I’m sure you’ve been there.
You’re watching your favorite Anime, and then… it ends.
The credits roll, and you’re left wondering what happened.
You were so invested in the characters and their journeys. You saw how they struggled with their emotions, and you felt their pain as if it were your own.
But then it was over, and you felt empty—like there’s a hole where your heart used to be. It’s not just a feeling of loss; it’s also one of grief for what could have been if only those characters had survived.
That’s post-Anime depression!
What is an Anime Syndrome?
Being a fan of Anime, you’ve probably noticed that some people become obsessed with their favorite characters, a little too much. Most often, they’ll wear accessories or clothing with their favorite character’s picture or carry items related to them (like body pillows, key chains, etc).
Anime syndrome is an unhealthy obsession with Kawai culture and its elements that cause you to imitate the characters. Anime fans make up a quarter of the overall online population and their interests change both positively and negatively.
Anime syndrome is a mental disorder that affects people who are obsessed with Japanese culture and its elements. They adopt the mannerisms of characters from Anime series, such as Naruto or Fullmetal Alchemist.
They often spend hours per day on Anime forums, blogs, and other sites. They also buy merchandise and collectible items related to their favorite shows.
Anime syndrome is not a new concept. It has been around for several years, but it seems to be growing in popularity as more people become obsessed with Japanese culture and its elements.
In short, Anime syndrome is a condition that affects your physical appearance. It’s a condition caused by watching too much Anime and acting like Anime characters.
The cause of this condition is the excessive use of Anime characters as an identity and fashion accessory.
What is Post-Anime Depression?
Post-Anime depression is the feeling of loss and grief after finishing an Anime. When an Anime ends, it can be hard to deal with. You might feel like you’ve lost something important or like your world has been shattered.
You might feel confused and unsure about what’s next for you. Or you might feel like you’re still in the middle of something, even though the Anime is finished.
It can be caused by some factors, including:
- The ending of a show you love
- A character’s death
- A traumatic event that happens in the show that makes you feel like it’s over
- The frequency at which you watch the Anime
In short, PADs or post-Anime depression is a part of an Otaku’s life. It’s a normal part of the process of watching Anime, but it can be difficult to understand.
Why do you feel melancholy after finishing an anime?
It’s like saying farewell to a cherished friend. You’ve spent some time with them, getting to know their dreams and hopes, witnessing their hardships, and watching them achieve their goals.
It was like a voyage, and you were there to see their highs and lows. It almost has a melancholy feel to it in the end. This is for the 12-24 episode animation. It’s purely Stockholm syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder in anime like Naruto and One Piece.
How do you deal with post-animal depression?
PADS is a very real thing in the world of otaku. Do you know that empty sensation you get after finishing an anime? The inevitable sadness and nostalgia that follows almost every anime?
PADS, according to the “official” Urban Dictionary, is…
“Depression felt after finishing a series of anime. For short, PADS.”
If you are fairly certain that you have PADS, some of these PADS recovery treatments may be beneficial!
- Watch another anime
- Write about it
- Read about it
- Play it
How do you get over the end of Anime?
Sometimes an Anime character or a storyline connects with you on a different level. You relate to the characters and understand their feelings. You feel peace and fulfillment in watching every episode until that anime finally comes to an end.
If you are hung up on the ending of the last Anime you watched and feeling the blues then you might be suffering from post-Anime depression syndrome. Getting over PADS is difficult but not impossible! Here are some tips on how you can get over the end of Anime:
Tip#1: Watch another Anime!
This may sound dumb but watching something else can divert your mind from the last one you watched.
The reason behind this is that distracting yourself with another anime will make you forget just how awful the ending of the previous one felt. However, you may get trapped in the vicious cycle of PADS all over again when this Anime ends.
Reminds me of the time when I was suffering from PADS after watching Tokyo Ghoul and decided to watch Noragami for fun but it actually backfired and I was gloomy for almost a week straight!
Tip#2: Pen down your thoughts about it.
Another way to pull yourself out of this turmoil is by penning down your feelings about that Anime. Just write whatever you think about the story, your favorite character, and the grief attached to its ending.
It’s like venting out but in an elegant manner.
You can write about:
- Plot synopsis.
- Dissecting every element of the Anime you finished.
- Creating Fanfiction.
- Writing to the creators about how good or bad the Anime was.
- Writing about why you like the Anime, and so on.
- You can write about all of your favorite Anime quotations too.
Tip#3: Read about it
If you do not have the energy to write or are too lazy to type or hold a pen (a side-effect of PADS). Then reading is the cure to your problem.
You can read people’s reactions to the Anime, fanfictions, and even Reddit or Quora threads to make yourself feel better.
Tip#4: Play some melody
This is more applicable to musicians, but after a depressing Anime, take out your violin and play the opening and ending themes. It somehow makes my heart feel better.
Another way to play it would be to buy a video game based on or comparable to the Anime you just finished (if it exists). Naruto, for example, has a wide range of video games!
Tip#5: Repeat the cycle
Just rewatch it if it cannot be helped.
If the Anime you just completed isn’t too long (like Naruto), re-watching it might be beneficial. According to the hypothesis:
1. You get to appreciate the anime in all of its grandeur and even catch up on certain nuances you missed the first time
2. You are obsessed with re-watching the Anime
3. It may get so repetitive that you end up regretting watching the anime instead!
Why is it so sad when an Anime ends?
When you end an Anime, you may feel sad. If you were too emotionally invested in the series you will make it a part of your life.
If you are moved to tears by an Anime, it may be because something in the tale struck a chord with you. It’s possible that the narrative it was displaying was related to anything you’ve gone through before.
Some circumstances may contribute to this unhappiness. Not just because the Anime you liked ended, but also because it may have had an unhappy conclusion or because a narrative that emerged in it moved you.
Along with that, it might happen because you become emotionally attached to the Anime or one of its characters.
Hence, ending an Anime is like bidding farewell to a cherished friend. You’ve spent some time with them, getting to know their aspirations and hopes, experiencing their hardships, and watching them achieve their goals.
It was like a voyage, and you were there to see their highs and lows. It almost has a melancholy feel to it in the end.
Personal advice
The key is to remember that it’s just a show. Life will go on and so will Anime; there’s plenty more where that came from, so why not try out something new outside of your preferred genre or style?
Go to new places in the world of Anime to find new favorites. Just doing that can shake you up a bit and hopefully give you the spark to want to check out some more Anime.
Some Recommendations to get over PADS
| Some Binge-Worthy Recommendations | Duration/ Seasons/ episodes | IMDb rating |
| Lupin The Third: The Castle of Cagliostro | 1h 50m | 7.6/10 |
| Aggretsuko (Aggressive Retsuko) | 4 Seasons | 8.2/10 |
| Cells At Work | 2 Seasons | 7.5/10 |
| The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. | 2 Seasons | 8.4/10 |
| Maid-Sama! | 26 episodes + 1 OVA | 7.9/10 |
| Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto (Sakamoto Desu Ka) | 13 episodes | 7.2/10 |
| Gintama | 9 seasons | 8.7/10 |
Conclusion
- It’s important to remember that getting over the end of an anime won’t be easy, even if you’ve seen plenty of endings.
- PADS is a part of life for Otaku worldwide; it’s there for us when we need it and will help us on our way to new experiences.
- There are things we can do to keep our minds in check and avoid falling into a deep depression.