Top 20 Catchiest Anime Openings
Script written by Garrett Alden
#20: “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” by Creepy Nuts
“Mashle: Magic and Muscles” (2023-)
An opening theme as offbeat and weird as its series, “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” may not sound like a traditional anime song, but it still has plenty of appeal. The Jersey club track does have some rapidfire lyrics that can be tough to sing along to, but its overall low-key vibe is fun to groove along with. Its chorus however, is extremely catchy and it’s likely this, along with the associated dance, that has propelled it to the top of multiple billboard charts and led to its inclusion in plenty of memes. Like Mash and cream puffs, we can’t get enough!
#19: “Wild Challenger” by Jindou
“Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo” (2003-05)
This song certainly lives up to its name! With a sound as wild as its opening’s bizarre visuals, “Wild Challenger” is a fitting tune to open an anime as unique as “Bobobo-bo Bo-Bobo.” Its singer’s passionate and enthusiastic vocals make it fun to wail along to. Additionally, its thrumming acoustic guitar beats, frequent English lyrics, and call and response backing vocals help make “Wild Challenger” a “challenging” song to forget. We hardly need the encouragement, but that repeated “come on come on come on” draws us in every time we listen!
#18: “Someone Else” by Kana Asumi, Saki Fujita, & Eri Kitamura
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“Working!!” (2010-16)
Cheerful, bouncy, and infectious, “Someone Else” is “something else!” Sung by the three voice actresses who play some of the main heroines, the tune is carried along primarily by their adorable vocals. Still, the brassy backing instruments are no slouch either, with the drums putting in plenty of work too! And of course, the repeated chorus of “one one someone one” is one we’re still “working” to remove from our brains - quite unsuccessfully! Still, if going to work was always this upbeat and cute, fewer people would probably dislike their jobs.
#17: “JoJo ~Sono Chi no Sadame~” by Hiroaki "TOMMY" Tominaga
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“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” (2012-)
The inaugural opening of this long running, action series, “Sono Chi no Sadame” is every bit as epic as “JoJo” deserves! The blaring brass, wailing guitar, and unrelenting drums all build throughout, carrying the listener along until the final crescendo. Meanwhile, Hiroaki “TOMMY” Tominaga’s powerful voice is one we can’t help but sing along with! No matter what situation, this opening turns anything mundane into something truly legendary! “Sono Chi no Sadame” means “the fate of that blood,” and if our fate is to never forget this song, then it will be a glorious destiny indeed!
#16: “Now or Never” by CHEMISTRY meets. m-flo
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“Astro Boy” (2003-04)
A pop meets hip-hop song probably isn’t the first thing you think of when it comes to “Astro Boy,” but oddly, it fits. Pop duo CHEMISTRY’s more soulful vocals alternate with hip-hop group m-flo’s more rapidfire delivery to create an invention as ingenious as Astro Boy himself. Musically, the smooth electronic beat perfectly complements the vocals and helps add to the overall call and response feeling of the tune. Even if you can’t remember the lyrics, you’ll be humming along to “Now or Never” now, and never want to stop!
#15: “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” by Queendom
“Ya Boy Kongming!” (2022)
What do a Dick Van Dyke movie about a flying car, an anime about a Chinese strategist reborn in modern Japan, and a Hungarian song all have in common? Somehow, it’s this anime opening! A Japanese cover of the aforementioned Hungarian tune, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is a relentlessly catchy party song. The effervescent club sound and simple chorus all work to get your toes and heads tapping along with the beat. Before long, you’ll find yourself grooving along with the dance moves of the characters in the opening. Of course, it’s all according to Kongming’s plan!
#14: “Raise Your Flag” by MAN WITH A MISSION
“Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans” (2015-17)
From its string-heavy opening to its rocking conclusion, “Raise Your Flag” barely lets up! The J-rock opening song features alternating English and Japanese vocals. Meanwhile, the instrumentals feature some wicked guitar riffs and a drum beat that continues throughout. “Raise Your Flag”’s blistering pace and thumping beat get us going every time we hear it. While it may not increase your blood’s iron content, it should still get it pumping harder as you nod in time to the rhythm. We’d gladly raise the flag of this opening at any opportunity!
