10 Must-Watch Anime Series That Actually Ended (2024)

Some anime are never-ending serials, like Dragon Ball or Bleach, but there's surely something to be said for a tightly paced anime with a definitive ending. Series that know when it's time to give up the ghost and exit stage right are able to deliver a more satisfying and complete storytelling experience to fans. In the process, many of those same series have cemented themselves as all-time classics with some of the most lauded endings in the medium.

Sure, fans can always go watch the newest episode of One Piece, but what about when they're craving a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end? Some anime series have exactly that to offer: emotionally resonant character arcs, grand showdowns, and genre-defining plot twists galore.

10 Cowboy Bebop is a Jazzy, Poignant Sci-Fi Masterpiece

Space Cowboy Spike Hunts His Next Bounty Through a Technicolor Solar System While Fleeing a Shadowy Past

Cowboy Bebop's ending is a mesmerizingly bittersweet capstone to the acclaimed 90s sci-fi anime series. The series follows Spike Spiegel, a cowboy-styled bounty hunter with a mysterious past and a gorgeous jazz OST wherever he goes. Spike effortlessly charms viewers across the series with an easygoing charisma that evolves into a tragic past as he recruits other misfits to join him on his ship, the Bebop. Where Cowboy Bebop really shines is in the ability to mix standalone episodes like bounties and side quest-like adventures with the overarching story that slowly comes into focus in the latter half.

At its core, Cowboy Bebop is about loss, isolation, and a search for meaning -- and it does not drop the ball on these themes in the emotional ending. After 26 episodes romping around the solar system with Spike, Jet, Faye, and Ein, Cowboy Bebop manages to tie together all its disparate plot threads with a poignant ending that's become required watching for any anime fan.

Cowboy Bebop (1998)

TV-14

Animation

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

The futuristic misadventures and tragedies of an easygoing bounty hunter and his partners.

Release Date

September 2, 2001

Cast

Koichi Yamadera , Unshô Ishizuka , Megumi Hayashibara , Steve Blum , Beau Billingslea

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

Sunrise

Edward and Alphonse Elric Search for the Power to Right Their Wrongs and Discover a Vast Alchemical Conspiracy

Edward and Alphone Elric's harrowing quest reaches a boiling point at the end of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and the electrifying conclusion is definitely worth the price of admission. As children, Ed and Al disfigure their bodies with alchemy by attempting to perform forbidden human transmutation. Edward loses his right arm and left leg, and Alphonse's soul becomes bonded to a suit of armor. The series begins with a simple, if daunting, premise: find the Philosopher's Stone which will allow them to fix their mistakes.

Throughout the series' perilous 64 episodes, Ed and Al plunge the depths of alchemy itself, uncover ancient mysteries, and unravel a global conspiracy that could have ruinous ramifications. Many anime struggle to incorporate such a vast palette of characters without skimping on the worldbuilding or story, but Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood manages to juggle all these with ease, while still sticking the three-story landing.

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Two brothers search for a Philosopher's Stone after an attempt to revive their deceased mother goes awry and leaves them in damaged physical forms.

Release Date

April 5, 2009

Cast

Romi Park , Rie Kugimiya , Vic Mignogna , Maxey Whitehead

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

See Also

50 Behind-the-Scenes Trivia From 'Little House on the Prairie'

8 Death Note Reigns Supreme as the Pinnacle of Anime Murder Mysteries

Teenage Prodigy Light Yagami Finds a Notebook That Lets Him Kill Anyone By Writing Their Name

Despite its morbid initial setup, Death Note has one of the most poetically just endings in anime. In Death Note, genius high-schooler Light Yagami accidentally finds the Death Note: a notebook which allows him to kill anyone anywhere by writing in their name. With the notebook's owner, Shinigami Ryuk, as a passive companion, Light decides to use this power to create a more just world by killing criminals.

What starts as an off-the-wall supernatural vigilante series quickly evolves into a calculating game of cat-and-mouse as authorities and super-detective L begin to home in on Light's murders. There's some controversy over the middle of the series, but few can argue that Death Note didn't wrap up in an immensely satisfying finale. If fans enjoy morally questionable anti-heroes like Lelouch or Walter White, Death Note is right up that alley.

Death Note (2006)

TV-14

Animation

Crime

Drama

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

Original title: Death Note: Desu nôto.
An intelligent high school student goes on a secret crusade to eliminate criminals from the world after discovering a notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written into it.

