The most painful end to any anime is an abrupt one. Just when we are getting to know the characters and the world of the anime, the show ends. What is even worse is when shows go on to foreshadow events for more than 300 episodes and then finish them before the conclusion. Today, we will be listing all those shows that could have seen much success but were canceled before that. Thus, without any further ado, here is a list of the 13 Anime That Ended Too Soon.
1. Berserk
The first name in this list of anime that ended too soon is Berserk. For a start, Berserk is a pretty epic manga with more than 40 volumes of original content. And on the flip side, the anime only has 24 episodes. The series did get a second adaptation in 2016, but only one season saw the day of light. Kentaro Miura dedicated his entire life to this piece of work while anime couldn’t even get a reboot. As per the source material, there is a whole lot of content left to be told, but Berserk ended too early to follow the arcs.
2. Bleach
The worst-case scenario is always when a studio decides to take down an anime before reaching a conclusion. This is precisely what happened with Bleach and Studio Pierrot. After releasing 366 episodes in the course of eight years, the show abruptly shut down. Since 2012, no one has heard of the anime’s return or even a reboot series. Bleach is definitely an anime that ended too soon for its loyal fans.
3. Highschool of the Dead
While adding Highschool Of The Dead to this list would be unfair because the end of the show was not because of a strange circumstance. Daisuke Sato, the creator of the show, passed away back in 2017. And so, the anime adaptation was called off. However, the abrupt end was not something that the fans were expecting. The popular anime series still awaits renewal season only in the memory of its creator.
4. Btooom!
This 2012 gaming anime never saw the light of the day after its inaugural season. However, fans have to take a fair share of responsibility for the shutting down of this show. The second season never went to production because the first one did not perform well financially. Well, the story and plot what all the applause from critics and fans. But the viewership was pretty depressing for the makers. Thus, Btooom is one of the saddest entries on the list of anime that ended too soon.
5. Slam Dunk
Slam Dunk is an anime that came out back in 1993 and was very popular amongst its loyal fans. However, after airing precisely 101 episodes, the show was shut down for some reason. Ever since, no news of a renewal or a concluding season has come out. On top of that, the mid-season cancellation came right before an epic climactic arc. Thus, Slam Dunk joins the list of Anime That Ended Too Soon.
6. My Little Monster
The original My Little Monster manga by Robico came out with 13 volumes. But the anime adaptation by Brain’s Base only has 12 episodes. This means that the anime ends before even touching the surface of the vivid content of the text. Moreover, a second season never went to production. Hence, My Little Monster gets a spot on our list.
7. Black Cat
What brings anime Black Cat to this list is the fact that it never went ahead after their first season. Even though Kentaro Yabuki’s manga was complete with an end, Gonzo Studio did not follow the story forward. The science-fiction series was very successful in 2005 when it first came out. But, the reason for the cancellation is still a mystery. As of now, some fans guess that it could be a publicity stunt for the source material.
8. Yu Yu Hakusho
Even though Studio Pierrot produced 112 episodes in a span of two years, the anime still ended too soon. This is because the manga has almost 20 volumes, and the anime does not cover them all. Many fans of the manga were waiting to see their favorite arcs come to life. But their wish never came true. Thus, Yu Yu Hakusho deserves to be on this list.
9. Claymore
There is no denying that Claymore is an incredible show. With only a single season of 26 episodes, this Madhouse production show was able to garner a large audience. However, a renewal or reboot never made it to the news. Fans are expecting more from this incredible period drama. Let’s hope that Claymore comes back soon enough. We’ll surely let you know once that happens.
10. Air Gear
The reason why Air Gear is on this list is that the series ends way before the actual action begins. According to reports, the actual climactic scenes were in the latter parts of the manga. However, the show ends its course after airing 25 episodes. Thus, the end was disliked by many fans as it was not the original end at all. Hence, it certainly is an anime that ended too soon.
11. Baccano!
What brings Baccano to this list is the fact that the manga from which this adaption comes in 22 volumes large. As for the show, it’s only 16 episodes. There weren’t too many plots there in the first season, making the story incomplete and almost lifeless. If only the makers had extended the series for a few more seasons, the end wouldn’t have been a blunder. Even today, people have been waiting to watch more of this masterpiece.
12. Deadman Wonderland
The reason why Deadman Wonderland is on this list is that Manglobe Studios only adapts the anime from the first five volumes of the manga. There is still plenty of content left to adapt in the anime series. Thus, the character development and the story building are weaker. Moreover, the show ends after a run of 12 episodes. Therefore, the story of Deadman Wonderland feels empty and incomplete. Thus, DW joins the list of anime that ended too soon.
13. Fruits Basket
If you have read the original Fruits Basket manga by Natsuki Takaya, you will know that the original source material has more than 23 volumes. While Fruits Basket is a good adaptation of Takaya’s work, it’s just not enough to please the fans. There are still many essential arcs that deserve a place in the anime adaptation. Thus, the anime ended too soon before we could witness better arcs.
So, with this, we can conclude our list of the 13 Anime That Ended Too Soon. Is there any other anime series that we are missing from this list? Let us know in the comment box below. For more such nerd stuff on anime and manga, keep coming back to The Anime Daily.