Top 10 Anime Openings

Nothing gives you the feel of an anime like its opening credits. At a minute and a half, these credits are an art-form all their own. Here are the ten opening credits that excite me the most.

Song: "Shiver"

Artist: The Gazette

There's a lot going on in this opening. We have already seen 24 episodes of Sebastian and Ciel's adventures in the first season. In the second season, things have changed a bit between the Earl and his butler and they are dealing with a foe unlike any they have faced before.

In the second season, we see Ciel and Sebastian's relationship contrasted with the cruel Alois and his butler Claude. It's an interesting dynamic, seeing their similarities and differences and it expands the world of Black Butler. The second opening illustrates these relationships perfectly.

Song: "Stray"

Artist: BONES

The opening to Wolf's Rain has a different feel than most anime opening credits. Maybe it's that it's sung in English or maybe it's that 90s NYC sort of flair.

I can't say this opening fully describes the fundamental tone of the series, but with that clip of Kiba running frantically through the rain and passing other characters who are taking shelter in doorways, it does bring with it the kind of gritty desperation that is key to the show.

Song: "Kagen no Tsuki"

Artist: Komatsu Ryota x Charlie Kosei

Definitely one of the most creative opening credits I've ever seen and the show is just like it: all textures, atmosphere, and style. I have a soft spot for opening credits that make use of textures that aren't commonly found in anime. That combined with the beautifully offbeat song makes this one of my most re-watched credits.

The anime, itself, is both gorgeous and terrifying. I have only seen a few episodes, but this opening makes me want to watch them all.

Song: "Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!" or "I'm Pretty Sure It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!"

Artist: Konomi Suzuki and Kiba of Akiba

These opening credits are completely metaphorical. Watching them, you wouldn't expect them to belong to a school-life comedy. I think the metaphorical quality does a good job of portraying Tomoko's character. She is held prisoner by her anxiety and finds herself unable to engage with the people around her. She wants to be popular but at the same time she despises the popular kids.

Her life is a paradox, just like the heavy metal music and dirty cityscape surrounding such a fragile-looking girl.

Song: "Core Pride"

Artist: UVERworld

UVERworld is one of those bands that are punk enough to make you feel like a rebel but optimistic enough to keep you positive. Their style fits the feel of the show, as well as Rin Okumura's character, perfectly.

This opening is Blue Exorcist in a nutshell. It's school-life, it's exorcists, it's Rin angst, it's brother-feels. The credits are Rin, basically; he's the son of Satan, he has a lot of tough stuff to deal with both emotionally and physically, and he's had the reputation of being a hothead and a thug, but he's also loving and compassionate and gets excited about the little ordinary things that people with fewer problems overlook.

How can such different things come together in one person? Watch the opening credits. They do.

Song: "Hard Target"

Artist: Tsuneo Imahori

A good anime opening is one that immediately transports you and prepares you for the world of that anime. No opening does this better than the opening to Trigun.

As soon as the guitar riff begins and Vash's gun starts to pan across the screen, I am immediately transported to that desert planet where outlaws hold shoot-outs and people die of thirst. Never mind that the song in the opening is instrumental.

Song: "Tsurezure Monochrome"

Artist: Fuji Fabric

I've placed the Tsuritama opening at #4, but boy was it hard to do so. These last four openings are tied for #1, but I can't have four number ones, so I had to make some hard decisions.

This opening is one of the happiest things you'll ever see. It centers around the Inoshima Dance, sprinkled with bright colors, contrasting patterns, and silhouettes of fish and people. This is a memorable opening and one that's hard not to dance along to.

Song: "Uragiri No Yuuyake"

Artist: Theatre Brook

The first opening credits to Durarara!! are incredible in so many ways. Durarara!! is a show with many, many characters, all of them doing their own thing, all of them important, and all of them connected somehow.

The credits pan through each of these characters in a wave of effortless movement I've never seen before. Scenes bleed into each other, one character raising their hand becomes the next character putting their hand down. These credits are so well done, with the perfect choice of song. I get excited every time I see them.

Song: "Guren no Yumina" or "Crimson Bow and Arrow"

Artist: Linked Horizon

You don't know how much inner turmoil I endured putting this opening in second place rather than first, but in the end, I couldn't in good conscience rate it above my #1.

The opening credits to Attack on Titan are immaculate in every way. The song is incredible, the swift movement makes me want to join the Survey Corps (except then I'd have to fight titans, so...no thank you), and the colors reach something deep in my soul.

I don't know what it is about these credits. They're just amazing. When I was watching the anime, it never even crossed my mind to skip them.

Song: "Again"

Artist: Yui

And here it is, my absolute favorite anime opening: the first opening credits to Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Aside from being a show of breathtaking quality, it has all the best opening and ending credits: and there are many of them.

I don't know what it is about these particular credits: maybe it's the combination of tragic intensity and innocent children. It shows exactly what happened to Edward and Alphonse Elric, and the song chosen fits all of it perfectly.

I watch this every once in a while and every time I see it I want to watch the series again, which, at 64 episodes, is no small undertaking.

My ten favorite anime opening credits. The openings that cause me to watch shows over and over again.

But I'm curious: what are your favorite anime openings? Tell me in the comments below. Also, I've included a poll about multi-opening animes, asking which you think consistently have the best opening credits.

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