Release Date

October 21, 2007

Cast

Mamoru Miyano , Brad Swaile , Vincent Tong , Ryō Naitō , Trevor Devall

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Studio

Madhouse

Production Company

D.N. Dream Partners, Madhouse, Nippon Television Network (NTV), Shueisha, Video Audio Project (VAP)

Number of Episodes

37

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Amazon Freevee , Hulu , Tubi , Netflix , Peaco*ck , Prime Video , The Roku Channel

7 Steins;Gate is a Time Travel Classic to Remember in All Parallel Worlds

Mad Scientist Rintaro Okabe Invents a Time Machine That Has Catastrophic Unintended Consequence

It's nigh-impossible to write a satisfying time travel ending, but the acclaimed Steins;Gate manages to wrap up its twisty-turny story with superlative skill. Based on the visual novel, Steins;Gate is a lovingly crafted adaptation that continues to garner rave reviews. In the series, mad scientist Rintaro Okabe invents the Phone Microwave, a phone that can send text messages called D-Mails into the past. Along with friends Mayuri Shiina and Daru Hashida, Okabe uses the device to change the future.

Steins;Gate manages to embrace the mind-bending madness as it progresses while adeptly dodging time travel plot holes that would tear other series to shreds. Even better, it takes the seemingly inconsequential and deftly weaves it into the narrative's strands. While other time travel stories often leave fans unsatisfied or that the ending wasn't deserved, Steins;Gate eschews cheap storytelling for a profoundly impactful ending every anime fan needs to experience at least once.

Steins;Gate (2011)

TV-14

Animation

Comedy

Drama

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

After discovering time travel, a university student and his colleagues must use their knowledge of it to stop an evil organization and their diabolical plans.

Release Date

April 6, 2011

Cast

Mamoru Miyano , Kana Hanazawa , Ashly Burch , J. Michael Tatum

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

3

Studio

White Fox

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu

6 Angel Beats! is a Short & Sweet Action-Comedy That Touches the Soul

High-Schoolers in the Afterlife Battle to Reclaim Their Memories and Discover the Meaning of Their Existence

The genre-defying Angel Beats! is widely loved by fans for its humor, music, and, of course, the tearjerker ending. Angel Beats! follows Yuzuru Otonashi in a high school limbo populated by people who suffered trauma during their lifetime. Otonashi joins an organization called the Afterlife Battlefront, ostensibly formed to rebel against God and his associate: school president Angel, whose true name is Kanade Tachibana.

After several ill-fated missions, the Angelic Battlefront begins to discover the true nature of their reality. The series begins to dig into the unresolved trauma of the irresistible cast, including the Battlefront's leader, Yuri Nakamura, co-founder Hinata Hikeki, and singer Masami Iwasawa. Without delving into spoilers too much, Angel Beats! manages to send off all these characters with a bittersweet ending fans love to cry over.

Angel Beats!

TV-14

Drama

Supernatural

Rebellious teens fight in armed combat against one dispassionate girl's supernatural powers in an afterlife high school.

Release Date

April 3, 2010

Main Genre

Anime

Studio

P.A. Works

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Main Cast

Harumi Sakurai, Kana Hanazawa, Hiroshi Kamiya and Ryouhei Kimura

5 Attack on Titan is an Intense & Haunting Action Anime Triumph

Eren Yaeger Resolves to Exterminate the Gargantuan Titans Eating Humanity, but Discovers a Hidden History Underlying the War

Attack on Titan became an overnight sensation when it erupted on-screen in 2013. Following young Eren Yaeger on his quest to rid the world of the monstrous Titans after they kill his mother, Attack on Titan was a masterclass in dizzying plot twists and crisply animated action. Joining the Scout Regiment with his friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert, Eren becomes a proficient Titan-killer while behind-the-scenes conspiracies slowly bubble to the surface.

Attack on Titan mixes in a hefty dose of political intrigue, existential sky-watching, ancient mysteries resolved, and plenty of heart-pounding gory action in the polarizing ending that has fans divided to this day. Whether fans hate it or love it, few anime like Attack on Titan with such grand ambitions have the nerve to stay their course to the bitter end.

Attack On Titan

TV-MA

Action

Adventure

Original title: Shingeki no Kyojin.
After his hometown is destroyed and his mother is killed, young Eren Jaeger vows to cleanse the earth of the giant humanoid Titans that have brought humanity to the brink of extinction in Attack on Titan.

Release Date

September 28, 2013

Cast

Bryce Papenbrook , Yûki Kaji , Marina Inoue , Hiro Shimono , Takehito Koyasu , Jessie James Grelle

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

4 Seasons

Studio

Wit Studios, MAPPA

Creator

Hajime Isayama

Number of Episodes

98 Episodes

4 Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a Twisted Cerebral Thriller

Offered a Single Wish, High-Schooler Madoka Becomes Ensnared in an Existential Magical War

Madoka Magica is an unforgettable magical girl series that takes a dark swerve toward existential despair and ethical quandaries. Madoka Kaname joins a group of middle-school girls who make pacts with a cat named Kyubey, who grants them a single wish and magical powers, but in exchange they must fight and vanquish evil witches. Madoka and her friend Sayaka Miki waffle about whether to take the deal, tagging along with veteran magical girl Mami Tomoe to see what being a magical girl is like.

