Forum - View topicSad Endings
|
Goto page 1, 2 Next |
| Author | Message | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AttackSheep
Posts: 5 |
|
|||
|
I don't know if I'm just not manly enough but as a growing med-student its like a passion for me to save lives. I don't know if thats the cause but I just can't stand sad endings in manga. In fact, anything with a sad ending (movies, manga, anime, ect). I know lots of people think its great to have some tragedies in plots and all, but I just can't stand it. For example in the show:
spoiler[Mai Otome/Hime it looks like its going to be sad with everyone killing over and all, but it turns out all happy and Disney like] Happy endings are great. Just thought I would see what everyone's opinion is to sad endings. Just as a side note: Don't misunderstand, some of what I read that had sad endings were scripted and written very well. I'm not bashing sad endings in any way. I'm just a sissy. So what do you think? |
||||
|
||||
joshuafer
 Posts: 262 |
|
|||
|
I personally dislike sad endings, and bittersweet ones. I like it when the good guys win, everyone lives happily ever after. However, it seems that in Japan, bittersweet and sad endings, as well as endings that leave you hanging, are more the norm. I have seen a few anime that end happy, but probably just as many that end with a sad or bittersweet ending. For the most part, I would think this also applies to manga, although I have finished a lot less manga collections then I have anime. I could list a ton of anime I was disappointed in the endings, but really, I think it all comes down to personal preference. Would I change the endings of some anime or manga ? Sure I would, if I had that power. Sadly, I do not, so I have to suck it up.
 I did like the end of the anime that you mentioned in the spoiler. It would seem that most romance manga have what you would call happy endings. I will not list them, since that would be a spoiler. Seems I have rambled enough, but like I said, it is personal preference.
|
||||
|
||||
|
fighterholic
Posts: 9193 |
|
|||
|
Some of the CLAMP series that I've read, really suck at the end because their endings are just so down and out in a sad way. I can give a couple examples: Magic Knight Rayearth and RG Veda. Those ones were sad, although RG Veda was worse and I would get more upset when I would read through it, because the minor characters dying had a bigger impact than the main characters dying. In the end spoiler[everybody died though.]
|
||||
|
||||
Dark Elf Warrior
 Posts: 228 |
|
|||
|
It all depends. Sad endings are really sad. They make me sad. Bittersweet endings sometimes have a bit of excitement, but it's still sad. If I got to pick any ending, it would either be just stopping, or a happy ending. You're not alone.
|
||||
|
||||
Monumension
 Posts: 268 Location: Norway |
|
|||
|
Perhaps it's the old goth in me who's speaking, but I happen to love sad/tragic endings. I was in my early teens when I watched spaghetti-western classic Il Grande Silencio on TV. The ending wasn't just sad, it was utterly devastating: spoiler[The good guys are mercilessly slaughtered by the triumphant villains.] However, rather than feel disgusted (I was very disturbed though) I applauded the director for making an ending where the western norms were turned upside-down. The conclusion had a much bigger impact on me than it would've had if the movie had kept to the traditions. This is why I tend to enjoy fictionalized tragedies from time to time - the emotional impact and the sadness you feel for the characters caught up in the quagmire can be much more satisfying than having all characters living "happily ever after" (if someone want to pick up the thread and go into the philosophical aspects of katharsis here, feel free to do so).
Entertainment doesn't always have to be optimistic. The sad ending is sometimes the most logical conclusion to some stories and is most satisfying because of this - just think about how Romeo & Juliet would've looked without the doomed romance. In some mangas like Arigatou, Lone wolf and Cub, Battle Royale, Dragon Head the stories are of a kind that even if you don't necessarily know the sad ending is coming you suspect such an ending won't be an unlikely outcome. A totally happy ending just wouldn't make a satisfactory or believeable conclusion to these series. Some of my recent favorites like Blade of the Immortal, Bokurano, Shamo and The World is Mine are also built upon thematics where an unhappy/bittersweet ending seem very plausible. To me the possible tragedies of each of these mangas is a reason for me to read on. It was f. ex. the devastating prospect of Battle Royale - all the hopelessness and sad fates to the unfortunate characters - that made me such a big fan of the franchise. Sometimes it feels good to be disturbed. Keep in mind that there's a huge difference between enjoying a tragedy in a fictional setting and enjoying something similar in reality. The fiction makes it possible to even "hope for" a sad ending, but we would never admit to something like that in real life. |
||||
|
||||
Unknown Memory
 Posts: 155 |
|
|||
|
I'm mostly all in for the happy endings with less death. I'm tired of seeing someone good "die" in a story right before the end. It's been an overused plot device.
