Anime is not only popular for its dense plots and captivating characters. As a calling card for these works, the openings tend to attract a lot of attention from the public, give them a taste of what to expect from the story and, of course, stay in the minds and hearts of fans for years to come.
Bearing in mind that the soundtrack can be one of the most important things in making a title famous and attracting an audience, we've put together the 15 best anime openings of all time! The order will be from the least loved by fans to the most popular! Is your favorite among them?
Kick Back (Chainsaw Man)
Launched in October 2022, Chainsaw Man has one of the best anime openings of its first season. The melody is agitated, conveying the bloody vibe of the series well, and there are also several references to movie classics in several of the images that appear in the video, with the characters of the plot embedded in it.
Performed by Kenshi Yonezu, this opening popularized the famous dance performed by Denji and Power among otaku all over the world, being recreated in various ways by fans in videos and events around the world. The Kick Back video has already reached 105 million views on YouTube, proving the extent of its success.
Cry Baby (Tokyo Revengers)
Cry Baby isn't far behind Kick Back when it comes to YouTube views either. With 29 million views, the song that opens the anime Tokyo Revengers, released in April 2021, couldn't be left out of a list of the best anime openings of all time.
Filled with messages of perseverance in its lyrics, the song performed by the group Official Hige Dandism could not have been any other. The dramatic scenes that appear on the screen as the viewer waits to see yet another episode of the story that revolves around time travel and the misadventures of the Tokyo Manji gang.
Shinzo wo Sasageyo (Shingeki no Kyojin)
If there's one song that makes every otaku's body hair stand on end, it's Shinzou wo Sasageyo, the opening of the fourth season of Shingeki no Kyojin, which has 169 million views on YouTube. The song really touched the fans and made them give their hearts to the work exactly as the lyrics suggest, along with the epic melody of the Linked Horizon group who are known for creating some of the best anime openings of all time.
Shingeki no Kyojin, or Attack on Titan as it is known in the West, was released in 2013 and all of its seasons have outstanding openings. In the story, we follow Eren Yeager, who lives trapped in walls with his people to stay safe from the threat caused by people-eating titans.
The protagonist's entire saga calls for a heroic soundtrack that is promptly delivered almost in its entirety by the group Linked Horizon, deserving a place among the best anime openings of all time.
The World (Death Note)
Death Note is known as a classic among Japanese anime, and not just among otaku. The story, released in 2003, follows a bored boy who finds a notebook capable of killing anyone who has their name written in it, is a worldwide success and also a social critique. A story of this caliber couldn't have an opening that didn't rank among the best anime openings of all time, could it?
The whole God complex shown by the protagonist Light Yagami is very well represented by the opening scenes of The World, performed by the group Nightmare. The lyrics themselves fit perfectly with the message that needs to be conveyed and the rhythm is so pleasant that the original video has reached 20 million views on YouTube. A true musical pearl for otaku and sympathizers that can be considered one of the best anime openings in the world!
Departure (Hunter x Hunter)
Speaking of anime classics, how could Hunter x Hunter be left out? Departure, the opening of the series performed by Masatoshi Ono, is the kind of song that sticks in your head, bringing back memories of the moments of struggle and emotion provided by the anime released in 1998.
Hunter x Hunter introduces us to Gon Freecs, a boy who wants to become a famous Hunter in order to follow in his father's footsteps and thus be reunited with him. The song undeniably conveys the protagonist's determination and deserves all 748,000 views its original video has.
Blue Bird (Naruto)
Naruto was the gateway for many people into the otaku scene and has many songs that could be among the best anime openings of all time. However, by far the most striking of them all is Blue Bird, performed by singer Ikimono Gakari, which has 8.3 million views on YouTube.
The soft music is set to dramatic scenes that represent very well the phase the anime was in at the time and almost every otaku can sing at least a piece of the lyrics.
Naruto Naruto was released in 1999 and follows the journey of the protagonist in his attempt to become the best ninja of all and earn the respect of his village. Many will agree that yes, it is worthy of being one of the best anime opening songs.
Idol (Oshi no Ko)
Oshi no Ko was one of the most successful anime released in 2023. Its opening, by the artist Yoasobi, is full of all the musical elements of the traditional popular songs performed by Japanese idol groups, with some slightly less "cute" parts.
The video itself has some heavier touches that are always accompanied by sweet images showing what the anime is made of and boasting 439 million views on YouTube.
The very Oshi no Ko's story goes far beyond what the viewer might expect from its more kawaii look. Here a plot of murder and reincarnation takes the place of the clichés of romance brought by visually similar works and, of course, a soundtrack worthy of being among the best anime openings in the world.
Sono Chi no Sadame (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
You may never have seen a single episode of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (released in 2012), but you certainly know the title phrase of the song that made it popular among otaku all over the world. However, if you're a JoJo's fan, you'll know that making a list of the best openings of all time and leaving out Sono Chi no Sadame, performed by Hiroaki Tominaga, is almost a crime.
The epic journey of Jonathan Joestar, the first JoJo, in his quest to defeat the powerful vampire Dio Brando is beautifully narrated on screen while the music playing in the background enhances the heroic setting in which everything unfolds. Its video has reached 56 million views on YouTube and as this is truly one of the best anime openings, the trend is only set to increase.
