Definition unclear: Gainax Ending

The definition of Gainax Ending is very is not clear.

Definition is different in the ways it's used. Sliding Scale of Endings: "The ending is confusing and full of Mind Screw." Laconic entry: "An ending that is massively different from the rest of the series. Mind Screw is common." Some use it as: "An ending that is not good or bad." or "Ambiguous Ending" Others use it as: "Neutral Ending"

What to do?

Here We Go Again!...

My general understanding of this has always been Mind Screw Ending. I'm not sure where the "neutral ending" ideas came from.

Who did that second paragraph? I know I rewrote it once when it was in Image Pickin', I don't know what's happened to it since. The first paragraph is still there.

Fight smart, not fair.

The definition has never been a problem with this.

It's an ending that confuses you. It may not be an Ass Pull or a Shocking Swerve, maybe you should have seen it coming, but it's confusing and often a Mind Screw.

Flat "What" is the most common reaction.

edited 8th May '11 10:39:32 AM by Sackett

Wait, was this someone who didn't understand the article properly, or was this someone who thought they'd be clever and try to make it a Self-Demonstrating Article?

Regardless, not what is needed.

Reminder: Offscreen Villainy does not count towards Complete Monster.

When I did, the only part was the opening example paragraph. The rest was added later.

Fight smart, not fair.

So is the Laconic, which says "An ending that is massively different from the rest of the series. Mind Screw is common" accurate or not?

Also, where, who, and why is it being used as "An ending that is not good or bad" or "Ambiguous Ending" or "Neutral Ending"? If the definition is so clear, then this misuse (and the Laconic) must come from somewhere.

I'd go with "An ending that sharply becomes Mind Screw when the series itself wasn't."

Fight smart, not fair.

Yeah, that was my understanding — not only that the ending is weird and confusing, but that the work up to that point was not, or at least not in the same way/to the same degree.

I'll go with that, too. However, if an ending is massively different (remember, massively, as it says in the laconic) it will inevitably be a kind of Mind Screw even without other mind-screwy elements.*

On the other hand, simply a Mind Screw ending shouldn't be a Gainax Ending if the series has been incomprehensible from the get go.

So, for me the laconic one is, technically, already correct. The definition at the sliding scale must be changed.

The words above are to be read as if they are narrated by Morgan Freeman.

As I said, the origin of the sliding scale's definition is a mystery, as, as far as I know, it has never had anything to do with the trope. Get rid of that (and maybe leave this off the sliding scale altogether, as it doesn't really fit), and there should be no problem.

Example as a Thesis and Self-Demonstrating Article, both poorly executed? For shame. Let's try a complete rewrite, shall we?

Laconic: An ending that consists primarily of Mind Screw.

Full: A Gainax Ending is an ending that doesn't make any sense. The is usually a deliberate form of Mind Screw, but may also be a form of Gecko Ending when the creators run out of time or money to continue production, or be intended as a Sequel Hook to a sequel that was never made. For whatever reason, after watching a Gainax Ending, you won't have any idea what happened. After rewatching it, rewatching the entire series, discussing it with other fans, looking up the meaning of the symbolism, and subjecting the entire thing to a comprehensive literary analysis, you still won't have any idea what happened. If you're lucky, then there will be some kind of emotional or symbolic resolution even if it doesn't actually explain what happened to the characters. If you're not, then you'll be left with more questions than when you started.

A Gainax Ending frequently involves bizarre and nonsensical Genre Shifts, Fauxlosophic Narration, and/or Faux Symbolism. If it's a Troubled Production-style Gainax Ending, then it will probably also feature lots of Stock Footage and Navel-Gazing (as those are both cheap and can be added quickly). For an aborted Sequel Hook, you might encounter a Diabolus Ex Vacuus (where a new villain appears from nowhere, does something villainous, and then disappears again) or No Ending in the form of an ambiguous Cliffhanger. Either way, it would have been addressed in the sequel... had there been one.

