Anime openings are an art form unto themselves. In 90 seconds, a great opening establishes tone, introduces characters, hypes you up, and sometimes spoils major plot points you won’t understand until later. The best openings become inseparable from the shows they represent—hearing those first notes instantly transports you back to the emotional journey.
We’ve updated our definitive ranking for 2026, incorporating recent bangers while honoring the classics that defined generations. This isn’t just about animation quality or catchy songs—it’s about the complete package: visuals, music, emotional resonance, and that ineffable quality that makes you never skip.
Let’s get into it.
The Top 25 Anime Openings of All Time
25. “Kaibutsu” (Monster) – BEASTARS Season 2
Artist: YOASOBI
YOASOBI’s electronic pop perfectly captures BEASTARS’ tension between civilization and primal instinct. The opening’s minimalist animation style contrasts with the show’s detailed character work, creating something visually distinct while being absurdly catchy.
Where to Listen: Spotify | YouTube
24. “99.9” – Mob Psycho 100 Season 2
Artist: MOB CHOIR
The evolution from Season 1’s “99” to this masterpiece mirrors Mob’s own growth. The animation flexes Bones’ experimental style while the song builds to an emotional crescendo. Pure hype.
Where to Listen: Spotify | YouTube
23. “Shinzo wo Sasageyo” (Dedicate Your Heart) – Attack on Titan Season 2
Artist: Linked Horizon
The opening that launched a thousand memes. “SASAGEYO” became a cultural phenomenon, and the imagery of Survey Corps soldiers falling while Eren reaches for freedom? Chills.
Where to Listen: Spotify | YouTube
22. “SPECIALZ” – Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 (Shibuya Incident)
Artist: King Gnu
King Gnu returned for Shibuya, and they understood the assignment. The visuals are dripping with foreshadowing that hits different on rewatch. Dark, stylish, and perfectly suited to JJK’s most intense arc.
Where to Listen: Spotify | YouTube
21. “The Hero” – One Punch Man Season 1
Artist: JAM Project
JAM Project screaming about heroes over absurdly hype animation. It’s both sincere and slightly parodic, matching Saitama’s character perfectly. The sakuga in this opening is still referenced as a high point in anime production.
Where to Listen: Spotify | YouTube
20. “Redo” – Re:Zero Season 1
Artist: Konomi Suzuki
Konomi Suzuki’s desperate vocals match Subaru’s existential nightmare perfectly. The opening promises suffering, and boy does it deliver.
19. “Connect” – Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Artist: ClariS
Seems cute and happy. Is hiding unimaginable darkness. The perfect bait-and-switch that, in retrospect, was telling you everything. Rewatch it after finishing the series—it’s devastating.
18. “My Dearest” – Guilty Crown
Artist: supercell
The show is controversial, but this opening is undeniably gorgeous. Supercell delivered one of the most emotionally sweeping anime songs ever, and the animation matches its ambition.
17. “Again” – Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Artist: YUI
The first opening of FMAB sets the tone perfectly. YUI’s rock anthem introduces the Elric brothers’ struggle with an energy that carries through the entire series.
16. “Departure!” – Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Artist: Masatoshi Ono
The opening that changes with the arc. Watching Departure evolve throughout Hunter x Hunter’s run—same song, different visuals reflecting the tone—is brilliant. Plus it’s impossible not to feel motivated.
15. “Brave Shine” – Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works Season 2
Artist: Aimer
Aimer’s voice is an instrument of pure emotion. Ufotable’s visuals match that intensity with some of their most beautiful sakuga. When the chorus hits, you feel invincible.
14. “ODDTAXI” – ODDTAXI
Artist: PUNPEE x VaVa
A jazz-hip hop opening for an anime about a depressed walrus taxi driver. Sounds wrong. Is absolutely perfect. The laid-back groove hides the mystery thriller underneath—just like the show.
13. “Inferno” – Fire Force
Artist: Mrs. GREEN APPLE
The definition of “goes hard.” Inferno’s beat drop combined with Fire Force’s dynamic animation is pure adrenaline. David Production understood the assignment.
12. “Colors” – Code Geass
Artist: FLOW
FLOW’s iconic rock anthem became synonymous with Lelouch’s revolution. “JIBUN WOOOOO” is etched into anime fan DNA at this point.
11. “Red Swan” – Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 1
Artist: YOSHIKI feat. HYDE
A controversial pick when it dropped—where’s the Linked Horizon hype? But Red Swan proved AOT could be emotionally devastating in different ways. This ballad opening foreshadowed Season 3’s character-focused drama.
10. “Unravel” – Tokyo Ghoul
Artist: TK from Ling Tosite Sigure
TK’s vocals are otherworldly. “Unravel” captures Kaneki’s fractured psyche in sound form. The original opening remains legendary—even if the anime adaptation struggled, this song is untouchable.
