized.

While this is a realistic and even thematically fitting resolution, many fans were furious that the expected romance never materialized. This, combined with the final confrontation with the antagonist, felt anticlimactic, and led to disappointment on multiple fronts from the audience.

8 Soul Eater

Anime Series by Bones; Based on the Manga by Atsushi Ōkubo

When anime adaptations catch up to their source material too quickly, the results are often disastrous. Soul Eater suffered from this exact problem, leading to an original ending that failed to satisfy fans. Rather than following the manga’s intended conclusion, the anime rushed toward an ending that many saw as nonsensical and disappointing.

The most infamous moment of this was when, in the final battle against the main antagonist, Asura won through "the power of courage." This baffling resolution felt completely disconnected from the high-energy action and dark themes the series had established, leaving fans scratching their heads in frustration.

7 Akame ga Kill

Anime Series by White Fox; Based on the Manga by Takahiro and Tetsuya Tashiro

Few anime are as merciless as Akame ga Kill when it comes to character deaths, but even by its own standards, the ending was excessive. The anime was extremely different from the ongoing manga, leading to an ending where nearly every major character is killed off.

The rushed conclusionof Akame ga Kill also meant that the depth of certain character arcs was lost

While some fans appreciated the brutal finality of it all, others found it needlessly grim and unsatisfying. The rushed conclusionof Akame ga Kill also meant that the depth of certain character arcs was lost, making the whole journey feel somewhat pointless in retrospect.

6 Devilman Crybaby

Anime Series by Science SARU; Based on Devilman by Gou Nagai

A modern re-imagining of Devilman, Devilman Crybaby was an unforgettable watch, but one that left many fans feeling emotionally destroyed. The ending is a complete gut-punch, with nearly every major character meeting a tragic fate. While this go along with the dark themes of the original Devilman manga, it was still too much for many viewers to stomach.

Despite the controversy, the ending was artistically powerful, cementing Devilman Crybaby as a beautifully depressing masterpiece. However, that does not mean that fans were not left devastated by it.

5 Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

Anime Series by Sunrise; Original Work by Gorō Taniguchi and Ichirō Ōkouchi

While Code Geass' ending is widely regarded as one of the best in anime history, it remains controversial due to its ambiguity. Lelouch’s fate is left up to interpretation, leading to endless debates among fans.

Was Lelouch truly dead, or had he somehow survived? The controversy surrounding the ending only intensified when the 2019 sequel film Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection seemingly provided an answer, and it turned out to be one that many fans felt was unnecessary.

4 Neon Genesis Evangelion

Anime Series by Gainax; Original Work by Hideaki Anno

Few anime finales are as infamous as Neon Genesis Evangelion. The final two episodes of the original series took an abstract, psychological approach that left many fans bewildered. Due to budget constraints and production issues, the ending became an introspective exploration of protagonist Shinji Ikari’s psyche rather than giving fans a traditional ending. Some viewers found this approach profound, while others felt completely unsatisfied.

To add to the controversy, The End of Evangelion was released as an alternative ending, offering a more conventional but incredibly bleak conclusion. While this provided more clarity to the story, it also introduced its own set of disturbing and divisive moments, including Shinji’s highly unsettling and inappropriate actions toward Asuka in the hospital scene. Whether one prefers the original or the film’s ending, there is no denying that Evangelion left behind one of the most contentious finales in anime history.