Favorite Anime OP's

[horacethegrey]

Just what the title says, what are your favorite anime openings? Please share, and post examples if you can. The criteria doesn't have to be limited to Japanimation alone, American cartoons also count (although personally I couldn't think of any, having watched said openings at YouTube, I find most of them unbearable. THE CHEESE! ).

Anyway, here are my choices:

TANK! (Cowboy Bebop) - You need to ask? Quite possibly the coolest opening ever. But then again, it's by Yoko Kanno, so it's cool by default.

Kiri (Ergo Proxy) - Was quite stunned by this when I first came across it. It actually encouraged me to seek out the series proper.

Let me be with you (Chobits) - One of the more upbeat intros to a series that I've seen. The animation is very catching, as is the song.

Ai (Excel Saga) - One of the more wacky intros to a series that I've come across. If all the surreal imagery in the vid didn't clue you in on just how completely deranged this show is, I feel sorry for you.

Gunsmith Cats - Another stylized opening in the vein of Bebop (in fact, Cats predates Bebop by a few years). Has the feel and beat of a 70's cop show, which was probably what they were aiming for.

Battlecry (Samurai Champloo) - Now I know more than a few people here will complain that the song isn't real hiphop. While I don't know much about hiphop in general, I do know that I like this song and all the imagery that goes along with it. It totally clues you in on what the show is all about.

Driver's High (Great Teacher Onizuka) - One of those rare cases where a song and video are a perfect match. It also gives you more than a hint of the show's take no s#!t attitude. GURETO!

Anyway, that's enough for one post. I have more favorites that I want to share but I'll save 'em for later. For now, why don't all you share faves?

 

[cattoy]

Yakusoku wa iranai (No need for promises) Tenkuu no Escaflowne. It's Maaya Sakamoto and Yoko Kanno teaming up for one of the best OP in anime. Too bad Fox didn't have the balls to use it.

Soramimi Cake - Azumanga Daioh.

 

[IcyCool]

Paranoia Agent - The opening is even better after you've watched the anime series. I'm particularly fond of the way all of the characters in the opening are laughing in pretty horrible places (and yes, that even includes Little Slugger at the end in the "field").

Hellsing - Right up there with Cowboy Beebop, IMO, although not quite as good.

Last Exile - Bagpipes, a beat, and japanese lyrics. Not to mention blow you out of your socks animation and a cool glimpse at a cool world.

Full Metal Alchemist - The anime series is fantastic, so I felt it deserved a mention.

Gunslinger Girl - I don't know why I liked this series (it was kind of depressing), but the opening was always entertaining to me.

Witch Hunter Robin - Another one of those "depressing, but cool" anime series.

 

[Rackhir]

I rate anime (and other stuff) on if it passes the "Theme Song" test. Since I've noticed that pretty much all great entertainment has at least a great theme song.

Dirty Pair TV Series - "Ro-Ro-Russian Roulette" hooked me in Seconds. The closing theme (also part of the clip) is also still one of my favorites.

Kimagure Orange Road - All the opening sequences were pretty good. Night of Summer Side, the first season opener was an instant classic.
Second Season Opener
Third Season Opener
The 48 episode TV series (3 seasons) produced something like 8 cds worth of music.

Gundam ZZ - Not generally considered the best of the Gundam Series, the opening themes "Silent Eyes" and "Anime-Janai" are classics.

Gundam 0083: Stardust Memories - Men of Destiny They actually did both a japanese and english version of the songs for this series and they both rock hard!

Another nod for Helsing (OVA series) - Bought the soundtrack just to get a copy of the opening theme song, but it turned out to be a surprisingly strong BGM.

Space Cruiser Yamato - "We're off to Outer Space! To Save the Human Race!" Another classic for the ages.

Area 88 OVA Part III Opening This is the original OVA series, not the recent remake which was not nearly as entertaining and who's sound track was a pale shadow of the original.

 

[Gnome Quixote]

Some really great selections here, including most of my personal favorites. Let me add just a few:

I'll always have a soft spot for the first Rurouni Kenshin OP, although most of the music used for the series was actually pretty decent. The 2nd OP is also an old favorite.

I'm really surprised nobody's mentioned the OP for Neon Genesis Evangelion, which has been a staple at every anime karaoke night I've been to.

Ditto for the Trigun OP, which rocks pretty hard, in my opinion.

