These bangers are the best in the anime scene! Join Ashley as we look over the songs in anime openings that have stuck with us
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00:00 [Music]
00:06 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 anime openings
00:11 we can't get out of our heads.
00:13 [Music]
00:21 Number 20, "Bling Bang Bang Born" by CreepyNuts.
00:26 "Mashall, Magic and Muscles."
00:28 An opening theme as offbeat and weird as its series, "Bling Bang Bang Born" may not
00:33 sound like a traditional anime song, but it still has plenty of appeal.
00:38 [Music]
00:44 The Jersey Club track does have some rapid-fire lyrics that can be tough to sing along to,
00:49 but its overall low-key vibe is fun to groove along with.
00:53 Its chorus, however, is extremely catchy, and it's likely this, along with its associated
00:59 dance, that has propelled it to the top of multiple Billboard charts and led to its inclusion
01:04 in plenty of memes.
01:06 [Music]
01:12 Like mash and cream puffs, we can't get enough.
01:16 [Music]
01:22 Number 19, "Wild Challenger" by Jindo.
01:26 "Bo Bo Bo Bo Bo Bo Bo."
01:28 This song certainly lives up to its name.
01:31 [Music]
01:36 With a sound as wild as its opening's bizarre visuals, "Wild Challenger" is a fitting
01:41 tune to open an anime as unique as "Bo Bo Bo Bo Bo Bo Bo."
01:46 Its singer's passionate and enthusiastic vocals make it fun to wail along to.
01:51 Additionally, its thrumming acoustic guitar beats, frequent English lyrics, and call-and-response
01:57 backing vocals help make "Wild Challenger" a challenging song to forget.
02:02 [Music]
02:09 We hardly need the encouragement, but that repeated "Come on, come on, come on"
02:13 draws us in every time we listen.
02:15 [Music]
02:20 Number 18, "Someone Else" by Kana Asumi, Saki Fujita, and Eri Kitamura.
02:27 "Wicking, cheerful, bouncy, and infectious, someone else is something else."
02:33 [Music]
02:37 Sung by three voice actresses who play some of the main heroines, the tune is carried
02:42 along primarily by their adorable vocals.
02:45 Still, the brassy backing instruments are no slouch either.
02:49 With the drums putting in plenty of work too.
02:52 [Music]
02:59 And of course, the repeated chorus of "One, one, someone, one" is one we're still
03:04 working to remove from our brains.
03:06 Quite unsuccessfully.
03:07 Still, if going to work was always this upbeat and cute, fewer people would probably dislike
03:13 their jobs.
03:14 [Music]
03:18 Number 17, "JoJo - Sonochi no Sadame" by Hiroaki "Tommy" Tominaga.
03:24 "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure."
03:25 [Music]
03:32 The inaugural opening of this long-running action series, "Sonochi no Sadame" is
03:38 every bit as epic as "JoJo" deserves.
03:41 The blaring brass, wailing guitar, and unrelenting drums all build throughout, carrying the
03:47 listener along until the final crescendo.
03:50 Meanwhile, Tominaga's powerful voice is one we can't help but sing along with.
03:55 No matter what the situation, this opening turns anything mundane into something truly
04:01 legendary.
04:02 [Music]
04:09 The title means "The Fate of That Blood," and if our fate is to never forget this song,
04:15 then it will be a glorious destiny indeed.
04:18 [Music]
04:23 Number 16, "Now or Never" by Chemistry Meets M-Flow, "Astro Boy."
04:29 "Global Astro!"
04:31 [Music]
04:35 A pop meets hip-hop song probably isn't the first thing you think of when it comes
04:39 to Astro Boy, but oddly, it fits.
04:42 Pop duo Chemistry's more soulful vocals alternate with hip-hop group M-Flow's more
04:48 rapid-fire delivery to create an invention as ingenious as Atom himself.
