Everyone has favorite anime opening themes. My experience with anime is rather limited compared to many, but these opening themes all have a place in my music library. Opening themes seek to capture the feelings found in story arches. They also serve to describe the characters. I enjoy classical and symphonic works.
My music tastes range from Vivaldi to Black Sabbath. I tend not to like hip hop, so one of these entries surprised even me. Yep, these are my top 8 favorites rather than top 10. Now if this was a list of my favorite Zelda or Final Fantasy tunes, ten would not be enough! These themes are simply the one’s I’ve listened to frequently in the past year or so.
8. KARMA- Requiem for the Phantom
Vocals: KOKIA
Arrangement: Nanase Hikaru
Requiem for the Phantom isn’t one of my favorite anime. Not by far. I enjoyed the series for the most part. KARMA, the first opening theme, found itself in my music library. The dark feel of the song and lyrics attracted me. It feels a little cheesy at times. Like the tune tries too hard, but when the mood is right, this song can pull at the emotions.
7. Daybreak’s Bell – Mobile Suit Gundam 00. 
6. Tank! – Cowboy Bebop
Writer: Yoko Kanno
Artist: Seatbelts
This is the legendary opening theme song for an anime classic. The jazz instrumentals and the way it kicks in are great. The theme captures the attitude of the series. It also captures the personality of the characters with its haphazard, yet knitted, feel.
5. Velonica – Bleach
Artist: Aqua Timez
I’ve watched Bleach since it debuted here in the States. It is an enjoyable anime, if annoying at times. Velonica is a good tune that portrays the better moments of Bleach. Aqua Timez is a group to check out.
4. Ichirin no Hana – Bleach
Speaking of Bleach, Ichirin no Hana grabs you by the throat. The dark metal rasp reflects what goes on in the early Hollow arches of Bleach. It is unfortunate that High and Mighty Color is a defunct group. Their metal was enjoyable. Although, I could do less with the screaming, guttural vocals.
3. Sakura – Eureka Seven
Artist: Nirgilis
Eureka Seven stands as one of my favorite series. Sakura is an interesting mix of pop laced with Amazing Grace. It captures the feel of the last section of the series, the hope and the struggle.
2. Battlecry – Samurai Champloo
Samurai Champloo is the spiritual sequel to Cowboy Bebop. Hip hop appears throughout the series, but Battlecry summarizes the series. It opens “sharp like an edge of a samurai sword,the mental blade cut through flesh and bone.” It explores the rough world Champloo sketches.
“some days, some nights some live, some die in the name of the samurai some fight, some bleed sun up to sun down the sons of a battlecry”
1. Mitsu no Yoake – Spice and Wolf
Artist: Akino Arai
Spice and Wolf is a focused anime, and one of my favorites. Mitsu no Yoake is a relaxing, heartfelt song. I enjoy listening to this piece whenever I need to unwind. Spice and Wolf is like visiting an old friend. It is simply enjoyable. Mitsu no Yoake matches this feeling perfectly.
There are many other opening themes I enjoy. These are just the opening themes that found themselves in my music library. It is difficult to limit oneself to opening themes. Many anime have wonderful music set in the background. Samurai Champloo’s You is one of my favorites. I like it more than Battlecry, but it is not an opening theme. Yoko Kanno is a favorite. I guess I could have included “Inner Universe.”
So what opening themes do you enjoy? What themes do you hate?
I liked the opening to Berserk the best only opening I watched more than once in any anime.
I usually skip openings and endings, but I like it when the opening and endings change or the story bleeds into them.