Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. Well guys it’s time for our final look at 2021 by naming the top 11 endings from that year. Surprisingly there were a lot of good endings last year. I found myself liking the endings more than the openings which given what we heard last week says a lot. I’m Nitsuj and these are the top 11 endings of 2021.
#12. Violet from Holomyth Season 1
Before getting into the list I wanted to give an honorable mention to eufrik who created a fanmade video of Holomyth if they had an anime. The song is Violet by Ninomae Ina’nis. The song has great lore to Ina’s character, it’s sung beautifully and there’s this raw powerful emotion behind the song that almost brings a tear to my eye. The animation used in the ending is great. It really does a good job capturing Holomyth at their best. I love the shout outs to their collaborations done in their first year as well as the original content. If Holomyth ever did get an anime I could definitely see this song and animation being used. Good work eufrik. Definitely check out their channel and support them.
#11. Shikizakura from Shikizakura
Full: https://youtu.be/A69TVNi3Wi4
A surprising banger for an ending. I love the way this song starts off slow while keeping that hypnotic beat playing. It’s like someone reflecting on a thought or sleeping before they return to reality and get ready to move. Every time I listen I just keep imagining myself walking down a street without a care in the world and that perfectly describes this. There’s not a care in the world and you’re just enjoying yourself all while living in the moment.
#10. Tristar from Muv-Luv Alternative
Full: https://youtu.be/BLBuScXhh4U
So STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION has been on a roll as of lately with their songs. This being one of them. The vibes of this song remind me of the 80s/90s it’s so addicting to hear. I seriously found myself dancing in my seat when I first heard it. While the song starts to contrast with the anime in later episodes from what I’ve heard this song is still catchy as hell to listen to. Keep up the good work STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION. Speaking of them.
#9. Storyseeker from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime S2
Full: https://youtu.be/40O5aWCzUbE
STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION strikes again with another banger of an ending for everyone’s favorite slime. This is one of those songs you play in your car while driving down the highway or working out. It gets you pumped and reminds you that no matter how dire things can get and how you’re not sure if something is going to work out or not, all you have to do is keep moving forward and work hard to achieve the results you want. Now get out there and write your story.
#8. Koko De Iki Wo Shite from Tokyo Revengers
Full: https://youtu.be/btWmxhtnjCM
Damn, why were there so many bangers for endings? The smooth combination of jazz and rock in this song is amazing along with the vocals which keep your attention throughout the whole song. The piano and drums in this song are out of this world. I love it when these two instruments work in harmony with each other. I’ve heard people prefer the second ending over this one but in my opinion this ending is the better of the two as it focuses on the characters more and blends two styles of music perfectly.
#7. Yafuwa Asterisk from Jaku-Chara Tomozaki-kun
Full: https://youtu.be/PomsMwiBgsw
We finally get a song that while it’s not a banger it’s a song that’s fitting for an anime like this and is still addicting to listen to. Every time I hear the song I just feel all warm and fluffy inside. It’s a very underrated song that a lot of people didn’t talk about but I think it’s a really good song that deserves a good listening. While I didn’t really get into the anime this ending was very good and I’m sure it will touch your heart after you listen to it.
#6. Avid from 86
Full: https://youtu.be/u0CqY27IFyo
Sad, sober, slow and just all around brilliant to listen to. This song really was perfect for the anime as it allows the watchers to take in everything they just saw. Pain, loss, determination, and the will to live are all conveyed in this song. We smile because the anime is great and we cry because the anime is sad and knows when and how to tug at your heartstrings. Great ending for a great anime.
#5. Missing Promise from Higurashi Sotsu
Full: https://youtu.be/Co-yIy0V9_E
This was an ending I never really appreciated when I first heard it, but when I went to listen to it I realize just how amazing this song is. This song perfectly captures the character and story of Satoko’s journey. What she wants, what she’s trying to do, and how she feels betrayed by the person she cherishes the most and how she’s prepared to sacrifice everything to be with her. Every time I hear this song I’m just imagining Satoko singing this on a stage with so much passion. Nobody is there to hear the song except for herself and only herself because this song is meant for no one but her. I don’t know if the Higurashi series will continue after this anime but if this is the final ending then it was a good song for the show to go out on.
#4. Yasashii Suisei from Beastars S2
Full: https://youtu.be/cgibHyOawJY
Yeah, you all knew this song was coming. When this song first came out everyone was talking about it. It was so good. The song perfectly captures the relationship between Louis and Ibuki. Throughout the series we see Louis hide behind this mask and persona that he’s created to fool everyone around him as well as himself into believing that he’s this untouchable herbivore. However, Ibuki sees Louis for who he really is and serves as an outlet for Louis to let his guard down and be himself. This makes his death at the end all the more heartbreaking as Louis lost one of the few people who truly understood him, but in Ibuki’s death Louis discovered just how much his friendship with Legosi means to him. Looking back, the anime may have fumbled up their relationship but this ending more than makes up for it and shows just how special their relationship with each other was.
#3. Subversive from I’m Standing on 1,000,000 Lives S2
Full: https://youtu.be/JcwzXJKuQWo
Holy shit the bangers return. The vibe in this ending is amazing. I feel like I just got transported back to the 90s. The vibes of this song reminds me of Mystic Eyes from Escaflowne. One of my regrets from the past was not including the first ending on last year’s list. It was really good and I didn’t think anything could top it, but they proved me wrong with this banger of an ending that lives up to its name in establishing one hell of a vibe that changes the status quo of anime endings.
#2. Milk Tea from Lupin the Third Part VI
Full: https://youtu.be/smZk_LUQnnE
Well they finally managed to top Love Squall. This is my new favorite ending from the Lupin series. The song does a good job capturing the feeling of London and France. The song just fits so perfectly within the Lupin franchise that I’m surprised it’s taken them this long to include it. A lot of people thought this was Fujiko’s VA singing, but no, this is a different person entirely. However, the way she sings the song and lyrics match up perfectly with Fujiko’s character that I’m hoping the VA does a cover on this song sometime in the future. A beautiful song that’s sure to become a classic just like the anime.
And number one. . .
#1. Dream On from Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan
Full: https://youtu.be/EfQoygbY0FQ
How do you make your ending an instant hit? Get Mamoru Miyano to sing. Seriously, Mamoru just kills it here and this is a song you find yourself vibing out to whenever you hear it. The lyrics are simple and the instrumental is great. Mamoru sings the song with so much passion and feeling that the lyrics hit deep. This song and anime is for every adult out there who has ever felt beaten up by life. The song doesn’t try to defend life, but instead tells you to keep on living and not give up. Trust me when I say this, life sucks at times. Chances are what you wanted to do as a kid won’t come to fruition once you reach adulthood. You won’t get that dream job you’ve always wanted and you’ll find yourself constantly facing the hardships of life and that’s alright. It’s okay to feel frustrated, it’s okay to feel sad, but don’t ever throw in the towel. Keep on moving and keep on living life the way you feel is right and you’ll find happiness. Even though things don’t go the way you planned doesn’t mean you still can’t find happiness.
And that’s my list. That I leave any endings out. Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.