Forum - View topicDo you prefer happy, sad, or bittersweet endings?
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hipnox
 Posts: 143 |
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Do you prefer your anime to have happy endings or sad endings?
It all depends on the series, and of course, some series (or genres) work better with one type of ending than the other. Say what type of ending you prefer and Say (using spoiler tags) if any series you watched didn't end as you expected/wanted When i watch a comedy show, i usually expect (and want) a happy ending because there really is no room for a sad one. When i watch drama however, it usually depends on how good the story and character development is. Oddly enough, the more attached to the characters and the better the story, the more i want a sad ending. Series that didn't end as i expected Fate/Stay night spoiler[ while not necessarily a sad ending, it certainly was not what i expected. i was a very good ending however and left me much more satisfied than an average "all lived happily ever after" thing] Blood+ spoiler[ has a bit of sad ending thing going on with her going back to her long sleep. aside from that, it was a happy ending all around ] Last Exile spoiler[ I expected this one to have a sad ending, but the miraculous resurrection of some characters didn't really help ] Tsukihimespoiler[i never saw that one coming ] Last edited by hipnox on Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:56 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Shenl742
Posts: 1531 |
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Most of the time I'm just happy to get an ending at all rather than a "we ran of money go read the manga/light-novel if you want the rest" ending.
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doctordoom85
 Posts: 2094 |
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I prefer bittersweet endings, not a downer, but not overly happy. Some characters die, personal sacrifices had to be made, etc.
However, well-written downer endings are okay, and I'm fine with happy endings, but the characters BETTER EARN IT: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EarnYourHappyEnding Of course, this only applies to action/drama/etc. type anime. Romance, comedy, stuff like that should usually have happy endings with certain exceptions. |
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cashballer
 Posts: 107 |
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I prefer happy endings, just because they're happy, but it's more important to me that it is an appropriate ending; appropriate here meaning makes sense, fits the series (even if a surprise ending), and is well timed. That said, I've seen too many bad happy endings. The ratio of good to bad endings is much higher for the sad ones than the happy ones. I suppose that's because "happily ever after" endings are the easiest way to please the audience without thinking too much.
Cowboy Bebop, Code Geass, and Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal: spoiler[All sad endings, different from how I hoped they would have turned out, but still perfect endings.] |
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hipnox
Posts: 143 |
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yeah, sorry. my bad. Since my English is not very good i couldn't come up with a good word to describe them. I was actually referring to bittersweet endings more than downer endings (thanks for the word). in fact, i don't remember any series with a really really sad ending. as for happily ever after, as stated above, it has to be appropriate. i hate it whenever they pull out some weird plot device or an unlikely chain of events to justify it. probably one of the worst endings i´ve ever seen in this regard is spoiler[Silent Moebius] when spoiler[ in the last episode everyone who was going to die in the previous episodes (including the bad guys) get saved with really poor excuses ] Last edited by hipnox on Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:37 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ggultra2764
 Posts: 4057 Location: New York state. |
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I prefer bittersweet endings. Having a purely happy or sad ending quite often leaves me with the impression such endings felt forced because of how far they push believability and last minute plot twists that weren't hinted at during earlier points in a title. Some notable mentions for me:
Castle in the Sky- spoiler[When it appeared Muska had the upper hand with settling things with Pazu and Sheeta, it took just one magic word from the two to suddenly reverse things into their favor.] Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind- spoiler[What looked like like a Heroic Sacrifice on Nausicaa's part to save her homeland from the Ohmu turned into a scene of resurrection that made the end both a cop-out and creating enough debates on the scene possibly having religious symbolism that director Hayao Miyazaki vehemently denies to this day.] X/ 1999 (TV)- spoiler[What was strongly implied to be an incoming Downer Ending with Kamui being bested by Fuma, the sudden reversal of events through Kamui's actions made it seem the clashes between the Dragons of Heaven and Dragons of Earth throughout the series were pointless.] R.O.D: The TV- spoiler[The finale was enough of a problem where as smart as Joker was in elaborately manipulating several international organizations to get what he wanted, he never had the smarts to get security with him in case the Paper Sisters and their allies had anything planned when they were captured as only he and Wendy were with the group in the moments leading up to Gentleman's attempted resurrection. But perhaps the biggest cop-out was when it looked like Anita had died from when the Gentleman 'key' attempted fusing with her with the episode milking the drama until Anita wakes up and making that drama entirely pointless.] |
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lesterf1020
 Subscriber Posts: 302 Location: Trinidad and Tobago |
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I really really love R.O.D. the TV but lets face it most of the cast both good and bad weren't very bright and incredibly naive.
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quikbeam1
 Posts: 150 Location: Behind you |
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I think the good ending is really dependent on the show itself. Some shows lend themselves to a sad ending, other lend themselves to a happy ending or somewhere in between. Personally though, i tend to like bitter sweet endings because within the realm of possibilities, it seems they are the most realistic and the most relatable. However, some shows aer not written to be taken seriously, so a bittersweet ending wouldn't fit the show.
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Spastic Minnow
 Bargain HunterExempt from Grammar Rules  Posts: 4648 Location: Gainesville, FL |
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Boy, kind of hard to discuss this without spoiling something, even just saying a show has a type of ending spoils it even if you don't give specifics. Have to be creative.