Probably my hands-down favorite anime OP of all time, though, would probably be Serial Experiments Lain, which is still in heavy rotation on my iPod years after I first heard it and fell in love with it.

 

[horacethegrey]

Yakusoku wa iranai (No need for promises) Tenkuu no Escaflowne. It's Maaya Sakamoto and Yoko Kanno teaming up for one of the best OP in anime. Too bad Fox didn't have the balls to use it.

Another Yoko Kanno classic! And yes, Maaya Sakamoto is undoubtedly one of the best singers in anime. Even though I absolutely loathed how the series ended, I still have a soft spot for this song.

Soramimi Cake - Azumanga Daioh.

Love this opening, since the song and video tell you what the show's all about (I.E. a hint of cuteness, whimsy and utter hilarity ).

Paranoia Agent - The opening is even better after you've watched the anime series. I'm particularly fond of the way all of the characters in the opening are laughing in pretty horrible places (and yes, that even includes Little Slugger at the end in the "field").

Y'know, I would have ranked this among my faves if it didn't weird me out so much. Still, nice choice.

Full Metal Alchemist - The anime series is fantastic, so I felt it deserved a mention.

Ah, not bad. But I'm more partial to the 4th opening, Rewrite by Asian Kung Fu Generation.

Gunslinger Girl - I don't know why I liked this series (it was kind of depressing), but the opening was always entertaining to me.

Same here, couldn't really finish it because it bored me at times, but I'll be to admit that that opening is excellent. What's the song called BTW?

Witch Hunter Robin - Another one of those "depressing, but cool" anime series.

I like this show as well, and I'll admit I was drawn to it because of the kick ass opening.

Gundam 0083: Stardust Memories - Men of Destiny They actually did both a japanese and english version of the songs for this series and they both rock hard!

Hey, nice choice. This also brings back memories for me, since 0083 was one of the first Gundam series I ever watched.

Space Cruiser Yamato - "We're off to Outer Space! To Save the Human Race!" Another classic for the ages.

If possible, try and find the Animetal version of this song. It kicks ass!

I'll always have a soft spot for the first Rurouni Kenshin OP, although most of the music used for the series was actually pretty decent. The 2nd OP is also an old favorite.

I'm more partial to the 1st op, since it includes that wonderful guitar rift.

I'm really surprised nobody's mentioned the OP for Neon Genesis Evangelion, which has been a staple at every anime karaoke night I've been to.

Probably because it's been played so much that it's become incredibly overrated and tiring, though maybe that's just me.

Probably my hands-down favorite anime OP of all time, though, would probably be Serial Experiments Lain, which is still in heavy rotation on my iPod years after I first heard it and fell in love with it.

Ooohhh, love that. Another series I had to check out because of that wonderful opening.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Ah, anime openings...

Some, I haven't read in this thread:
Rozen Maiden (1st season) and Rozen Maiden: Träumend (2nd season) have a song I dig, and the animation is pretty nice. They've drawn me into this strange series...

Ichigo Mashimaro - Cute. Like the song, a bit like Azumanga... and my girl-friend loves it.

Already posted by people:
Azumanga Daioh - Love it. Utterly absurd, senseless, weird and goofy - and a blast to watch, like the series.

Ergo Proxy - nice opening, it flows well, and catches the spirit of the series.

Witch Hunter Robin - good song, but the images are a bit disturbing

 

[cattoy]

Love Tropicana - Jungle wa itsumo Hale noche Guu. all singing. all dancing.

Tenshi no yubikiri - Kareshi kanojo no jinou. Uplifting. Literally.

 

[Nightfall]

*cheers for people that have taste* At least when it comes to say, Samurai Champloo, Cowboy Bebop, Yoko Kanno, and Kung Fu Generation. These are the guys/gals I like the best.

Of course the RZA did an excellent job with Afro Samurai.

 

[RainOfSteel]

• Last Exile: Titled "Cloud Age Symphony"
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex:
• Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: 2ng Gig
• Gunslinger Girl: Titled "The Light Before We Land"
• Outlaw Star
• Wolf's Rain
• Samurai Seven
• Rah Xephon
• Escaflowne
• Sol Bianca: The Legacy
• Cowboy Beebop
• Trigun
• Super Dimension Century: Orguss II
• Bubblegum Crisis: 2040
• Ghost in the Shell (1st Movie)
• Hellsing
• Legend of the Galactic Heroes (First Season)
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: But only for the opening. I despise the series itself.