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2018 was an interesting year for anime! A lot of new series came out to play, a lot of beloved series got sequels, and some classics were even reimagined. The same can be said about the opening and ending themes, with some surprising me with how good they were and other catching me over time. This article is going to list, NOT RANK, my top 10 openings and endings of the season based on the music, the way they interacted with the animation, the way they conveyed information, and the way they played into the show as a whole. Keep in mind, this list is not taking into account the actual content or quality of the shows and is only looking at what is contained in the openings. Sit back, relax, open up the good old google, and get ready for my top 10 favorite openings and endings of 2018!
Flashback by MIYAVI vs KenKen: Kokkoku Opening
I’m a huge fan of beats matching animation (as you’ll see later) so this is the perfect song to start with. From the first slap of the bass to Miyavi’s unique guitar tone, I was bobbing my head to the rhythm. Cleverly timed animation only reinforced this feeling. Yes, there is not a lot of complex animation in motion but what is there can be chilling, confusing, and enlightening all at the same time thanks to interplay with the plot. Coupled with some smart cuts, intense colors, and clever credits, the music really shines while also elevating the scenes that are shown.
Colors Power ni Omakasero by Colors Slash: Mitsuboshi Colors Opening
If we’re talking about an anime opening with smart cuts and music synchs, this is it. From flawlessly working characters singing the song lyrics into individual scenes to quick and varied edits, this opening caught my attention immediately and kept it to the end. Throw in some cute voices, character showcases, fluid animation when needed, and an extremely soft color palette and what you have is an opening that is easy and interesting to watch while still being able to set the mood and scene for the episodes that follow.
Kakatte Koi Yo by NakamuraEmi: Megalo Box Ending
This ending is the perfect example of less is more. Presenting a simple credit roll, one would think that there isn’t much to this ending but man is there. Each credit role is preceded by a unique phrase to match the episode before it, the vibrant neon bands framing the credits pulse at times with the beats while also bearing images of each fighter Joe challenges, and the song itself has a great flow thanks to a slick mixture of singing and rapping. As a whole, this ending gives off the feel of walking alone down a neon-retro city street in the dark of the night and the creation of that tone from such a simple presentation is a feat in itself.
Gin no Kisei by Soraru: Goblin Slayer Ending
Mediocre CG animation aside, this ending is the embodiment of focused buildup. By presenting Goblin Slayer simply walking past a myriad of environments, accompanied by a slower and deeper vocal track that builds over time, the ending immediately evokes his one track and solitary mind. Then, by pushing his pace to a run as the music hits its chorus, which is accented by a desperate sounding singer, the solitary and somber tone is shifted to one of urgency. All of the cuts to different parts of the sprinting warrior add to that feeling of urgency while still keeping the focus on him. Is this ending a bit straightforward? Yes, but it perfectly matches the pace and purpose of the show while highlighting the star.
Pop Team Epic by Sumire Uesaka: Pop Team Epic Opening
Pop Team Epic’s titular song is perhaps the most unique, information packed, and frantic opening of the year and I loved every second. Featuring a myriad of different animation styles, an almost-overwhelming amount of references and easter eggs, extremely unique presentations of the main characters, and a song that manages to hold its own amongst it all, this opening is one that’ll have a viewer finding new things with every watch. Did I mention the fact that almost everything is timed to the music despite the variable timing of the song? Yeah, this opening was epic.
Fiction by Sumika: Wotakoi Opening
This song and the accompanying animation play so well into the show, and each other, that it is almost criminal. The opening starts be depicting the dynamics of the two main couples, showing off their serious work and more anime-focused personal lives in order to help setup their personalities, then unites them in the same way by presenting a more “normal” gathering followed by the more “otaku” one, rolls into an infectious and extremely satisfying synched-to-the-music dance piece by each couple, and finishes with a final roll call. It’s a perfect example of an opening tied to its music but also of a song clearly tied to its animation.
Futari no Hane by YURiKA: Hanebado Opening
Every once in a while there is an opening that blends a focused sense of style with the subject matter of the show and this right here is it. The characters that spell out the title bounce with the momentum of a racquet being swung and a shuttlecock being hit in time with the music, the stills show just enough emotion, the animation is fluid, the colors and color shift is spot on, and the foreshadowing is subtle yet substantively dense. Coupled with a montage that feels like a badminton rally and the fact that the animated scenes prior to said montage are seen to completion afterwards, this opening has an infectious flow evocative of the sport it is representing. It is frantic, calming, intense, and emotional all at the same time and for that it is special.
Adabana Necromancy by Kaede Hondo, Asami Tano, Risa Taneda, Maki Kawase, Rika Kunigawa, and Minami Tanaka: Zombieland Saga Opening
On the topic of frantic yet multi-faceted openings, we have the Zombieland Saga opening. By starting with a dark, zombie horror-esque tone, shifting to comic book style transformation, dance, and battle scenes, and ending with a more animation-accurate idol shot, this opening is eye catching and reflective of the show’s purpose as a parody, comedy, and idol anime all in one. The cast does a great job of belting out a song brimming with momentum and the animation and cuts to and from certain scenes are chaotic but not overwhelming. All in all, this was an infectious opening that served to give a different look at the main cast and their dynamic in a fun and stylish way.
Pulse by Hina Kino, Rika Nagase, and Konomi Kohara: Asobi Asobase Ending
And the award for most hardcore ending theme goes to…this one! In a show all about subverting expectations, this ending caught me off guard in the best of ways and was the complete opposite of the show’s innocent and soft opening. The heaviness of the backing band works wonderfully with the cute and guttural vocals, the extreme scribble-like line art is almost like a reflection of the inner personalities of the main cast, and the insane expressions carry the momentum of the series’ content beyond just the episode. This sequence is the perfect way to wrap up any episode of this show and is one that I’ll remember for a long time.
Fighting Gold by Coda: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 5 – Golden Wind Opening
In a similar vein as the Goblin Slayer ending theme lies this opening in the respect that it is all about the buildup. Leading up to the chorus, viewers are treated to a very James Bond-esque sequence featuring all of the main cast in the typical color shifting fashion of the series. Of course, symbolism is everywhere too. Upon reaching the chorus, viewers get a beautifully animated montage of the main cast and their stands that has a flow and momentum that I feel other more recent JoJo’s openings were missing. It might just be because I am a huge fan of the franchise, but there is a level of drama that the music and animation here evokes that isn’t present in other openings and that makes it very unlike anything else out there.
So there you go friends, my top 10 favorite openings and endings of 2018. From beat matching comedies to slow-build battles and smartly cut colors, 2018 had a huge assortment of great offerings that made it really hard to narrow this list down. If you have a chance and want to listen to some good tunes, or get a feeling for the way a series is, I highly recommend checking all of these out. From the looks of it, 2019 is going to be even better year for us so from the Boys here at Backlog Bebop, Happy New Year and here’s to an endless supply of great anime!