The Top 100 Greatest Anime Openings Of All Time: #40 – #21

~ The Top 100 Greatest Anime Openings Of All Time: #40 – #21 ~

Anime openings… it’s only a short minute and a half long, but it gives us just that little glimpse of the big picture. The stories, the characters and the overall feel of the anime series can be presented so well (and entertainingly) in a minute and a half. Us anime watchers love those anime openings; whether it’s listening to the song, watching the animation sequence, or in most cases: both! Some anime openings are better than others in more than many ways… but which are the best of the best?

Well, here it is! The Top 100 Greatest Anime Openings Of All Time as chosen by you! The anime lovers, fans and fanatics of the online wonderland!
I’ve been collecting votes for about 2 months, and the feedback was extraordinary.
In a little under 2 months, we managed to collect a whopping 3473 VOTES!
That’s truly amazing! And I thank each and every one of you that voted! Thanks to you guys, I managed to create a list that truly separated the good openings from the epic openings.
Although I had absolutely no part in this list, it seems that my anime-music sense was spot on with the rest of the community; most of my favourite’s obtaining a spot in the top 100.

Well… without further ado, let’s start presenting the Top 100 Greatest Anime Openings of All Time!
I have spit the list into a number of parts (to gain a little tension effect) so for this post, here is #40 to #21 in the Top 100 Greatest Anime Openings of All Time!

#40. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann OP – “Sorairo Days” by Nakagawa Shouko

What a great opening to open up the Top 40 for us. The sheer popularity and fame for this series, I believe, helped to push this great OP up to this rank. Now I’m not saying that the OP doesn’t deserve this spot – all I’m saying is that it’s funny to see how this OP got to this spot because of the popularity of the series it came from. Anyways, this OP really fits with the epicness of the series so good job Gurren Lagann.

#39. Angel Beats! OP – “My Souls, Your Beats!” by Lia

I’m really surprised that this OP didn’t get a higher ranking than this, because it definitely deserves it. The first time that I heard this OP, I was listening to this song on my iPod non-stop, just because it was so good (and I was also really into the series at the time). And best yet, Maeda Jun (the guy who wrote the original story) also works as the head musician for Key (he also wrote this OP track as well). A very talented man I must say.

#38. Tsubasa Chronicle OP 1 – “Blaze” by Kotani Kinya

This may be hard to believe, but I have never actually watched Tsubasa Chronicle; I know I should, but I’ve never got around to. And it sucks because I’m a huge CLAMP fan and have read/watched most of their stuff. Many people say that this and Chobits was CLAMP’s best stuff, but just by watching this OP, it really makes me want to watch this series.

#37. Black Cat OP 1 – “Daia no Hana” by Yoriko

This is another great anime with a fantastic OP. I’ve always been a fan of Yabuki Kentarou’s work so I’m really glad that this OP made it to this spot on the list. While overall the manga was a lot better (personally speaking) I still think the great OP made up for it. If you haven’t seen this series then you should definitely go and watch it. Great OP, great anime.

#36. Tenjou Tenge OP – “Bomb A Head!” by m.c.A.T.

I am really surprised that this OP made it this far. I mean, it’s an absolutely awesome OP; the song and rapping is catchy as hell and the animation and all fits the series very well overall. But you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say that this series was one of the most disappointing series ever made (no spoilers). But this is The 100 Greatest Anime Openings, so I’m not complaining anymore.

#35. Eureka 7 OP 1 – “Days” by FLOW

This is another series that everyone has being telling me to watch but never got around to. To be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of mecha anime’s/manga’s (maybe with the exception of a few, like Evangelion and Gurren Lagann) but after watching this OP, I’m kind of tempted to watch the series now. Tell me what you think in the comments below: should I or should I not watch this series?

#34. Rozen Maiden OP 1 – “Kinjirareta Asobi” by ALI PROJECT

I really found this opening cool because it was the first song I ever heard by Ali Poject, and there was just something about their music that was really great. And since one of their most famous OP songs from Rozen Maiden made it to #34, I can clearly see that I wasn’t the only one who thought that this song was epic.

#33. Naruto OP 9 – “Yura Yura” by Hearts Grow

Although I know Naruto (and the many seasons that followed), I never actually watched the anime. Now calm down, I read the manga so its the same thing. So what I’m saying is that I never watched the anime far enough to get to this particular OP. But just by listening to it a couple of times, I can see why people would like this OP. The song is catchy, simple as that.

#32. Full Metal Alchemist OP 2 – “READY STEADY GO!” by L’Arc~en~Ciel

This brings back some good memories of the original FMA series when I hear this OP. The feel of the song suits the series quite well and I think many people liked the rocky-ness of the entire song with the animation of the OP. Although it wasn’t the best OP from FMA in my opinion, I guess other people thought differently, and it has secured a spot at #32.

