Top Anime Openings: Part One

Anime openings are amazing. It's what gets otakus like us into the great and magical thing called J-Pop music and love it more than some of the American smut produced these days. But the openings seem to be one of the few things that draws us into watching anime. I got into quite a few animes solely just because the openings looked freaking sweet. They give us a look to what we are about to watch accompanied with a minute and a half of great music. It gives us a sneak peek of something we're all bound to love. And I'm here to name off the top twenty anime openings. Why twenty? Well I was listing off so many, I decided to hell with it; I'll just make a huge list. And this is all personal opinion and keep in mind, this was very difficult to make because I'm a sucker for great music, especially anything Japanese. So if you don't see an opening you like on this list or you think it's not placed properly, then sorry. Also, beware of spoilers and mature content in the openings. I will try to provide the actual anime opening but if not, then I'll just give the full song. So welcome to...

~Liz's Top 20 Anime Openings (#s 20-11)~

20. Connect by ClariS (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

A beautiful song to open up to a beautifully done anime. It's fast paced and strong while still maintaining a slight sense of softness to it. The song speaks of being trapped in a world of darkness but prevailing through every difficult challenge to see a bright future. It's message is simple: Never give up no matter what. And that's essentially what the anime itself is about. It has a simple message but through both the opening song and anime, it is displayed so strongly and just drags you in through every tragedy, twist and turn Madoka, Homura and others have to suffer to ultimately reach for a miracle of hope. A great song that fits just perfectly with a great anime.

19.  Monochrome no Kiss by SID (Black Butler)

First off, this was as good of a video I could get without getting some half-assed cover or dub of it. Seriously! If you can't sing, don't share it to the world and don't cover a good song if it's great in it's original format! Do you people have no appreciation for good music?! *rant over*

I like how the song just starts off with the guitar and whatever other instruments are used and then suddenly rocks out with electric guitar. From what I can get from the translation, it sounds being attached to some temptress while knowing it will cause you pain and eventually the bond with that person will eventually have to be broken no matter what pain the other has to go through. Again, fits perfectly with the anime with the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian (Yeah yeah go crazy you yaoi fans). The song also feels slightly dark and matches the tone of the anime too. Dark, dramatic and catchy, it's another great anime with a great and memorable opening.

18. Sakura Kiss by Cheico Kawabe (Ouran High School Host Club)

Ignore the crappy dubbed over opening that was a total shame on Funimation and focus on the original Japanese one. God, I'm sorry but that chick could not sing.

It's a very cute opening for a very cute romantic and comedic anime. If you can find the original music video to this song, watch it cause it's pretty random but still oddly cute. I probably sound like a broken record but it is uncanny how the message of the song fits with the anime. I don't know if it's intended or not but it's still pretty awesome. The song itself is about a girl confused about the feeling of love but dreams of giving the one she loves a "cherry blossom kiss". The animation of the opening is very adorable too with introducing the main cast. I mostly enjoy the opening for the song itself. It's cute and catchy and well... freaking adorable! <3

17. Sekirei by Saori Hayami, Marina Inoue, Kana Hanazawa, and Aya Endo (Sekirei.... Couldn't have figured up with a creative title for the song yourself...?)

Sung by a portion of the main cast of the anime itself, the opening is very intense and drags you into the action the anime has to offer. It's much like the anime; fun, exciting, cute and full of power. The song itself speaks of hope prevailing in a dark world, just like Puella Magi Madoka Magica. In fact the message in the two different animes are pretty similar too. Yet both make for great animes while stayin unique.

16. Paradise Lost by Minori Chihara (Ga-rei: Zero)

Yet another song that sings of searching for some light in the darkness. A perfect fit for this tragic anime. It's loud, fast-paced and fits well with the dark elements of this anime. It just feels so epic and gets me excited for whatever action is gonna come my way. I just absolutely adore both the opening and the anime itself for everything that they are.

15. Sorairo Days by Shoko Nakagawa

Nothing like a great song to get someone pumped into a mecha anime full of action at every turn. It's just so freaking epic! I love it! It speaks of determination like the determination of Team Gurren to reach the skies! This song just feels so "F*** yeah!" every time I hear it. It gets you pumped and excited for the action you will soon see.

14. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni by Shimamiya Eiko (When they cry [English translation]

How about something completely eerie and terrifying for an equally eerie and terrifying anime? This song just sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it, because I know it's associated with this particular anime. The arrangement with the vocals, instruments and whatever is used makes for a rather scary song. The English translation of the lyrics is pretty creepy too. Almost gives off the paranoia you feel the characters feeling in the show. And of course the animation of the opening itself is somewhat as scary but it's very artistic and unique that it's actually very beautiful in its own way. It really does draw you into the show itself despite whatever violence will come your way.

13. Colors by Flow (Code Geass)

Flow is one of the few J-Pop bands well known for doing openings to animes, including Naruto. This is just one of them. From the first note of the song, I'm instantly drawn into it. Everything about this song is great. Look up the full version of the song, it actually has a great guitar solo in the middle of the song and when it ends, it has really great piano. This song marks the beginning of the ambitions of Zero and the Black Knights to create a better world.

12. Motteke! Sera Fuku! by Aya Hirano, Emiri Kato, Kaori Fukuhara, and Aya Endo (Lucky Star)

Yeah yeah this was bound to show up eventually. Even if you haven't seen the anime itself, any otaku at least knows the opening dance, even if it's been parodied with a completely different anime. I discovered this anime from a parody of this opening with Kingdom Hearts. It's catchy, fun and matches with the colorful energy of the anime itself. What can I say? I'm a sucker for it. And yes, I know the dance by heart too. I guess when a song is choreographed to a dance, it makes it more memorable and attracts a bigger audience.

11. Rolling Star by Yui (Bleach)

This was really hard to decide. Bleach is filled with such great openings and it's really hard to pick just one. Out of what I've seen of Bleach, I love all the openings except for one. And they're really great openings too. All are catchy and memorable and full of energy. The fifth opening of Bleach is no exception. I love Yui's voice. I even loved her in the first opening of FMA: Brotherhood. Her music is so energetic and fun but it takes time to be slow and beautiful. This is one of my favorite Bleach openings because it's catchy and powerful. I really love it.

So that's part one of my stupidly long list. Keep watching for part two: Coming soon! <3