Anime openings define eras, launch careers, and turn casual viewers into lifelong fans through unforgettable hooks and visuals. The stakes are high: a legendary OP can outshine the show itself and rack up billions of streams. Vote for your favorites to crowd-rank the ultimate list.
What counts: Best means iconic cultural impact, musical quality, animation synergy, and lasting rewatch value; figures are approximate round numbers from public sources.
Cruel Angel's Thesis - Neon Genesis Evangelion▲ Rising
The 1995 track launched a franchise and defined the mecha-psychological genre with its soaring chorus and biblical imagery. Its signature moment is the instant the piano hits and the cross flashes, turning every episode into an event. No other OP has been parodied or covered as widely in 30 years.
Year: 1995Duration: 84 sYouTube Views: 120 MFan Score: 9.6/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Unravel - Tokyo Ghoul▲ Rising
TK from Ling tosite sigure delivered a raw scream that matched the manga's descent into horror in 2014. The guitar riff drop at 30 seconds became the instant hook that defined the series tone. It still dominates "best OP" debates a decade later.
Year: 2014Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 310 MFan Score: 9.5/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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The World - Death Note▲ Rising
Nightmare's 2006 rock opener instantly established the cat-and-mouse tension with its dark visuals and rapid cuts. The moment the apple drops in sync with the guitar is the lasting image. It remains the default pick for psychological thriller OPs.
Year: 2006Duration: 85 sYouTube Views: 85 MFan Score: 9.1/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Silhouette - Naruto Shippuden▲ Rising
KANA-BOON's 2015 track brought the perfect mix of nostalgia and high-speed action for the war arc start. The running sequence with the orange flash is the signature moment. It reignited the series for a new generation of viewers.
Year: 2015Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 220 MFan Score: 8.9/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Tank! - Cowboy Bebop▲ Rising
The 1998 jazz-funk opener set the tone for an entire series with its cool heist energy and trumpet blasts. The bank-robbing animation sequence in the first 20 seconds is pure cinema. It remains the gold standard for stylish, non-lyric-driven OPs.
Year: 1998Duration: 95 sYouTube Views: 95 MFan Score: 9.4/10Has Lyrics: —
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Gurenge - Demon Slayer▲ Rising
LiSA's 2019 battle cry turned the first episode into a global phenomenon with its fiery visuals and rising chorus. The sword-slash timing on the beat remains the signature moment fans cite. It propelled both the song and the series to record-breaking heights.
Year: 2019Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 480 MFan Score: 9.3/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Hey Kids! - Noragami▲ Rising
The 2014 track mixed punk energy with god-and-spirit visuals in a way that perfectly captured the show's irreverent tone. The moment the stray god appears in the rain remains iconic. It stands out for its unique blend of humor and action.
Year: 2014Duration: 88 sYouTube Views: 75 MFan Score: 8.6/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Kaikai Kitan - Jujutsu Kaisen▲ Rising
Eve's 2020 opener brought modern rock energy and curse-fighting visuals that defined the new shonen era. The rapid curse-swarm sequence in the second verse became the standout moment. It helped launch the series to mainstream dominance.
Year: 2020Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 260 MFan Score: 9/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Pokémon Theme - Pokémon▲ Rising
The 1997 English opening became the gateway for millions of kids with its simple chant and adventure promise. The "Gotta catch 'em all" hook at the end remains the most quoted line in anime history. It still gets stadium sing-alongs decades later.
Year: 1997Duration: 65 sYouTube Views: 65 MFan Score: 8.7/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Asterisk - Bleach▲ Rising
Orange Range's 2004 rock opener launched the longest-running shonen of its era with high-energy guitar and soul-reaper action. The first bankai reveal timing became legendary. It set the template for Bleach's many memorable OPs.
Year: 2004Duration: 92 sYouTube Views: 110 MFan Score: 8.5/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Hikaru Nara - Your Lie in April
The 2014 piano-driven opener perfectly captured the emotional weight of music and loss from the first episode. The falling cherry blossoms synced to the piano keys became the signature image. It remains the emotional benchmark for drama OPs.
Year: 2014Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 85 MFan Score: 8.9/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Again - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood▲ Rising
YUI's 2009 power ballad captured the brothers' pain and resolve in the first episode's tragic opening scene. The acoustic-to-rock swell at the chorus synced perfectly with the gate imagery. It set an emotional bar the rest of the series had to meet.
Year: 2009Duration: 88 sYouTube Views: 140 MFan Score: 9.2/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Crossing Field - Sword Art Online▲ Rising
LiSA's 2012 debut OP captured the trapped-in-game stakes with soaring vocals and virtual-reality visuals. The moment the field turns red at the chorus became an instant classic. It launched both the series and the singer's career.
