Here is everything you need to know about the Shonen Anime that doesn’t have a happy ending.
Happy Sugar Life
It’s safe to say that just about nothing in Happy Sugar Life is happy, despite its misleading title. The story centers around Satou Matsuzaka, one of the most sinister Yandere girls to hit the scene since Yuno Gasai. Satou falls in love with a young girl named Shio and hides her in her apartment.
As any yandere would, she does everything she can to keep others from her beloved, even killing people when necessary. By the end of the series, Satou’s crimes come to light, and she ultimately dies for her actions.
Samurai X: Reflection
Many fans of Rurouni Kenshin dislike the OVA special Samurai X: Reflection due to its heartbreaking conclusion for two of the most adored characters. The film features Kenshin and Kaoru years into the future, long after they get married and have a child.
Kaoru anxiously waits for Kenshin’s return, reminiscing on their lives and how they got to where they are now. The ending of the OVA is controversial, featuring Kenshin and Kaoru as they reunite one final time before dying together of a mysterious illness.
Death Note
It’s not a surprise that Death Note doesn’t have a happy ending. After all, the series itself isn’t exactly a heartwarming story. While Light’s eventual demise is expected, it still somehow comes as a shock when he’s exposed in the end.
For a minute there, it looks like Light might just escape his fate, but Ryuk turns on him and writes his name in the Death Note. For such a grand and fearsome character, Light’s death is very quiet and solemn, showing that despite everything, he was still human in the end too.
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop seems like the last series to have an unhappy ending. It’s a funky and upbeat action series centered around a rag-tag team of space bounty hunters. Though it’s filled with comedy, thrills, and tons of fun, the series is a tragedy at its heart, and the ending reflects this perfectly.
In the final moments, Spike and Vicious engage in a fight to end all fights. Spike manages to come out on top but suffers a mortal injury as a result. The ending scene shows him staggering as he goes to leave. He points a finger gun at Vicious’ men and utters his final word: “Bang!”. After this, the scene cuts to black, implying Spike’s untimely death. It’s one of the most shocking endings of all time and still blows fans’ minds today.
Read this: Unforgettable Anime Endings That Changed Everything
Your Lie In April
The beginning of Your Lie in April is very deceiving for first-timers. With its cheerful tone and abundance of comedy, most would expect a typical rom-com. However, everything changes after viewers learn of Kaori’s terminal illness. Pretty soon, fans know to prepare for the worst.
Despite this narrative warning, her inevitable death is more heartbreaking than anyone could have expected.