Top 25 Best Anime Opening Songs of All Time
Some of the best anime to know are:
“OK, 3, 2, 1, let’s jam.” “Tank” is one of the most celebrated songs in anime history, thanks to a infectious cocktail of jazz and (duh) bebop. Music plays a huge role in the series, and “Tank” has remained the standard-bearer. 2. Neon Genesis Evangelion, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis”
Japanese pop musicAnime song (アニメソング, anime songu), also shortened to anison (アニソン), is a genre of music originating from Japanese pop music. Anime songs consist of theme, insert, and image songs for anime, video game, and audio drama CD series, as well as any other song released primarily for the anime market, including music from ...
You may be looking for the term Original Poster. OP is the standard term for the opening song/credits of an anime series. Longer series may have multiple OPs, often performed by well-known bands or pop artists.
Anisong. Anisong (アニソン; or "Anison") is a term that is short for Anime song, but is also used generally to refer to all anime music with a focus on opening and ending theme songs. By some definitions anime songs include songs in anime-style video games and anime-style visual novels.
Original SoundtrackThe music used in a show. This includes background music, mood music, incidental music and opening and ending theme music. For longer TV series, there is often too much music to release on a single CD, so several OSTs will be released (often called OST1, OST2, etc.)
In anime, means the opening (song & video) and the ending (song & video).
ED is not an acronym, but an abbreviation of "EnDing song" usually used to refer to the ending theme songs of anime. If an anime has multiple endings over time the order number is usually suffixed, so ED2 = Ending song #2.
In most cases, yes. A popular example of this is the anime K-On!. All the openings, endings and insert songs are written for the anime itself. They use the anime to advertise it and to sell more.
Today, let's tackle music and anisong! Anisong, or anime music, is a music genre in itself, that appeared along with TV anime series. The first song designed for an animation work was created in 1963 for the anime Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy).
What's difficult to place here is exactly what makes an anime song an anime song, other than, obviously, being used in an anime. The songs that end up in shows are often generic J-pop performed by a voice actor , or an otaku -friendly singer that's on a record label affiliated with the production.
OP means "opening". Usually played at the beginning or in the first half of an episode, movie, etc. ED means "ending". Same thing as OP, but at end or in the second half of an episode, movie, etc. OST means "Original Soundtrack".
Promotional Video. Video, Japan, Music. Video, Japan, Music.
Show activity on this post. ONA and OVA are completely different in terms of their target markets. An Original Net Animation (ONA) is an anime that is directly released onto the Internet(1) while an Original Video Animation (OVA) is an animated film or series made specially for release in home-video formats.
Joshiraku was destined to be a niche hit. Not only did it focus on the oratory art of rakugo, but it's difficult to localize due to its use of Japanese colloquialisms and wordplay. Most anime fans are only aware of Joshiraku thanks to Momoiro Clover Z's ending song, which was made memorable by the chibified characters dancing to its tune.
Blood+ is one of those gory horror anime from the 2000s that's sadly been forgotten to time. Outside of anime veterans, the only way anyone is even vaguely aware of Saya's fight against the Chiropterans is thanks to, of all things, a Spongebob Squarepants parody.
In 2013, Attack On Titan made one of the biggest debuts ever seen in pop culture, and its opening song "Guren No Yumiya" (performed by Linked Horizon) played a part in sealing its popularity. The song has been read as mankind's defiant declaration of war against the Titans, and countless fan edits borrowed this powerful emotion for their own ends.
Every now and then, an anime's song will become a dance trend. This is exactly what happened to Jujutsu Kaisen's first ending song "Lost In Paradise," performed by ALI and AKLO. The song played over a montage of the main characters dancing or just vibing to its lively beat. The song was an instant hit, and many fans recreated it in their own ways.
Nisemonogatari is the third part of the sprawling Bakemonogatari story and, like its main franchise, it's a niche title that experienced anime fans only recommend to select people.
Tokyo Ghoul has become something of a joke among anime fans because of how much it resembled the 2000s' emo craze. Nowhere was this feeling better summarized than the opening song "unravel," performed by TK from Ling tosite sigure - especially the opening lines and chords, which have inspired countless memes.
One of the most beloved moments from The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya was Haruhi singing "God Knows..." (sang by Haruhi's voice actress, Aya Hirano) in the Cultural Festival. ENOZ's performance left such a mark that even after the anime fell from grace, "God Knows..." lived on as one of the most beloved songs ever heard in an anime.
One of the most memorable anime themes in the last decade, this adorable ending theme became an instant Internet meme, so instantly recognizable and widely parodied that it was itself parodied by one of its successors, Lucky Star, another anime whose catchy dance theme was reified all over the Internet. When other Internet memes are paying your Internet meme homage, you’ve got something special.
“OK, 3-2-1, let’s jam.” The most instantly recognizable and iconic opening in anime history, “Tank” made Yoko Kanno into a household name even overseas, and set the bar for nearly two decades of anime openings
21) Ghost in the Shell, “Kokaku Kidotai, ” Kenji Kawai. For people discovering anime in the ’90s, the opening song from Ghost in the Shell brought shivers. It still does to this day.
