Top 10 Anime Openings
of 2015
Written by: ClayDragon & Shiggins
Openings are an often-overlooked aspect of anime, which is strange
considering that their main purpose is to introduce you to the show and get you
ready for the episode which follows. Of course, everyone has their own opinions
as to what the greatest opening of all time is. But since it’s the end of the
year, we thought we’d rank our favourite anime openings from 2015. Like with
our other Top 10s of 2015, as long as the opening debuted this year, it’s
eligible for this list.
Side note: Whilst we made an effort to watch lots of shows that
started airing this year, we couldn’t see them all. So if there’s an opening that
you think should be on this list but isn’t, then it’s probably because we never
got around to watching it, as opposed to us not liking it.
As is this the case with many of these lists, SPOILER ALERT. You have
been warned.
10.) “Seven
Deadly Sins” by MAN WITH A MISSION (Nanatsu
no Taizai) (Written by: Shiggins)
I should probably state how much I love Nanatsu no Taizai's anime. A lot. I love it a lot. Not that the
series itself is a masterpiece or anything, but the way it's been adapted is
what gets my motor running. The smooth, clear animation and strong rhythm of
the music really help it standout, and in a way the opening is the perfect
example of both these features.
 |
| I love how the floating boy is the one stealing the attention. |
Lots of bright, vibrant and emotional visuals are shown in the
span of this opening, with the song giving us that rare combination of English
and Japanese lyrics that somehow doesn't come across as horrendous and instead
is somewhat charming. Brief glimpses into the future of the arc, some nice
images of the cast being the lovable cretins they are and of course, an
adorable smile from Diane, and you've got a wonderfully enjoyable opening.
 |
| Straight outta Camelot. |
9.) “Chozetsu
Dynamic!” by Kazuya Yoshii (Dragon Ball
Super) (Written by: Shiggins)
Dragon Ball is back and why aren't you
people cheering every damn day about it?! Super
is tons of fun, action and potential that will soon be at its peak once we move
past the arcs based on the already-released films, so let's enjoy ourselves and
rock to the beat that is Dragon Ball
Super's only opening of 2015, despite the fact that there have been almost
30 episodes.
 |
| Shenron: "Shit, I missed him!" |
What do we need in an opening of Dragon Ball? A Super Saiyan transformation? Check. Shots of
everybody flying around Shenron, despite the fact he's never actually done
anything like that in the series? Check. Epic thrilling music? Check. Some
changes to the visuals later on when we enter a new arc, so as to highlight the
new villains? Check and check! Oh, and is it awesome? ...Yes.
 |
| Dibs on the pretty one! |
8.) “THE
HERO!” by JAM Project (One Punch Man)
(Written by: Shiggins)
The series that set everyone on fire, One Punch Man being only 8th might be somewhat
controversial, but that doesn't mean we're calling it anything short of badass.
Crazy music accompanied by explosive visuals filled with guts and blood and
destruction and everything else that real men like!
 |
| It's like if Guts from Berserk shaved his head and was directed by Peter Jackson back in his Braindead days. |
Honestly, the only real flaw of the opening is how poorly it
portrays the majority of the tone that One
Punch Man has. Yes, it's got badass action and chaos, but it's lacking
anything comedic... unless you count the star that gets annihilated, but I just
feel bad because it wanted a hug and all it got was death! Still, if this
doesn't get your blood pumping, then I urge you to call your next of kin
because you have clearly died!
 |
| Damn, those are some scary villains... What was that?... OH COME ON! |
7.) “NEVER-END
TALE” by Tatsuyuki Kobayashi & Konomi Suzuki (Fairy Tail) (Written by: Shiggins)
Do you like spoilers? Well, we got plenty! You deserve a spoiler!
And you deserve a spoiler! You all deserve so many damn spoilers, because this
anime knows you should be reading the manga and therefore is literally going to
start episodes by showing plot points you'd already know if you had read it
instead! It's a good thing these openings are fantastic or I'd be mad!
 |
| Lucy looks nothing short of "utterly appropriate" for this arc, am I right boys? |
We see Mard Geer, Lucy's tears, a shot of Igneel, Jellal blind for
3 seconds (which is twice as long as he actually was in the manga), Gray about
to fight Silver in a rage, Juvia about to fight Keyes, Erza in a threeway with
Kyouka and Minerva... It's all a fun crazy ride. Honestly, if we only watched
the anime, this opening would probably not be very high, but it's emotional and
fast and fun, and that's what matters.
 |
| Drama queen! |
6.) “Renegade” by STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION (Gangsta) (Written by: Shiggins)
Yes! Gangsta made it into the top 10! And while we won't let it get any higher, can anybody really ignore it's unique aesthetic and style? And no, I don't just mean the breasts. It's all very coloured in appropriate lengths and circumstances, keeping a noir feel while still managing to maintain a modern image. Oh and it's got babes. That's important.
 |
| VERY important. |
 |
| I know they're syringes, but all I see are highlight pens. |
5.) “Butter-Fly”
by Kouji Wada (Digimon Adventure tri.)
