This article includes spoilers for the anime “Charlotte.” Reader discretion is advised.
“Charlotte” is an original anime created by Jun Maedathe famous screenwriter behind works like “Clannad” and “Angel Beats!”. The series, produced by PAWORKS in 2015, focuses on a group of teenagers who have special abilities, but with particular limitations or consequences. These abilities are temporary and usually manifest during adolescence, disappearing over time.
The protagonist, Yuu Otosaka, initially uses his ability for his own benefit: he can “possess” another person for five seconds. This leads him to deceive others and live comfortably until he is discovered by Nao Tomori, a girl who also has powers. She recruits him to join a student council that protects other young people with abilities and helps them avoid being exploited by malicious organizations. The series combines comedy, drama, romance and moments of action, while exploring the implications of having powers, the cost of decisions and the importance of emotional bonds.
In the series’ finale, Yuu Otosaka makes the decision to use her ability to “loot” other people’s powers and eradicate all special abilities in the world. This involves a trip around the world in which he absorbs hundreds of powers, sacrificing his memory and mental well-being in the process.
As he progresses, Yuu suffers the side effects of the skills he takes, gradually losing important memories, until he forgets who he is. When he finally returns to Japan after completing his mission, he is exhausted and disoriented. There he is greeted by Nao Tomori, who promises to be by his side and take care of him while he recovers.
The ending is a portrait of Yuu’s selfless sacrifice for the greater good, but also of the hope that Nao represents, who symbolizes the human connection and comfort that awaits him after his suffering. But did you know that’s not the whole ending?
Along with the popular anime, Jun Maeda, in collaboration with Chibimaru and Yuu Tsurusaki, both in charge of the art, was in charge of writing the story again for a manga adaptation. The conclusion came in December 2018, but the epilogue that we will talk about today was shown in the last compilation volume, released in January 2019.
The last scene of the anime shows that Yuu Otosaka returned to Japan, but completely forgot the existence of his friends and, more importantly, that of Nao Tomori, his partner. However, this was changed in the manga adaptation (as we already mentioned, also directed by Jun Maeda himself), adding a more expanded context that turns everything into a happy ending.
While they are both looking towards the horizon, Nao returns Yuu the music player that he had left with her. She mentions that their favorite song is saved there, so he decides to listen to it. Upon hearing it, thanks to the power of the script, the protagonist recovers the memories he had lost, surprising the reader and Nao herself, saying: «Tomori, you really like ZHIEND, right?».
With this, Nao confirms that he has recovered his memories and tells him: “Yes that’s how it is. But, Yuu-kun, you shouldn’t call me “Tomori” anymore, don’t you think? As a boyfriend, I think we should both call each other by our names».
Fountain: @/toarutoa via VoceSabiaAnime
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