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10 Best Anime Opening Themes (Discussed)

Opening themes to an Anime is like the sauce to your pasta. You can never think of enjoying your pasta without the sauce, the same goes for Anime and opening themes.

Every opening theme gives you a snippet of the story, the theme, the main characters, and the art style. sometimes it becomes the sole reason to start watching an Anime.

Short Animes usually have only one opening theme however longer Animes have multiple themes. Usually, a Cour or a season has its opening theme where that gives you a visual cue of the characters and the story plus the lyrics and the jingle do all the magic.

So if you are an otaku or a new weeb, you are in for a treat!

I have compiled the top 10 Anime themes I loved so far, so keep reading!

The Hero – One Punch Man

Saitama is just a regular human who overcame his limitations and attained superhuman strength.

The starting few seconds snaps you out of reality with that glam metal performance. And after that, it’s all goosebumps listening to the guitar’s erupted noises and crescendo, culminating in a well-deserved scream.

I appreciate how the beginning does not reveal any of the forthcoming action sequences; that’s the reason why extra enemies were added only for the opening.

This OP is also perfect for portraying how difficult and lonely Saitama’s road of the strongest is. The song has a decent message in addition to being badass and fits nicely with One Punch Man.

Goya wa Machiawase – Noragami

WARNING: Avoid listening to this while crossing a busy sidewalk. You’ll have the impulse to kick something or someone.

The opening theme and the main character in this Anime are both criminally underappreciated.

This whole opening theme is an adrenaline rush, however, it does not give you an insight into the supernatural plot in any way. You get to see them in their behind the scene shots with lights, cameras, and action!

This one is criminally underrated Anime with the most underrated main lead and the opening theme as well. It deserved so much hype but unfortunately, no one gave it a spotlight.

Shinzou Wo Sasageyo – Attack on Titan

Shinzou Wo Sasageyo
The song, which can be found on the album “Shingeki no Kiseki,” was written by the band’s frontman, Revo.

With the shocking character twists and gruesome fights, AOT also has an iconic opening them. Shinzou Wo Sasageyo means Devote your hearts and it is more like an anthem for all the AOT fans.

This intro boasts the most casual plot twist in Anime history, as well as one of the most flawless modulations (key changes) in music. The visuals of the Survey Corps racing toward the Colossal Titan and Mikasa hurling Eren towards the Armored Titan is still the most spectacular thing I’ve ever seen.

Again – Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

It is a tremendously popular series that appeals to viewers with its large ensemble of distinctive characters.

Again begins with wonderful lonesome singing that is eerie, and then the singing doubles down with the cymbals and chorus as Ed battles with the homunculi.

Scar sitting between the tree roots sheltering from the rain, the puppy jumping to grandma, and then the singing continues to evolve wilder!

It wasn’t until I finished the series that I realized the first person in the opening theme wasn’t Edward, but his father, Hohenheim.

Tank! – Cowboy Bebop

Cowboy Bebop, produced by Shinichiro Watanabe in 1998, is regarded as one of the best Anime to have ever been broadcast.

Cowboy Bebop set the standard for all future series when it debuted in 1997.

Tank! does everything a good opening theme should do: it draws the audience in with its visuals, piques their interest in the show’s plot, and gives them a Jazz riff to get stuck in their heads.

Cowboy Bebop takes it all in stride. There’s a reason it’s largely hailed as one of the finest Anime ever made, and theme music like this is simply the icing on the cake.

Cruel Angel Thesis – Neon Genesis Evangelion

As you watch the Anime, the meaning of the opening tunes stuns you with its profundity and existential dilemma.

As the lyrics go:

“Like an angel with cruel and merciless intent

Go forth, young boy, and you’ll become a legend

Says a lot about the heavy plot that’s bout to come in the series.”

When you first watch this Anime and hear the OP, you’ll assume that you’re watching your typical action-packed mech Anime like Gundam.

But then you get into the Anime, the opening themes’ meaning, and you get astonished by the deep meaning of existential crisis.

Unravel – Tokyo Ghoul

Unravel OP1 Tokyo ghoul

This opening deserves to be praised for its creative use of dynamics; even without context, you can grasp what is supposed to be conveyed by the words alone. The real kicker is the line:

“I don’t intend to damage you in someone else’s imagined world.”

Kaneki’s mental difficulties at the start of the series, as he must come to terms with the truth that he is part human and half-ghoul.

Kaneki has gone through a lot in the series. And take note of how the section of unraveling plays as we watch Kaneki “falling” towards the place at the start of the OP, where he eventually merges with his ghoulish half and takes on his ultimate form.

Colors by FLOW – Code Geass

The first episode of Code Geass, titled Colors, covers themes of how individuals may change for the better or worse.

FLOW is well-known for opening themes in series like Naruto, The Seven Deadly Sins, and Durarara!!, but none have surpassed Colors.

Colors, the first opening of Code Geass, explores themes of how people may change for the better or the worst. Even in the darkest of circumstances, we should all have faith in ourselves. This is appropriate given the difficulties Lelouch faces in the series.

Death Note – Sekai Wo

Sekai Wo-Death note
The story of Death Note is fantastic, and Light’s character development is great.

Sekai Wo does justice to the mind-boggling and dark plot of Death note. Light’s angel posture in the closing scene is a perfect example of it!

Death Note is without a doubt one of the finest Anime of all time. It has an amazing narrative, and Light’s character growth is incredible. He morphed from a typical high school student to a psychopath. And it gives an insight into the slightly twisted ideologies that humans develop when given power.

Simply said, “History is not kind to people who pretend to be God.”

Light cannot see that he has become the very thing he pledged to destroy in his quest for a flawless world with no crime.

Blue Bird – Naruto Shippuden

Ikimonogakari’s Blue Bird served as the third opening for Naruto: Shippuden.

We’re back at the start of Naruto Shippuden when Sasuke was an enemy on Orochimaru’s side. It starts with scenes of Naruto and Sasuke reacting extremely differently to their long-awaited reunion.

Naruto is crying, as Sasuke looks down coldly at his former Team 7 teammates, as well as Sai. The opening also serves as a homage to the flash-forward from the original opening.

The difference between Naruto and Sasuke is illustrated, as is Naruto plummeting through the sky. He takes up a bluebird feather with a solemn gaze at the conclusion.

Below is the list of some more bangers that you can jam to:

Opening Theme TitleAnime Title
InfernoFire Force
Haruka MiraiBlack Clover
Hikaru NaraYour Lie In April
Crossing FieldSword Art Online
DepartureHunter X Hunter
Bye Bye YesterdayAssassination Classroom
The Day My Hero Academia
Hacking The GateSteins; Gate
Other opening themes to jam to

Conclusion

  • All the opening themes on this list are bangers and enough to convince you to watch their series.
  • Some of these OPs have very meaningful lyrics that relate to the feelings and emotions displayed in the show.

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