What starts as a sugary-sweet if offbeat wish fulfillment anime unfolds into one of the darkest and most thought-provoking series ever. Over the course of Madoka Magica, Madoka learns about the consequences of seeking power, examines the power of sacrifice, and ultimately ends the series with a jawdropping decision. Overall, Madoka Magica is a psychological tour-de-force that fans won't want to miss out on.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

TV-14

Action

A creature named Kyubey offers Madoka and Sayaka a wish if they agree to become 'magical girls' and fight abstract beings called 'witches'. However, a magical girl named Homura is, for uncertain reasons, determined to stop this agreement.

Release Date

January 7, 2011

Cast

Christine Marie Cabanos , Cristina Vee , Carrie Keranen , Sarah Anne Williams , Cassandra Lee Morris

Main Genre

Action

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu

Creator(s)

Akiyuki Shinbo , Gen Urobuchi , Ume Aoki , Shaft

Studio

Shaft

Writers

Gen Urobuchi

Franchise(s)

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Directors

Akiyuki Shinbo , Yukihiro Miyamoto

3 Gurren Lagann Redefines Power Creep in a Marvelous Mecha Journey

Subterranean Miners Simon and Kamina Drill Through Despair and Enemies Alike to Prove the Power of Humanity

The flashy Gurren Lagann continuously upped the ante all the way to its cosmically epic climax. Gurren Lagann starts with underground dwellers Simon and Kamina discovering a mech and a war-torn surface world above ruled by the Spiral King, Lordgenome. Simon and Kamina team up with other mech users in an alliance called Team Dai-Gurren to fight Lordgenome, but scarcely imagine how deep the conspiracy goes.

As Simon goes from meek miner to dependable leader of men, the scale of Gurren Lagann balloons to heights rarely dared by action anime. The action never stops, but deeper themes of loss, the power of human will, and perseverance against all odds grow in the middle act. By the end, Gurren Lagann becomes one of the definitive trope-subverting shonen anime all fans are obligated to give a try.

Gurren Lagann

TV-14

Anime

Sci-Fi

Two friends, Simon and Kamina, become the symbols of rebellion against the powerful Spiral King, who forced mankind into subterranean villages.

Release Date

April 1, 2007

Cast

Shizuka Ito , Tetsuya Kakihara , Yuri Lowenthal , Michelle Ruff , Marina Inoue , Steve Blum

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Funimation , Hulu

Number of Episodes

27

Studio

Gainax

Creator

Hiroyuki Imaishi

2 Code Geass is a Masterful Blend of the Supernatural, Mecha, and Political Intrigue

Banished Prince Lelouch Rebels Against his Family's Empire with Geass, a Supernatural Power to Command Others

Anti-hero Lelouch weaves a grand web of underhanded lies in the mecha/supernatural anime Code Geass, which ended with well-received aplomb in 2008. An exiled prince of Britannia, Lelouch aims to topple the Britannian Empire's tyrannical regime when he receives a power called Geass. Lelouch soon discovers the Geass allows him to command people through eye contact one time per person, and he sets out to change the world.

In a thrilling game of political intrigue, blinding-fast mecha action, and supernatural mystery, Lelouch orchestrates a deceptive trail of chaos as the masked Zero in Code Geass. Lelouch must face off against his former friend Suzaku Kururugi, his Britannian royal family, and more, but the series never succumbs to stagnation like other mecha series. The ending is sometimes criticized, but ultimately stays true to the series' themes of rebellion and revolution.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006)

TV-14

Anime

Action

Drama

After being given a mysterious power to control others, an outcast prince becomes the masked leader of the rebellion against an all-powerful empire.

Release Date

October 6, 2006

Cast

Jun f*ckuyama , Takahiro Sakurai , Johnny Yong Bosch , Ami Koshimizu

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

2

Studio

Sunrise

1 Fruits Basket (2019) is a Soaringly Sweet Shojo Series

Teenager Tohru Honda Connects with the Sohma Family, 13 People Cursed to Shapeshift Into Zodiac Animals

Starting as a sweet, light-hearted, rom-com slice of life, Fruits Basket's second and more faithful run becomes so much more by the end. Fruits Basket centers around orphan Tohru Honda being taken in by the Sohma family, 13 people cursed to turn into Zodiac animals. Tohru connects with each member of the family as the series progresses to reveal and resolve their heartbreak, which runs far deeper than fans initially assume.

Fruits Basket never abandons its lighthearted tone, even when exploring its surprisingly dark subject-matter. Tohru forms complex relationships with the Sohmas, helping to reconcile their past hardships and trauma while forging lifelong relationships of her own. Fruits Basket is one of the most light, easygoing watches in anime, and it's all the better for having a definitive ending.

Fruits Basket

TV-14

Anime

Comedy

Drama

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

After Tohru is taken in by the Soma family, she learns that twelve family members transform involuntarily into animals of the Chinese zodiac and helps them deal with the emotional pain caused by the transformations.

Release Date

April 5, 2019

Cast

Manaka Iwami , Laura Bailey , Nobunaga Shimazaki , Jerry Jewell

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

3

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu

Production Company

TMS Entertainment

Number of Episodes

63