At Hitek, we're big fans of Japanese animation; that's why we talk about it regularly. As anime fans know, animation studios pay particular attention to openings; it must be said that they're often the gateway to an animated series; a tune, an image, a montage catches the eye and piques the viewer's curiosity. Even today, just mentioning Dragon Ball Z is enough to make millions of fans want to sing along to CHA-LA HEAD CHA-LA or We Gotta Power by Hironobu Kageyama. That shows the power of successful openings. For this article, we've decided to select our ten favorite openings of the current decade. Of course, your top ten may be different; In this case, don't hesitate to give us yours in the comments section.
#10 LEvel, by Hiroyuki Sawano and Tomorrow x Together (Solo Leveling)
Among the most popular anime of the moment, Solo Leveling is the adaptation of the South Korean webtoon of the same name written by Chugong. The anime is produced by the Japanese studio A-1 Pictures and is renowned for its impressive animation and fights. For its new flagship title, A-1 studio pulled out all the stops, calling on the great Hiroyuki Sawano, known among other things for composing the soundtracks for Attack on Titan. For Solo Leveling, the composer also wrote the music for the theme song LEvel, performed by the Korean boy band Tomorrow X Together. Showcasing several epic battles from season 1, the opening aims to immediately hook the viewer by revealing what awaits them.
#9 Abyss, by Yungblud (Kaiju no 8)
Launched in 2024, the anime Kaiju no 8 is the adaptation by studio Production I.G. of the manga by Naoya Matsumoto published by Shonen Jump+. The opening, which mixes 3D CGI effects with 2D animation, is a small marvel. To the song Abyss by Yungblud, we see kaiju cells emerging from a volcano underwater and seems to represent the creation of these monsters. With its almost organic animation, the opening of Kaiju no 8seems made for a live-action adaptation. A real success!
#8 Bling Bang Bang Born, by Creepy Nuts (Mashle)
Highly appreciated by fans of shonen and action comedy, the series Mashle is the adaptation of the eponymous manga by Hajime Komoto. Produced by A-1 Pictures, the anime is a real success. Like many shōnen, the anime has its tournament/competition arc, titled the Exam Arc. For the opening of this story arc, the anime teams called on the hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts, also known for the theme song of the first season of DanDaDan. A wise choice, which perfectly illustrates the humorous and wacky side of the anime. After the fury of revenge in the first season, Vinland Saga offered us a second season that was more introspective and poetic. Produced by MAPPA studio and directed by the same team that worked on the first, season 2 was met with rave reviews from fans. MAPPA called on Japanese alternative rock and emo band Survive Said The Prophet, who had already composed the opening theme for season 1 of Vinland Saga. While the song's lyrics perfectly illustrate Thorfinn Thorsson's philosophical journey ("Some will call it giving up, I just call it getting lost my own revenge"), the images and the singers' voices reveal the carnage that is coming.
Tasked to adapt the final part of Attack on Titan, studio MAPPA chose to divide the final season into two parts and two one-hour episodes. A delicate mission for the studio, especially since Attack on Titan established itself as the most influential anime of the 2010-2019 decade thanks to the three seasons brilliantly produced by Wit. From the first season, the music and openings contributed to the anime's immense popularity, notably with the first composed and performed by Linked Horizon. For the second part of the final season, MAPPA called on the Japanese metal band SiM for the song The Rambling. With its metalcore atmosphere, the opening perfectly sets the tone: the final season will be very dark.
#5 Otonoke, by Creepy Nuts (DanDaDan)
With DanDaDan, the Science SARU studio - which is currently working on a very promising new version of The Ghost in the Shell, but that's another story! - has succeeded in its challenge of adapting the eponymous manga by Yukinobu Tatsu. One of the new hits of Shōnen Jump from publisher Shueisha, DanDaDan effectively blends science fiction, horror, and romantic comedy, telling the budding love story between a UFO-loving nerd and a rebellious high school girl whose grandmother is a psychic. The opening theme of the first season, composed by the duo Creepy Nuts - who had already distinguished themselves with the opening theme Bling Bang Bang Born for the anime Mashle - perfectly illustrates this fusion of genres. Completely off-the-wall and accumulating references to ufology and the occult, it very effectively mixes rap, funk and pop.
#4 Love Rockets, by The Birthday (The First Slam Dunk)
Released in France in July 2023, The First Slam Dunk marked the return of legendary manga artist Takehiko Inoue (Vagabond) to the world of Slam Dunk. The author, who is still considered one of the greatest manga artists, returns here as director. A real slap in the face, The First Slam Dunk is a new take on the final match between the characters in the manga, but from Ryota Miyagi's point of view. Masterfully directed, it's a masterpiece that has deeply marked fans of the sports manga, and which makes us hope for an adaptation of Vagabond. The feature film has an opening: to music by the Japanese garage rock band The Birthday, the characters of the two teams are gradually drawn by Takehiko Inoue. Another opportunity to appreciate his inestimable talent!
#3 Special Z, by King Gnu (Jujutsu Kaisen)
In 2023, MAPPA is making a big splash by broadcasting the highly anticipated second season of Jujutsu Kaisen, adapted from the eponymous manga by Gege Akutami. After the five episodes adapting the Satoru Gojo's Past arc, fans eagerly awaited the release of the Shibuya Drama arc, still considered the most accomplished in the manga. On Halloween, Geto and his allies launch a massive attack in Shibuya to trap Satoru Gojo. The famous Tokyo district becomes the scene of a bloody battle that will change the history of the exorcism world. The opening Special Z of King Gnu perfectly illustrates the gravity of the events to come; With a dominant red and black color scheme, the opening reveals some of the most striking scenes from the arc, either by reproducing them as they are, or by teasing them in a very clever way - like when Nobara Kugisaki covers one eye. Within four days of its initial broadcast, the opening had exceeded 10 million views on YouTube. Impressive!
#2 Kick Back, by Kenshi Yonezu (Chainsaw Man)
Launched in 2022, the anime Chainsaw Man was a huge success with Japanese animation enthusiasts and fans of Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga. It must be said that the first season boasts impeccable direction, coupled with highly skilled animation. One of the strong points of Chainsaw Man also lies in its music composed by Kensuke Ushio and its opening. Set to a song by Kenshi Yonezu - who the following year recorded the theme song for the film The Boy and the Heron, Hayao Miyazaki's latest masterpiece - the theme song is a veritable catalog of cinephile references that remind us of the importance of cinema in Fujimoto's work. The opening theme of Chainsaw Man quickly became a cult classic and surpassed 100 million views on YouTube in January 2024.
#1 Vortex, by Kamasi Washington (LAZARUS)
April 2025 saw the return of the legendary Shinichirō Watanabe. The director of the cult series Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, and Terror in Resonance has just signed Lazarus, a series that follows a group of highly trained agents pursuing a mad scientist who has condemned humanity to death. As usual with the master of Japanese animation, music plays a very important role. After the Japanese jazz group SEATBELTS for Cowboy Bebop and the late Japanese rapper Nujabes for Samurai Champloo, Shin'ichirō Watanabe has called on American jazzman Kamasi Washington and British DJs Bonobo and Floating Points for the soundtrack of his new anime produced by MAPPA. Kamasi Washington, known as the jazzman of US hip-hop, signs the title Vortex for an opening that is very reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop in its aesthetic. Both terribly catchy and imbued with sweet nostalgia, the opening of Lazarus is a total success.
And you, what are your favorite anime openings? Don't hesitate to tell us in the comments section!
0 Comments