#13: “Welcome to Chaos” by by (K)NoW NAME
“Dorohedoro” (2020-)While this opening doesn’t quite live up to its name (there is still a melody, after all), it’s not far off from total mayhem! The hard rock beat is catchy and is bound to inspire headbanging with its intense guitar and drums. Meanwhile the ethereal vocals are occasionally accompanied by a wordless call that ties everything together nicely. It all comes together to make a strangely compelling and very memorable song. “Welcome to Chaos” is as utterly bizarre as “Dorohedoro” itself, yet both are so entrancing you won’t be able to resist!
#12: “Wild Side” by ALI
“Beastars” (2019-)
Hip-hop/funk band ALI have delivered some very memorable anime songs, but their most notable opening is “Wild Side.” The vocals alternate between fast-paced Japanese lyrics and slower-paced English ones at first. However, the latter picks up pace along with the music as it really gets into the swing of things towards the conclusion. The jazzy tune is primarily piano and brass driven, though there are some great drums throughout too. Everything blends into a toe-tapping tune that drives us wild. But, if you don’t get it or it’s not your thing - well, that’s jazz.
#11: “Idol” by Yoasobi
“Oshi no Ko” (2023-)
Performed by pop duo Yoasobi, “Idol” perfectly encapsulates the tone of this idol anime. Mixing J-pop with an energetic hip-hop sound along with a gothic choir, this opening may be bubbly sweet on the surface, but, like the show itself, it has a dark side just under the surface. The vocals are at once cheery and vaguely menacing. The bouncy rhythm and intriguing mix of styles makes “Idol” instantly memorable, and likely helped translate to its record-breaking success on charts worldwide! Truly “Idol” is an “idol” of a catchy anime opening.
#10: “Colors” by FLOW
“Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion” (2006-08)
J-Rock band FLOW have created a mountain of catchy anime opening themes, but “Colors” just might be their masterpiece! Right from that opening “Jibun wo,” you’re hooked! “Colors” is a glorious fanfare of a song, with triumphant, passionate vocals throughout. The call and response-like sections are particularly memorable. If it weren’t music independent of the opening, we’d swear FLOW used Geass to control us, because we can’t help singing along every time we hear it! Why the “Code Geass” creators ever switched to a new opening song is beyond us!
#9: “History Maker” by DEAN FUJIOKA
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“Yuri!!! on ICE” (2016)
One of the rare anime openings sung completely in English, “History Maker” is inspiration embodied in musical form! Its soulful vocals tug at the heartstrings, while its lyrics emphasize pursuing your dreams. The chorus especially is impossible to forget. Musically, after a more traditional instrumental beginning, the song’s breakdown moves to a more electronic sound. The song is stirring, catchy, and memorable enough to warrant its inclusion in real Olympic routines. Wherever your passion lies, “History Maker” is sure to push you towards achieving your goals - or at least singing about doing so!
#8: “Viva Namida” by Yasuyuki Okamura
“Space Dandy” (2014)
Every bit as charming and strange as the sci-fi comedy anime it opens, “Viva Namida” is smooth listening. Yasuyuki Okamura’s voice oozes charisma and perfectly fits the tone of “Space Dandy.” The sound of “Viva Namida” feels like a strange mix of funk and EDM, and its beat is no joke! The number of toes and heads it has sent tapping is out of this world! But whether it’s the vocals or the music that gets stuck in your head, “Viva Namida” will have you grooving along to it regardless!
#7: “SPECIALZ” by King Gnu
“Jujutsu Kaisen” (2020-)
“JJK” never misses with its openings, but “SPECIALZ” is perhaps the catchiest. While the constant refrain of “you are my special” is certainly lodged in all of our brains, the rest of the song is extremely catchy too. The moody, almost sinister tone of the song is perfect for this anime, and the arc it opens. The vocals, on the other hand, alternate between singers frequently, which helps create the sort of hypnotic feeling of the melody. “SPECIALZ” draws you in like a black hole, and it’s equally inescapable - not that you’ll want to, even if you could!