04:54 [Music]
05:02 Musically, the smooth electronic beat perfectly complements the vocals and helps add to the
05:08 overall call-and-response feeling of the tune.
05:11 Even if you can't remember the lyrics, you'll be humming along to "Now or Never,"
05:15 now and never want to stop.
05:17 [Music]
05:22 Number 15, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" by Queendom, "Ya Boy Kong Ming."
05:28 What do a Dick Van Dyke movie about a flying car and an anime about a Chinese strategist
05:34 reborn in modern Japan and a Hungarian song all have in common?
05:39 Somehow, it's this anime opening.
05:41 [Music]
05:49 A Japanese cover of the aforementioned Hungarian tune "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" is a relentlessly
05:56 catchy party song.
05:57 The effervescent club sound and simple chorus all work to get your toes tapping along with
06:03 the beat.
06:04 [Music]
06:12 Before long, you'll find yourself grooving along with the dance moves of the characters
06:16 in the opening.
06:17 Of course, it's all according to Kong Ming's plan.
06:20 [Music]
06:28 Number 14, "Raise Your Flag" by Man With A Mission, "Mobile Suit Gundam."
06:34 "Iron-Blooded Orphans."
06:36 From its string-heavy opening to its rocking conclusion, "Raise Your Flag" barely lets
06:41 up.
06:41 The J-Rock opening song features alternating English and Japanese vocals.
06:46 [Music]
06:55 Meanwhile, the instrumentals feature some wicked guitar riffs and a drum beat that continues
07:00 throughout.
07:01 "Raise Your Flag's" blistering pace and thumping beat gets us going every time we
07:06 hear it.
07:06 [Music]
07:14 While it may not increase your blood's iron content, it should still get it pumping harder
07:20 as you nod in time to the rhythm.
07:22 We'd gladly raise the flag of this opening at any opportunity.
07:26 [Music]
07:36 Number 13, "Welcome To Chaos" by No Name, "Dorohedoro."
07:42 While this opening doesn't quite live up to its name – there is still a melody after
07:46 all – it's not far off from "Total Mayhem."
07:48 [Music]
07:53 The hard rock beat is catchy and is bound to inspire headbanging with its intense guitar
07:59 and drums.
08:00 [Music]
08:06 Meanwhile, the ethereal vocals are occasionally accompanied by a wordless call that ties everything
08:11 together nicely.
08:13 It all comes together to make a strangely compelling and very memorable song.
08:18 "Welcome To Chaos" is as utterly bizarre as "Dorohedoro" itself, yet both are so
08:24 entrancing you won't be able to resist.
08:26 [Music]
08:32 Number 12, "Wild Side" by Ali, "Beastars."
08:37 Hip-hop funk band, Ali, have delivered some very memorable anime songs, but their most
08:42 notable opening is "Wild Side."
08:44 [Music]
08:52 The vocals alternate between fast-paced Japanese lyrics and slower-paced English ones at first.
08:58 However, the latter picks up pace, along with the music, as it really gets into the swing
09:03 of things towards the conclusion.
09:05 The jazzy tune is primarily piano and brass-driven, though there are some great drums throughout
09:11 too.
09:12 [Music]
09:19 Everything blends into a toe-tapping tune that drives us wild.
09:23 But if you don't get it, or it's not your thing, well, that's jazz.
09:28 [Music]
09:34 Number 11, "Idol" by Yoasobi, "Oshinoko."
09:38 Performed by pop duo Yoasobi, "Idol" perfectly encapsulates the tone of this idol anime.
09:45 [Music]
09:51 Mixing J-pop with an energetic hip-hop sound, along with a gothic choir, this opening may
09:57 be bubbly and sweet on the surface, but like the show itself, it has a dark side hidden
10:03 within.
10:04 The vocals are at once cheery and vaguely menacing.
10:07 [Music]
10:14 The bouncy rhythm and intriguing mix of styles makes "Idol" instantly memorable, and
10:20 likely helped translate to its record-breaking success on the charts worldwide.
