What makes an ending?

So I've just watched Utawarerumono and I loved the series, but hated the ending. Afterward I noticed most people like the ending, which is ok with me, I won't argue. But I would like to hear everyone's taste in how you think an ending should be.

I personally like very happy endings. I like when all lose ends are tied up and characters who are the most deserving are rewarded with happiness. Although I will admit if every story ended on the happiest note there wouldn't be much excitement, so variety is necessary. But I still hate when misfortune falls upon the kindest and least deserving characters.

Clannad spoils!


Some people like it happy when everything turns out great. Some like it bittersweet, when much is sacrificed but there is still a bit of happiness. Perhaps some also like an ending where no one wins or evil prevails. Maybe even a cliffhanger? Does there always need to be death or sacrifice to make an ending that you will enjoy? What is everyone's opinion on an ideal ending?

Please don't forgot the spoil tag for any examples.

I prefer things to end on a happy note when it can. But I'd like some incentive that the characters can be happy in the end. Sad endings tend to mess me up for a time.

An ideal ending to me is the show/book/movie/whatever in question resolves itself completely in a way that doesn't leave any loose ends and isn't written poorly.

i.e. EVERYONE DIES is not a good ending.

i agree with the happy ending thing, but i haven't seen an ending with the villain winning... >_>
just somthing i've been wondering....

Good ending = Everything was explained. All the plots were solved. Characters' feelings towards each other said. All those things.

A complete fucking conclusion.

It's hard to say in abstract, but here are a few thoughts I definitely have about endings of stories.

1) A story that has not previously been good can't redeem itself with a well written ending. If I'm not invested in the story or the characters because they have not previously been compelling, I probably won't care much about what happens in the ending, assuming I even make it that far.

2) I dislike happy endings that are artificially created by outside forces, such as time travel to fix things, or resurrecting people. I find these elements to only be appropriate when the story has consistently conveyed the setting up to that point to be conducive to these elements. In general, I think if characters can't be expected to stay dead when destroyed(or at least when destroyed in the proper way. Bullets might not kill an immortal demon, but there is probably some way to permanently eliminate this being.), their destruction becomes much less powerful and significant.

3) The ending has to appropriately make sense given everything that has occurred. While this seems obvious, it doesn't work out a lot of time. As someone above mentioned, the "EVERYONE DIES" ending is often used when it is not appropriate, although it can be appropriate in some situations.

SPOILER INVOLVING CODE GEASS



4) The ending should make me feel something about it other than "eh, whatever." If the protagonist is tragically destroyed, it should be appropriately depressing. If everyone lives happily ever after, it should be warm and full of relief. This goes strongly with #1.

Closure, that's all I want.

Hell yea, Kaibutsu ÅŒjo was a total disaster. The overall idea was nice, but it was cheaply made. (I love the characters though) The ending just had some many holes it looked like Swiss fuccking cheese.

Or the ending of the Berserk anime.

Totally agreed. Hate cliffhangers.

I like happy ending or hopeful ending even if the show was a depressing one. And it should end with conclusion.

Any ending sad, happy, etc is fine, but if they add cliff hangers it just ruins the entire thing. Although there have been some good cliff hangers and Elfen Lied was a pretty good example of an arguably appropriate ending. Simply some animes can have C.H. some can't.
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For me Elfen Lied ended fine, although some of you may disagree I don't really give a shit. :)

When I look for an ending I generally look for a happy one, but I can accept tragic endings too.

Although I like happy endings, especially one where everyone lives happily ever after, I like the story leading to that ending to have some strife in it. I think a good example of this would be Higurashi.

Possible Higurashi Spoilers:


But as much as I love a happy ending, the main thing I want is closure. I hate when a series ends with a 'you decide how it ended' ending. I'm sure most here are familiar with how the To-Love-Ru manga ended, and that was a frustrating end for me.

No definite answer since it strongly depends on the type of the story. A general rule would be for it not to deviate from the general mood of the anime (apples to manga and VNs as well) forcing shit upon us.

If a show is a light comedy/romance, I have few demands concerning the ending aside from it saving up some sense of humor for the final minutes.
With something more romance/relationship-driven a general rule would be to contain some final choices/decisions concerning the pairing(s) or showing the characters moving on with their lives. A pussy male protagonist failing to choose a girl in the end and leaving shit unresolved (insert Kawamori reference) makes my top 3 of most despised endings.
Things get complicated if a story relies strongly on mystery/plot twists. While there's definitely need to conclude/resolve all the plot threads I generally dislike it when a series serves us all the answers on a silver plate or leaves little to be imagined/deduced about the future fate of the characters or story aspects. A good plot is usually my prime requirement towards an anime and I really hate for them to have a bland, unmemorable ending.
Sad or ambiguous endings are ok (and often my favorites) as long as they're skillfully executed and remain a natural consequence of the plot.


On a side note ... (ib4 Mai-HiME spoilers)

a good ending ties up all the plot holes/devices in the story without making it feel rushed out if it was not thought out well enough.

Leaving thing unresolved could be fine but cliff hanger endings usually make the viewers feel ripped off as they sat through like all the episode only to have it concluded like that...whats worse if they bring a half assed sequel to continue it...- -;;

Sad endings are difficult as killing off a character without a good enough reason or sound enough reason will make fans rage.

Oddly enough I dont exactly like happy endings.Maybe endings that things become calm and protagonist find peace.

pretty much as long as all the questions raised over the series are all concluded by the end of it, no matter what the actual ending is then it will be good.

the planet could completely blow up but as long as there was no cliffhangers (like was that Rudo's brother(completely made-up btw) or not WTF!!) i'll be happy.

I agree completely. I can't even add anything to that, it's too good. But I can give an explanation of a ending that I really liked, artistically, if not emotionally.

WARNING: Bokurano manga & anime spoilers: