7 Grim Anime Endings That Still Haunt Us

Certain anime endings are memorable not because they’re uplifting, but because they aren’t. Instead of neat resolutions, they offer a stark and unsettling conclusion, leaving viewers with difficult questions and no easy solutions. These finales often demonstrate that even when characters grow or survive, it can come at a significant price, stripping away any sense of easy hope.

These stories don’t rely on dramatic rescues or simple happy endings. Instead, they explore difficult themes like loss, regret, and how easily things can fall apart. Even after you finish watching, a certain mood lingers. You might not rewatch them frequently, but you’ll likely remember the unsettling feeling of how real the story seemed.

7. Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)

The original ending of Neon Genesis Evangelion is famous for being both disturbing and captivating. Instead of providing answers, it delved deeper into the troubled minds of its characters with unsettling thoughts and disjointed images, leaving viewers feeling lost and unsettled. The show, which started as a giant robot action series, ultimately became a breakdown of the characters’ mental states, where the lines between winning and finding meaning completely blurred.

The film The End of Evangelion provided a definitive, though still heartbreaking, conclusion. Humanity’s last-ditch effort to evolve resulted in widespread destruction, leaving behind only profound isolation. The image of Shinji and Asuka, broken and almost unrecognizable, on a desolate beach remains one of the most bleak and unforgettable endings in anime history.

6. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

Studio Ghibli’s film is a powerfully moving depiction of wartime hardship. It shows the devastating impact of war on ordinary people – specifically, a brother and sister struggling to survive amidst bombing raids – in a way that feels more real and impactful than any history lesson. The film’s authenticity stems from its reflection of the struggles faced by Japan after the war.

The film offers no easy comfort or happy ending. Setsuko’s heartbreaking death and Seita’s peaceful passing shortly after leave a lasting sense of emptiness. The final image of the children’s spirits watching the city lights is deeply unsettling and becomes even more poignant with each viewing. Ultimately, it’s a story about the gradual loss of hope.

5. Devilman Crybaby (2018)

Beginning as a vibrant and mind-bending take on Go Nagai’s manga, the story descends into a devastating and hopeless future. The bond between Akira and Ryo breaks apart due to their conflicting feelings and beliefs, corrupting everything around them. The destruction feels truly overwhelming not because of violence, but because it’s a deeply personal tragedy.

The anime Devilman Crybaby ends with the complete disappearance of humanity. Akira is dead, and Satan, finally understanding love, mourns beside his body – but it’s too late. This makes for an incredibly depressing and unforgettable conclusion, a heartbreaking scene you can’t help but watch. It’s considered one of the darkest endings in recent anime history.

4. Perfect Blue (1997)

Satoshi Kon’s thrilling film exposes the hidden anxieties and struggles with identity beneath the glamorous surface of the idol world. We experience the story through the eyes of Mima as her sense of reality breaks down, leaving us questioning what is real and what isn’t. The film creates a deeply unsettling and claustrophobic atmosphere, revealing the darker side of fame.

Mima’s last smile feels less like a triumph and more like she’s just getting through it. She keeps getting caught up in the demands of fame, even when she’s trying to find herself again. Perfect Blue is a deeply unsettling film that stays with you long after it ends.

3. Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul (2020)

Despite its charming appearance, this anime tells a surprisingly dark and heartbreaking story. Each journey deeper into the Abyss takes away a piece of the characters’ innocence. The ending is particularly impactful, showing the terrible cost of simply staying alive.

Nanachi’s heartbreaking story, alongside the terrible fate of Prushka, twists the idea of love into something both horrifying and strangely beautiful. The ending perfectly embodies what Made in Abyss is all about: a journey that reveals the depths of human cruelty hidden beneath a thrilling adventure.

2. Berserk (1997)

The Berserk anime’s Golden Age arc doesn’t end with a victory, but with complete destruction. Guts and his fellow soldiers, who once represented strength and purpose, are wiped out in a single, devastating night of treachery. The Eclipse is still considered one of the most terrifying animated scenes ever created.

Kentaro Miura’s storytelling is powerfully brutal, shown through Griffith’s rise to power and the suffering inflicted upon Guts. There’s no hope for forgiveness or fairness – only lasting, physical and emotional scars. The anime’s sudden stop after the horrific events leaves the audience feeling as lost and enraged as Guts himself, creating one of the most definitively final endings in recent memory.

1. Akira (1988)

Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira ends with a massive explosion of psychic power that destroys the city and everyone in it. Tetsuo’s change into a powerful, monstrous being shows what happens when power isn’t controlled or understood. The fall of Neo-Tokyo is both a stunning visual event and a warning about humanity’s tendency to self-destruct.

The ending of Akira doesn’t offer a simple moral, just a sense of overwhelming aftermath and wonder. Kaneda’s frantic escape and Tetsuo’s transformation into something beyond human understanding create a powerfully somber conclusion. Even now, the film’s ending remains unsettling, hinting that humanity’s biggest fear might be the very process of evolution.

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2026-02-01 00:11