A recent CBR ranking highlights ten anime series that concluded over the past decade and managed to deliver satisfying endings. The list includes popular titles such as My Hero Academia, which finished its decade-long run, and Attack on Titan, whose finale sparked debate. Each series is noted for sticking the landing and building on everything that came before.
Beastars is praised for its unique world of anthropomorphic animals and its blend of mystery, psychological thriller, romantic drama, and coming-of-age elements. The series ran for three seasons over seven years, with the final season split into two parts. Although the last installment faced criticism for rushing the plot and leaning into conventional shonen dynamics, the series overall remains a fan favorite.
Dr. Stone, spanning nearly 100 episodes, followed teenage genius Senku Ishigami as he worked to restore civilization after the world was petrified. The series stood out for emphasizing intellect and teamwork over constant fighting, and its inspirational tone contributed to its popularity. The ranking notes that its ending was as emotional and exultant as fans hoped, concluding the story this year.
Odd Taxi, a 2021 original anime, delivered a complete mystery narrative in just 13 episodes. Set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, it followed a taxi driver who gets drawn into a criminal plot. The ranking calls it a masterwork of intelligent mystery writing that used every second of its runtime, with a finale that tied up all plot threads in an unexpected and satisfying way.
My Hero Academia aired from 2016 to 2026 and captivated shonen fans with its superhero world and classic underdog story. The series excelled at character development, high-stakes action, and themes of heroism and self-improvement. While some viewers found the conclusion anticlimactic and abrupt, many others found it refreshingly realistic and consistent with the show's message.
Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju, a historical drama about the traditional art of rakugo, ran for two seasons and 25 episodes. The ranking highlights its exploration of human emotions and life's turbulence, weaving grounded tales of flawed people into a larger story about artistic passion and legacy. The narrative flows beautifully and shows how artistic traditions carry on through generations.
Sonny Boy, another one-season original anime, used surreal imagery to explore grounded themes of adolescent fears and coming-of-age difficulties. The story followed a class of students isolated in an alternate dimension, exploring increasingly idiosyncratic worlds in search of an exit. While its experimental style can be confusing, the ranking notes that its ending provides a tremendous thematic payoff.
The Rebuild of Evangelion project concluded with the 2021 film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, the final entry in the tetralogy. Taking Hideaki Anno 14 years to complete, the film was praised as a glorious and bittersweet send-off that finally gave the protagonists a happy ending. The ranking considers it the ultimate finale of Shinji's story.
Mob Psycho 100, a subversion of the overpowered protagonist trope, focused on a timid teenage psychic dealing with ordinary adolescent anxieties. Over three seasons, the series built to what many consider one of the most perfect endings in anime history. The ranking notes that the happy finale Mob earns feels well-deserved and highlights his hard work.
Gintama ended its 15-year run in 2021 with the film Gintama: The Very Final, which brought forward everything fans love about the comedy series. The ranking praises the film for balancing action, sentiment, and the series' signature humor. Although the main story of Sakata Gintoki's Yorozuya has ended, the franchise remains active with spin-offs and movie remakes.
Attack on Titan kept fans enthralled for a decade with its unpredictable, high-stakes story. Its finale was one of the most anticipated in anime history and, as expected, split fans. The ranking acknowledges that regardless of opinions on the ending, the series as a whole is a defining masterpiece of its era, thanks to its willingness to make polarizing narrative choices and undergo striking changes.
Sources: Comic Book Resources.