I want a "good" ending that fits the story being told, it all depends on the series. But to be truthful I do tend to prefer a happy ending. I want romantic shows to have happy pairings, I want action show heroes to gain a certain amount of peace. Even shows that require a serious sacrifice should be "happy" in the extent that the sacrifice should be meaningful and accomplish something. Saying that, a bittersweet ending can definitely work - (The romantic show whose final episode involves giving a character special sandwiches) And a happy ending can be awful if done wrong (The School set action show in which everyone [whether they were previously dead or a villain] joins everyone for a pleasant lunch on the school-grounds.) But the worst is a show which is basically a joyous experience 90% of the time that turns absolutely dark in the end (the show that ends with a ten year time jump in which the lead becomes a miserable half-cyborg bounty hunter on another planet). |
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Moonsaber
 Posts: 347 Location: USA |
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First, I must say that I agree mostly with Shenl here. At least GIVE me an ending! And please don't rush to it in the last couple episodes, and I won't mind if it is sad, bitter, happy, or whatever. For instance, I wasn't expecting Infinite Ryvius spoiler[to have a happy ending at all, but it surprised me by going beyond the actual end, to an epilogue. I like that sort of thing, Stellvia.. one of my favorite anime, had not only a real ending, but an epilogue as well.] Kino's Journey spoiler[ doesn't have an ending, though that is probably appropriate in it's case, leaving Kino forever on her journey.] The ending should fit the show, be a proper build up, and exist. The flavor of the ending need merely fit the show. Just give me one! Epilogues are also appreciated, as well. Sometimes no ending is also appropriate, but in my opinion, rarely. |
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gundam83
 Posts: 93 Location: Caribbean |
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I agree with everyone give me a good end to a good story,it doesn't matter whether it's happy,sad or bittersweet. So far I haven't seen any anime that has a solid ending like code geass.
But spiral ending 
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zawa113
 Posts: 7394 |
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I'm also a fan of bittersweet endings, wonder if it has anything to do with my affinity for key lime pie...
So, in the case of Princess Tutu, spoiler[they made it damn obvious that the ending wouldn't be 100% happy, it simply couldn't. Honestly, I think that anything other than a bittersweet ending would have been a cop out for Princess Tutu, if it were totally happy, then Duck would have stayed a human regardless of whatever shipping you're thinking of, and if it were sad well...Drosselmeyer's story would never have ended and the series might have repeated itself indefinitely in trying to break from the loop of Drosselmeyer's control. Of course the series ends with a stop to Drosselmeyer, putting points onto the happy side, but with Duck being just a duck, tipping the scale back towards depressing, especially because of the romance between Duck and Fakir.] Honestly in this case though, going too far onto either end would have been a cop out to me. However, I think it has more to do with the series than anything else, for example, Kaleido Star is pretty much all about overcoming your doubts and weaknesses to accomplish your dreams, if the first half of the series had ended spoiler[with the complete and utter failure of Sora and Layla's spinning in the air trick], I mean wow, that would have totally defeated the purpose of the show for me. Now, granted spoiler[Layla does essentially ruin her arm and is out of comission for the rest of the show], but would a totally sad ending have done anything for this show? I don't think it would but at the same time I really liked the ending to season 1. It's not really the same as "earn your happy ending" so much as fitting with the show itself. But even with happy endings I want a twinge of sadness, after all, if everything ends perfectly I will immediately accuse Deus ex Machina and dislike the ending. Not to mention that having something sad be the outcome that the cast is trying to avoid creates some conflict tension that makes the ending worth watching in the first place. Actually, come to think of it, the happiest ending that I can think of that I liked was for Avatar: The Last Airbender ok, so spoiler[Azula has gone crazy and Katara defeated her, Fire Lord Ozai is left alive but can no longer use bending techniques, thus Aang doesn't go against his morals, Zuko becomes next Fire Lord and ends the war while he and Mai are still adorably emo for each other, Sokka and Suki get together, even if space sword is lost, Iroh gets his tea shop back, and Kataang wins and the kiss] I mean, jeez, there's hardly a downbeat thing in there but maybe I'm just letting them get away with their happy ending for both earning it and having a bunch of other tragic stuff happen beforehand, who knows. Maybe that just means as long as they fill their tragedy quota I'll let a series get away with a happy ending and still like the show. Of course, I find it a little odd that people are already kinda sad about Legend of Korra, which will follow the next Avatar because I have to flat out go spoiler["uh, yeah, if it's following the next Avatar, that means that Aang died, otherwise there wouldn't be a next Avatar!"]. But I figure that since M. Night isn't working on it that their sorrow is going to be unfounded. Of course, I think most pure bliss ending that comes to mind right now is The Irresponsible Captain Tylor where spoiler[they all get back together! yay!] and man was that a feel good ending. I think it's rare for a happy ending to be that feel good, but when they are I love them just as much as something more tragic that I might normally prefer. Hmm, guess this just means I like 'em all as long as they're good. Sometimes a sad ending would be a cop out, sometimes it'd be a happy one, but most of the time it needs to fall somewhere in the middle with some elements being happy and some being sad. |
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flame_m13
Posts: 7 |
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I usually like bittersweet endings. I love anime where it's goofy sometimes, serious and/ or sweet other times.
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poilk92
 Posts: 433 Location: Long Beach California |
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I like when it ends in some crazy surrealism stuff that makes no sense like in evangelion
oh wait i confused that kind of ending with a good ending yeah thats the kind i like bittersweet is teh best |
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Kruszer
 Posts: 8016 Location: Minnesota, USA |
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Heh, same here. I hate non-endings, resets, and inconclusiveness in general. Though, if I had a preference it would be for everything to work out well, preferably happy, but I have accepted other types too. I don't mind character death in a series for instance as long as it has some purpose and isn't just random. It's useful for adding drama, but is also a double-edged sword and has to be used right. I'd really take any kind of ending though if I felt it "fit" the series. As far as depressing ending go they're fine as long as: A) It's not one of those kill 'em all endings. I feel these are just lazy and it takes away the "impact" that a death has, cheapening the show. B) It's not a romantic tragedy. I despise these and feel they're a big waste of my time. |
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