You never skip the opening. You sometimes skip the ending. But which actually matters more for an anime’s identity? Let’s compare.
The Case for Openings
First Impressions
Openings set expectations. “Tank!” tells you Cowboy Bebop is stylish. “Guren no Yumiya” announces Attack on Titan’s scale. The opening defines the anime before episode one ends.
Hype Generation
Openings are designed to excite. The energy builds anticipation for episodes. Great openings (“Kick Back,” “IDOL”) become cultural events that drive viewership.
Spoilers Through Visuals
Anime openings show future content—characters who haven’t appeared, fights that haven’t happened. This creates speculation and anticipation. Endings rarely spoil.
Music Chart Performance
Opening songs chart higher. They’re released as singles, performed at concerts, and remembered decades later. Ending songs rarely achieve the same cultural penetration.
The Case for Endings
Emotional Processing
After an intense episode, the ending lets viewers decompress. The tonal shift—often softer, reflective—provides necessary transition. You need endings after Shibuya Incident episodes.
Character Intimacy
Endings often show characters in casual moments. The ED visuals—characters cooking, relaxing, goofing off—add depth that action-focused OPs skip.
Artistic Experimentation
Endings take more risks. Chainsaw Man’s 12 different endings, each by different artists, showcased variety no opening could match.
Hidden Gems
Many legendary songs are endings. “Roundabout” (JoJo), “Lost in Paradise” (JJK), “Sugar Song to Bitter Step” (Kekkai Sensen)—all endings that transcended their placement.
The Truth
Both matter differently:
- Openings define identity and generate hype
- Endings provide closure and emotional depth
A great anime needs both. Attack on Titan’s endings are as crucial as its openings. JJK’s “Lost in Paradise” hits as hard as “Kaikai Kitan.”
The Best Balance
Chainsaw Man understood: openings establish, endings experiment. Having one consistent opening while rotating endings created the perfect combination.
Verdict
Openings matter more for first impressions and cultural impact. Endings matter more for emotional experience. Neither is objectively superior—both are essential.