Grim's Top 20 Favorite Anime Openings

[Barry Poppins]

Shocker that I'm technically borrowing from OMB and taking one of his ideas, but why not. It's an interesting topic to talk about Anime openings, since everyone has an opinion on their favorites. So yeah, over the next few days, once per day, I'll post my top 20 favorite openings and allow you, the reader, to take a chance to delve through them and check them out. As per my own rules, I will only be doing one opening *per series* ("series" meaning one continuous show or a show with "seasons"; franchises in which different series are included don't count).

The List:

20. Hey World (Yuka Iguchi) - DanMachi
19. A Cruel Angel's Thesis (Yoko Takahashi) - Neon Genesis Evangelion​

 

[Barry Poppins]

20.
Hey World - Yuka Iguchi
DanMachi
(Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?)



Kicking off our list is an anime opening from the year 2015, and one of the more popular shows of the modern era. DanMachi, oddly titled "Is it Wrong to Try to Pick up Girls in a Dungeon?", if fairly far from what the title is actually about. The anime itself is more akin to Etrian Odyssey that anything else, as the whole story is about Gods coming to live on Earth and adventurers fighting in dungeons. That said, I think the theme for the first season of DanMachi is memorable and has a good rhythm to it. It just barely made it onto my list, but it's worth listening to.​

 

[Barry Poppins]

19.
A Cruel Angel's Thesis - Yoko Takahashi
Neon Genesis Evangelion



Among the more controversial (in my opinion) but also arguably the most highly praised anime opening of all time, Neon Genesis Evangelion's opening represented a very clear shift from the Dragon Ball "Power Fantasy" Era (1984 - 1996) to the Post-Modern Era of Anime (1996 - 2006); arguably the most iconic anime of all time, Eva's opening assaults you right at the beginning with wild imagery and incredible action, while also refusing to reveal too much of the plot straight away. The music is also one of the most popular anime songs of all time as well. While people are aware of my absolute hatred for the anime as a whole, I will never deny that Evangelion delivers the goods several times.​

 

[Kairi HoHo]

Neon Genesis Evangelion I've never seen before and seeing as I have this major interest this Gundam or things like that I need to fill it stat and stop fooling around.

 

[Barry Poppins]

18.
Makafushigi Adventure - Hiroki Takahashi
Dragon Ball



Coming in at number 18 is a familiar golden oldie, it's the original Japanese theme for Dragon Ball: "Makafushigi Adventure". I personally believe this opening is a great representative of what the original Dragon Ball is truly about, since DB and it's sequel DBZ are actually massively different in terms of tone. Dragon Ball's definitely a much more lighthearted affair and full of comedy and I think the opening of the show reflects on that rather well in my opinion.​

 

[Barry Poppins]

17.
Tobe! Gundam! - Koh Ikeda
Mobile Suit Gundam



The opening for Mobile Suit Gundam is cheesy, completely unrepresentative of what MSG is actually about, and just too much of an ear-worm not to put on the list. I've raved quite a bit about the franchise as a whole and the first show's opening is iconic to a lot of people who grew up on the show. For me, it's still an incredible opening full of jam-packed action.​

 

[Colt Magnum]

19 was alright but the rest not my style be interesting to see list tho

 

[Barry Poppins]

16.
We Are! - Hiroshi Kitadani
One Piece



Coming in at #16 is the first opening for One Piece, a smash hit that I personally believe fits the show much better than any theme that has come after it. Admittedly from the early few stories of the show, "We Are!" is a great pop song filled with some good instrumentation and mixed with the opening it helps illustrate just what the show is all about.​

 

[Colt Magnum]

I fucks with that theme a little bit. I see a theme here with you Grim and your love of 80's and 90's anime

 

[Barry Poppins]

15.
My Soul, Your Beats - Lia
Angel Beats



Coming in at #15 is the opening for one of Key Visual's most popular shows, Angel Beats. With a good, rocking tune such as "My Soul, Your Beats", the opening shows off the visual flair for the show as well as a solid, and quick introduction for all of the characters. For those who don't know, Angel Beats is a show about purgatory for teenagers; and admittedly, the opening doesn't explain that very well, but it makes up for it in style and flash.​

 

[Colt Magnum]

I fucks with the theme up to the singing that first few seconds is really cool

 

[Barry Poppins]

14.
Sorairo Days - Shoko Nakagawa
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagaan



Coming in at #14 is "Sorairo Days" for the Sci-Fi Mecha anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagaan (one of my favorite anime of all time, btw). It begins with a kickass guitar riff and immediately shows off the style and strut of Gurren Lagaan while also being just overall a kickass tune. Kamille is also the best character in the show; "Don't believe in yourself, believe in the me that believes in you!"​

 

[Barry Poppins]

13.
Tabi No Tochuu - Natsumi Kyoura
Spice & Wolf



Lucky number 13 comes in for the seminal Spice & Wolf, a show all about economics and Wolf girls. The opening for S&W is very memorable and admittedly, "Tabi No Tochuu" is one of my favorite anime songs since it has a great drum track all throughout and a great guitar fill underneath the piano. The show is about a young trader by the name of Kraft Lawrence making a deal with a god of the harvest, Holo the Wise Wolf, to help her return to her homelands in exchange for good luck and help with turning a profit on his trades. Filled with incredible financial, political, and religious intrigue, Spice & Wolf is one of my favorite animes of all time and I desperately wish a third season would come out soon.​

 

[Barry Poppins]

12.
GAMERS! - Hisako Kanemoto, Manaka Iwami, & Rumi Okubo
GAMERS!



Number 12 for my list is a rocking, rollicking, and reference filled opening for the slice of life anime GAMERS!. It's mostly about teenagers playing video games, but it's not really important as the opening is wacky and wild, and just a ton of fun to listen to. Definitely recommend giving the show a watch sometime.​

 

[Barry Poppins]

11.
Kakushinteki☆Metamaruphose! - Aimi Tanaka
Himouto! Umaru-Chan



Coming in at #11 is the upbeat pop hit opening for Himouto! Umaru-Chan. The plot is pretty well explained through the opening, with our main character Umaru being a massive nerd at home and a popular high school teenager in public. It's mostly a comedy and has a lot of references to video game and nerd culture overall but doesn't feel like it's pandering to its audience. It knows its a funny slice of life show about a layabout teenager and it has great writing.​