Susumu Hirasawa’ s brilliant music and Satoshi Kon’s films paired so well that it seemed they were made for one another. Hirasawa’s opening theme for the Paranoia Agent series was a standout— it captured the sense of shifting realities that Kon was so fond of and wove them throughout a joyous melody.
And we can’t really blame them. It’s a great introduction to the buoyant spirit of Japan’s most popular anime, and the singalong-ready chorus is almost anthemic.
Soundtracks are the soul behind an anime. Take One Piece and ' Thriller Bark' arc, for example; once the anime gets comfortably knee-deep into the plot, "Bings Sake" cheers the audience on with intense passion. An anime wouldn't work without its soundtrack, which can unlock elements behind the action and visuals that were previously ...
Fans should consider listening to this album as an equivalent of getting a shot of adrenaline. There are sixty-four tracks at their motivational best. Every soundtrack is curated perfectly to the plot in the anime.
Kawai claims to have incorporated Indian drums to compose Ghost in the Shell's sound, on the request of the director, Mamoru Oshii. Kawai then struggled with the scaling of drums. Some of the iconic tracks are "M02 Ghosthack," "M08 Floating Museum.".
However, the standout track in Steins;Gate is a symphony called "Gate of Steiner" composed by Takeshi Abo. Other phenomenal tracks by Takeshi Abo are "Cycle," "Explanation," and "Assailant." There are really no misses in the mix and it features some of the best music from the larger Steins;Gate universe.
One Piece's soundtrack has received acclaim from critics and fans alike and its theme, "We Are," won anime theme song of the year back in 2000.
The anime's opening theme is a delight and it quickly proves that Takanashi is a musical genius. Log Horizon's original soundtrack consists of 35 songs, mainly dominated by the sound of electric guitars in battles. The frenetic music that's reminiscent of RPG battle music is easily the highlight of Log Horizon.
Music can often go under-appreciated in anime series, but when it properly connects with the right material then it’s an absolutely transcendent experience. Accordingly, here's a solid selection of anime soundtracks that are far too easy to leave on repeat.
All puns aside, the Dragon Ball series boasts some of the most beloved theme songs, like Dragon Ball Z’s “Cha-La Head-Cha-La.”. When you listen to Chozetsu Dynamic, I think you’ll agree that it joins the high ranks of its predecessors.
Funimation. If you don’t sing along to this song every time it plays, then you’re a liar. Maybe you don’t know all the words to the song, but at the very least, you’ve probably bobbed your head and chimed in with “Battlecry” during the chorus. Whoever thought to combine hip hop with samurais should have genius status.
Take a listen, Gangsta definitely stacks up! It combines three genres into one song: EDM, rap, and rock.
Amazon. Although Nana is a lesser-known anime, it still has a rocking soundtrack and an intro sung with passion. The main character, Nana Osaki, has dreams of becoming a famous musician. This song, along with many other headbangers, are featured throughout the show.
Performed by Horie Yui and UNSCANDAL, this anime opening song makes the top of the list of kawaii anime music for being both catchy and chaotic at the same time. The high-pitched tones of Yui and the jazzy vibes of UNSCANDAL will make anyone get out of their seat and start dancing.
Add a catchy dance to any cute anime song and it’s sure to be remembered for generations to come. Translating to ‘Sunny, Sunny, Happiness’, the song gets you up and dancing as soon as it comes on.
With a name like Cherry Blossom Kiss, you know the song is going to be cute! Serving as the opening theme song of one of the best shoujo anime, Ouran High School Host Club, it is sung by Japanese pop star Chieko Kawabe.
You wouldn’t guess that a story about vampires would have such a cute opening song, but Renai Circulation makes the list as one of the cutest anime songs out there. From a series of light novels, high school boy Koyomi Aragi is bitten by a vampire which leads to circumstances unfolding that leave audiences laughing and crying.
Another oldie but goodie, Let Me Be with You was sung by AmaLee and is the epitome of cute Japanese Euro beats. Hideki Motsuwa dreams of having a persocom (an android computer) and a girlfriend, and accidentally finds both when he meets the mysterious Chi.
It’s not surprising that one of the cutest anime couples would also have one of the cutest anime songs. Sung by Saya Mizuno, the opening theme is featured in the anime from beginning to end. Appropriately named My Secret, the song pairs well with Misaki Ayuzawa’s attempt at keeping her double life a secret from her friends.
A CLAMP classic and fan favorite, Cardcaptor Sakura follows the story of Sakura as she uses her new magical powers to battle the legendary Clow Reed enemies. Sung by GUMI, Catch You Catch Me is the opening song of the first season and is a favorite among longtime anime fans.
Dragon Maid S and HameFura X fought to the death in an amphitheater in Summer ’21 to win the “best comfort anime sequel with a random letter at the end” award. Sonny Boy, a new sci-fi anime that has captivated the otaku community due to its sheer bafflement, has eclipsed the conflict.
In 2021, the year of the ox, shonen anime is expected to do well.
Then, we’ll take a look at a couple classics that you may have missed. I’ll wager my dignity that at least a handful of these songs will find their way onto your Spotify playlist. We’ve already done the hard work for you.