Anime Ichiban: Top Ten Openings 3rd Edition

Criteria

This is now the third time I’ve explained this. It’s becoming a yearly tradition it seems. One that I’m more than happy to continue with.

That’s right, we have another year under our belts. So, it’s time to do a little reflection. What has come? What has gone? And what has remained a staple of the medium? It’s once again time to look at the top opening songs in anime.

I can tell you, the contender list is getting quite big now. And that's fantastic. Though it does make my job all the harder.

Yet with each new update, I like to think we are getting closer to the ultimate list. A goal I know we’re never going to reach. And a goal I never plan to reach.

As always, what are we looking for?

To start and to reiterate, this list has nothing to do with the quality of a series. A show can be garbage and still find a home here. All that matters is that opening number.

We’re looking at more than if a theme is catchy. Is it memorable? When you hear it, there’s no mistaking where it’s from. At the drop of a hat, you can play it in your head and not miss a note.

Anime Ichiban: Top Ten Openings Redux

Criteria

A year ago I released my Top Ten Opening Themes in Anime. I’ve always intended to update it because I haven’t seen every anime to make a true definitive list. That day isn’t today and it will never come.

But as is the nature of life, opinions change. New things come in, old things go out, and the mindset and reasoning  from a year ago isn’t what I have now. However, a new top ten was only going to come if it was substantially different from the first.

It is. Like a lot.

There's no entry from last year in its original position and actually more to the point, the vast majority of last year’s entries are gone. It was significantly harder to settle and god damn it, ten is not enough.

My criterion is the same.

1. The opening must grab your attention immediately.
2. The opening must stick with you, not just after the episode but after the entire series.
3. The opening must be recognizable should it ever be encountered outside its series. 
4. The opening must get you excited to watch, regardless of how the show actually is.

Anime Ichiban: Top Ten Opening Themes in Anime

Criteria

Anime openings are often weird for the sake of being weird. They can have little to nothing to do with the actual show.

Yet this is not a constant. There are examples of times where I want to watch the opening number. That got me thinking, why do I do that? What makes an outstanding opening theme?

I came to the conclusion that:

1. It needs to grab your attention immediately.

2. It needs to stick with you, not just after the episode but after the entire series.

3. You must be able to recognize it on its own if encountered outside its series.

4. It must get you excited to watch the show.

With those in mind here are my Top Ten Opening Themes in Anime

Before getting to the main list, it's important to note that it wasn't easy to narrow down ten.

There are just so many outstanding contenders that I want to include, but can’t. So to make this list a bit longer and stretch the meaning of the word ten, here are two honorable mentions.