Anime openings serve many functions and act as an introduction to the anime you’re about to watch. I have limited knowledge of the Japanese language, but there are many openings I love.
After watching Demon Slayer, I began looking out for opening themes to add to my playlist. The nostalgia they elicit in me is one of the major reasons I love them so much.
I can go days listening to an OP over and over again because it’s catchy and I like it. In this article, I will be outlining a few anime openings that live rent-free in my head.
The Power of an Anime Opening
Anime openings are the theme songs and visuals that play at the beginning of an anime episode. They act as an introduction to the characters, and a few of them foreshadow the story.
Anime openings have made some of the most recognisable and significant songs of the decade. If an anime is quite long, the series will have more than one opening, and fans get to choose their favourites.
A lot of fans admit that they often skip openings, but there are certain OPs that can attract them to an anime. For me, OPs and EDs don’t affect my enjoyment of an anime. If I like it, it makes it to my playlist, and if not, I skip.
List of Anime Openings That Live Rent-Free in My Head
Demon Slayer: Gurenge
Gurenge was the first opening theme song for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by LiSA. Demon Slayer was the first anime that got me well into the anime sphere. Whenever I hear this song, I remember the traces of excitement I felt the first time I saw the anime.
Vinland Saga: Mukanjyo
Mukanjyo is a song by Survive Said the Prophet and is the first opening theme for Vinland Saga. It’s one of my all-time favourite OPs, and the visuals remind me of Thorfinn’s journey and loss of innocence. I need to know what’s in this song because I get almost feral when I hear it.
Dandadan: Otonoke
Otonoke by Creepy Nuts is the opening theme for the Japanese anime series Dandadan. I saw it a few times on my feed, and the visuals and melody got me interested in the anime. When I finally watched it, I was not disappointed, and it’s another opening I never skip.
Spy x Family: Souvenir
Souvenir is a song by Bump of Chicken written as the opening theme for the second cour of Spy x Family. The Forger family has my heart, and Anya is the cutest character I’ve met in a while. It’s an OP that makes me smile when it comes on.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Kaikai Kitan
Kaikai Kitan by Eve was used as the first opening theme for Jujutsu Kaisen. It’s another opening that has me by the jugular thanks to my attachment to the anime. The fact that the visuals foreshadowed parts of the story is another reason I didn’t skip it.
Oshi No Ko: Idol (アイドル)
Idol (アイドル) by Yoasobi is the first opening theme to Oshi no Ko. The Japanese version of this song is my favourite, and this is my current watch, so it’s fresh in my memory. I love humming along and imagining I’m Ai with my fans singing in the crowd.
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Why Anime Openings Stick in Our Memories
The reasons we watch anime are novel to each of us, and so openings stick to our memories for different reasons. The vibrant and catchy nature of most openings makes them easy to remember.
Often, music is integral to the anime experience and can transport us back in time. Like how Gurenge takes me back to nights in 2020 when I was huddled underneath my duvet and crying for Tanjiro.
Generally, music can comfort, hype or inspire us, and these anime OPs are no different. It doesn’t matter that a lot of fans do not understand Japanese lyrics. Anime fans often share and discuss their favourite songs in community platforms.
Final Thoughts
For me, anime openings have come to mean more than mere background music; they are integral to my playlists. When I’m working and I need a boost of motivation, I put them on and bop along. Writing with music often distracts me, and yet, I can do this when I put on my anime playlist.
Do you have any anime openings living rent-free in your head? Share in the comments; let’s talk about it.
