The best anime episodes leave viewers hungry for the next one. To build up that sense of anticipation, many episodes incorporate cliffhangers into their endings, adding a greater punch to the episode's events.
Throwing twists into a story just for shock value does nothing to enrich the episode or overall anime. The best cliffhangers masterfully walk a thin line and shock the viewers without pulling something from out of left field. By following up on subtle clues planted earlier on, the greatest anime cliffhangers feel both sudden and fitting all at once.
Updated on April 25th, 2023 by Casey Coates: This list has been updated to reflect CBR's current publishing style and to add anime openings for each entry.
10 "1.28" (Death Note)
Season 1, Episode 36
Death Note is an incredibly tense series all the way through, but the tension reaches its peak during Episode 36, the second-to-last episode of the series. Light tasks Mikami with writing down all the detectives' names in the Death Note, and just as Light announces that he's won, the episode ends.
Without another episode to debunk Light's claim, Episode 36 leaves viewers wondering if the show's villain will emerge victorious. Light has wormed his way out of several trap dire predicaments in the past. Knowing how cunning and ambitious he is, the possibility of Light winning yet again feels all too possible.
9 "The Volleyball Idiots" (Haikyuu!!)
Season 3, Episode 9
The third season of Haikyuu!! only features a single match, but it's far from boring. Karasuno and Shiratorizawa battle it out during the finals. By the end of the season, the teams are neck and neck, and Episode 9 ends with Hinata spiking the ball.
Everything the third season of Haikyuu!! had been building towards was riding on this match's outcome. Tension was already high since the teams were so evenly skilled. Everyone was playing at their best, making the episode thrilling to watch. To cut off the match so abruptly made the cliffhanger even more memorable.
8 "Gum-Gum Human vs. Fire-Breathing Cyborg!" (One Piece)
Season 8, Episode 10
By the time the Straw Hats reach Water 7 in One Piece, they're a very tight-knit crew. They've risked their lives for each other, which makes it strange when Robin begins distancing herself from her friends. It all comes to a head when the mayor of Water 7, Iceburg, reveals Robin is the one who tried to assassinate him.
One Piece is no stranger to cliffhangers, but the one in "Gum-Gum Human vs. Fire-Breathing Cyborg!" comes at the worst time for fans. Viewers are still reeling over the Going Merry's fate and aren't prepared to learn one of the Straw Hats is a traitor. If One Piece fans weren't already eager for the next episode, the mayor's accusation toward Robin made them even hungrier for the truth.
7 "Pain To The World" (Naruto Shippuden)
Season 8, Episode 11
Pain's destruction of the Leaf Village is one of the most harrowing moments in Naruto Shippuden. Many fan-favorite characters died during the following battle. With the village destroyed, all seemed lost until Naruto suddenly appeared just before the credits rolled.
"Pain to the World" is already memorable for shaking up the viewers' expectations. After witnessing their favorite characters die, fans are hungry for someone to avenge the fallen. By cutting off the episode before Naruto engages Pain in battle, the cliffhanger signals the duel won't be simple; it will be a gripping showdown.
6 "Tragedy of Dawn" (Bleach)
Season 2, Episode 14
While Ichigo is fighting off Soul Reapers during the Soul Society Invasion Arc in Bleach, the rest of the Soul Society grapples with the sudden murder of one of their captains. Thanks to Ichigo and his friends, the Soul Society is left in complete disarray, leaving fans and the characters wondering who's behind all the chaos.
For many fans, the Soul Society Arc is the best point of the series, and that's mainly because of how amazing the story beats are. Additionally, Aizen is a skilled captain, meaning whoever murdered him shouldn't be taken lightly. The cliffhanger is so well executed, that it makes some viewers more concerned over Aizen's murder than Ichigo's battle.
5 "What a Twist!" (My Hero Academia)
Season 3, Episode 7
Season 3 began the fall of hero society in My Hero Academia, so it makes sense the season would have one of the best cliffhangers. When the League of Villains attacks the training camp, everyone is surprised to learn that Bakugo is their target, but no one actually expects them to succeed.
Bakugo's final words to Midoriya are one of the best moments in My Hero Academia, making the cliffhanger even more brutal. Cliffhangers often incorporate mystery, but this one goes a step further by handing the villains a victory. This twist shifts viewers' expectations and makes them fear for Bakugo's fate.
4 "150146" (The Promised Neverland)
Season 1, Episode 12
The first season of The Promised Neverland was an instant hit. Fans were immediately sucked into the story, especially since they gained more and more questions about the world as things were revealed. Unfortunately, The Promised Neverland's second season fell flat for many fans, but the ending for Season 1 is still one of the best in anime.
While most cliffhangers drop shocking revelations into viewers laps, the one in "150146" take a different path. The children acheived their victory and escaped the orphanage. Rather than tease something terrible, the cliffhanger made fans wonder what leaving the orphanage would mean for their favorite characters.
Season 1, Episode 60
The final episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood are full of action. Most fans expected the heroes to succeed with ease, but things change when the sacrifices are captured, including Mustang, who is a potential candidate.
"Eye of Heaven, Gateway of Earth" builds towards the series' finale. Characters are at their peak every battle has increased stakes. That the heroes lose the battle and Hawkeye's life hangs in the balance, leaves fans wondering if their favorite characters will perish. If fans weren't alreayd eager for the next episode, this cliffhanger guarentees their vested interest.
2 "Scream" (Attack On Titan)
Season 2, Episode 12
Nearly every episode of Attack on Titan ends with a cliffhanger, but the most memorable cliffhanger comes at the end of Season 2, during the episode, "Scream." Because the cliffhanger appears after the credits, some fans miss the twist where Mikasa makes her move and attacks Levi.
Since "Scream" was a season finale, it already had plenty to make it memorable. It featured intense battles, character revelations, and more. Adding one more punch, the cliffhanger left viewers with questions that wouldn't be answered until the next season aired almost a year later.
1 "Zero" (Code Geass)
Season 1, Episode 1
When fans talk about the best cliffhangers in anime, Code Geass frequently gets mentioned. When the season ended, Lelouch's identity was revealed to his closest friend, Nunnally's life hung in the balance, and the fate of the Black Knights was up in the air.
The cliffhanger for "Zero" wasn't content with leaving one plot thread dangling, but several. If that wasn't enough to grip fans, the season finale ended with the sound of a gunshot. The intense cliffhanger gave Code Geass fans plenty to ponder while they waited for the next season, and the episode remains just as legandary today.
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