The Legend of Moonlight (Sailor Moon)
Originally known as Moonlight Densetsu, the song that starts the anime Sailor Moon marked the childhood of many people, even those who are not part of the otaku community. This, one of the best anime openings in the world, received a Portuguese adaptation sung by Sarah Regina when it was shown on free-to-air TV.
The saga of the clumsy little girl who discovers she is a lunar warrior destined to protect the Earth was released in 1991 and has several openings, but this one, which is full of striking scenes featuring the protagonists, can be considered the best. The melody is full of romance, as is the story, and it has established itself as one of the best anime opening songs.
Pegasus Fantasy (Knights of the Zodiac)
Just like The Legend of Moonlight, Pegasus Fantasy captures otaku with its nostalgia. Just by listening to its first notes, the viewer is transported to a place in their childhood where they sat in front of the TV and watched the character Seiya and the other knights in their constant struggle to protect Princess Athena.
This song has two versions, the original sung by the Japanese band MAKE-UP and the Brazilian version by Edu Falaschi. They both convey the feelings of determination that run through every scene of the anime, from start to finish. Without a doubt one of the best anime openings of all time!
Again (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)
If the classic Fullmetal Alchemist animation was already good, the Brotherhood version, released in 2009, proved that it could be even better. Of course, the opening of the latest version leaves nothing to be desired either, delivering what could easily be considered one of the best anime openings of all time.
The soft beginning that gradually grows into something more brutal is a good representation of the Elric brothers' journey, while Yui's voice sounds in the background of images that perfectly match the melody.
Eventually Edward and Alphonse become federal alchemists and begin to encounter daunting challenges along the way, just as the song changes its rhythm. It's so successful that Again already has 6 million views on its original YouTube video! A true work of art!
Heart of a Child (Dragon Ball GT)
With Coração de Criança (Child's Heart), we once again touch on the nostalgia of older otaku, but there are many otaku who have recently entered the scene who also know this song well. Its original version, called Dan Dan Kokoro Hikareteku, is sung by the band Field of View, and the Portuguese version, shown on TV, has Ricardo Fábio as the interpreter.
Excitement and courage are the feelings that best define the rhythm of this, one of the best anime openings of all time, and all the anime's messages about overcoming and support are well conveyed to the audience by the scenes in the video.
Dragon Ball was released in 1996 and remains one of the most famous works in the otaku world to this day. It follows Goku, an alien raised on Earth who always seeks to become stronger and stronger in order to protect it.
Unravel (Tokyo Ghoul)
Released in 2014, Tokyo Ghoul was an explosion of success when it first came out, but it has lost momentum over the years. However, the same didn't happen with its opening, Unravel, performed by the group TK, which is still going strong as one of the best anime openings with over 50 million views on YouTube.
The melody itself begins quietly, almost whispering, before quickly evolving into something chaotic, both in terms of sound and the images on the screen. Then it slows down again and picks up the pace until the chorus arrives and everything literally explodes on your screen.
It's a great way to represent the chaos in young Kaneki Ken's life. He discovers that he has become a flesh-eating half-Ghoul after being involved in an accident. Representing this sequence of events through Unravel, which is one of the best anime openings of all time, was a masterstroke by the producers.
A Cruel Angels Thesis (Evangelion)
You can complain about many points in Evangelion's plot, but you'll hardly find anything to complain about when it comes to its opening. When the voice of Yoko Takahashi, the interpreter of the song, begins to sound along with the characteristic sound reminiscent of a choir of angels, many people get goose bumps immediately.
This is one of the best anime openings of all time and the 74 million views on the original video posted on YouTube don't lie. Shinji's journey through a post-apocalyptic world attacked by cruel angels couldn't have had a better representative than A Cruel Angels Thesis, which is one of the best anime openings in the world.
Gotta Catch (Pokémon)
But the queen of the best anime openings of all time is undoubtedly "Temos que Pegar", sung in Portuguese by Janaina Bianchi. No matter the language or the version, you'll hardly see an otaku with their mouth shut when this song starts playing. The original version, Pocket Monsters, is sung by Rica Matsumoto and has over 5 million views on YouTube!
The saga of Ash, the boy from Pallet who sets out on a journey to become the best Pokémon master of all, is full of energy, which is reflected in the melody of the song. Not to mention that generous dose of nostalgia brought to mind by those who grew up listening to this sound before watching anime a chance makes the whole experience even more incredible and makes it one of the best anime openings!
Conclusion
In any case, the songs chosen to be anime openings usually have a way of touching fans' hearts. These are just 15 of the best anime openings of all time, but we're sure you know of others! How about sharing them with us in the comments? Take the opportunity to also check out the 7 major differences between the manga and the second season of the Demon Slayer anime!
Questions that might interest you:
Which anime openings are considered the best in Brazil?
Pegasus Fantasy (Knights of the Zodiac), Coração de Criança (Dragon Ball GT) and Temos que Pegar (Pokémon) are the most beloved by Brazilians!
What are the most popular Naruto openings?
Of all the Naruto openings, Go!!!, Haruka Kanata, Little by Little and Blue Bird are the most acclaimed by fans.
