Many anime series are known for having openings that contain great music and visual elements. However, there are a few which remain the most memorable and stay with the audience long after they have watched the entire series.
This list represents the openings that are most likely to stick with the viewer for a long time based on the combination of sound and great art, regardless of what happens throughout the duration of the series. Most of the greatest intros are tied to shows that are highly regarded and considered anime classics as well.
10. Tokyo Ghoul
This anime that managed to show that humans are ghouls are not that different after all had an opening song called unravel that captured some of the same themes which were recurrent throughout the series.
The dark disturbing visuals that are present at various points in the series also make an appearance here and capture the tone of the series well.
9. Dragon Ball Z
Many people were introduced to anime through this series, and it is generally considered to be both one of the most popular of all time and as well as being accessible to many fans whether they are older or just learning about anime.
The intro certainly is great and the strength of the music carries this opening. 1980s music remains popular for a reason, and this intro still holds up well to the present day after repeated viewings.
8. Cowboy Bebop
Yoko Kanno’s soundtrack is definitely one of the highlights of this bounty hunters in space series.
The energetic intro music called “tank” combined with some interesting monochrome visuals is a favorite of many fans and seems to have held up well since its release in the late 1990s.
7. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
All of the various incarnations of Ghost in the Shell are known for having great visuals that combine CGI and more traditional animation.
This series is no exception and the vocals of the singer Origa were one of the strong points of this opening. The futuristic world filled with advanced technology really comes to life in the intro.
6. Samurai Champloo
Not many animes use rap songs as an intro, which is probably one of the reasons why this song is placed so effectively.
This opening pretty much spawned the career of the artist who wrote the song and brought global attention.
The visuals also help add depth and show off the talents of the artistic team that brought the series to life.
5. Elfen Lied
The foreboding opera music of this intro really does a great job of capturing the emotions of this series into sound.
The visuals also help to set the tone and get the viewer in the right mood to watch the series.
4. Steins;Gate
This anime has a unique feel and theme that helps it stand apart from pretty much everything else that was released around the same time.
The intro starts to play with concepts of time and perception right away and functions almost like a warning to the viewer that they are about to enter unfamiliar territory.
Steins Gate gets a lot of originality points for avoiding anime clichés.
3. Attack on Titan
This may be the most recognized anime of the past few years, and the intro music does a great job of capturing the epic feeling of going to war paired with some intense action sequences.
The battle gear used by the scouts in the series is also demonstrated during the opening, which is one of the most memorable and unique aspects of the entire series.
Attack on Titan will definitely go down as a must watch series for all anime fans, and the introduction alone is as powerful as the action and suspense that comes after.
2. Neon Genesis Evangelion
This anime was probably the most influential and heavily discussed of its time. Although it was a little uneven at certain points, the intro was one of the more memorable aspects of the show and the music remained great throughout the series.
This is easily one of the most infectious tunes to ever be used as an anime opening, because you just can’t get it out of your head after hearing it.
1. Death Note
Death Note has probably become the most popular and well received anime of the 2000s. It has spawned a live action remake and has been seen by just about every anime fan around the world.
The rocking intro that is used in the first half of the series is no exception to this level of greatness. It perfectly hints at the level of morbid suspense that will stay with the viewer during most of the series.
This concludes the best anime introductions. It is recommended that you find a way to actually watch the series afterward as well if you have not seen them, considering all of the shows that made the list are exceptional.