Angel Beats!, the heart-wrenching afterlife symphony from Jun Maeda and P.A. Works, has moved millions with its 13-episode tragedy, SSS Brigade rebellion, and themes of regret, redemption, and moving on. Set in a purgatory high school, it’s the ultimate blend of action, comedy, and soul-crushing feels.
Angel Beats! (エンジェルビーツ!) is a 13-episode original anime by Key (Jun Maeda) and P.A. Works, aired April–June 2010. A manga (2010–2016), light novels, and visual novel prequel (1st Beat) followed. Set in a purgatory school, it follows the Afterlife Battlefront (SSS) fighting “God” via student council president Angel.
Teens with tragic past lives awaken in a high school afterlife, retaining memories of pain. Yuzuru Otonashi, amnesiac, joins the SSS Brigade led by Yuri Nakamura to rebel against “God” for unfair lives. They fight Angel (Kanade), believing she erases souls.
Key arcs:
Ep 1–3: Otonashi joins SSS, learns world rules, meets Kanade.
Ep 4–7: Guild missions, Iwasawa’s concert, shadow monsters.
Ep 8–10: Kanade’s truth – she’s not evil; love confession.
Ep 11–13: Creator revealed, mass oblivion, reincarnation ending.
Finale twist: Kanade’s heart was Otonashi’s in life — he donated it.
Main Characters & Roles
Character
Role & Fate
Yuzuru Otonashi
Protagonist, amnesiac → remembers tragic death → passes on with Kanade
Yuri Nakamura
SSS Leader, vengeance-driven → finds peace → passes on
Kanade Tachibana
“Angel,” student council → Otonashi’s heart donor → reincarnates
Hideki Hinata
Comic relief, baseball fan → passes on after catch with Yui
Yui
Hyper genki, paralyzed in life → passes on via wedding fantasy
Masami Iwasawa
Gldemo vocalist → first to pass on after concert
TK
Mysterious dancer → passes on with style
Naoi
Hypnotist → joins SSS → passes on
Band: Girls Dead Monster (Gldemo) – Iwasawa → Yui (vocals).
Powers & Mechanics
No traditional “powers,” but afterlife rules create unique combat:
Weapons: Crafted at Guild (guns, swords, explosives).
