Top 25 Anime Openings Ever (2024)

When delving into anime, we often initially focus on the story and characters. Yet, over time, we come to appreciate another aspect: the opening theme songs. For avid anime viewers, tracks like JJK’s “Kaikai Kitan” or Demon Slayer’s “Gurenge” likely already grace their playlists. With countless OP themes out there, each fan harbors their favorites. For those seeking new additions, here’s a curated selection of the top 25 anime openings of all time. Enjoy!

Note: Psst! We can’t rank all these wonderful anime opening songs that we adore. So, without any further ado, three, two, one, let’s jam!

25. “Idol” – Oshi no Ko

Oshi no Ko, released in 2023, quickly became a sensation with a captivating opening produced by Japanese singer Yoasobi. The song, “Idol,” accompanied by stunning visuals, propelled it to blockbuster status.

With over 250M views on YouTube within 3 months, it’s evident how well-received it was. If you haven’t watched this anime yet, I highly recommend it as it’s a recent addition to the sad anime list.

24. “Work” – Hell’s Paradise

The first half of 2023 just ended, bringing us many catchy openings. With animation quality improving yearly, Hell’s Paradise’s opening stunned us with its quality. “The Work” by Millennium Parade and Sheena Ringo is an instantly addictive song, blending seamlessly with the top-notch visuals of Hell’s Paradise. This energetic opening solidified its place among the best, much like the anime itself. If you haven’t watched it yet, I highly recommend starting on Netflix (Check out the best anime on Netflix here).

23. Battle Cry – Samurai Champloo

Shinichirō Watanabe, known for Cowboy Bebop, created another masterpiece, Samurai Champloo. Like Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo boasts a unique anime opening. The distinct art style and Battle Cry by Nujabes feat. Shing02 are amazing. We desire more openings like this, as it’s the only hip-hop-based anime opening.

22. “Home” – Fruits Basket

We have numerous dynamic and energetic anime openings, but how about a sweet and soulful one? Fruits Basket, renowned for its romance, delivers just that. With its beautiful soundtrack and mesmerizing Ops and Eds, Fruits Basket presents “Home” by Toki Asako. This opening features a gorgeous montage of beloved characters from the series, accompanied by a soothing song. Highly recommended for cat lovers, as it showcases one of the finest feline characters in anime.

21. “Bloody Stream” – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Bloody Stream by Coda perfectly complements one of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s best seasons, matching the anime’s vibrant and distinctive art style. Check out the Dio version of this song too. JoJo stands out for its iconic moments, meme-worthy content, fantastic soundtracks, and memorable openings and endings!

20. “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” – Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion stands as a masterpiece anime. A Cruel Angel’s Thesis (Zankoku na Tenshi no Te-ze) serves as its tailor-made opening. Loved by fans worldwide, this classic anime, accompanied by Yōko Takahashi’s rendition, evokes nostalgia and cherished memories. Despite its psychological depth, the anime offers an enjoyable opening to vibe with.

19. “Hero” – One Punch Man

The One Punch Man anime stirred excitement upon its 2015 release. Eight years later, no superhero anime opening has rivaled The Hero by JAM Project. Meticulously integrating Saitama’s one-punch prowess, this opening stands among the finest. It’s a tune to energize your pre-workout routine or any activity.

18. “Renai Circulation” – Bakemonogatari

Renai Circulation, a meme staple for so long, has eclipsed the anime it belongs to in fame. Despite its brief appearance in just two episodes, it has soared to become one of anime’s greatest openings, thanks to its meme status. Its saccharine sweetness captivates me, and I find myself listening to it almost daily. The artist’s charming voice, accompanied by visually pleasing scenes, effortlessly lifts the mood. Therefore, Bakemonogatari’s opening will endure in the realm of memes indefinitely.

17. “Colors” – Code Geass

Code Geass, known for its dark theme, presents a vibrant opening with “Colors” by FLOW. This track, crafted by the same artist behind the captivating “Sign” from Naruto, showcases their consistency in excellence. “Colors” by FLOW stands as one of the greatest anime openings ever. Additionally, Code Geass features a compelling protagonist, making it a must-watch for those seeking an exhilarating experience.

16. “Cry Baby” – Tokyo Revengers

Tokyo Revengers’ MC Takemichi is often dubbed the cry baby, and fittingly, “Cry Baby” by Official Hige Dandism became the anime’s first opening theme. Before gaining popularity, this opening was certified a hit from day one. I vividly recall enjoying this refreshing opening every episode without fail. The montage of our favorite Tokyo Manji characters striking cold poses to this song adds to its appeal!

15. “Kaikai Kitan” – Jujutsu Kaisen

Eve has released another masterpiece song for the Jujutsu Kaisen anime. JJK is acclaimed for its exceptional animation quality by MAPPA Studios. The opening is filled with captivating visuals and an enchanting song by Eve. While there have been several anime openings for JJK, nothing compares to this masterpiece by Eve.

14. Fly High – Haikyuu

Haikyuu stands out as one of the finest sports anime ever crafted. Among its many openings, none rival the impact of the fourth: “Fly High” by Burnout Syndromes. Why? This song seamlessly intertwines with the essence of the anime. Its lyrics mirror the characters’ aspirations, cleverly symbolized by crows. It’s a truly invigorating and luminous anime opening.

13. “Bokurano” – My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia boasts 11 anime openings, each with addictive songs. However, the recent opening “Bokurano” by Eve for the 6th season instantly captivated fans. Eve has crafted stunning openings for both Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia, two of the top current Shonen anime. Despite the latest season’s darker tone, this opening shone brightly, inspiring hope for the future. Let’s not overlook the enduring appeal of the original MHA openings, “The Day” and “Odd Future.” Altogether, My Hero Academia has gifted us with numerous timeless openings.