#6: “Flyers” by Bradio
“Death Parade” (2015)
Its tone may bear little resemblance to the series it opens, but “Flyers” is such a legendary bop, that you probably won’t care! The lead vocalist goes off with his performance, and his back-and-forth singing with the backing vocalists is fantastic. And we’d be remiss without mentioning that oh-so-catchy chorus that has us putting our hands up in the air like we just don’t care! The music incorporates funk, big band, and more genres besides, to create a tune that you’ll be humming for years after you first hear it!
#5: “Hyadain no Kakakata Kataomoi-C” by Kenichi “Hyadain” Maeyamada
“Nichijou” (2011)
Slice of life comedy anime often feature catchy, adorable tunes, and “Nichijou” is no exception. This upbeat J-pop tune features dueling vocals from a male and female vocalist singing about unrequited love. Except, it’s rather more one-sided than that, since the “female” vocals are actually a digitally altered version of Hyadain’s himself! Of course, that’s far from the most unique thing about “Nichijou!” Regardless though, the song’s bombastic, energetic tone will help prepare you for whatever strange happenings go on in the show (sort of), and stick with you long after you’re done watching.
#4: “UUUUUS!” by Hiroshi Kitadani
“One Piece” (1999-)
There are a ton of “One Piece” openings, many of them performed by Hiroshi Kitadani. Call it recency bias if you must, but his latest may also be the catchiest of the lot. Along with its vibrant, Easter egg (or Easter Egghead) packed visuals, “UUUUUS!” delivers a rollicking, upbeat rock song. Led by Kitadani’s powerful lead vocals and supported by a chorus of others, the song is brimming with positivity and adventure. “UUUUUS!” will make you feel like you’re never alone, if only because it’ll be playing on loop in your brain until Luffy and the Straw Hats find the One Piece and beyond.
#3: “Motteke! Sailor Fuku” by Aya Hirano, Emiri Katō, Kaori Fukuhara, & Aya Endō
“Lucky Star” (2007)
There are many “cute girls doing cute things” anime openings sung by the voice actresses, but “Motteke! Sailor Fuku” is the ultimate example of the archetype. The adorable, cutesy voices are borderline annoying - though for some there’s no ambiguity. Regardless of your feelings though, there’s no denying that this tune is an absolute earworm. The song and its accompanying dance have become widespread and popular among the anime community, with memes taking over the internet and impromptu dance sessions taking over conventions. Love it or hate it, “Motteke! Sailor Fuku” is inescapable!
#2: “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” by Yoko Takahashi
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“Neon Genesis Evangelion” (1995-96)
In the annals of anime openings, few are as famous as “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.” This snappy pop song may not hook you immediately, but its appeal grows over time - unlike Shinji’s. Yoko Takahashi’s beautiful voice and the brassy, fast paced, drum heavy tune are instantly recognizable and hard to forget. With its ethereal notes, and memorable lyrics, it’s truly a song for all occasions, from music halls to karaoke to conventions. But wherever or whenever you encounter it, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” is sure to hit like Third Impact…too soon?
#1: “Cha-La Head-Cha-La” by Hironobu Kageyama
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“Dragon Ball Z” (1989-96)
As arguably the most influential Shonen anime ever made, “Dragon Ball Z”’s first opening is one that’s near and dear to the hearts of many anime fans. “Cha-La Head-Cha-La” has a memorable chorus (it’s in the title, after all), but it’s so much more than that. The classic rock song is an epic distillation of the spirit of adventure. Hironobu Kageyama’s vocals go to such heights that you can’t help but want to sing along, even if you can’t reach them. That’s the “Dragon Ball” spirit for you, always inspiring competition and personal growth. “Cha-La Head-Cha-La” is an incredibly catchy opening that will forever be “SPARKING!” in our minds!
