Each beginning has an ending, making the journey worth it. Unless you’re talking about these specific Anime, that is. Sometimes, even top-rated shows end abruptly without an ending. This can be due to budget cuts, a lack of source material, or an author’s declining health.
Among the many shows that never get to see their stories get their much-needed resolution, some hurt deeper than others. Here are the most popular shows that never got an ending or a sequel, despite being deserving of one.
8Yuri On Ice
(2016)
Yuri on Ice was one of the biggest hits of 2016, instantly becoming one of the most beloved romances in all of Anime. It was also one of the first famous Anime to portray a same-sex relationship as more than a running gag or fanservice.
With shows that get discontinued, there are usually a few general reasons. However, Yuri on Ice fits none of them. The studio behind them, Mappa, is running better than ever, producing industry-breaking shows such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsawman. Why this show never got a second season remains a mystery, one that fans of the series will forever be dissatisfied with.
7Ouran High School Host Club
(2006)
Ouran High School Host Club, or OHSHC for short, is the single most beloved reverse harem in Anime. The series follows Haruhi, a tomboy often mistaken to be a boy, joining her school’s Host Club after breaking an expensive vase. This eccentric club follows a bunch of handsome, rich boys flirting with and entertaining female students of the prestigious Ouran High School.
What at first seems like a silly idea turns into one ofthe greatest Shojo Anime, with each character aiming for Haruhi having their reasons for doing so. The comedy always hits, and the emotionally driven movements have you cheering for each character. The Animeended on a solid note, but fans have been asking for an adaptation for the remaining chapters in the Manga for a long while now, to no avail.
6Hunter x Hunter
(2011)
Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter is regarded by many to be one of thegreatest Shonen Animeof all time, largely due to its expertly crafted Nen system, as well as the grandiose world created by the author. The Anime ends abruptly in the middle of the Zociac Elections, which itself was supposed to be an introduction to the Black Whale arc. The reason behind this lies in the author’s health, as Togashi has constant back pains that leave him unable to work for long periods.
Whereas other Mangaka let their assistants continue their work when they’re in bad condition, Togashi insists on only drawing it himself. There aren’t enough chapters to adapt even just a few seasons, and most studios would be too scared to work on a series that may abruptly stop again. Togashi’s in better health now and working consistently, so there’s still a chance that a studio will pick the show up in the future!
5No Game No Life
(2014 Anime, 2017 Movie)
No Game No Life is one of the most visually stunning Anime out there with its vibrant color palette and colored line art. The show is an Isekai from before Isekai got popular. It follows two shut-in sibling gamers, Sora and Shiro, being transported into a world where violence is forbidden, and everything is decided by games.
The show was extremely popular, and a second season seemed obvious. However, for one reason or another, this second season never came. There was eventually a prequel movie called No Game No Life: Zero which made fans speculate a sequel, but No Game No Life remains an Anime that never got a second season.
4Land Of The Lustrous
(2017)
CGI in Anime is almost always a miss. Even extremely popular series like Overlord get a hit to their reception due to badly used CGI. Land of The Lustrous, or Houseki no Kuni, was the first Anime to show that CGI can not only be bearable but add to a story’s beauty.
The entire first season mostly consisted of exposition, showing the dynamics between the various races, as well as what motivates them. It only started picking up pace near the end, making fans look forward to a second season that never came.
3The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya
(2006 Anime, 2010 Movie)
The impact Haruhi had on the Anime industry was something we’ve never seen before, and will likely never see again. In Japan especially, it became a cult classic instantly, with a focus being on the word cult, as fans of the series started claiming that they follow a religion called Haruhism. The adorable dance from the ending was everywhere, and there was enough content for several more seasons.
It’s almost ironic how The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya movie was the last one fans saw from this beloved series. There’s no conclusive answer as to why there hasn’t been more Haruhi, but that hasn’t stopped fans from wanting a new series even after almost two decades.
2Nana
(2006, Manga Discontinued in 2009)
Nana follows Nana, boarding a train to go to Tokyo, where she meets Nana, who has boarded a train to go to Tokyo. This seemingly simple premise turns into one of the most deeply emotional forms of media to ever be adapted into an Anime. The show’s complex themes and narratives are presented in such a beautifully written way that you can’t help but love it.
Yet, the Nana Manga was discontinued due to the author’s declining health. When will Nana come back? The author, Ai Yazawa, said in a 2022 interview that she wishes to continue working on Nana despite it being on hiatus since 2009. There have not been any further updates, but fans can expect an eventual continuation, as Yazawa’s health is rapidly getting better.
1Hyouka
(2012)
Hyouka is the second series from Kyoto Animation on this list. It’s a beautifully animated story about the mundane lives of a bunch of high school students solving simple mysteries in their club room. Despite not doing anything extraordinary, the series has an extremely loyal fanbase to this day.
One reason behind both this series and Haruhi being discontinued might have to do with Kyoto Animation’s policy of not handing out its animation to freelancers, unlike other popular studios. KyoAni shows no intentions of ever bringing either of the series back anytime soon, but if they ever decide to do so, it’ll be a moment of unprecedented joy for Anime fans throughout the world.
