The Greatest Anime Ending Ever Tournament

[gunswordfist]

It is. I also think it's pretty unique. I remember having a conversation in middle school wondering if DBz was anime or not since it looked so different from others lol.

[LumRanmaYasha]

Results:

Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods - "Cha-La Head Cha-La [FLOW rendition]" - 13
Urusei Yatsura 4: Lum the Forever - "Melancholy no Kiseki" - 9
Yu Yu Hakusho - "Neverending Homework [english dub]" - 16
Samurai Champloo - "Song of Four Seasons" - 12

"Neverending Homework" and "Cha-La Head Cha-La" move on to the finals!

Now, which two of these four will join them?

Semi-Finals: Match 2

1. Cowboy Bebop - "Blue" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIG7E2_iAYk (skip to 00:45)
2. Cowboy Bebop - "The Real Folk Blues" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llgFc3OUmhE
3. Hunter X Hunter (2011) - "Hunting For Your Dream" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05nwhQSgaG4
4. FLCL - "Ride on Shooting Star" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTtOUlhL0WQ

My Picks:

"Blue" - You know, I never paid much attention to this ED before this competition, but after watching it multiple times I've grown increasingly fonder and fonder of it. The song matches the tone of the ending of the series perfectly with spot-on lyrics, describing Spike "ascending" after his death, and I gotta love how perfectly the song is timed to the movement of the pan up towards the sky, which becomes an increasingly darker shade of blue before finally lifting up into space, and then as the song draws to a close everything slows down, fades back to Spike, and closes out (I like to interpret that as the moment Spike finally passed away). It's a great combination of meaningful and moving music and visuals, and is probably the best series finale ED for any anime I've seen.

"Ride on Shooting Star" - Odd, irreverent, and unique just like the show itself. FLCL may not have had an opening thing, but it has one heck of an ED, with a song that sticks in your memory with it's catchiness, and pumps me up after watching the show rather than winding me down like most EDs try to. I've also always liked the stop-motion picture style with the scooter as it goes around down and mixing it in with random animated cuts of Haruko. It's a memorable, iconic ED that perfectly fits FLCL and is one of the things I most associate with it.

"The Real Folk Blues" - Like how "Tank!" is THE anime OP, "Real Folk Blues" is THE anime ED. Beyond the excellent and appropriate music, it tells the story of Spike's past with Vicious and Julia and how it soured as time went along. Like, "Tank" in regards to OPs, RFB about as perfect as an ED can get, and speaks to the strength of the competition in this match that I prefer the two others I've ranked above it in this match at this time.

"Hunting For Your Dream" - Great song and great visuals making for a great closer to some of the series' finest episodes. Certainly, it is HXH's best ED, though I might say the second version of "Hyori Ittai" used for the Chairman Election arc is my favorite. Regardless, it's a solid ED, and among the best to come out in recent years.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Same as Cartoon X.

I have a soft spot for Shooting Star mainly because of my love of alternative rock music. The visuals are alright, but it's the song I like a lot.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

Well, this round us going to break my spirit for sure....

Hunting For Your Dream
The Real Folk Blues
Blue
Ride on Shooting Star

Also, I'm really glad to see a YYH ED moving onto the final round. It totally makes up for Smile Bomb getting snubbed in the greatest anime opening tournament's semi-finals.

[gunswordfist]

Hunting For Your Dream - Whoa, I didn't think this would make it that far. The music gets better every time I hear it. I practically want to start singing it outloud. Also, Just Awake is the best HXH ED.
Blue - ...I have seriously forgotten how great Cowboy Bebop's ending is. I believe I always kind of tuned it out after the chaos that was the last battle. I straight up like it more than Real Folk Blues. That was some soulful singing.
Ride On Shooting Star - So much nostalgia here. as used to be great every night of the week...
The Real Folk Blues - I just really paid attention to it being about Vicious, Julia and Spike. I wonder if there would be enough material for them to have a movie about their pasts.

[Foggle]

Opposite of GSF.

[gunswordfist]

CX, he's clearly joking. Ignore his vote.

[LumRanmaYasha]

Unless I get clarification from him otherwise, I'll count it. 

[Lord Il]

Same as CX.


I had an especially tough time fitting the two Cowboy Bebop songs where I wanted them. But no matter what, "Ride on Shooting Star" needed to be rated relatively high on my list.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Did you ever notice at the end of Blue right before it cuts back to Spike to show his body, there's one star flickering near the top of the screen that vanishes as the screen turns white? I think that's supposed to be the point at which he has ascended.

[Lord Il]

Never noticed until you mentioned it.
So subtle, but there it is. Brilliant!

[gunswordfist]

Same as ek except flip Real Folks and Blue.

[VLordGTZ]

Same as CX

[gunswordfist]

Same as CX

[LumRanmaYasha]

Results:

Cowboy Bebop - "Blue" - 23
Cowboy Bebop - "The Real Folk Blues" - 17
Hunter X Hunter (2011) - "Hunting For Your Dream" - 13
FLCL - "Ride on Shooting Star" - 17

"The Real Folk Blues" and "Ride on Shooting Star" are tied. You guys know what to do.