But dang, it really is hard to find some good happy endings in manga. I try to pick out manga (and anime) that have good stories which I feel will have happy endings. They do end with the good guys winning buuut...there's always an important side character who either sacrifices his/her life or dies in battle. 
I didn't even expect death in Bomber Jetterz. spoiler[The real Mighty has actually been dead for more than 6 months and MA-0 dies at the end... ... I can't believe I cried for this ending... ] Edit: I'd say Fairy Musketeer Akazukin was much happier than Bomberman (despite some "darkness"). |
||||
|
||||
Pinkwings
 Posts: 234 |
|
|||
|
You are not alone. In fact I'm probably more obsessed when it comes to this then anyone. I should note that I do everything possible to make sure I never get sad. Its a emotion I hate. I sometimes fail and get sad anyway but if I could give up that emotion I would. I hate sadness and tragic anything. I want to be happy 24-7 as crazy as I might sound to you all.
I actually make sure the series I read or watch has a happy ending before I finish it. I make sure the main couple (if there is one) is together and all is well. If I find out its sad I then drop the series. I just dont like reading a sad ending. I get too into my manga and anime and when they end sad-I dont cry- but I can end up feeling in a not so good mood for a few days or more. There was a time I didn't do this. I started after the ending of Princess Tutu(anime) I know some consider that a happy ending but I dont. At all. It was beautiful but I wasnt satisfied and it is still stuck in my head. I still have that last image stuck in my head. The whole episode..I just cant forget it. I am beyond shocked that the main character spoiler[gets nothing in the end and even though she finds new love cannot be with him like a girl. She is now a duck again. She doesnt get to stay as a girl. There is hope Fakir may be able to make her human again but they dont show you.] I just was so sad for her. She gave up so much. 
But yeah, sad endings and me dont mix. Its also the reason I'm dropping NANA. The latest spoiler I read confirmed to me it cant have a happy ending now. Its over. I dont think I'll be reading anything from Ai Yazawa anymore. She's a very good writer but her endings are sad or bittersweet. She just wont make it happy. Like I said, I get too into my series. I get obsessed. And when I am stuck with a sad ending it sticks with me and I can never forget it. Its awful. The series I'm currently reading/watching I am pretty sure will end happily. Except for maybe Loveless..but hopefully I'm wrong. Give me my earless Ritsuka+ Soubi ending. please.  Dont care about his age. He looks old enough to me. LOL. Or at least let em stay paired up.
For others who like sad endings-good for you. But I get too obsessed and I cant take characters I like being unhappy, dying, or whatever. What I hate more then sad endings is open endings though. My god I hate those. I want to know how it ends. I dont want to make my own ending. Thats what fanfiction is for if I hate your ending. Just give me the ending please. Thats all folks. |
||||
|
||||
bllanosr
 Posts: 212 |
|
|||
|
I guess I'll be the first to say that I like prefer sad endings. I'm not into the whole good guys win and live happily ever aftter. Don't get me wrong I'm not rooting for the bad guys either, I just think it gives the character more of a real feeling that at least one of them can die. I do have to say that I do not like it when the mangaka kills off a character at the end just for the sake of killing someone. Death should be done with subtle hints that it's going to happen in a meaningful way. Self-sacrifice near the end/final battle/final scene is just lame. I can see why you guys don't like them though. Readers get attached to the characters and want the best for them.
|
||||
|
||||
Mushi-Man
 Posts: 1537 Location: KCMO |
|
|||
|
I like sad endings, but it's not like I don't like happy ones too. Sad endings usually bring the anime or manga full circle. What annoys me is when there is a sad ending that is portrayed in an optimistic or goofy manner and no one seems to notice that it was sad. For example (sorry but I'm about to bring up an anime just because this recently happened to me) the ending of Gurren Loggan. spoiler[When my friends finished the series they kept on trying to tell me that it had a happy ending. But that's not true! It was sad because no one came out ahead and allot of the characters died. Yoko and Simon live off alone with no contacts with their friends of loved ones. And Kamina and Nia both died. But the ending was still good.] But anyways I just think that sad endings have a good place in manga and anime.
|
||||
|
||||
rockinonit
 Posts: 8 |
|
|||
|
I dislike sad endings, but I recognize that some series just can't have happy ones. Still, it's frustrating when you get through an interesting series and the ending is bittersweet/sad/depressing.
