JuicyTalk
Opening themes have always been of high importance to fans, and have often attracted viewers who otherwise would never have watched a specific series or genre. But in recent years, it seems anime openings have become just as important as the shows they represent, with fanbases taking pride in their favorite title having a quality one.
However, just because an opening is great doesn’t exactly mean the show itself will be just as good. There are countless series that came and went without making much noise, leaving behind only their masterful intros. Other shows are mediocre or bad, but treat fans to a minute-and-a-half of greatness at the start.
Whatever the case, these 10 openings deserve far better than the shows to which they’re attached.
10
The Promised Neverland OP 2
“Identity” by Kiro Akiyama
The Promised Neverland is one of anime’s most tragic tales of what could have been. Following a highly successful and impressive opening season, which utilized a suspenseful cat and mouse chase to keep viewers hooked, fans could hardly wait for its follow-up. Immediately, they were met with Kiro Akiyama’s “Identity” as the opening track, with dark and gritty visuals painting the background.
Related
As Much As I Love Anime, I’ll Never Recommend These 10 Shows to Anyone
As a long-time lover of anime, there are plenty of great series that I’d recommend, but there are a few that I’d steer new fans away from.
Unfortunately, that’s about all the good there is to speak of in season two. The Promised Neverland dropped the ball hard, cutting major sections of the source material in order to rush to a questionably coherent and unsatisfying ending. Fans continue to look back on season two with overwhelmingly negative feelings, but at least a good intro came from it.
9
Isekai Cheat Magician
“PANTA RHEI” by MYTH & ROID
Isekai Cheat Magician
- Release Date
-
2019 – 2019-00-00
- Network
-
AT-X
-
Kohei Amasaki
Taichi Nishimura (Voice)
-
Rie Takahashi
Rin Azuma (Voice)
-
Sayaka Ohara
Lemiya (Voice)
-
Minami Tanaka
Myura (Voice)
Isekai Cheat Magician isn’t necessarily a bad show. Instead, the series is a painfully fine anime, following the typical isekai tropes that have become so incredibly common in recent years. It doesn’t do all that much to stand out in either a good or bad way, and the memory of it has largely faded from those who watched during its airing.
However, the series’ opening did stand out. Featuring music from pop duo Myth & Roid, who also contributed music to titles like Re:Zero and Overlord, Isekai Cheat Magician‘s opening is top-tier for such an underwhelming show. There is a twist concerning what the hero is actually doing in his new world, but the series just isn’t interesting enough for it to really matter.
8
Berserk (2016) OP 2
“Sacrifice” by 9mm Parabellum Bullet
Any anime fan around for the release of 2016’s Berserk adaptation will remember well just how disastrous it was. The use of low-quality 3DCG animation failed to capture the breathtaking artwork by the late Kentaro Miura in any way, while the series’ sound direction led to some humorous memes being shared around the internet.
The series’ opening sequences including traditional 2D animation only further poured salt into the wounds of countless disappointed fans, but at least they were high-quality intros.
Other than the story itself, which did well sticking to the source material, Berserk‘s soundtrack and openings might be the only things it has going for it. The series’ opening sequences including traditional 2D animation only further poured salt into the wounds of countless disappointed fans, but at least they were high-quality intros.
7
Guilty Crown OP 1
“My Dearest” by Supercell
Guilty Crown
-
Ai Kayano
Inori Yuzuriha / Mana Ouma
-
Daisuke Sakaguchi
Souta Tamadate
-
Minako Kotobuki
Kanon Kusama
-
Guilty Crown was popular during its initial run, featuring high-quality visuals, a few impressive action sequences, and a pretty great soundtrack. Unfortunately, presentation can only take something so far, and fans were quick to realize that Guilty Crown‘s story was a bit of a mess underneath all the flash.
Fortunately for the show’s relatively uninteresting characters and plot, both its openings are fantastic, with the first featuring “My Dearest” by Supercell slightly edging out the second. The series’ impressive visuals are put on display during the sequence, allowing fans to watch them without having to dive into the show itself.
6
Magical Destroyers
“Magical Destroyer” by Aimi
Magical Destroyers isn’t nearly as bad as some of the other forgettable shows released every season, with a unique art style and use of the magical girl tropes that have survived in the genre for decades. However, it isn’t all that good either, largely failing to say much of anything with its empty commentary on otaku culture.
Overall, the series is a not-so-great but fun ride for fans looking to dive into it, and is made even better by its off-the-wall opening. The visuals take on a retro aesthetic, and the music by Aimi only adds to their chaotic and entertaining tone. The series itself isn’t all that memorable, but its intro absolutely is.
5
Aldnoah.Zero OP2
“&Z” by Hiroyuki Sawano
Aldnoah.Zero is another case of an anime series starting off strong, only to lose itself entirely as time went on. The series built itself a strong following during its first season, most of whom largely abandoned it with the transition into season two, which revealed just how uninspired its characters and world were.
However, it cannot be denied that the music of Aldnoah.Zero is top-notch, and that includes its openings. The second of which stands out most, but unfortunately is tied to the section of the series that turned viewers off en masse. Aldnoah.Zero has largely been forgotten to time, but its music still has quite a few fans to this day.