Compared Outer Limits Twist, Dada Ad, Dropped A Widget On Him, No Ending, and Trippy Finale Syndrome. Not to be confused with Gainaxing.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.

Nice. Better than my writing.

Fight smart, not fair.

I recommend merging it with Trippy Finale Syndrome. I never understood the difference

"Take your (...) hippy dream world, I'll take reality and earning my happiness with my own efforts" - Barkey

Trippy Finale Syndrome seems to be where it goes through some sort of Battle in the Center of the Mind kinda thing (from the laconic definition: "a trippy and abstract realm"), while Gainax Ending just stops making sense entirely. There's definitely some overlap, but I think they're distinct. Trippy Finale Syndrome could definitely use an expanded description, though.

Here's an example: Final Fantasy VIII has Trippy Finale Syndrome but is not a Gainax Ending. The final boss and ending FMV definitely get really surreal, but you know what's happening (Time Travel via The Power of Friendship as Time Compression unravels).

edited 21st May '11 11:04:49 AM by NativeJovian

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.

I want to add a Gainax Ending can have some sense. It is just... hard to figure it out. The first time you watch it you will probably be too distracted with all the craziness, but the latter you may notice it does have some meaning.

The most iconic Gainax Ending actually makes sense though. It happens in a center of mind and all but if you pay attention you know what's going on

"Take your (...) hippy dream world, I'll take reality and earning my happiness with my own efforts" - Barkey

NGE's ending makes sense on a symbolic level (everyone becoming one, and then Shinji deciding that being an individual is okay after all... or something like that, anyway), but not a literal one. I mean, unless you can explain how High School AU or Giant Space Rei makes any damn sense in terms of "thing that is actually physically happening" rather than "symbolic representation of the characters' state of mind".

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.

First NGE ending was Shinji's mind. Eo E was mostly outside world (although Instrumentality scene showed many PO Vs as people dissolved) - giant Rei was summoned Lilith that carried out the Instrumentality. If we go by this definition, the series ending would be Gainax Ending while Eo E would be Trippy Finale Syndrome

"Take your (...) hippy dream world, I'll take reality and earning my happiness with my own efforts" - Barkey

That's backwards, isn't it? If the series ending took place inside Shinji's head, then that would make it Trippy Finale Syndrome. They'd both still be Gainax Ending because they, to most people, made no damn sense.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.

NGE ending makes sense if you actually know what is happening before hand. Kind of, anyway. It is not completely non-nonsensical.

I think it's important to bring forth that a Gainax Ending comes out of nowhere, possibly resolving things in a way that defies foreshadowing. One type of Gainax Ending will make people go "Where did that [Plot-element] come from?!, why is [supporting character] suddenly evil?, what's with the Out-of-Genre Experience?!"

Also, is it an idea to categorize into different types of Gainax Endings as to source of mindscrew. Too much new plot to tie up loose ends for a series that gets an abrupt end vs bad tie-ups for lots of foreshadowing that ends up getting nowhere. Just seems like a trope where further categorizing is viable.

edited 8th Jul '11 11:04:10 AM by NorthernDruid

bump

I still think "why this trope gets used" belongs on the analysis.

Fight smart, not fair.

Trippy Finale Syndrome is what I'd define as "a finale where things become more and more abstract and/or symbolic, people's minds are entered and explored, things get crazy for a good while, but then things snap back to reality in time for the end." In addition, it seems to mostly involve locations and shows involving magic. Gainax Ending can happen in most any medium and is where even after discussing it with other fans, rewatching it a hundred times, and detailed analysis by you and others, a solid, definite, concrete explanation cannot be reached and/or agreed upon, with only the minority coming to a conclusion, and with disagreements within that minority. The majority, on the other hand, may have some vague notion at what happened at some random points, but for the most part, will be confused and unsure. In any case, I am in support of Jovian's write up.