Lots of fantastic ones in here that I agree with but I don’t see these two yet:
Slime s2 op Like Flames - MindaRyn
Mob Psycho s1 op 99 - Mob Choir
The counting in 99 is the definition of hype! 99.9 is fantastic too, I love how hard the bass goes. And the animation is Bones flexing like crazy.
Padparadscha
I get the feeling you’re already familiar with my favorite anime OP
I’m just gonna copy and paste my comment from last time I answered this question on a forum. Most of these are just because they’re good songs that make the good chemicals go in my brain. Like, they’re the songs I throw on my playlist and listen to while I’m driving.
Land of the Lustrous’ opening, Kyoumen no Nami, is my #1 most listened to song on Youtube Music two years in a row, largely thanks to the fascinating polyrhythms
Aside from that, some top picks are (in order of best to not as best)
Akudama Drive (mainly for the visuals)
Noir (also mainly for the visuals)
My top 3 would be probably
1. Chainsaw Man - Kick Back. It’s the gift that keeps giving; every time that you watch it you’ll find something new, and the more that you like it.
Don’t get distracted by Power wearing a bikini, or the movie references - look at the details. Makima taking Denji for a walk, Denji seeing carnivorous flowers (a dangerous love), golden balls rolling… Mother’s Basement does an amazing job exploring it, way better than I could.
2. Elfen Lied - Lilium. The anime aged poorly, and it’s a weak adaptation of the manga, but damn! This OP is beautiful. And the Latin mass actually makes sense in the light of the manga’s story:
translation of the lyrics into English
The mouth of the just will practice wisdom
and his tongue will utter judgement.
Blessed the man who endures temptation
Since, as he’s being tested, he’ll take the crown of life.
O Lord, source of virtue
O Lord, divine fire, be merciful
Oh, how holy, how serene, how kind
how lovely the virgin is believed to be.
Oh, how holy, how serene, how kind
how lovely, oh chastity lilySwitch the genders for a moment and everything falls in place: the “man” enduring temptation is Lucy, asking for forgiveness to a “chastity lily” called Kouta. And she’s devoted to him almost religiously - because, even if she’s a sinner, he’s the one accepting her, giving her peace and serenity, pleading in her defence, as if he was her personal Virgin Mary.
3. Sorairo Days - Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. The song is great, don’t get me wrong, but what makes the OP really special for me is that it isn’t just “a single OP”. The scenes shown in the opening evolve alongside the story in the anime, while keeping the same catchy song. For example, here’s what the first ten seconds of the opening tells you:
- up to ep8 - it’s the story of three people: Kamina, Yoko, Simon.
- from ep9 to ep16 - it’s the story of a whole team that includes Yoko and Simon but much more people.
- from ep17 to the end - it’s the story of a boy growing up, Simon.
Except that it isn’t just those ten seconds. It’s the whole opening that evolves, throws back at earlier events just to push forward, in a way that feels completely natural and consistent with the theme of the anime series - evolving and going forward.
My answers to this question probably change every time I have answered it. Also, I tend to heavily favor the song over the visuals, so keep that in mind. Here are some that have stuck with me and popped into my head when seeing this:
- GO!!! by FLOW - Naruto
- Onegai Muscle - How Heavy are the Dumbbells You Lift?
- Shinda! by Masayoshi Ooishi - The Legendary Hero is Dead
- Change the World - Inuyasha
Of course, one of the all time greats that will always live in my head rent-free is Tank, but that felt like too obvious an answer.
I was obsessed with the entire Bocchi soundtrack so of course Seishun Complex has to go here. https://youtu.be/dlSbEP4V-gI?si=9qtlg4EyHa7vx7cA
The Beastars season 2 opener got stuck in my head big time. I wasn’t really into the j-pop scene yet at that point at this was kinda my gateway drug. https://youtu.be/-5M4lbEpn6c?si=J3DcHv1VVViZ8sw3
I just finished watching FMA Brotherhood so I’ll toss out the first opener as well. https://youtu.be/elyXcwunIYA?si=6QyqE-1clyEBfk_r
Cowboy Bebop OP - “Tank!” by The Seatbelts
Re:Zero OP 1 - “Redo” by Konomi Suzuki
Death Parade OP - “Flyers” by BRADIO
Origin spirits of the past OP - “Chouwa oto ~with reflection” by KOKIA
Noragami OP - “Goya wa Machiawase” by Hello Sleepwalkers
Noragami Aragoto OP - “Kyouran Hey Kids!!” by The Oral Cigarettes
Ore Monogatari!! OP - “Miraikei Answer” by Trustrick
Valkyrie Drive OP - “Overdrive” by Hitomi Harada
Durarara!!x2 Shou OP - “HEADHUNT” by OKAMOTO’S
Princess Principal OP - “The Other Side of the Wall” by VoidChords ft.MARU
Juuni Taisen OP - “Rupture” by PanoramaPanamaTown
The Promised Neverland OP - “Touch off” by UVERworld
Oshi No Ko OP - “Idol” by YOASOBI (Holy shit the full song has almost half a billion views)
So I’m a Spider, So What? OP - “Keep weaving your spider way” by Riko Azuna
Made in Abyss OP 1 - “Deep in Abyss” by Miyu Tomita and Mariya Ise
I love the Oshi no Ko OP so much. YOASOBI are awesome!
Tangential mini-rant, sorry
I generally love YOASOBI but don’t get why their song was chosen for Frieren’s OP. Probably just because of how popular they are as a performer. It’s a catchy song, but the style clashes so much and the Ending song (Anytime Anywhere by Milet) is way better of a match with that anime. Sorry to be a downer
Nagi no Asukara OP2 perfectly nailed the melancholic vibe and the song is so emotional and fits well with the episode.
Violet Evergarden’s is also very emotional and the artist carried hard with her expressiveness of her voice. This is perhaps the only OP where I noted the singer’s sheer raw talent.
Ao Ashi OP2 gorgeous cut at 0:08 and the song and visuals jived (jove?) very well. Puts a smile to my face every time.
Gintama OP 15 aka Gintama° OP2 rewarded viewers who watched all the way from the start. Adds more feels after you finished it once you know what would happen afterwards…
Stardust Telepath’s has a pseudo-morse code beat with a gorgeous final couple cuts and the transition between them.
Agh, can’t believe I completely forgot what Nagi no Asukara’s second OP sounded like. The way the breezy but melancholic vocals match that first scene of them all standing out in the wind deep in thought is just perfect.
I was going to add Ao Ashi OP2 also as it immediately stood out but I don’t think it hits as hard without context. It is better produced but the same vibes as Ace of Diamond OP3 where when you are invested in the character it hits way better