10:24 Truly, "Idol" is an idol of a catchy anime opening.
10:28 [Music]
10:34 Number 10, "Colors" by Flo, "Code Geass, Lelouch of the Rebellion."
10:40 J-rock band Flo have created a mountain of catchy anime opening themes, but "Colors"
10:45 just might be their masterpiece.
10:47 Right from that opening, "Jibun-Wo," you're hooked.
10:51 [Music]
10:58 "Colors" is a glorious fanfare of a song, with triumphant, passionate vocals throughout.
11:04 The call-and-response-like sections are particularly memorable.
11:07 If it weren't music independent of the opening, we'd swear Flo used Geass to control us,
11:13 because we can't help singing along every time we hear it.
11:17 [Music]
11:24 Why the Code Geass creators ever switched to a new opening is beyond us.
11:30 [Music]
11:36 Number 9, "History Maker" by Dean Fujioka, "Yuri on Ice."
11:42 One of the rare anime openings sung completely in English, "History Maker" is inspiration
11:47 embodied in musical form.
11:49 [Music]
11:56 Its soulful vocals tug at the heartstrings, while its lyrics emphasize pursuing your dreams.
12:02 The chorus especially is impossible to forget.
12:05 Musically, after a more traditional instrumental beginning, the song's breakdown moves to
12:10 a more electronic sound.
12:12 [Music]
12:17 The song is stirring, catchy, and memorable enough to warrant its inclusion in real Olympic
12:23 routines.
12:24 Wherever your passion lies, "History Maker" is sure to push you towards achieving your
12:29 goals, or at least singing about doing so.
12:32 [Music]
12:38 Number 8, "Viva Namida" by Yasuyuki Okamura, "Space Dandy."
12:44 Every bit as charming and strange as the sci-fi comedy anime it opens, "Viva Namida"
12:50 is smooth listening.
12:51 [Music]
12:58 Okamura's voice oozes charisma and perfectly fits the tone of "Space Dandy."
13:03 The sound of "Viva Namida" feels like a strange mix of funk and EDM, and its beat
13:09 is no joke.
13:11 The number of toes it is sent tapping is out of this world.
13:14 [Music]
13:21 But whether it's the vocals or the music that gets stuck in your head, "Viva Namida"
13:26 will have you grooving along to it regardless.
13:28 [Music]
13:34 Number 7, "Specials" by King Noo, "Jujutsu Kaisen."
13:38 [Music]
13:44 JJK never misses with its openings, but "Specials" is perhaps the catchiest.
13:50 While the constant refrain of "You are my special" is siltly lodged in all our brains,
13:55 the rest of the song is extremely catchy too.
13:58 The moody, almost sinister tone of the song is perfect for this anime and the arc it opens.
14:05 [Music]
14:13 The vocals, on the other hand, alternate between singers frequently, which helps create the
14:17 sort of hypnotic feeling of the melody.
14:20 "Specials" draws you in like a black hole, and it's equally inescapable.
14:25 Not that you'll want to, even if you could.
14:27 [Music]
14:33 Number 6, "Flyers" by Braidio, "Death Parade."
14:37 Its tone may bear little resemblance to the series that it opens, but "Flyers" is
14:41 such a legendary bop that you won't care.
14:44 [Music]
14:53 The lead vocalist goes off with his performance, and his back-and-forth singing with the backing
14:58 vocalists is fantastic.
15:00 And we'd be remiss without mentioning that oh-so-catchy chorus that has us putting our
15:05 hands up in the air like we just don't care.
15:08 [Music]
15:15 The music incorporates funk, big band, and more genres besides to create a tune that
15:21 you'll be humming for years after you first hear it.
15:24 [Music]
15:30 Number 5, "Haire no Kakakata Katamoi Si" by Kenichi Haire no Mayuyamada, "Nichijou."
15:38 Slices of life comedy anime often feature catchy, adorable tunes, and "Nichijou" is
15:43 no exception.
