Best Opening Themes in Anime

Tank! (Cowboy Bebop)

The Seatbelts' horn-blasting swing opener defined an aesthetic overnight, turning a bounty-hunter space western into a jazz-club fever dream before a single line of dialogue plays. Shinichiro Watanabe used it to prove anime could sound like nothing else on TV, and decades later i

Anime: Cowboy BebopYear: 1998Artist: The SeatbeltsIconic Rating: 9.5/10Animation Quality: 9/10Genre: Sci-fi / Jazz NoirYouTube Views: 15 M

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A Cruel Angel's Thesis (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Yoko Takahashi's soaring ballad became the karaoke-booth national anthem of anime fandom, covered and referenced far outside its mecha-psychodrama source. It's the rare OP that outgrew its show, still turning up in memes and idol covers decades after Shinji first climbed into an

Anime: Neon Genesis EvangelionYear: 1995Artist: Yoko TakahashiIconic Rating: 9.7/10Animation Quality: 8.5/10Genre: Mecha / PsychologicalYouTube Views: 40 M

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Cha-La Head-Cha-La (Dragon Ball Z)

Hironobu Kageyama's shout-along anthem is the sound of Saiyan-era optimism, blasting cartoon bravado over freeze-framed power-ups. It became the international mascot theme for the whole Dragon Ball franchise, dubbed and remixed worldwide. Ask a room of anime fans to finish 'Cha-l

Anime: Dragon Ball ZYear: 1989Artist: Hironobu KageyamaIconic Rating: 9/10Animation Quality: 7.5/10Genre: Shonen / ActionYouTube Views: 20 M

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Haruka Kanata (Naruto)

Asian Kung-Fu Generation's punk-rock burst gave Naruto's ninja-academy underdog story an indie-rock edge the show's Saturday-morning trappings didn't suggest. The sprint-through-the-forest visuals synced to that guitar riff became one of the most parodied running scenes in anime.

Anime: NarutoYear: 2002Artist: Asian Kung-Fu GenerationIconic Rating: 8.5/10Animation Quality: 7.8/10Genre: Shonen / Ninja ActionYouTube Views: 25 M

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Guren no Yumiya (Attack on Titan)

Linked Horizon's militaristic chant-and-orchestra hybrid turned a brutal survival-horror show into an instant global phenomenon, spawning flash-mob dance covers and marching-band renditions. The Scouts charging into Titan territory, synced beat-for-beat to that drum march, is one

Anime: Attack on TitanYear: 2013Artist: Linked HorizonIconic Rating: 9.3/10Animation Quality: 9.5/10Genre: Dark FantasyYouTube Views: 90 M

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The World (Death Note)

Nightmare's industrial-tinged rock track sets a genuinely unsettling mood for a series about a notebook that kills, layering Light Yagami's descent into god-complex villainy under grinding guitars and stark red-and-black visuals. It plays like a thriller-movie trailer rather than

Anime: Death NoteYear: 2006Artist: NightmareIconic Rating: 8.7/10Animation Quality: 8/10Genre: Psychological ThrillerYouTube Views: 60 M

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Again (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

Yui's driving pop-rock anthem soundtracks Brotherhood's pivot into war and tragedy, its lyrics about scars and moving forward landing with real weight against the Elric brothers' arc. The mid-sprint character reveals became a template for shonen 'roll call' openers that followed.

Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist: BrotherhoodYear: 2010Artist: YuiIconic Rating: 8.3/10Animation Quality: 8.2/10Genre: Shonen / AdventureYouTube Views: 35 M

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We Are! (One Piece)

Hiroshi Kitadani's ear-wormy, endlessly sunny theme has soundtracked the Straw Hats since before some current fans were born, making it arguably the most enduring opener in anime history by sheer longevity. Every crew addition gets folded into its parade of character shots, turni

Anime: One PieceYear: 1999Artist: Hiroshi KitadaniIconic Rating: 8/10Animation Quality: 7/10Genre: Shonen / AdventureYouTube Views: 18 M

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The Day (My Hero Academia)

Porno Graffitti's arena-rock blast matches Deku's underdog-to-hero arc beat for beat, its soaring chorus selling the idea that anyone can become a symbol of peace. The shot of heroes launching into action became instant shorthand for the show's earnest, comic-book energy. It's a

Anime: My Hero AcademiaYear: 2016Artist: Porno GraffittiIconic Rating: 8.2/10Animation Quality: 8.4/10Genre: Shonen / SuperheroYouTube Views: 30 M

