Top 130 Anime: Endings.

The Fairy Tail anime is ending this March, even though the manga has every intention of continuing.  As such, Fairy Tail has become yet another good anime without a proper ending.  To illustrate how grave this situation is, I will give a * icon to every series that didn't properly cover its source material or end at a satisfactory point with all questions answered:

1. Pretty Cure (2004-2013+) *
2. Clannad (2007-2009) *
3. One Piece (1999-2013+) *
4. Code Geass (2006-2013+) *
5. Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha/Triangle Hearts (2000-2012) *
6. Fairy Tail (2009-2013+) *
7. Naruto (2002-2013+) *
8. K-On! (2009-2011) *

9. Seikai no Monshou/Senki/Danshou (1999-2005) *
10. Dragonball (1986-2013+) *
11. Higurashi/Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (2006-2013+) *
12. Kanon (2002-2007)
13. Da Capo (2003-2013+) *
14. To Aru Majutsu no Index/Kagaku no Railgun (2008-2013+) *

15. Katanagatari (2010)
16. Bakuman (2010-2013+) *
17. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011-2013+) *

18. Angel Beats (2010) *
19. Full Metal Panic! (2002-2006) *

20. Haruhi Suzumiya (2006-2010) *

21. The Idolm@ster (2007-2013+) *
22. The World God Only Knows (2010-2013+) *
23. Hayate no Gotoku (2007-2013+) *
24. Saki (2009-2013+) *
25. Kobato (2009-2012) *

26. Working! (2010-2012) *

27. Shin Sekai Yori (2012-2013+) *
28. Toradora! (2008-2011) *
29. Sora no Woto (2010) *

30. Record of Lodoss War (1990-1998) *

31. Galaxy Angel (2001-2006) *
32. Major (2004-2012) *

33. Basilisk (2005)
34. Inuyasha (2000-2010) *
35. Ranma 1/2 (1989-2008) *
36. Sailor Moon (1992-2013+) *
37. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007-2009)

38. Hanasaku Iroha (2011-2013+) *

39. Air (2005)
40. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (2010-2012) *

41. Ore no Immouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (2010-2013+)*

42. Boku ha Tomodachi ga Sukunai (2011-2013+) *

43. Little Busters (2012-2013+) *

44. Bake-(etc)-monogatari (2009-2013+) *

45. Prince of Tennis (2001-2012) *
46. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
47. Vandread (2000-2001)

48. AKB0048 (2012-2013+) *

49. Papa no Iukoto wo Kikinasai (2012+) *

50. Love live (2010-2013+) *

51. Rurouni Kenshin (1996-2012) *
52. Uuchuu no Stellvia (2003)
53. Utawarerumono (2006-2010)

54. Hunter x Hunter (1999-2013+) *
55. Ef (2007-2008)

56. Fate/Stay/Etc (2006-2013+) *

57. Cowboy Bebop (1998-2001)
58. Angelic Layer (2001)

59. Bleach (2004-2012) *
60. Strike Witches (2007-2012) *
61. 12 Kingdoms (2002-2003) *
62. Summer Wars (2009)

63. Nichijou (2011-2012) *
64. Girls und Panzer (2012-2013+) *

65. Sword Art Online (2012) *

66. Evangelion (1995-2013+) *

67. Claymore (2007) *

68. Macross (1982-2012) *

69. Sora no Otoshimono (2009-2012+) *
70. Card Captor Sakura/Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (1998-2009) *
71. Mononoke Hime (1997)

72. Berserk (1997-2013) *

73. Usagi Drop (2011-2012) *

74. Shakugan no Shana (2005-2012)

75. Amagami SS (2010-2012)

76. Valkyria Chronicles (2009-2011) *

77. Samurai Champloo (2004-2005)

78. Battle Athletes (1997-1998)

79. Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (2011-2013+) *
80. Martian Successor Nadesico (1996-1998)
81. Natsuiro Kiseki (2012)

82. Hyouka (2012-2013) *

83. To Heart (1999-2012)

84. Shinryaku! Ika Musume (2010-2013+) *

85. Vividred Operation (2013+) *

86. Break Blade (2010-2011) *
87. Kimi ni Todoke (2009-2011) *
88. Spice and Wolf (2008-2009) *
89. Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka (2008-2009) * 
90. Azumanga Daioh (2002)
91. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
92. Scrapped Princess (2003)
93. Steins;Gate (2011-2013+) *
94. Hikaru no Go (2001-2004) *

