Anime has a vast array of narratives, including those that feature dark and tragic endings. These endings, often unexpected and profound, veer from traditional happy resolutions, adding realism and providing commentary on various aspects of life and human nature.
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They can serve as a poignant reminder of the complexities of existence, the futility of certain struggles, the price of victory, or the reality of loss and change. From the poignant sacrifices inPuella Magi Madoka Magicato the brutal finale ofBerserk, anime with dark endings push boundaries and challenge viewers to contemplate their stories long after the credits roll.
10Code Geass
In Code Geass, the series concludes with the protagonist Lelouch vi Britannia enacting the Zero Requiem plan. He becomes a tyrant, turning the world against him. Lelouch is then publicly assassinated by his best friend, Suzaku, disguised as Zero.
The brilliance of this ending lies in its tragedy as Lelouch sacrifices his life, reputation, and happiness for a greater cause, illustrating the heavy price of peace and freedom. Despite the world’s unawareness of his selfless act, Lelouch dies with a smile, satisfied knowing his plan worked.
9Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Puella Magi Madoka Magica ends with Madoka Kaname making a self-sacrificing wish to erase all witches before they are created. As a result, she becomes an almighty force, a concept existing outside the physical world, effectively erasing her existence from the memories of everyone except for the mysterious being, Homura Akemi.
The ending rewrites the laws of the universe, altering the fate of magical girls. Madoka’s existence becomes a comforting, unseen force that takes them away. While the conclusion removes the horrific fate of becoming witches, it is still an unhappy ending.
8Elfen Lied
Elfen Lied finishes on an open-ended and ambiguous note, but it’s mostly seen as dark and tragic. The anime concludes with Lucy, the Diclonius queen, supposedly dead after a massive battle. However, in the final scene, a silhouette resembling Lucy is seen behind the gate of Kouta’s home, indicating she may still be alive.
The overall ending is melancholic, with the characters burdened by the weight of their violent pasts and the uncertainty of their futures, leaving viewers pondering the consequences of societal rejection and its devastating impact.
7Texhnolyze
Texhnolyze culminates in an unflinchingly bleak ending, embodying its dystopian narrative. After a series of catastrophic events, the city of Lux is left nearly devoid of life. The protagonist, Ichise, wanders through the lifeless city, witnessing the last vestiges of humanity fading away.
Meanwhile, the surface-dwelling humans decide to cease reproduction, accepting their extinction. The final scene shows Ichise alone, collapsing and presumably dying amidst the ruins of Lux. Texhnolyze concludes with the downfall of humanity, conveying a dark and profound message about the self-destruction of civilization.
6Akame ga Kill!
Akame ga Kill! ends on a decidedly dark and bittersweet note. In the final showdown, the members of Night Raid confront the corrupt Empire. Unfortunately, this results in the deaths of many main characters, including the protagonist, Tatsumi, who dies protecting his comrades.
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Despite these losses, the corrupt Prime Minister is overthrown, and the surviving Night Raid members, including Akame, live on, bearing the weight of their fallen friends' wishes. The rebellion’s victory comes at a high cost, making the ending more tragic than triumphant.
5Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam concludes on a very unfortunate note, one of the darkest in theGundamfranchise. After the final battle against the Titans, the protagonist Kamille Bidan faces off against his nemesis, Paptimus Scirocco. Kamille manages to defeat Scirocco, but not before the latter lands a psychic attack on him.
As a result, Kamille suffers serious mental damage and ends up in a state of mental incapacitation. The series ends with the Earth Federation victorious, with many comrades lost and Kamille’s fate a tragic reminder of the personal cost of war.
Shiki is ahorror anime seriesthat ends with a tragic and blood-soaked finale. The human villagers, upon realizing they’re being preyed upon by the Shiki (vampire-like beings), stage a brutal counter-attack that descends into a horrifying massacre. Both sides commit gruesome acts, blurring the lines between victims and monsters.
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As the humans manage to exterminate the Shiki, the anime concludes with the village covered in the scars of the conflict and survivors left to grapple with their actions. The ending emphasizes the horrific cycle of violence and the depths humanity can descend to when driven by fear and survival.
3Devilman Crybaby
Devilman Crybaby concludes with a profoundly dark and devastating finale. After a catastrophic battle between devils and humans, the protagonist, Akira Fudo, confronts his former best friend, Ryo Asuka, ahero turned villain, who is revealed to be Satan. The confrontation ends with Akira’s death.
However, Ryo’s victory is empty as he realizes his attachment to Akira. The series ends with God resetting the world, starting a new cycle of the same tragic events. The conclusion delivers a powerful and painful message about the cost of failing to understand one another.
The 1997 Berserk anime ends abruptly during the traumatic Eclipse event. The Band of the Hawk’s charismatic leader, Griffith, driven to desperation, sacrifices his comrades todemonic entitiesknown as the God Hand to attain his dream. This results in the gruesome deaths of almost all of his loyal followers.
The protagonist, Guts, is forced to watch as his love, Casca, is driven to insanity. Guts loses an arm and an eye but survives, swearing vengeance against Griffith. This horrific conclusion is one of the darkest in anime, showcasing utter despair and loss.
1Death Note
Death Note ends with the downfall of its protagonist, Light Yagami. After a long mental battle against Detective L and, later, his successors Near and Mello, Light’s identity as Kira is finally revealed. Cornered, he attempts to kill Near but doesn’t succeed.
Light is shot by Matsuda, one of the investigation team members. Light manages to escape the warehouse in his final moments but is heavily wounded. The scene ends with Ryuk, the Shinigami who dropped the Death Note, writing Light Yagami’s name in the Death Note.
