The 39 Best Anime Openings of All Time

Some of these openings sold millions of singles; others live on as the songs nobody skips before episode one.

1. 1
   A Cruel Angel's Thesis

   Yoko Takahashi's soaring Neon Genesis Evangelion theme, one of Japan's most-sung karaoke songs.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Mixed Nuts (Spy x Family)

   Official Hige Dandism's jazzy, piano-driven Spy x Family opener.
   988pts
3. 3
   Tank! (Cowboy Bebop)

   The Seatbelts' brassy big-band jazz opener for Cowboy Bebop, composed by Yoko Kanno.
   948pts
4. 4
   Ready Steady Go (Fullmetal Alchemist)

   L'Arc-en-Ciel's high-energy second opening for the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist series.
   886pts
5. 5
   Gurenge (Demon Slayer)

   LiSA's crimson-lotus rock anthem that opened Demon Slayer and topped Japanese charts.
   744pts
6. 6
   Ao no Sumika (Jujutsu Kaisen)

   Tatsuya Kitani's wistful summer rock song for Jujutsu Kaisen's Hidden Inventory arc.
   744pts
7. 7
   Cha-La Head-Cha-La

   Hironobu Kageyama's iconic Dragon Ball Z opening, beloved across generations.
   700pts
8. 8
   Guren no Yumiya

   Linked Horizon's thunderous march that opened the first season of Attack on Titan.
   650pts
9. 9
   Crossing Field (Sword Art Online)

   LiSA's breakthrough opening song for the first Sword Art Online season.
   650pts
10. 10
    Blue Bird (Naruto Shippuden)

    Ikimono-gakari's soaring third Naruto Shippuden opening, a perennial fan-poll favourite.
    650pts
11. 11
    Sobakasu (Rurouni Kenshin)

    Judy and Mary's bouncy pop-punk first opening for Rurouni Kenshin.
    594pts
12. 12
    Bling-Bang-Bang-Born (Mashle)

    Creepy Nuts' rapid-fire Mashle opener that sparked a global dance trend in 2024.
    594pts
13. 13
    Silhouette (Naruto Shippuden)

    KANA-BOON's fast, nostalgic sixteenth Naruto Shippuden opening.
    594pts
14. 14
    The World (Death Note)

    Nightmare's dark, heavy opener for the first half of Death Note.
    532pts
15. 15
    Idol (Oshi no Ko)

    Yoasobi's 2023 Oshi no Ko opener that topped the Billboard Global Excl. US chart.
    532pts
16. 16
    Kick Back (Chainsaw Man)

    Kenshi Yonezu's chaotic, chant-filled Chainsaw Man theme, the first Japanese-language song certified gold by the RIAA.
    532pts
17. 17
    Specialz (Jujutsu Kaisen)

    King Gnu's sprawling, genre-shifting opener for Jujutsu Kaisen's Shibuya Incident arc.
    532pts
18. 18
    Again (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

    Yui's driving rock opener for the first arc of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
    461pts
19. 19
    99 (Mob Psycho 100)

    Mob Choir's explosive, psychedelic opening for Mob Psycho 100.
    461pts
20. 20
    Bloody Stream (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

    Coda's funk-flavoured opening for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's Battle Tendency arc.
    461pts
21. 21
    Hacking to the Gate (Steins;Gate)

    Kanako Itō's electronic rock theme for the time-travel thriller Steins;Gate.
    461pts
22. 22
    We Are! (One Piece)

    Hiroshi Kitadani's original One Piece opening, the adventure anthem of the Straw Hat crew.
    380pts
23. 23
    Departure! (Hunter x Hunter)

    Masatoshi Ono's bright, soaring opening for the 2011 Hunter x Hunter series.
    380pts
24. 24
    Shinzou wo Sasageyo!

    Linked Horizon's operatic Attack on Titan season 2 opener with its 'dedicate your hearts' chant.
    380pts
25. 25
    Kaikai Kitan (Jujutsu Kaisen)

    Eve's jittery, groove-heavy first opening for Jujutsu Kaisen.
    380pts
26. 26
    Peace Sign (My Hero Academia)

    Kenshi Yonezu's upbeat second-season opener for My Hero Academia.
    380pts
27. 27
    Moonlight Densetsu (Sailor Moon)

    DALI's dreamy 1992 Sailor Moon theme known worldwide as the 'Moonlight Legend'.
    380pts
28. 28
    Inferno (Fire Force)

    Mrs. Green Apple's blazing pop-rock opening for Fire Force.
    380pts
29. 29
    Unravel (Tokyo Ghoul)

    TK from Ling Tosite Sigure's frantic, anguished opening for Tokyo Ghoul.
    380pts
30. 30
    Lilium (Elfen Lied)

    The haunting Latin choral hymn that opened the cult horror anime Elfen Lied.
    286pts
31. 31
    Colors (Code Geass)

    Flow's emotional first opening for the mecha drama Code Geass.
    286pts
32. 32
    Butter-Fly (Digimon Adventure)

    Kōji Wada's sunny Digimon Adventure opening, a nostalgic touchstone for a generation.
    286pts
33. 33
    Duvet (Serial Experiments Lain)

    Bôa's moody English-language alt-rock opening for Serial Experiments Lain.
    286pts
34. 34
    Otonoke (Dandadan)

    Creepy Nuts' frenetic hip-hop opening for the supernatural comedy Dandadan.
    286pts
35. 35
    Oath Sign (Fate/Zero)

    LiSA's dramatic first opening for Fate/Zero.
    177pts
36. 36
    The Hero!! (One Punch Man)

    JAM Project's over-the-top metal anthem for One Punch Man.
    177pts
37. 37
    Hikaru Nara

    Goose house's sparkling opening for the music drama Your Lie in April.
    177pts
38. 38
    Pokémon Theme

    Jason Paige's 'Gotta Catch 'Em All' English opening for the first Pokémon anime season.
    177pts
39. 39
    Haruka Kanata (Naruto)

    Asian Kung-Fu Generation's punchy second opening for the original Naruto.
    0pts

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