The Greatest Anime Openings of All Time
- kendallbarber24
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
Watching anime is already a great feeling, but there’s no better feeling than turning on a show and an absolute banger of an opening starts it off. A great opening can set the tone for a show, especially during the first episode. There are a lot of really good openings out there in anime, but there are classics that stand out from the rest. Openings that you would actually play outside of watching the show. You know it’s a good song when you play it randomly throughout the day. Here is a list of the greatest anime openings to ever grace our eardrums:
Vinland Saga - Paradox
An intense opening that matches the show perfectly. The song is very catchy as it has a rock-style sound to go along with all the stunning visuals it’s showing throughout the song. The biggest thing the opening captures is the feeling of guilt the protagonist feels and how much that’s weighing on him. This is not talked about enough as one of the best openings ever. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen and tell me it isn’t catchy!
Dragon Ball - Cha-La Head Cha-La
Pure nostalgia here. A classic song that fans would instantly categorize as iconic. You not only hear this song in the anime but in all the video games as well. The action-packed visuals to go with the upbeat song make this an unforgettable classic.
Fire Force - Inferno
One of the newer ones but already considered an all-time great. This opening is full of energetic and catchy vibes. There is a good mix of pop and rock in the song, and the visuals really capture how action-packed the show is. A great first opening to what turned out to be a good anime.
Cowboy Bebop - Tank!
90s classic that still hits the same today! As soon as this opening starts, you can feel how cool the show is. It’s a jazzy sound that really captures the badass and adventurous theme that the show has. You know a song is good when it doesn’t even have lyrics, and you can recognize what show it comes from. How does an older anime still get talked about 30+ years later? Look no further than this opening.
Attack on Titan - Shinzou wo Sasageyo!
This opening really captures the intensity of the show. When you watch it, you can feel the sense of urgency that the characters have. The visuals are epic as they emphasize this urgency and the importance of doing whatever it takes to survive in their titan-filled world. Nothing makes you feel more like a soldier than this song here. If you like a fast-paced song full of intensity, this would be right up your alley.
Naruto Shippuden - Blue Birds
I guarantee you if you were to say “blue birds”, Naruto fans would start singing it with no context. That’s how good this opening is. Blue Bird captures the theme of perseverance and friendship in the show. It’s an uplifting and very catchy sound that makes it hard to forget. Naruto has a lot of good openings, but this one takes the cake.
Demon Slayer - Gurenge
This opening took off the moment it was first revealed. It has a nice upbeat and dynamic sound that helps you feel the theme of determination and strength in the show. The song is so good that if you take the lyrics out, fans would still instantly recognize it because of the Japanese and rock style sounds that are used in it. It also helps that Demon Slayer has top-tier animation as the song is playing. In years to come, this opening will still be talked about as one of the best ever.
Tokyo Ghoul - Unravel
Have you ever watched a show and was completely thrown off by how good the opening was because you weren’t expecting that? Well, that’s how it is for this one. Unravel is so iconic because of the visuals and the intensity of the vocals. It captures just how dark and insane the show is, and I love it. It’s one of the most pleasantly surprised things you’ll ever discover if you haven’t already heard it before. I believe this opening will forever be in top 10 lists because it’s so unquestionably good.
Pokémon - Indigo League Op 1 (dub)
Sing it with me: “I want to be the very best…” I know you finished the lyrics because this is the most catchy opening of all time. Even non-Pokémon fans know this song. It really captures the theme of friendship and determination. There was no escaping this song when it was first released. Even to this day, it’s still relevant because it’s the one that started it all for this show. This opening is a certified classic. It really makes you want to step outside and catch them all!
Yu Yu Hakusho - Smile Bomb
An absolute banger! The sound of this opening is the only one on this list that you could legitimately dance to. Turn this song on and watch how your body moves! The beat and the lyrics have such a groovy feel to them. It captures the vibe of the show because the song has a good mix of pop and rock. If I were to rewatch this anime, I don’t think I’d ever skip the opening. It’s extremely rare for a show to have that kind of impact, but that’s what this opening brings. This show may be old, but this song will always keep it relevant. Another opening that’s considered an all-time classic.