95. Seitokai no Ichizon (2009-2012)
96. Tamayura (2010-2013+) *

97. Baccano (2007-2008) *
98. High School of the Dead (2010-2011) *
99. Tari Tari (2012)

100. Yuru Yuri (2011-2012) *

101. Spirited Away (2001)

102. Lucky Star (2007-2008) *

103. Ginga E Kickoff (2012-2013)

104. Ghost in the Shell (1995-2011+) *

105. Zero no Tsukaima (2006-2012) *

106. Flame of Recca (1997-1998) *

107. Chihayafuru (2011-2013+) *

108. Bastard! (1992) *

109. Gunbuster (1988-2012)
110. Shamanic Princess (1996-1998)

111. Soul Eater (2008-2009) *
112. Moshidora (2011)

113. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) *

114. Gosick (2011)
115. Akira (1988)

116. Guyver (1986-2006) *

117. Fatal Fury (1992-1994) *

118. School Days (2007-2008)

119. Death Note (2006-2008)

120. Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (2009)

121. Alien Nine (2001-2002) *

122. History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi (2006-2012) *

123. Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru!  (2013+) *

124. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

125. RG Veda (1991-1992) *

126. Tears to Tiara (2009)

127. Yu Yu Hakusho (1992-1995)

128. Saint Tail (1995-1996)

129. Gundam (1979-2013+) *

130. Trigun (1998-2010)

As you can see, only 37 of the top 130 series have proper endings.  A large number of these shows are low ranking, short series or movies.  Actual long series with genuine endings are an endangered species.  Naturally, any series that is still being expanded upon is not 'over' yet, so even series like Dragonball cannot be considered done.  The only high ranked, completed series in anime are Kanon, Katanagatari, Basilisk, Tengen Toppa Gurrrenn Lagann, and Air.  What a miserable offering from such a vast table!

This is anime's biggest flaw, which surpasses all the others.  Most people complain about anime being too sexual, too unrealistic, too slow, too naive, etc.  Even big fans of anime tend to heap nothing but scorn on anime as an art form in general, insisting that some of the best and most popular series ever made are trash.  However, all of their complaints are baseless and stupid.  There's nothing wrong with drawing pretty girls -- just like there's nothing wrong with Greek sculptures -- it's art and it's beautiful art and it's unimaginable to neglect such a great resource when it's so readily available just to satisfy some puritans from the dark ages.  As for unrealistic, stories are designed to be unrealistic, otherwise we would be satisfied living real lives and would never consult fantasy/fiction in the first place.  As for slow, people just need to extend their attention spans and learn to enjoy the journey.  There are plenty of good things in every scene, and it never hurts to see them all instead of rushing on to the next car chase or explosion.  As for being cheerful, happy, optimistic and energetic when really everyone should be cheating on each other, cursing each other out, and then killing each other with knives -- sorry, but consult the previous point --> we seek out stories that are better than reality precisely because we don't like the reality we're in.  If we already liked reality fiction would be pointless.  There's nothing wrong with watching cheerful anime that makes you feel light and fuzzy instead of yet another downer based on 'real people.'

But there is one complaint that is strangely missing from the anti-anime cohort, which is the only genuine problem in the first place --  So long as anime is based off of other sources for the sake of promoting said outside sources, it will never properly extend all the way to the source's ending -- And even when the anime is an original for television idea, so long as it keeps making sequels (in other media or as a new season of anime), or so long as it leaves room for sequels by not solving all the loose ends of the plot, it can't be said to be over either.

Anime needs to do one of three things -- start relying on a model where dvd/bd sales make a profit on their own, making the anime a stand-alone industry without need of assistance from others, and without the need to promote anything else but themselves.  Or, seek public assistance from the state to fund the continuation of series that no longer make a profit under the justification of being a cultural treasure, just like publicly funded museums.  Or, ask for enough money upfront from consumers that their project will definitely make a profit from start to finish, and only begin a project once an ending is possible to be made and said funding for the entire series has been raised.

The status quo, where basically every series, no matter how good, just trails off into oblivion, is completely unacceptable.  Anime will never realize its full potential as the best art form possible until it scuttles this desire to quit midway for good.  Books have endings.  Movies have endings.  Sports games have endings when the clock reaches zero.  Video games have endings.  Generally, even manga series have endings.  The only art form without an ending in this world is anime.  It has stupendous length, gorgeous colors, great voice actors, perfect musical scores, the best plots, the most appealing special effects, and the prettiest pictures -- but without any resolutions, it will never amount to anything.