Top 10 anime openings of all time - Music Video Hub!

Making a top list of anime openings isn't a easy task. And not only because of the huge amount of great animes with awesome entrances... Fact is, each and everyone of us (anime lovers that is ^.^) has a unique take on the subject, depending of what we've seen and our personal taste.

So yes, I will be heavily criticized by my choices, not only concerning the openings I have left behind, but probably even in the order of importance of the openings I did include! That's fine, you can state your opinion in the comments area (if I have a lot of feedback there's probably gonna be a take 2 anyway, to satisfy the angry mob, lol).

However there are some things I would like to clarify since the beggining:

• we are talking of anime OPENINGS, not endings - so please, leave FLCL Shooting Star out of this ^_o
• I didn't reach this results randomly or based solely on my liking. I did a thorough research in the main anime forums, consulted opinion polls and some oficial numbers regarding enquiries in anime festivals in Japan and even checked the number of viewings of these themes from the general public in video servers like youtube.
• Of course, I also saw A LOT of different anime openings...
• due to his fact some of my personal favorites where excluded (so I'm as pissed off as you, anonymous anime reader ^_^') and some openings displayed are from animes I actually never saw before making this article.

Having said that, I will now speak of the four factors that had weight in evaluation and that can be referred to as MASP:

MUSIC - the overall quality of the song, it's rhythm, lyrics and can't-get-out-of-my-mind factor ^.^'

ANIMATION - quality of the animation (attending the era it was produced), artistic value of the presentation, style and originality;

SYNCH - harmony between the music and the animation;

POPULARITY - not only of the song, but of the show itself. Great openings are part of great animes, so this factor has to be accounted for.

Each of this stats will have a one to five-star rating, and each choice will have a little text explaining why is the opening so good. In case of tie between total number of stars, music will be first wining criteria, being popularity the second.

Enjoy!

Black Jack fist opening gets in the top 10 thanks to an excellent pop song by Janne da Arc coupled with some interesting sound effects built in the opening that gives it quite a special touch! As for the animation I would say that it's pretty good (that scene with the house overview is top-notch stuff), although it's style won't please everyone (but I dare say those dolphins are cute!). The synch is almost perfect as well. So, with such nice qualities why last on the ranking? That's right, popularity. Compared with some of the other animes this one is simply unknown to most of the public and that took it's toll.

Xaram! Enter Excel to get the number 9 spot! Yumiko Kobayashi and Mikako Takahashi give voice to an incredibly funny music full of sparkle and rhythm, even if it has a braineless lyric (that banana part always makes me laugh), but that's ok because it matches the tone of the show! The animation is nothing to awe for, but even so it's pretty polished. Four stars is fair as an originality award. But the synch, my god, the synch is sooo good! They really hit the jackpot there, specially in the singing excel and hyatt.

Lain is a fabulous anime and shows it right from the opening. Boa's Duvet is a stuning song, that sticks in your ears for a very long time. It's animation follows the series tone - simplistic, even wierd at moments, yet gorgeous, with details that make you think of one word: art. As for the synch between those two elements, that is nicely done as well.

Death Note's first opening is brilliant. It features a cool rock track, but it's highlights are definitely the beautiful artwork of the animation - notice the contrasts between red and blue - and it's unbelievable synch (that apple part is simply fantastic!). It could have a bigger ranking if it wasn't for the fact that it's a quite recent anime and in need to build a little more audience.

GITS is a natural top-tenner. With a smashing performance by singer Origa that combines russian, english and latin in the electronic beat of Inner Universe as well as the awesome 3D rendered animation, which you don't normally see in anime openings, synched very good together, that's all it takes to reach number six in the chart.

And we reach the top 5! First entry is Rurouni Kenshin with the espectacular Sobakasu, a music sang by millions all over the world! This frenetic yet harmonic tune contributed to the HUGE popularity of this historical show and this are the major factors for this opening to stand here, since the animation / synch are good, but there are better examples in other animes of that period (1996).

Bleach's 1st opening is breathtaking. Orange Range became famous from Asterisk, a nice spirited song that makes us smile when we listen to it... but incredibly, the song is actualy not the best of this opening. The rest is... the track is perfectly synched with a modern animation, combining manga and anime drawings in different styles that always look cool (that spray scene rocks!). And as for popularity... come on, it's Bleach!

Ok, 3, 2, 1, let's jam! Cowboy Bebop is one of a kind... An artistic space opera made in Sunrise golden era, this show has a legendary opening... With brilliant Jazz arrangements by Yoko Kanno, an unique anime style full of colour and flow and excellent harmony between the two elements, It tells the viewer he's in for a hell of a show! Sadly, it's not as well known as the next two contenders... hence the third place.

What? How can Evangelion only be second? That's a legitimate question after all... Cruel Angel Thesis is one of the greatest anime song ever created... good lyrics, rhytim, it's a catchy tune as well... the animation is spectacular if we consider the (important) fact that the show was made in 1990... and no one can ignore the legend status of Evangelion among the anime community! But still this opening has some minor flaws in the synch department and so there's an even better choice as you follow me through the memory lane and unto the #1 opening of all times... :)

HERE IT IS! NUMBER ONE! LUPIN THE THIRD! (cheers!!!)

The second opening from season 2 of this anime show wins the title of best anime opening of all time!

The reason? The great disco sound from Peatmac Junior, that sings a Lupin Theme that is groovy, original, catchy and in this vocal mix has quite good lyrics. Couple that with the sexy and funky Austin Power's style of animation that is FANTABULASTIC for it's time (remember we're talking of 1978 here), one of the best syncs I have ever seen and a popularity that exceeds even that of Evangelion and we got the undisputed winner of this contest!