4
Platinum End
“Sense” by Band-Maid
Platinum End
- Release Date
-
2021 – 2022
- Network
-
TBS
- Directors
-
Jang Hee-kyu, Son Seung-hui, Oh Eun-soo
Cast
-
Miyu Irino
Mirai Kakehashi (voice)
-
-
Shoya Chiba
Mizukiyo Minamikawa (voice)
-
Mao Ichimichi
Saki Hanakago (voice)
Platinum End arrived with a built-in fan base, coming from the creators of the iconic and enduring Death Note, and it didn’t take the series very long to disappoint them. Unlike its predecessor, which made masterful use of the dynamic between L and Light to keep things interesting, Platinum End leans into the hollow edginess that appeared throughout Death Note, but never fully engulfed it.
However, the series’ opening, featuring “Sense” by Band-Maid, who recently lent their music to the underrated 2025 MAPPA production Zenshu, is perfect for what viewers wished the show could have been. Instead, Platinum End came and went without making too much noise, which is a bad sign considering the creators behind it.
3
Rent-a-Girlfriend OP 1
“Centimeter” by the peggies
Rent-A-Girlfriend
- Release Date
-
2020 – 2025-00-00
- Network
-
TBS, MBS, CBC, Tulip Television, BSN, tys, NBC, HBC, RKK, i-Television, SBS, IBC, BSS, MRO, OBS, TUF, RSK, TUY, tbc, RKB, SBC, KUTV, RBC, UTY, RCC, MRT, atv, MBC
- Directors
-
Shinya Une, Akira Mano, Fumio Maezono, Taku Yamada, Yurika Fukaya, Hidehiko Kadota, Naoyuki Kuzuya, Takashi Tanazawa, Yoshitsugu Kimura, Taiki Nishimura, Mizuki Iwadare, Ken Ando, Akira Yamada, Fumihiro Ueno, Yuki Morita, Hisaya Takabayashi
- Writers
-
Fumi Tsubota
-
Masayuki Akasaka
Yoshiaki Kibe (voice)
-
Rie Takahashi
Sumi Sakurasawa (voice)
It might be difficult to believe, but Rent-a-Girlfriend was once considered a promising new rom-com by a large portion of the anime community. That sentiment hasn’t just changed, it traveled about as far in the opposite direction as it possibly could have. The anime’s source material is now nearly 500 chapters of disastrous romance between a group of unlikable characters, and readers are all but begging for it to end.
The show which follows isn’t worth the time, but the minute-and-a-half intro certainly is.
However, it doesn’t seem any end is in sight as the latest season is currently streaming on major services. Nevertheless, Rent-a-Girlfriend‘s first opening remains highly enjoyable, featuring the incredibly catchy “Centimeter” by the peggies. The show which follows isn’t worth the time, but the minute-and-a-half intro certainly is.
2
Umineko When They Cry
“Katayoku no Tori” by Akiko Shikata
Umineko: When They Cry
- Release Date
-
July 9, 2009
Cast
-
Marina Inoue
Jessica Ushiromiya
-
Daisuke Ono
Battler Ushiromiya
-
Emi Shinohara
Natsuhi Ushiromiya
-
Akihiko Ishizumi
Terumasa Nanjou
Umineko When They Cry is widely considered one of the greatest visual novels ever created. Which makes the fact that its 2009 anime adaptation is almost universally hated all the more concerning for first-time viewers. The series is a classic example of a show not capitalizing on, and even abandoning, its source material, leaving a bad taste in fans’ mouths.
However, Umineko‘s opening continues to receive praise more than 15 years after its debut, making use of “Katayoku no Tori” by Akiko Shikata to great effect, while introducing stylish, dark visuals fans had hoped there would be more of during the actual show. Countless viewers are still hoping to be gifted a remake of any kind that would make proper use of its source material.
1
Domestic Girlfriend
“Kawaki wo Ameku” by Minami
Domestic Girlfriend
- Release Date
-
2019 – 2019
- Network
-
TBS, MBS
- Directors
-
Ageha Kochouran
- Writers
-
Jackson Oh
-
Maaya Uchida
Rui Tachibana (voice)
-
Yoko Hikasa
Hina Tachibana (voice)
-
Taku Yashiro
Natsuo Fujī (voice)
-
Yurika Hino
Tsukiko Tachibana (voice)
Watching Domestic Girlfriend is a bit like not being able to look away from a car crash. The series fails to deliver one likable character, makes those unlikable characters into a family, and then introduces a love triangle between those unlikable family members.
Related
10 Most Disappointing Anime Series of All Time
Some anime series build up immense hype before or while airing, and only a select few seem to deliver on that excitement. These 10 shows did not.
Nothing about what happens in Domestic Girlfriend is good, which is a shame considering the series has one of the best anime openings in years. It features the brilliant performance of “Kawaki wo Ameku” by Minami, but its opening shots of a piano regrettably do not lead into the intense music anime they suggest they do. Tons of mediocre anime series have incredible openings, but Domestic Girlfriend is by far the worst.