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Gurenge (Demon Slayer)

LiSA's genre-crossing hit turned Demon Slayer's opening into a chart-topping event in Japan, blending delicate verses with an explosive chorus that mirrors Tanjiro's quiet grief and sudden fury. Studio ufotable matched the music with some of the decade's most fluid character work

Anime: Demon SlayerYear: 2019Artist: LiSAIconic Rating: 9/10Animation Quality: 9.2/10Genre: Supernatural / Dark FantasyYouTube Views: 100 M

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Sono Chi no Sadame (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Coda's bombastic rock theme, paired with visuals modeled on Renaissance painting and glam-rock posing, announced that JoJo's Bizarre Adventure would be unlike anything else airing that season. Its over-the-top posturing became instantly meme-able and inseparable from the show's d

Anime: JoJo's Bizarre AdventureYear: 2012Artist: CodaIconic Rating: 8.6/10Animation Quality: 8.8/10Genre: Shonen / SupernaturalYouTube Views: 45 M

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Asterisk (Bleach)

Orange Range's ska-punk shuffle gave Bleach's Soul Society saga a scrappy, high-energy identity that matched Ichigo's brash swordsman attitude. Its instantly recognizable riff and quick-cut character intros made it a mid-2000s convention-hall staple. It's the opener most responsi

Anime: BleachYear: 2006Artist: Orange RangeIconic Rating: 8.4/10Animation Quality: 7.6/10Genre: Shonen / ActionYouTube Views: 22 M

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Snow Fairy (Fairy Tail)

FUNKIST's breezy ska-pop theme captures Fairy Tail's guild-family warmth better than almost any other opener captures its show's emotional core, all sunny horns and hand-drawn cheer. It became one of the most-covered anime openings on YouTube during the 2010s, embraced well beyon

Anime: Fairy TailYear: 2011Artist: FUNKISTIconic Rating: 7.8/10Animation Quality: 7.2/10Genre: Shonen / FantasyYouTube Views: 15 M

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Departure! (Hunter x Hunter)

Galneryus' driving instrumental-rock theme sets up Gon Freecss's journey with genuine adventure-movie stakes, its soaring riffs syncing to shots of the Hunter Exam's world-spanning scope. The 2011 reboot's opener is often cited as underrated next to flashier contemporaries, prize

Anime: Hunter x HunterYear: 2011Artist: GalneryusIconic Rating: 8.1/10Animation Quality: 8/10Genre: Shonen / AdventureYouTube Views: 20 M

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99 (Mob Psycho 100)

Who-ya Extended's shimmering rock theme, animated by Studio Bones at its most experimental, turns Mob's psychic-powers coming-of-age story into abstract art without losing emotional clarity. The opening is routinely cited by animators themselves as some of the best character-acti

Anime: Mob Psycho 100Year: 2019Artist: Who-ya ExtendedIconic Rating: 8/10Animation Quality: 9/10Genre: Supernatural / ComedyYouTube Views: 25 M

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Crossing Field (Sword Art Online)

LiSA's breakout theme paired soaring synth-rock with SAO's death-game premise, turning the show's early promise into must-watch event television during its 2012 debut. The blend of digital-world imagery and real stakes made LiSA a genre-defining voice for the rest of the decade.

Anime: Sword Art OnlineYear: 2012Artist: LiSAIconic Rating: 8.3/10Animation Quality: 7.9/10Genre: Action / FantasyYouTube Views: 28 M

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Colors (Code Geass)

FLOW's punchy rock theme gives Lelouch's rebellion drama a stylish, propulsive identity, its lyrics about seizing fate matching a protagonist who manipulates the world through sheer will. The mix of chessboard imagery and mask reveals foreshadowed the show's political-thriller tw

Anime: Code GeassYear: 2006Artist: FLOWIconic Rating: 8.5/10Animation Quality: 8.6/10Genre: Mecha / Political DramaYouTube Views: 20 M

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Sorairo Days (Gurren Lagann)

Shoko Nakagawa's explosive rock theme matches Gurren Lagann's 'never give up, drill through the impossible' philosophy so perfectly the show's motto could be lifted straight from its lyrics. The escalating visuals — mole boy to galaxy-conquering mecha pilot — tease the entire ser

Anime: Gurren LagannYear: 2007Artist: Shoko NakagawaIconic Rating: 8.7/10Animation Quality: 9.3/10Genre: Mecha / ComedyYouTube Views: 18 M

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