10 - 1
10. 3-Gatsu no Lion OP 1 - "Answer"
I mentioned there would be three songs by Bump of Chicken on this list. Well, here's the second. You see, 3-Gatsu no Lion is so good at making you feel emotional, feel the depression that Rei goes through, and makes you really attached to the beautiful animation and the fantastic characters. And the opening compounds every aspect of that. The song is so powerful, deep, and heart-rending that I've listened to it when writing some of the most emotional parts of my books. Overall, a gorgeous opening to send chills down your spine.
9. One Outs OP - "Bury"
From the moment I first saw this opening, I fell in love. There's just something about the angst in the song that paints Tokuchi Toua as a much deeper character than he really is, and as much as that deepness doesn't show up in the anime, I still can't help but think of him that way. It doesn't help that the way they animate him in the opening is so... sensual, yet hidden and mysterious. On top of all that, though, is the story behind the band who made the song (Pay money To my Pain) and their lead singer, K, and his story. I'm not going to go into detail, but I will say that I've spent a lot of time thinking about K. Overall, though, it deserves its spot.
8. 3-Gatsu no Lion ED 1 - "Fighter"
Remember everything I said about 3-Gatsu no Lion's opening? Now multiply that by two. If Answer is the warmer version, the glowing side of 3-Gatsu no Lion, Fighter is the darker side, the sadder side, the side that has to fight through all the problems. I've listened to this song probably more times than I can count. It's my favorite song by Bump of Chicken (whom, as you can guess, I love very much). It's an ending I'll remember for years.
7. Nobunaga Concerto ED - "Fukagyaku Replace"
Now, time for an old favorite. While it has dropped a few places, it's still in the top 10, and it still certainly deserves its place. Whenever I'm listening to my anime playlist and this song comes on, you have no clue how happy I get. It's so high-energy with so much detail and such fantastic animation. For a one-off anime that gets almost no attention, it has one of the best endings I've ever seen.
6. Umineko no Naku Koro ni OP - "Katayoku no Tori"
Out of all the terrible things that came out of Umineko's anime, I'm glad we at least got this absolutely brilliant opening. To be honest, it might have been this opening that spurred me on to start buying the manga instead (something I do not regret). Though it's place has fluctuated a little, it's always been in the top 10 these past three years. The dramatic Italian lyrics, the chorus, and the intense and dark animation used. I'm so glad I got to watch the anime, if only for this opening.
5. Ajin 1 ED - "How Close You Are"
Remember how I said I love voice actors singing OP's/ED's? Remember how I love words in an OP/ED? Well, this ending has that, but it has so, so much more. The lyrics and how they apply to Kei and Kai make me want to cry every time. It's filled with such deep, such gentle and unconditional love, and the need to want to make the other happy. It's one that shows friendship in such a strong way that I end up listening to it over and over again. It's yet another that I listened to while writing my book. And doesn't help that the loyal best friend is my favorite character trope. Even when it's over a year since this anime first aired, my love of it is still going strong.
4. Kuroshitsuji Book of Circus OP - "Enamel"
"What?" you may be thinking, "Fourth place?" While it's true that this opening has taken the first-place slot for two years in a row, this year, there's been a few more openings/endings that have popped that mean a bit more to me. Still, that isn't to say I don't absolutely love this opening, because I do. It's my favorite Kuroshitsuji opening, it's so high-energy, the animation is fantastic, and it contains so much of why I love the show in the first place. That being said, this opening has had its time in the limelight, so onto the top three--
3. Yuri!!! On Ice ED - "You Only Live Once"
I mentioned before about why Yuri!!! on Ice and its music means so much to me. Well, add on that much more meaning to this ending. You see, the motto of the aforementioned acquaintance that died of cancer was "You Only Live Once." (You can find his blog here, which his parents are maintaining by posting some of his journal entries). He used that quote as he lived the last months of his life as best he can, which last few months just happened to be the same time that Yuri!!! on Ice was airing, giving the ending so much more meaning. The upbeat melody and the still shots and Instagram posts just makes me want to go out and do stuff. Scale a mountain. Travel to some random country, experience the culture there. Go to New York and see all the sights. Live life to the ultimate fullest you can. It's the type of song that brings my dreams back into perspective. And that's the thing that I think both that acquaintance and the song would want.
2. Danganronpa 3: Despair Side OP - "Kami-iro Awase"
TV Version (Spoilers for the first game/season and sorta for the second game)
Anyone who knows me in real life knows that I've been obsessed with Danganronpa. I absolutely love the characters, the premise, and the juxtaposition between campy and absolutely bone-chilling. Nowhere does this translate better than in my love of this opening. Despite its simpleness, the way that each character of the second game is shown off, reminding you of how much you love them, and the way the song seems to lurk beneath, not in-your-face, just backed off to make you unsettled. But most of all, that shot of Junko just blowing everyone away, letting them sink deeper and deeper into despair as if she were blowing away flower petals just shows just how powerful she is and is absolutely haunting. Add on the fact that the colors change and grow duller with each episode, and you've got an opening that I'm going to obsess over just as much as I obsess over the franchise.
1. Sakamichi no Appollon OP - "Sakamichi no Melody"
I've watched this opening who-knows-how-many times, yet every time I watch it, I get emotional. I loved jazz long before I had seen this anime, so the care that this opening pours into the anime's subject is sweet. Yet it becomes so heart-breaking once you know the things that the characters go through, the simple shot of Bon's tears flowing fitting that perfectly. And with how smooth the animation gets at parts, music notes floating over all the characters, it reminds me so much of what it's like to be performing. I love this opening so, so much, and that's why it's at the top.
Alrighty, thanks, guys, for sticking through it with me. Sorry mine's finished so late, I was busy with work, writing, and preparing to go on vacation. And another huge apology to anyone who felt pressured into joining this year. I hope those who wanted to do it had a lot of fun. Thanks, guys, again ^^
