Top 10 Catchiest Anime Openings

Top 10 Catchiest Anime Openings

Here’s to the openings we never skip while binge watching anime. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Catchiest Anime Openings.

For this list, we’ll be singing along to some of anime’s most infectious earworms. We’re only gonna pick one song per franchise, so plug in those headphones and get ready to have a lot of choruses stuck in your head.

#10: “Motteke! Sailor Fuku!”

“Lucky Star” (2007)

Warning: when you hear this theme, you may feel the spontaneous urge to dance like a multi-color haired schoolgirl. You’re... already up dancing, aren’t you?
Well, it only takes one or two notes to be able to identify this opening and attempt to duplicate the choreography. Sure, it’s the height of weeaboo cringe, but we can’t help but bob our head to Konata and the gang’s vocals.

#9: “Raise Your Flag”

“Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans” (2015-17)

Gundam has a history of catchy, memorable openings, which is to be expected from a franchise that’s been going on for decades. This theme is no exception. As soon as the music starts you feel the excitement of the intergalactic battles that Gundam is known for. Then we’re treated to a seamless blend of Japanese and English lyrics that leads us into that heart-pounding chorus. With this much energy, we can definitely go out there and win that war... or at least watch these guys take a crack at it

#8: “Clattanoia”

“Overlord” (2015-)

Online roleplaying games are already addictive enough, do we really need to be addicted to an anime opening of one? Yes. And it needs to be fitting for a badass, skeletal avatar with piercing, red eyes. Highlighting the various characters of Yggdrasil, this opening gives a sense of stepping into an epic adventure with otherworldly creatures, majestic lands, and intense battles. It’s also an opening where you feel proud of yourself if you manage to sing along with it. Don’t worry, the chorus is much easier to belt out.

#7: “Someone Else”

“Working!!” (2010-16)

You know, if more restaurants used this in their orientation videos, maybe we’d be more excited about working there. This opening essentially smacks you in the face with its bright, chipper lyrics, especially with its enthusiastic chants of the word “someone.” The rest of the song is just as catchy as the chorus and is guaranteed to get stuck in your head -- probably while you’re stuck in traffic, frustrated with your job…

#6: “Colors”

“Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion” (2006-08)

There are certain groups who, when you hear them in an anime opening, you immediately search for the full version so you can hear them for longer than a minute. Flow is one of those groups. Combining their enthusiasm with such triumphant music makes for a catchy tune and works well with the imagery -- particularly the trippy visuals of Lelouch’s geass. Sure, the show’s theme is a little grimmer but what the hell.

#5: “Hyadain no Kakakata☆Kataomoi - C”

“Nichijou” (2011)

Why start your ordinary life with coffee when you can start it with this? With it’s fast-paced beats and catchy lyrics, it definitely makes you feel excited about falling in love. The two vocalists trade off who sings what part as they express their feelings for one another. Oops, did we say two? There’s actually only one singer -- the female vocals are a digitally edited version of his voice. Suddenly, that whole “one-sided love” thing makes sense.

#4: “We Go!”
“One Piece” (1999-)
You know that whole “one per franchise” rule? There are sooooo many openings to choose for One Piece, but this one really captures the high sea adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates. It’s surprising that such a high energy tune is for the fifteenth opening as many long running series openings feel like they start to lose their momentum. If it sounds familiar to you, then that may be because it’s a sort of follow up to the show’s first theme – we are!

#3: “History Maker”

“Yuri on Ice!!!” (2016)
Don’t those inspiring music notes that make you wanna hit the ice and win a gold medal? Or… at least, cheer for your favorite characters as they unleash their inner Eros. With the eye catching artstyle and melody that screams “championship sports anime,” this song -- completely in English -- is as catchy as it is memorable. There isn’t a single anime fan who didn’t belt out that chorus -- because at the end of the day, we were all born to make history!

#2: “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis”

“Evangelion” (1996)
This is definitely an opening that makes you wanna get in the damn robot... unless if you’re Shinji (0:23). This song reeeeeally lulls you into a false sense of security. The singer’s voice is so pleasant, and the music is so lighthearted and fun. There’s a sense of, “I’m gonna go out and save the world with my friends, there won’t be any psychological trauma today!” Yeah... about that…

Before we get to our number one pick, let’s pause our playlist for these honorable mentions:

“Battlecry”
“Samurai Champloo” (2004-05)


“Wild Challenger”
“Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo” (2003-05)

“Smile Bomb”
“Yu Yu Hakusho” (1992-94)

#1: “Cha-La Head-Cha-La”

“Dragon Ball Z” (1989-96)
To be honest, most of us got hooked on this series by rockin’ the dragon, and as catchy as that opening is, there’s nothing quite like the original. The music makes you feel a rise in your power level when you hear those words: Cha-La! Head-Cha-La! It’s a staple in anime music history and one that somehow has never lost its appeal - Its even been re-sung by a heap of bands including Flow! It’s only fitting that a show as impactful as DBZ has a theme to go with it.