12. “99” – Mob Psycho 100

Mob Psycho 100 epitomizes a unique anime experience. Doubt lingers whether even ONE, the creator of Mob and OPM, could replicate such magic in Mob’s life story. Perfectly complementing this exceptional anime, 99 by Mob Choir ascended to one of anime’s finest openings. What renders this opening extraordinary is its reflection of Mob’s power escalation to 100. They ingeniously translated this concept into an invigorating song accompanied by mesmerizing visuals. Who could have imagined counting from 1 to 100 could be so exhilarating? Moreover, despite being for season 1, this opening subtly hinted at numerous upcoming events, later realized by viewers.

11. “Gotta Catch Them All” – Pokémon

10. “Kick Back” – Chainsaw Man

Among the best anime openings, this stands out as a cleverly and meticulously crafted work of art. When Chainsaw Man aired, its opening played a significant role in its internet explosion. It’s my favorite anime opening due to its numerous references to Hollywood and anime. As a cinephile and otaku, I deeply appreciate this brilliantly crafted work. With Kenshi Yonezu’s thundering voice, this song elevates the experience to another level!

9. “Silhouette” – Naruto Series

Following Pokemon, Dragon Ball, and One Piece, Naruto holds a significant place in our childhood memories. Among its numerous anime openings, Silhouette by Kana-Boon remains a timeless favorite. Featuring beloved characters set to a captivating melody, it continues to resonate with fans even decades later. Other noteworthy Naruto openings include Blue Bird, Hotaru no Hikari, and Sign.

8. “We Are” – One Piece

7. “Departure” – HunterxHunter

Departures by Masatoshi Ono stands as one of the esteemed anime openings. Ono’s voice, coupled with motivating lyrics and scintillating visuals of HxH, is a spectacle. This song inspires us to achieve our goals; therefore, I recommend checking out its translated lyrics. Listening to it again gives us goosebumps and reminisces all iconic HxH moments (view the best arcs of Hunter x Hunter here).

6. “Again” – Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood

Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood resides in the god-tier echelons of anime history. Much like the series itself, its opening, “Again” by Yui, stands as one of the greatest of all time. Yui’s captivating vocals elevate the song to unparalleled heights. Accompanied by a captivating montage featuring beloved characters, this opening ensnares our attention, rendering skipping unthinkable. While debates over FMA vs. FMAB persist, this opening undoubtedly tips the scale in favor of the latter—albeit, in good jest!

5. “Tank” – Cowboy Bebop

I struggle to find words to praise the legendary anime “Cowboy Bebop.” It’s unique with futuristic world-building and a distinctive storyline. The characters are quirky, which is why we love this show. The creators utilized every aspect like characters, weapons, spaceships, etc., to create the most fun anime opening.

Recently, they recreated the opening song for the live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop. However, they couldn’t capture the magic of the anime, and the adaptation wasn’t successful. Let’s hope Netflix’s One Piece live action lives up to the hype and fans’ standards.

4. “Unravel” – Tokyo Ghoul

One of the most iconic anime openings is Unravel from Tokyo Ghoul. Even friends not into anime recognize this theme, attesting to its widespread popularity. Despite the anime’s shortcomings compared to the manga, Unravel resonates deeply and stands as the quintessential anime opening.

For a psychological and dark anime, its lyrics aptly reflect its themes, complemented by stunning visuals. Even for non-viewers, this opening captivates, eliciting enthusiastic reactions.

3. “Gurenge” – Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba)

2019 marked a milestone for anime enthusiasts with the release of Demon Slayer, a profoundly influential series. Its exceptional animation set a new standard, inspiring numerous contemporary anime to push boundaries. Gurenge by LiSA, the show’s opening theme, mirrored its success, dominating charts since its debut.

LiSA’s dynamic vocals, coupled with Ufotable Studios’ masterful animation, propelled this opening to fan-favorite status. It has become a staple in anime compilations. Recent Demon Slayer openings like Zankyou Sanka & Kizuna no Kiseki also warrant attention.

2. “The World” – Death Note

Demon Sayer aside, Death Note stands out as a popular entry-level anime. Its inaugural theme song holds a special place in many hearts, offering a solid introduction and hinting at the character of protagonist Light Yagami.

With a captivating soundtrack, Death Note continues to captivate viewers, making it a timeless favorite for many.

1. “Guren no Yumiya” – Attack on Titan

Even after a decade, Guren no Yumiya by Linked Horizon remains a beloved anime opening. It’s one of the standout choices among Attack on Titan fans, showcasing the series’ knack for exceptional openings.

The anime opening’s lyrics and visuals flawlessly portray the enduring fighting spirit of our favorite characters. Guren no Yumiya will continue to echo loudly in every AOT fan’s life. Check out other AoT soundtracks by the same artist for guaranteed goosebumps!

How could we not mention Shinzou wo Sasageyo! and Rumbling? These themes have cemented a special place in AoT fans’ hearts. Recently, the rumbling stormed the world, and Shinzou wo Sasageyo evoked patriotism for a non-existent nation!

Here are the 25 greatest anime opening themes. There are likely more anime openings we couldn’t include. If we missed any of your favorites, let us know in the comments. We’ll update this list regularly with your suggestions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is considered the best anime opening?

Guren No Yumiya by Linked Horizon for Attack on Titan is widely regarded as the best anime opening.

What are the top 10 anime intros?

We’ve listed the top 25 anime intros, so you can find the top 10 anime intros here.

What is the most listened anime song?

Gurenge by LiSA is the most streamed and listened to anime opening song ever.