BG: It is also common for endings to focus on the appeal of the individual characters. This type of ED highlights particular traits that stand out for a character or a range of emotions tied to that character. More superficially, the character can be shown off in a variety of outfits and hairstyles, sometimes with the intent of providing some fanservice. Many recent shows come to mind, such as Good Luck Girl!, Maid-sama ED 1, The Devil is a Part-Timer, and Familiar of Zero F.
GBS: While not a favorite of mine, an ending that really is all about one single character is the third ending to the first series of Hayate the Combat Butler. Yes, the infamous ♬~lun~lun~lun ending focused entirely on the annoying…ahem…central character of Nagi Sanzenin. Personally, I much prefer the Hinagiku Katsura-centered first ending to the second season of the franchise.
WITCH WITCH WITCH!
BG: Another way that the main character or a group of characters can be highlighted is by seeing those characters put on a performance that accompanies the ending song. The seiyuu for the characters featured in the ending may sing the song, with the characters in the ending animated to match it. The characters may also be seen playing instruments, even if they are not part of the singing. Three examples there would be Witch Craft Works, Haganai season 1, Tonari no Seki-kun.
BT: Witch Craft Works may now forever be a favorite of this type, though very recent may it be. Chibi-Tanpopo and crew energetically singing while touring various torture devices is simple, bizarre delight. But one of the greatest and catchiest of this kind is also relatively recent: the spectacular all-CG Miss Monochrome (a.k.a. Yui Horie) performing Poker Face, in perfect idol form, in the ending to her eponymous little show.
GBS: There are so many that do this. A very early example that comes to mind for me is the ending to the first season of Mahoromatic, which features Triomatic, three of the female supporting characters who sing the ending song. One from just last season was Engaged to the Unidentified, which had one of the characters (Mashiro) on stage to sign the song, while the other two characters who sing, Benio and Kobeni, are just below the stage in the orchestra pit in front of standing microphones. Mashiro does more than just sing as she also puts on a little play.
One of my all-time favorites, however, has to be the first ending to K-ON! It’s quite a visual treat and is just as if Afterschool Tea Time, the girls’ band, made a performance video for Don’t Say Lazy, a quite professional one at that.
BG: Not just the first one. K-ON! continues the performance video theme on into both of the second season’s endings. It’s a visual treat indeed. I adore the different settings and costumes used for those. I was quite pleased when the movie, also, has that style of ending play for the first part of its ending credits.
GBS: Besides the singing endings, there are also the dancing endings, one of the most famous certainly being the ending to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, the mother of all dancing endings even if it wasn’t the first. Often, of course, the two go together, as the girls also sing Hare hare yukai.