Looking at you, Le Chevalier D'Eon. |
||||
|
||||
aya_honda
 Posts: 920 Location: Around here |
|
|||
I think it's even worse when you know that the ending is going to be sad or depressing but can't help yourself from hoping that maybe in the end it might not be like that. I think the most recent experience with sad endings was when reading Deep Love: Ayu no Monogatari (well, the saddest of the four anyways). I wanted so much to see a more optimistic ending because Ayu has been gone through so much. I always feel the need to see second chances being given, although I know in real life things like that seldom happen. And of course it doesn't happen here as well. spoiler[ Ayu gets sick (I think she has AIDS) and in the end she dies all alone with just her dog to keep her company after she has sacrificed herself so mmuch for the benefit of another. ] I thought that this at least should have made the perfect pretext for a moral, but happier ending. It reminded me why I hate sad endings. 
|
||||
|
||||
Richard J.
 Posts: 3367 Location: Sic Semper Tyrannis. |
|
|||
|
For me, I prefer happier endings but, at the same time, I can actually enjoy deeply tragic endings when they are in line with the way the series has gone all along. In other words, if the ending fits the series, I can usually enjoy it. (The one exception is Kill 'Em All endings. I hate endings where everyone is toast.)
AIR has an ending that is bittersweet at best and quite tragic for several characters. However, that ending was what the whole story was moving towards from the very beginning. It actually wouldn't have worked for spoiler[Misuzu to live because of the established nature of the curse. Her death and how it happened, reaching her goal of love and acceptance, was the only thing that could break the curse that started with Kannabi-no-mikoto.] While I would have preferred a super-happy ending, it wouldn't have worked within the story's own established world. On the other hand, with My-Hime: there are numerous points where it is clearly stated that spoiler[the current Hime festivel is unlike any prior. The addition of an extra Hime, Alyssa, and Miyu's capabilities to counter the Highly-advanced Materializing Equipment combined with Mashiro's efforts to change fate, Mai's unusually strong resolve and the fact that the Obsidian Prince picked a vessel with perhaps more influence than normal all made the ultimately happy ending possible.] That's my view at least. The ending should fit the story. |
||||
|
||||
|
Pinkwings
Posts: 234 |
|
|||
Omg I read that series. Heart breaking. Honestly I think they overdid it. Not because of this volume. That was sad but it was pretty believable. What killed it was the next few volumes connected to it. It was like the creator was a sadist and trying to hard to be sad. I wont spoil it, theres too much to remember. But in the other volumes sad things kept happening one after another. You'd think the guy has horribly bad luck or something. Everyone he cares about gets hurt or dies. He gets no breaks. Hell even the dog gets a story and I'm willing to bet its sad as well. I'm not gonna read it because I have a soft spot for animals. I'd probably actually cry reading it. |
||||
|
||||
|
aya_honda
Posts: 920 Location: Around here |
|
|||
Yes, I admit that in a way it was in line with everything that was going on in the volume, but still since she had so much sacrificed and even more she had done it for the interest and benefit of an other, I really thought that she deserved something better of an ending than the one she had. It will remain one of the sadest endings I have ever read.
I agree with you. I think the one with Rena's fate also disturbed me very much. She was also one of the those who suffered the most: spoiler[ she has been raped by several boys and then that girl carved into her flesh "whore"] I think that it was more than enough. But like you said, the author seemed a sadist and continued, but somehow I found the ending of this story a little bit more optimistic. spoiler[ I think that she finally could recover and maybe start a new life with the guy.] I am not sure that it is going to happen since the ending is a little bit ambiguous but honestly, I am thinking at the best part. It might have ended even worse spoiler[with her killing the guy who made her prisoner and then kill herself - honestly by the tone of the other stories I thought this was going to happen] 
|
||||
|
||||
motaku96
 Posts: 237 Location: New York |
|
|||
|
Hmmmm.....I like sad endings. I usually find things with sad endings to be more real. Like, no, everyone is not going to revive miraculously at the last minute. Sometimes happy endings can feel kinda cheap. With a sad ending, I usually feel like I'm more attached to the characters cause its making me sad. But of course, sad endings hurt too. Maybe I'm a masochist.
|
||||
|
||||
 |
All times are GMT - 5 Hours |
|
|
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group