Top 10 Anime Opening Theme Songs

They’re on the karaoke lists of every otaku. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 anime opening themes.

The opening sequence to Soul Eater really gets you pumped for the series’ action—but it also doesn’t take itself too seriously. The J-pop sound of T.M. Revolution’s “Resonance” is a perfect match for this show about teenage grim reapers. Girls with six-foot scythes, people turning into weapons, strange and unique bad guys, plus a song that you can lift weights to all serve to get your adrenaline to the roof.

In the world of anime, “Tank!” is as iconic as a song can get. From the jazz and hard bop beat to the unmistakable trumpet and saxophone melody, this Yoko Kanno-penned tune really gets you in the mood for an old-fashioned futuristic space cowboy adventure. Let’s jam!

Oh, the 90s. The super upbeat opening theme of this popular anime may not adequately prepare you for the onslaught of chaos and confusion that is Evangelion, but maybe that’s the best part about it. Being so unassuming, the theme rolls along while we’re given flashes of the main characters and some seemingly random images, leaving it up to you to decipher them as you will.

Punctuated with three exclamation marks, you know this theme song means business. Though Naruto: Shippuden’s “Sign” is also fantastic, we’ve chosen “Go!!!” because of how seamlessly it blends with the opening’s action and light-hearted sequences; which is exactly what Naruto is all about. The pace of this Flow track helped turn an entire generation of teens into fighting dreamers.

Extremely colorful and even psychedelic, it’s not hard to fall under the spell of this series’ opening. One of the main reasons we love it so much is because we get to see Lelouch use his mind control powers on us. Meanwhile, Clamp’s distinctive drawing style and “Colors”’ addictive lyrics make this one of the most inviting themes on our list. We just can’t help wanting to watch more and more.

Metaphorical, thought provoking, and amazingly epic are just some of the words we’d use to describe the opening of Death Note. With Nightmare’s J-rock track “The World” playing alongside godly depictions of the main characters, this theme really forces itself into your cranium. It also sets the mood for a morally grey anime series.

Be honest, did you just start singing this? An opening featuring a song of few words but plenty of action, there’s no question that it’s gonna go down when this comes up on your screen. While the original Japanese opening is pretty catchy too, we prefer this one because it holds a special place in our hearts and reminds us of a simpler time. The lyrics to Dragon Ball Z’s “Main Title” may be simple and repetitive, but it does the job and it does it well.

You knew this one was coming. The opening to this science fantasy adventure series brings you in slowly with Yui’s beautiful voice. Then, it rams a car through your living room with its fast rapping and makes you smile with its beautifully composed chorus. Even though all of the Fullmetal Alchemist songs are memorable, we just can’t get enough of this one.

This is an opening that can crush giants. With its progressive metal style and dark themes, this track makes you feel like a beast and unleashes the predator in you. Starting with characters leaping from building to building at breakneck speeds, Attack on Titan’s opening sequence almost makes it seem as though they’re gonna jump out and hit you. This isn’t to say that the series’ other theme “Jiyu no Tsubasa” isn’t enjoyable too, but thanks to “Guren no Yumiya,” we’ve got a vivid dream we just don’t want to wake up from.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

• “Digimon Theme” by Paul Gordon, Digimon Adventure (1999-2000)
• “Sailor Moon (Theme)” by Nicole & Brynne Price, Sailor Moon [English dub] (1995-2000)
• “Hohoemi no Bakudan” by Matsuko Mawatari, YuYu Hakusho (1992-94)
• “Ready Steady Go!” by L’Arc~en~Ciel, Fullmetal Alchemist (2004)
• “Jiyuu no Tsubasa” by Linked Horizon, Attack on Titan (2013)
• “Sign” by FLOW, Naruto: Shippuden (2009-10)

This is one of anime’s most special theme songs because of its unique ability to bring people together. It’s not just a song but also a social glue that makes new friends and keeps old ones. Written and produced by John Loeffler, the “Pokémon Theme” is still American singer Jason Paige’s biggest claim-to-fame. With its catchy lyrics and inspiring sound, it’s no wonder it was the most-used theme of the English dub version of the series.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite anime opening theme? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.