15:45 [Music]
15:50 This upbeat J-pop tune features dueling vocals from a male and female vocalist singing about
15:56 unrequited love.
15:57 Except it's rather more one-sided than that, since the female vocals are actually a digitally
16:03 altered version of Haire himself.
16:05 [Music]
16:11 Of course, that's far from the most unique thing about "Nichijou."
16:15 Regardless though, the song's bombastic, energetic tone will help prepare you for whatever
16:20 strange happenings go on in the show.
16:22 Well, sort of.
16:23 And stick with you long after you're done watching.
16:26 [Music]
16:30 Number 4, "Oz" by Hiroshi Kitadani, "One Piece."
16:35 There are a ton of "One Piece" openings, many of them performed by Hiroshi Kitadani.
16:40 Call it recency bias if you must, but his latest may be the catchiest of the lot.
16:46 [Music]
16:50 Along with its vibrant Easter egg, or Easter egghead-packed visuals, "Oz" delivers a
16:56 rollicking, upbeat rock song.
16:58 Led by Kitadani's powerful lead vocals and supported by a chorus of others, the song
17:04 is brimming with positivity and adventure.
17:07 [Music]
17:15 "Oz" will make you feel like you're never alone, if only because it'll be playing
17:20 on loop in your brain until Luffy and the Straw Hats find the One Piece and beyond.
17:26 [Music]
17:34 Number 3, "Motoke!
17:35 Sailor Fuku" by Aya Hirano, Emiri Kato, Kaori Fukuhara, and Aya Endo.
17:41 Lucky star.
17:43 There are many cute girls doing cute things anime openings sung by the voice actresses,
17:48 but "Motoke!
17:49 Sailor Fuku" is the ultimate example of the archetype.
17:52 [Music]
17:58 The adorable, cutesy voices are borderline infectious.
18:03 Regardless of your feelings, there's no denying that this tune is an absolute earworm.
18:07 [Music]
18:13 The song and its accompanying dance have become widespread and popular among the anime community,
18:20 with memes taking over the internet and impromptu dance sessions taking over conventions.
18:25 Love it or hate it, "Motoke!
18:27 Sailor Fuku" is inescapable.
18:29 [Music]
18:34 Number 2, "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" by Yoko Takahashi, Neon Genesis Evangelion.
18:40 [Music]
18:53 In the annals of anime openings, few are as famous as a cruel angel's thesis.
18:59 This snappy pop song may not hook you immediately, but its appeal grows over time.
19:04 Yoko Takahashi's beautiful voice and the brassy, fast-paced, drum-heavy tune
19:10 are instantly recognisable and hard to forget.
19:13 [Music]
19:21 With its ethereal notes and memorable lyrics, it's truly a song for all occasions,
19:26 from music halls to karaoke to conventions.
19:30 But wherever or whenever you encounter it, a cruel angel's thesis is sure to hit like third impact.
19:37 Oh, too soon?
19:38 [Music]
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19:58 Number 1 – Chala Hed Chala by Hironobu Kagayama – Dragon Ball Z
20:03 As arguably the most influential shonen anime ever made,
20:08 Dragon Ball Z's first opening is one that's near and dear to the hearts of many anime fans.
20:14 [Music]
20:22 Chala Hed Chala has a memorable chorus – it's in the title, after all – but it's so much more
20:27 than that. The classic rock song is an epic distillation of the spirit of adventure. Kagayama's
20:34 vocals go to such heights that you can't help but want to sing along, even if you can't reach them.
20:40 [Music]
20:44 That's the Dragon Ball spirit for you. Always inspiring competition and personal growth,
20:49 Chala Hed Chala is an incredibly catchy opening that will forever be sparking in our minds.
20:56 [Music]
21:02 Is there an anime opening stuck in your head that failed to stick on our list?
21:06 Everybody type your favorites in the comments below.
21:09 [Music]
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21:26 [Music]