Year: 2012Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 170 MFan Score: 8.8/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Redo - Re:Zero
MYTH & ROID's 2016 track perfectly captured Subaru's suffering and determination in the first season's dark loops. The clock-ticking visuals and sudden intensity shifts made every episode feel urgent. It set the bar for isekai suffering anthems.
Year: 2016Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 95 MFan Score: 8.9/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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COLORS - Code Geass
FLOW's 2006 track brought high-energy rock that matched the mecha rebellion theme from episode one. The moment the mask appears in the rain is the lasting visual. It set the tone for the series' dramatic twists.
Year: 2006Duration: 88 sYouTube Views: 60 MFan Score: 8.5/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Moonlight Densetsu - Sailor Moon▲ Rising
The 1992 track became the defining magical-girl anthem with its dreamy synths and transformation promise. The moment the moon prism appears remains the iconic image for generations. It launched the entire genre's global popularity.
Year: 1992Duration: 75 sYouTube Views: 45 MFan Score: 8.4/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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DADDY! DADDY! DO! - Kaguya-sama: Love is War
The 2020 comedic rock track captured the absurd mind games with over-the-top visuals and rapid cuts. The chessboard duel sequence became the standout comedic moment. It proved comedy OPs could compete with action ones.
Year: 2020Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 95 MFan Score: 8.6/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Kyouran Hey Kids!! - Noragami Aragoto
The 2015 sequel OP doubled down on the punk sound and raised the visual stakes with faster cuts and bigger fights. The kids' chorus chant became the instant earworm. It improved on the original in nearly every measurable way.
Year: 2015Duration: 88 sYouTube Views: 65 MFan Score: 8.7/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Butter-Fly - Digimon Adventure▲ Rising
The 1999 track became the anthem for an entire generation of kids with its promise of adventure and evolution. The moment the Digivice activates in sync with the chorus is pure nostalgia. It still gets played at conventions worldwide.
Year: 1999Duration: 78 sYouTube Views: 55 MFan Score: 8.4/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Sorairo Days - Gurren Lagann▼ Falling
The 2007 track matched the escalating absurdity and hope of the series with its anthemic chorus. The drill-breaking-the-heavens visual at the peak remains legendary. It perfectly embodies the show's "believe in yourself" message.
Year: 2007Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 70 MFan Score: 8.8/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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We Are! - One Piece
The 1999 track launched the longest-running shonen with its pirate adventure promise and crew introduction visuals. The moment the Straw Hats appear together became the enduring image. It has outlasted dozens of later One Piece OPs.
Year: 1999Duration: 85 sYouTube Views: 75 MFan Score: 8.2/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Rewrite - Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)▼ Falling
The 2003 track brought emotional rock that matched the brothers' journey from the first episode. The gate imagery and rain sequence became the signature moment. It set a high bar that the 2009 remake had to surpass.
Year: 2003Duration: 88 sYouTube Views: 55 MFan Score: 8.3/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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JOJO Sono Chi no Kioku - JoJo's Bizarre Adventure▲ Rising
The 2012 track and its many variants became the gold standard for over-the-top pose energy and generational callbacks. The "JoJo" chant drop remains the ultimate hype moment. Its meme power has kept it relevant across six parts.
Year: 2012Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 150 MFan Score: 8.8/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Inferno - Fire Force
Mrs. GREEN APPLE's 2019 track brought modern rock intensity that matched the flame-wielding action from the first episode. The burning city sequence synced to the chorus became the signature image. It helped establish the series' visual identity.
Year: 2019Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 85 MFan Score: 8.3/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Chase - JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 4▼ Falling
The 2016 track brought a darker, more intense sound that matched the murder-mystery arc. The moment the Stand arrow appears remains the chilling signature. It proved JoJo could evolve its OP style successfully.
Year: 2016Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 70 MFan Score: 8.5/10Has Lyrics: ✓
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Connect - Puella Magi Madoka Magica▼ Falling
The 2011 track's deceptively cute sound hid the series' dark twist, with the witch reveal in the visuals becoming legendary. The moment the bow appears in the second verse is the lasting image. It remains the benchmark for deceptive OPs.
Year: 2011Duration: 90 sYouTube Views: 65 MFan Score: 8.7/10Has Lyrics: ✓
added by IJR
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Wild that Cruel Angel's Thesis - Neon Genesis Evangelion is winning this. Scroll down — the real answer is further down the board.
Came for the argument, stayed for the comparison grid. The numbers settle half the fights here.
Cruel Angel's Thesis - Neon Genesis Evangelion at the top is the correct call and I'll die on this hill.
Missing a few names that belong in the top ten, but the top three is basically right.