Where to Listen: Spotify | YouTube
9. “Peace Sign” – My Hero Academia Season 2
Artist: Kenshi Yonezu
The Sports Festival opening. Kenshi Yonezu’s earnest vocals match Deku’s determination, and the visuals showcase Class 1-A at their best. Pure shonen energy done right.
8. “Hikaru Nara” (If It Shines) – Your Lie in April
Artist: Goose house
Goose house’s acoustic arrangement is beautiful in isolation. In context—knowing where the story goes—it’s emotionally destroying. The opening’s visuals are full of foreshadowing that’s painful on rewatch.
7. “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” – Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 2
Artist: Creepy Nuts
The recent entry that took over the internet. Creepy Nuts delivered an absurdly catchy song with a dance sequence that became an instant meme. It’s goofy, fun, and impossible to skip.
Where to Listen: Spotify | YouTube
6. “Gurenge” – Demon Slayer
Artist: LiSA
LiSA doesn’t miss, and Gurenge is her masterpiece. The opening that launched Demon Slayer into the stratosphere, combining Ufotable’s gorgeous visuals with LiSA’s powerful vocals.
5. “KICKS” – Blue Lock Season 1 OP2
Artist: Unison Square Garden
Blue Lock’s second opening perfectly captures the series’ intensity. Unison Square Garden’s frantic energy matches the ego battle on screen. Soccer has never looked this cool.
4. “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” – Neon Genesis Evangelion
Artist: Yoko Takahashi
The GOAT conversation starts here. Decades later, this opening remains instantly recognizable. It’s been covered, remixed, and memed endlessly—yet still hits. Yoko Takahashi’s vocals are iconic, and the visuals define the Eva aesthetic.
Where to Listen: Spotify | YouTube
3. “Kaikai Kitan” – Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1
Artist: Eve
Eve’s music video-style opening changed what anime OPs could be. The rotoscoped animation, the song’s energy, the perfect character introductions—it set the tone for JJK’s dominance. Still unskippable.
2. “Guren no Yumiya” – Attack on Titan Season 1
Artist: Linked Horizon
The opening that changed the industry. “Guren no Yumiya” brought anime to mainstream attention like few things before. Linked Horizon’s operatic intensity combined with the Survey Corps charging at Titans? Legendary. It defined an era.
1. “Tank!” – Cowboy Bebop
Artist: Seatbelts (Yoko Kanno)
Nearly three decades later, “Tank!” remains the undisputed GOAT. Yoko Kanno’s jazz fusion masterpiece paired with possibly the most stylish opening animation ever created. The silhouette aesthetic, the color splashes, the pure cool—nothing has topped it, and nothing likely will.
It’s not just a great anime opening. It’s a great piece of art, period.
Where to Listen: Spotify | YouTube
Honorable Mentions
These just missed the top 25 but deserve recognition:
- “Blue Bird” – Naruto Shippuden (Ikimonogakari)
- “GO!!!” – Naruto (FLOW)
- “Rising Hope” – The Irregular at Magic High School (LiSA)
- “Silhouette” – Naruto Shippuden (KANA-BOON)
- “Black Catcher” – Black Clover (Vickeblanka)
- “Papermoon” – Soul Eater (Tommy heavenly6)
- “Period” – Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Chemistry)
- “This Game” – No Game No Life (Konomi Suzuki)
- “Koi wa Sensou” – Kaguya-sama (Masayuki Suzuki)
- “idol” – Oshi no Ko (YOASOBI)
Trends in Recent Anime Openings
What’s Working in 2024-2026:
- Music video-style animation (Eve influence)
- Subtle foreshadowing for eagle-eyed fans
- Viral dance sequences (Bling-Bang-Bang-Born effect)
- International artist collaborations
What Never Goes Out of Style:
- LiSA
- Linked Horizon going hard
- Yoko Kanno being a genius
- FLOW showing up for nostalgia hits
Where to Build Your Playlist
Spotify: Most anime openings are available, often under official releases or artist profiles
YouTube: Official channels and fan uploads (support official when possible)
Apple Music: Growing anime catalog
Amazon Music: Decent selection with Prime
Conclusion
Anime openings are the first impression—and sometimes, the lasting impression—of an entire series. The best ones transcend their shows, becoming cultural touchstones that fans carry with them for years.
Whether you’re a “never skip the OP” purist or someone who appreciates them as standalone art, these 25 represent the best of the best. From Cowboy Bebop’s eternal cool to JJK’s modern dominance, anime openings continue to evolve while honoring the traditions that made them special.
Now if you’ll excuse us, we have a playlist to update.
Related: Best Anime Soundtracks 2026
| Jujutsu Kaisen Watch Order | Attack on Titan Watch Order |