#31. Serial Experiments Lain OP – “Duvet” by Bôa

I really expected this OP to be much higher! I’m not exaggerating when I say that I believe this series is one of the greatest series in anime. And I say that for a number of reasons: it has a fantastic story, the artwork suits the feel of the series very well and it s definitely one of the best executed in any anime series. If you haven’t seen this then you are missing out! Serial Experiments Lain also happens to be one the first anime reviews I did for this site too. Fancy that.
And we all know the best part of this OP is the first few seconds: “Present day. Present time. Hahahahahaha!!!”

#30. Hellsing OP – “Logos Naki Sekai” by Ishii Yasushi

If you want a gory anime with hectic characters, a fantastic story and awesome action, then look no further than this series right here. Unlike it’s gory story (hey, that rhymes) the OP is famous for being very funky and laid back. But those that have watched the series no very well that this series is way far from layed back! An awesome series, fit with an awesome OP.

#29. Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex Second GIG OP – “rise” by Origa

This OP track is just extraordinary. For one thing, it’s an OP from Ghost In The Shell, so you know its going to be awesome already. But the feel and vibe of this track along with the awesome animation and story just makes this OP something else. Many have claimed Ghost In The Shell to be one of the greatest anime series ever made, and personally I can’t disagree.

#28. Code Geass Season 1 OP 1 – “Colors” by FLOW

Oh yes, I was hoping this OP will make the Top 100, and I was not disappointed! Code Geass had a few OP’s (if you count the second season) but you know what they say: “the originals are always going to be better”. Well, maybe not in the context of anime OP’s, but it does apply to this series! The best part that I know everyone likes is the pre-chorus bit (if you like the song, you know exactly what I’m talking about) but the song in it’s entirety is still pretty freaking awesome (in case you don’t where the best part is, its between 0:36 and 0:51. You’re welcome).

#27. The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi OP 1 – “Bouken Desho Desho?” by Hirano Aya

If we’re talking about anime series that helped anime to become famous as it is today, then we can’t not talk about this series, which I’m sure most, if not all of you, have watched in your lifetime. And this OP is one of the most well-known in all of modern anime for the sole reason that this series built anime into the international phenomenon that it is today. Great series with a great OP. And thank god KyoAni animated this, otherwise it would NOT have been the same.

#26. Shakugan No Shana OP 1 – “Hishoku no Sora” by Kawada Mami

Ah yes, the originals will always be the best, am I right? Well it definitely seems that I’m spot on with this particular series. Shakugan no Shana has since scored a full length movie and several series, but it all started from this awesome OP right here. I’ve read the first volume of the original light novel and it is just awesome. If you haven’t watched this series then I thoroughly recommend it.

#25. D.Gray-man OP 1 – “Innocent Sorrow” by abingdon boys school

Another awesome OP song fit for an awesome anime series! Again, proving that the original OP will always be better (in most cases, there are of course exceptions to this rule). Although I really liked this OP song, I do think it wasn’t the best (personally speaking) but it seems that everyone enjoyed this OP the best. That’s cool, I like it too so I can’t complain.

#24. Blood+ OP 1 – “Aozora no Namida” by Takahashi Hitomi

How can anybody dislike this OP? I seriously have not met a single person that disliked this OP (or this series, in fact) in any way. Because the OP and the animation that is included just fits so well together that it’s almost scary. It’s just one of those OP’s that really fit an awesome action series like Blood+. Great OP, suitable for a great series.

#23. Chobits OP – “Let Me Be With You” by ROUND TABLE ft. Nino

When people make their own “Greatest Anime OP’s Of All Time” (or some such name), they will almost always have this OP up in their list. Why you say? Well that’s because this series is just freaking awesome. And the OP is the original catchy-as-hell anime songs. The entire feel of the song matches the series so well. And we all know why the song is so catchy: “Ooh~Ooh~ Yeah~!”

#22. Full Metal Alchemist OP 1 – “Melissa” by Pornograffiti

Since it first aired back in 2003, Full Metal Alchemist, or FMA, has become so very very popular. And the one thing that all FMA fans liked about the series is none other than the awesome OP’s that it produced for us. And this OP is the first of many great OP’s that we would be treated to. I really liked this OP, and it seems that many others did as well.

#21. Azumanga Daioh OP – “Sora Mimi Cake”

I actually laughed at myself when I added the votes for this OP and found out that it ended up being #21, which is a much much higher rank than I thought it was going to be. Because if you haven’t watched this anime, you’ll kind of think “how did this OP get #21??”. But those that have watched the series will answer loud and proud, “SORA MIMI CAKE, B*TCH!”

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There you have it! That was #40 – #21 in the “100 Greatest Anime Openings of All Time” as chosen by all of you!
Sorry that it’s been a while since I got this up; I know a lot of you were looking forward to it.

Next I will be presenting the #20 – #11 on the list. I’ve split the Top 20 into two separate posts to create tension. Stay tuned!