I’ve figured it out. The purpose of anime–beyond telling great stories, wowing us with awesome characters, etc,–is to sell TVs.
Think of any anime you’ve watched to the end. Go ahead. Now–want to throw something? You do, don’t you?
I’m told it’s a cultural thing, but I don’t believe it. I think the anime guys are in cahoots with the TV-makers. Why do you think so many brands come from Japan?
SPOILER WARNING FOR:
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
WOLF’S RAIN
SAIYUKI
and
WEISS KREUZ
I hope that’s sufficient.
Now. After fifty-one episodes of Edward and Alphonse Elric devoted to each other, Fullmetal Alchemist ends with the brothers SEPARATED. In different universes, no less!! Al has lost his memory of the last five years, and has no clue where Ed went. Ed knows where he is and where Al is, but he can’t use alchemy! And that’s the end???? (okay, there’s a movie that supposedly helps. But still!!)
Wolf’s Rain–thirty shows, including the OVAs. To end with the wolves right back where they started–with all the work and pain and heartache to do over again.
Saiyuki–the whole show is about their journey to the west. But then it gets sidetracked by Homura, and then–after fifty episodes–it ends with Homura, and all the other stuff is (I would guess) left to the sequels.
Weiss Kreuz–don’t even get me started. NOBODY in that show gets a happy ending, though they try to make it look that way.
*sigh*Â It occurs to me that my love of anime has its drawbacks.