Anime can run for hundreds–or even thousands–of episodes, while others say everything that they have to in a dozen installments. The length of an anime is less important than whether it's able to tie up its loose ends and properly conclude the story.
Anime can debut to huge numbers, but eventually get forced to prematurely wrap things up when ratings begin to decline. A rushed and abrupt ending is never helpful for an anime series' legacy. However, there are still some impressive anime that end with their strongest foot forward, despite cancelation.
10 Flame Of Recca
42 Episodes
Flame of Recca is an entertaining '90s anime that presents an intense burst of fast-paced, exaggerated action. Recca Hanabishi is an imaginative teen who longs to be a ninja, only to learn that he's actually the descendant of a powerful Hokage and possesses flame manipulation skills. Flame of Recca focuses on tournament battles and its story doesn't belabor itself at only 42 episodes.
Flame of Recca's manga continues with one final arc, but the anime cuts things short at the conclusion of the Urabutou Satsujin martial arts tournament. The finale is dense in action and focuses on Recca and his family's lineage, which feels appropriate.
9 Slam Dunk
101 Episodes
Takehiko Inoue's Slam Dunk is still viewed as one of the strongest and most inspirational sports anime. The basketball series chronicles Hanamichi Sakuragi's rise as an athlete, which initially begins as a way to impress his crush, but transforms into a genuine passion. Slam Dunk's finale depicts the outcome of Shohoku and Shoyo-Ryonan's big game, which narrowly ends in Shohoku's victory thanks to Sakuragi.
It's a powerful finale, but Inoue actually wanted his heroes to lose as an important life lesson. This disagreement between the staff and the studio led to Slam Dunk's cancelation even though its ratings remained strong. Inoue carried out his original vision in the accompanying manga.
8 Ranma 1/2
161 Episodes
Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 is one of the greater anime success stories that's produced 161 episodes, a dozen OVA installments, and three movies, but it's still a property that was cut short. Ranma 1/2 is inarguably one of Studio Deen's most popular series, but after several years the studio felt that the material had run its course despite there still being more manga content to adapt.
The Ranma 1/2 anime opts for an original ending that brings Ranma's mother, Nodoka, into the picture, as well as a sweet story that focuses on the bond between Ranma and Akane. It's a touching tribute to what works best in this silly heightened comedy.
7 Baccano!
16 Episodes
Baccano! is fantastical storytelling on a grandiose scale that works as well as it does because of its many moving pieces and multi-perspective narrative. It's much harder to comfortably depict this battle for an immortality elixir that's set in an alternate version of Prohibition-era New York City in an anime that's constrained to 16 episodes.
The final three Baccano! episodes were only released on DVD, but they find strength in their ability to jump around several different time periods. The tease in the 13th episode that Isaac and Miria have gained immortality even works better as a twist that the series doesn't have to later follow up.
6 Deadman Wonderland
12 Episodes
It's not unusual for certain characters to get cut during the adaptation process, but in Deadman Wonderland’s case, it becomes the show's unfortunate undoing. Deadman Wonderland is a high-stakes action series set in a radical prison that's treated like an amusement park. Unfairly sentenced for mass murder, Ganta Igarashi does what's necessary to survive these harsh conditions and get revenge on the "Red Man" who murdered his friends.
Deadman Wonderland's finale hardly concludes its story. The episode that culls most of its cast and puts Ganta closer to the Red Man than ever before. This lack of closure stings, but it's a bold finish that otherwise makes its mark.
5 Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo
76 Episodes
Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo is as much a parody of shonen anime staples as it is an actual shonen series. The titular Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo is a radical hero who uses his powerful nose hairs to defeat the bald anarchists that are trying to ruin the world. Bobobo-bo plays by its own rules and gleefully pokes fun at itself whenever possible.
The final Bobobo-bo installment teases greater obstacles than ever before, and it seems like the heroes are without any options. In perfect self-aware fashion, Bo-bobo and company figure out that this is the anime's final episode and attempt to rebel.
4 Prison School
12 Episodes
Unconventional schools that actually double as obtuse prisons are surprisingly common in anime, yet it's hard to compete with the heightened standard that's set by the straightforward Prison School. There's a deep backstory to the anime's characters, but the true joy of Prison School lies in the endless humiliation that follows the "fish out of water" protagonists.
Prison School's anime wasn't able to bolster manga sales to the extent that warranted a second season. Prison School had greater plans, but the series still ends on the best possible note with the potential expulsion of the school's chairman.
3 Bubblegum Crisis
8 Episodes
Bubblegum Crisis combines cyberpunk, crime, and mecha staples together as it follows the Knight Saber mercenaries serve and protect. This all-female group uses their mecha-like suits to battle robots and other futuristic crimes. Bubblegum Crisis has spawned a rich world of spin-offs, but the original series was unappreciated, and its initial 13-episode run was pared down to only eight installments.
The many Bubblegum Crisis spin-offs prove that the series still had more to say, but its finale is easily one of the strongest episodes. Bubblegum Crisis' final episode deconstructs the role and the morality of the Knight Sabers, as well as what people are willing to do for fame.
2 Yona Of The Dawn
27 Episodes
Yona of the Dawn is an exciting shojo fantasy adventure that creates a compelling heroine in Yona, a disgraced princess who yearns to hone her latent powers and reclaim her birthright. Admittedly, Yona of the Dawn leaves its audience wanting more and curious about what's to come regarding Yona's return to the Kouka Kingdom.
Yona of the Dawn's lack of closure shouldn't discount that this finale presents every character in their best light. This is especially true for Hak, who praises Yona for how far she's come and how much she's inspired him. It's not the ending of their story, but it's a conclusion that temporarily gives the audience what they want.
1 Bleach
366 Episodes
Ichigo Kurosaki's soul-reaping antics in Bleach lead to strong storytelling and unique battles. Bleach's immediate success became the anime's biggest hurdle thanks to extraneous filler material that takes it so far off course that it’s difficult for it to get back on track. Nevertheless, Bleach's final episode still concludes on an impactful note. Ichigo defeats Ginjo, but he's able to give him a respectful burial and end the series surrounded by his family and friends.
Bleach prematurely ends with many unanswered questions after 366 episodes. However, 2022's Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War finally adapts the remaining chapters of Tite Kubo's formative shonen series so that the full Bleach story gets told.