Hollywood may not put much stock into theme songs when it comes to TV, but that’s alright; Japan is making up for the difference.
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Even if you are new to the anime fandom, there’s no way you can miss the industry’s love for music. Even the simplest anime titles have full-blown openings and endings – and some of them have become very famous over the years.
Anime theme songs are a big deal in Japan, and fans take the songs very seriously. Shows will often have more than one opening within a single season, and long-running series can have dozens of endings. Titles like One Piece and Naruto have collected more than 20 openings during their tenure.
When it comes to anime openings, there is a particular focus put upon the songs as they preface a series actually story. Opening themes are created to give fans a look into the show’s tone, content, and even story arc from time to time. Here at ComicBook, we are listing just some of the industry’s best openings over the years, so you’ll want to get your headphones ready.
As you might expect, things are about to get loud.
Sailor Moon – Moonlight Densetsu
When it comes to shojo anime, Sailor Moon reigns supreme, and the same can be said for the anime’s first opening. Created in the 1990s, the bubbly anime debuted with the Japanese single “Moonlight Legend” as its opening. The track proved to be an infectious one as it acted as Sailor Moon’s opening for four seasons straight. When the series came to an end with its 200th episode, “Moonlight Legend” was brought back to wrap the anime. In the years following, many of Japan’s top female idols like Kitade Nana have covered the lilting song. And, of course, the song’s English dub became a hit comparable to the Pokemon theme song in the USA.
Attack on Titan – Feuerroter Pfeil und Bogen
Attack on Titan’s first opening theme is the newest on this list, and it may come to usurp other classics in years to come. Back in 2013, the suspenseful anime hit television, and its track “Guren no Yumiya” become a bonafide phenomenon. The track, which is sung by REVO of Linked Horizon, stuns from its opening chord. The dramatic anthem keys in with a boisterous chorus that leads into one rock-influenced orchestra. Filled with dramatic pauses and stops, the Attack on Titan theme is less of a song and more of a declaration for fans.
Tokyo Ghoul – unravel
If you have no interest in checking out Tokyo Ghoul, that’s fine. However, you should do yourself a favor by checking out its first opening. Created in 2014, Tokyo Ghoul debuted with the opening theme “Unravel” as performed by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure. The track starts off quietly with whispery vocals before it ramps up into a gothic whirlwind. The anime’s opening became a viral hit amongst fans, and it solidified TK’s ongoing career as a solo artist.
Cowboy Bebop – Tank!
Cowboy Bebop is recognized as one of anime’s best creations to date, and its soundtrack isn’t half-bad either. When the cross-genre series first debuted, it did so with “Tank!” The song was penned by Yoko Kanno and sing by a group known as Seatbelts. The distinctly jazzy piece is primarily instrumental, but its opening narration is now engraved in the minds of millions. When any anime fans hears “Okay, 3, 2, 1 – let’s jam,” they know they better get ready to throw down hard.