(Written by: ClayDragon)
If
you’re around our age, chances are that you grew up watching Digimon Adventure on television. And it’s
fairly likely that you’d have been watching the dub, which means most people
remember the English version of the opening, which pretty much just repeated
the word ‘Digimon’ over and over again. But the Japanese opening is so much
better (although a little outdated), so thankfully the original singer came
back to cover the iconic opening.
 |
| Hello again, childhood. |
Whilst
it may not be as action-packed as the original, tri’s opening still manages to capture the nostalgia of the first
series. The animation is sharp and colourful, the song is as catchy as it ever
was, and seeing the characters that we grew up with back on the screen is just
wonderful. Plus, Kouji Wada recorded the opening whilst he was recovering from
treatment for cancer. That’s worth some serious points.
 |
| The nanosecond this show comes out on dvd, I'm buying it. |
4.) “Brave
Shine” by Aimer (Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited
Blade Works) (Written by: ClayDragon)
Confession
time: neither of us have actually seen Unlimited
Blade Works yet. But put down the torches and pitchforks for a moment and
let’s talk about the second opening for this series. Firstly, it’s pretty – very
pretty. From Illyasviel running across the roof of an ancient ruin to Lancer
fighting Caster on a motorway, everything is fluid, colourful, and just
generally gorgeous to look at.
 |
| Where are her parents? Oh wait... |
It
doesn’t appear to spoil anything either (except for one weird image near the
end that may or may not be a spoiler). The song manages to be paradoxically be
both exciting and serene at the same time, and the animation that appears to
show everyone gearing up for the final showdown. The two aspects of the opening
come together incredibly well, to the point where even someone who hasn’t seen
the show can tell how good it is.
 |
| And then there's this glorious bastard. |
3.) “Hello, World!” by Bump of Chicken (Blood Blockade Battlefront) (Written by: ClayDragon)
I have said a number of times that everything Blood Blockade Battlefront-related is amazing, and the opening is
no exception. From the first image of a beautifully accurate scene of New York
City’s skyline, you know you’re in for something special with this one. For the
first half of the opening or so, not much happens. But then the song kicks into
high gear, the animation becomes rapid-fire chaos, and it goes by so fast that
there’s no way you’d be able to see everything in one viewing.
 |
| No matter how many times I see this, it's still amazing. |
From photo montages of Leo’s daily life, to the cast pulling funny
faces, to everyone standing on a stage surrounded by flashing lights, this
opening is a cavalcade of bright, vivid moments. It’s the perfect way to hype
yourself up for an episode of Blood
Blockade Battlefront, and it can be viewed again and again without becoming
boring, just like all the best openings out there.
 |
| With eyes like those, who needs torches? |
2.) “Flyers”
by Bradio (Death Parade) (Written by: ClayDragon)
There are some openings that suit an anime perfectly. The animation
and song let you know exactly what you’re going to be in for if you watch the
show. Death Parade’s opening is not
like this. Aside from one or two blink-and-you’ll-miss-it frames, these credits
give absolutely nothing away about this show. From watching them, you’d think Death Parade is set in a normal bar
where lots of fun games are played and people chill out whilst striking funny
poses.
 |
| Ginyu Force, assemble! |
But no. Death Parade is an
emotional rollercoaster, and the contrast between the show’s opening and its
actual content is what makes these credits stand out so much. The music is
upbeat and catchy, the animation shows the characters doing things that they
would never normally do (like Nona playing Dance Dance Revolution), and overall
it lulls you into a false sense of security before the show sucker-punches you in
the feels.
 |
| Where did Decim learn to dance? |
1.) “Kyouran
Hey Kids” by The Oral Cigarettes (Noragami
Aragoto) (Written by: ClayDragon)
Noragami’s original opening was
instantly recognisable due to its unique art style, and thankfully Noragami Aragoto stuck to the same style
for its opening. For the first part, the animation is mostly coloured in greys,
whites and blues, except for each character’s eyes and, were it not for the
fast-paced music, it might seem a little depressing. But then the chorus starts
up, and the scenes are rendered in vivid oranges and pinks.
 |
| "The stars are pretty tonight..." |
Whilst Yato’s fight with Bishamon in this opening is very similar to
that of the first season (and some scenes are damn near identical), it isn’t an
issue because this opening builds on what made the first one so great. The
memorable animation style, the intense music, and a couple of well-animated
fights all come together perfectly to make this opening an immediate standout.
 |
| Don't worry, little Yato. You'll get a shrine someday. |
Honourable Mentions:
 |
| "Kaze" by Yamazaru (Naruto Shippuden) |
 |
| "DAY X DAY" by BLUE ENCOUNT (Gintama 2015) |
 |
| "Rally Go Round" by LiSA (Nisekoi:) |
 |
| "Bravely You" by Lia (Charlotte) |
 |
| "Headhunt" by Okamoto's (Durarara x2) |
Is there an opening you feel we missed out? Or do you have any suggestions for another Top 10 list? Let us know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading!
 |
| "Saitama, why have you forsaken me?" |
Thanks for reading!
ClayDragon:
ClayDragon is currently studying Physics at university, and is constantly bewildered by it. The main method of contacting him is his Gmail account at claydragon.on@gmail.com. He has an ask.fm account at ask.fm/ClayDragon. When not playing games or reading, he can be found with his head in his hands whilst trying in vain to understand quantum physics. He started watching Nisekoi. Pity him.
Shiggins:[Admin] .
Shiggins enjoys many strange forms of communication, especially those including cosplayers or presents or videos. However, until that wonderful day comes when people care enough to give him things for being him, you can contact him on his Skype; shigginsishere. He can also respond to you if you contact him through GMails at shigginsishere@gmail.com, and you can find out about him or ask him stuff on ask.fm/shigginsishere.
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