Manga Monday (4) Anime's that ended all too soon

For those of you new to Manga Monday or don't really remember when I started this last year, Manga Monday is a blog feature that exists alongside Book to Movie Monday where I talk about Anime, Manga's, Graphic Novels and Comics. This feature will sort of be a catch all for all of the above. Some weeks I might just showcase a title, others I might talk about an artist or even (least here's hoping) feature an interview or two. We'll just sort of roll with the punches together. Sound good? I think so!

This week I wanted to talk about Anime's that ended before their full story could be told whether caused by creative differences or because the Manga was not yet finished by the end of the Anime's run. Now obviously this a truncated list to ones I enjoyed or followed but feel free to share ones I might have missed below.

1.) Vampire Knight created by Matsuri Hino
Original Air Dates: Apr 8, 2008 to Jul 1, 2008
Total Number of Episodes: 13
Season 2 Air Dates: October 7, 2008 to December 30, 2008
Total Number of Episodes: 13

Plot:  A girl name Yuki's is attacked by a rogue vampire one snowy winters eve.  She is rescued by a pureblood vampire named  Kaname Kuran. Yuki is taken to Cross Academy and adopted by its Headmaster Kaien Cross. Yuki comes to learn that Cross Academy is split into two classes, the Day Class which consists of humans and the Night Class which consists of vampires.

This Anime is considered unfinished by many because the series didn't officially wrap until 2013 leaving a huge part of the story unadapted. Though unsatisfying for many fans, the story definitely is worth a watch. You can check this series out and stream it for free (both subbed or subtitled) over @Viz Media's Neon Alley.


2.) Deadman Wonderland created by Jinsei Kataoka and illustrated by Kazuma Kondou
Original Air Dates: April 17, 2011 – July 3, 2011
Total Number of Episodes: 12

Deadman Wonderland © Manglobe/Funimation

Plot: Deadman Wonderland is a massive theme park-like facility that gathers prisoners from all over Japan to work within it. It's operator  Tsunenaga Tamaki raises money for the revival of the destroyed metropolis after the great Tokyo Earthquake levels most of the city. Unbeknownst to the general population and the tourists that visit daily, most of the prison's attractions involve cruel games of survival where many inmates lose their lives or are maimed for the entertainment of an oblivious public. The prison's guard staff is also granted autonomy over how to punish the prisoners, which often results in bloodshed. Middle school student Ganta Igarashi is the sole survivor of a great classroom massacre. Blamed for something he didn't do, he is sent to the privatized prison theme park to pay for his crimes.

This anime is considered unfinished because it ended on a huge cliffhanger. Cliffhangers aren't so bad when you have another season coming but sadly this one did not.  Much of the story was also rushed with either whole Chapters from the Manga being excluded or Characters being fused into one just so they could skip over those plot points. This led to many fans being disappointed in how it was translated from page to screen. If you have Hulu you can stream Deadman Wonderland by clicking here .

3.) Fruits Basket created by Natsuki Takaya
Original Air Dates: July 5, 2001 to December 27, 2001
Total Number of Episodes: 26

Fruits Basket © Studio Deen /Funimation

Plot: The series tells the story of Tohru Honda, an orphan girl who after fleeing her grandfathers house meets Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure Sohma and begins living with them. Through chance she learns that twelve members of the Sohma family are possessed by the animals of the Chinese zodiac and are cursed to turn into their animal forms when they are weak, stressed, or when they are embraced by anyone of the opposite sex that is not possessed by a zodiacal spirit. Tohru vows to break the curse and help her new friends in any way she can.

This anime is considered unfinished because of creative differences between manga creator Natsuki Takaya and Studio Deen the people responsible for the anime's production. It's been alleged that Natsuki refused to continue writing the story while Studio Deen held the animation rights after butting heads with the anime director on more than once occasion. While the anime faithfully adapts most of the characters from the manga series fans argued that many plot points were rushed or changed and since the manga was ongoing during the anime's production the curse is not lifted by the end of the anime's run. Mainly because the anime only covers the first half of the series and ends at its midway point. You can watch Fruits Basket (both subbed or subtitled) over on Hulu by clicking here.

4.) Inuyasha created by Rumiko Takahashi
Original Air Dates: October 16, 2000- September 13, 2004
Total Number of Episodes: 167
The Final Act (Season 7)
Original Air Dates: October 3, 2009 - March 29, 2010
Total Number of Episodes: 26

Plot: The series follows Kagome Higurashi, a 15-year-old High School girl from Tokyo who is transported to the Sengoku period after falling into a well located in her family shrine.  There she meets the half-dog, half-human demon named Inuyasha. When a monster from that era tries to take the magical Shikon Jewel embodied in Kagome, she accidentally shatters it dispersing the pieces across Japan. Inuyasha and Kagome start traveling together to recover the Jewel shards before the powerful demon Naraku finds them.

OK, here's the deal, this Anime is technically finished but for many fans (ie my personal opinion on the matter) The Final Act came too late. Not only did viewers have to wait 5 years for a conclusion to the story on screen but by the time it came around many of the original English dubbed cast ended up being replaced and those that remained had a hard time recapturing the original tone of voice used for their characters. Another issue was that the final chapters felt condensed sometimes severely with whole chapters moving by in just mere minutes. The ending though that's what was frustrating. After all the trials and tribulations she goes through and it boils down to an act of courage destroying the big bad.I get the message the story was sending but what a waste of a series but hey, at least she gets the guy right?! Grrr I say, grrr indeed. I will say though that the animation looked spectacular and I'm glad they didn't change its style. You can check this series out and stream the first 167 for free (both subbed or subtitled) over @Viz Media's Neon Alley . You can watch The Final Act over on Hulu by clicking here.

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Well I guess that's about it for this week.

Have you watched any of these?

Which Anime's do you feel ended too soon?

Let me know in the comments below what you'd like me to cover in the next couple of weeks and also what you're reading or watching currently (if anything). I could use some recommendations!