AAA'07 Awards - Ending Sequence

Ah, the closing. Once you're thrown some surprises in the plot, you're served an animation sequence to cool you down. This is where the creators take advantage to divert the anime into a whole new direction. A serious anime could have a funny and silly ending. In short, this is where the creators asked themselves "what if?".

The best five below were selected based on its sense of suitability of music and animation, and of course, how fun it was to watch it over and over again. Here they are, starting from number 5:

(I apologize if the animation sequence has subtitles. Whenever possible, I'll find one that doesn't have any.)





Song: Kiss ~ Kaerimichi no Love Song by Tegomass

I heard ya, "Hey it's just two people walking with a changing background!"

Lovely Complex is about best friends taking it to the next level (moreover, the girl is damn tall and the guy is damn short). As expected, awkward moments occur, since they're best when they're a comedy duo rather than a couple. After all that hustle bustle, a smooth stroll of the two indicates how close and comfortable they are with one another, regardless of their relationship. That works for me :)

The song is very suitable and is great on its own, topping the Japanese charts for around 3 weeks. Click here to see the MTV..





Song: Danzai no Hana ~ Guilty Sky by Kosaka Riyu

Claymore is one of those serious animes that I really enjoyed this year. This show tells a story of a gang called Claymore, who are guns hired to defeat demons (for loads of money). The ending is very suitable because it successfully depicts the cold and solemn lives of a Claymore. The animation is rich, thanks to the mad skillz of Madhouse Studios.

The song might be serious, but the singer acts kinda cute, especially in her interview video. Click here to see the MTV.





Song: Dango Daikazoku by Chata

Clannad is one of the rare visual novels that, despite being packed full of moe girls, focuses mostly on family values (clannad means family in Irish). The anime itself is innocent on the surface but dark in the setting, similar to other Key visual novels like Kanon and Air. For this ending, I insist on showing the subtitled version, as the lyrics of this storybook song is meaningful. What I love about it is its childlike take on how nice it would be to have a family.

The storybook artwork is itself a suitable diversion and a disguise for dark moments to come. You can expect that when the final dark super family crisis plot unveils, this song will be played in the background, resulting in many shedding their manly tears. Congrats to Kyoto Animation for yet another great animation sequence.





Song: Rocket by Polysics

Moyashimon, an anime about a boy who can see bacteria and microbes as small talking characters. Cute, bizarre, quirky. Exactly why this ending is super fitting with the entire theme. The ending, and the whole anime in general, gives that same feeling as when you see Katamari Damacy or Little Big Planet. I just love the three-dimensional take on the art direction, providing a new insight into the cute little yeast microbes.

Just like the art direction, the song itself is also bizarre and quirky. It's like as if the microbes are singing! The band is no stranger to anisongs. Polysics also sung the hit song You-You-You for Keroro. They are also a crazy bunch of unique characters as well. Click here to see the nutty MTV.





Song: 100 miles ~ Niji o Oikakete by Santara

Madhouse has done it again! Flat quirky animation, with a unique art direction fitting for an anime that focuses on the Japanese "new-age" edo era. Oh! Edo Rocket is about a girl who tries to persuade a boy to invent fireworks that could send her to the moon. With a crazy plot like that, and with Madhouse in the works, you would expect an ending that's equally nuts. What we're served with, rather than just pure craze, is a unique blend of bizarro and beauty. Epic win :)

I really love the song, and for some unknown reason it goes really well with the animation sequence. You should really watch the MTV, the animation there is superb as well, though it could be repetitive at times. Click here to see the MTV.

And there you have it, my favourite anime ending sequences of 2007! Stay tuned!