As the bar continues to rise for the best anime, the bar also continues to rise for their openings. More and more, anime OPs go so much further than showing staff credits and introducing the title card of the series. They continue to explore the themes of their series, highlight innovative animation styles, blend entire dimensions, and dominate our playlists.
While our list comprises the best per our voting, there were so many wonderful OPs this year. To Be Hero X‘s “Inertia” is a fist bumping demonstration of its overly ambitious switching art styles. My Hero Academia looked back in “THE REVO” and reaffirms its inspirations in “Kekka Orai” for MHA Vigilantes. Let’s Go Karaoke! uses “HOWL” to highlight the juxtaposition of ordinary and yakuza life that collides in the karaoke booth.
And those aren’t even what won all our votes this year. Here are the best anime OPs of 2025.
Honorable mention: “IRIS OUT’ – Kenshi Yonezu (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)
Generally, a film doesn’t qualify for our anime lists, but “IRIS OUT,” from Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, warrants an exception. The upbeat jazzy energetic beat makes it hard to sit still in as the vibing visuals simultaneously remind viewers where the series left off and what’s to come. Just as with the first season, this opening leans hard into Tatsuki Fujimoto’s cinephile persona in its references – going as far back as the earliest recorded motion picture to celebrate Denji’s arrival to the movies. Yonezu’s created an easy beat to wiggle to alongside the cast’s dance moves. It’s a song that stays in rotation long after the visuals have passed while threatening to make your carotid artery explode. [Drea H.]
Watch Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc on Crunchyroll.
10. “Happy Lucky Chappy” – ano (Takopi’s Original Sin)
The OP for Takopi’s Original Sin is a flat-out rude piece of sugarcoated misdirection. Featuring a sing-song melody exuberantly paired with vocals that sound as cute and childish as the story’s protagonist, the sinning and titular Takopi, it fits perfectly what you’d imagine a show about a cartoonishly adorable alien octopus who crash lands on Earth on a mission to spread friendship and kindness. The problem is that the “happy and lucky” good times implied by the song are nothing more than rug-pulling lies, as the show is nothing at all like the feel-good slice of life anime filled with familiar hijinks it appears to be.
Instead it’s only until you get deep enough into the series to recognize small references that are unassuming at first and triggering after the fact – a tiny pink camera and ribbon stand out as particular examples. This exact dissonance is what makes the OP great, and its design fits perfectly with the series’ disarming mission statement. So if bubblegum and sunshine scare you away, just trust that you are in good hands and get ready for a wild and horrifying ride. [Quinn Parulis]
Watch Takopi’s Original Sin on Crunchyroll.
9. “HUGs” – Paledusk (Gachiakuta)
Gachiakuta is a 2025 darling, and the first opening is a huge reason why. “HUGs” by Paledusk is the perfect opening for a show like Gachiakuta with its heavier metal sound. Combined with the animation style, every listen creates hype in a similar vein to the iconic “99” by MOB Choir from Mob Psycho 100. And we all know Studio Bones loves a nice, heavy OP. The energy the early breakdown brings reflects the energy Rudo brings to the anime — erratic and frenzied. Metal was a key choice for Gachiakuta with its almost unstable rhythm and sets the pace for an insane anime. [Kayla Chu]
Watch Gachiakuta on Crunchyroll.
8. “On The Way” – AiNA THE END (Dandadan Season 2)
Contrary to many expectations, Dandadan’s second season tries not to replicate the success of the barn-burning “Otonoke.” Instead, “On The Way” turns inward onto Dandadan’s central theme – the relationship between Okarun and Momo. Focusing nearly entirely on the point of view of the former, AiNA THE END’s voice croons into the title card with lyrics about the sentimentality of young love and how much that love has become Okarun’s driving motivations.
Okarun spends the OP chasing after Momo, through inserts of he and his friends posing and a rock band performance. All the while the music stays at the same tempo, changing at all only to squeeze in the requisite “Dandadan;” building to the the moment where all of the chasing results in Momo turning around and reciprocating by taking his hand. From there, the animation becomes elastic, straining against the boundaries of the frame while the chorus repeats, this time boisterous and powerful through the joint affection. It’s a reinforcement of the strongest asset Dandadan has: its two lovestruck leads. [Travis Hymas]
Watch Dandadan on Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll.
7. “Watch Me” – Yoasobi (Witch Watch)
“Watch Me” combines the powers of the mighty Yoasobi with the talent of Megumi Ishitani to follow up on Ishitani’s powerful “UUUUUS!” from last year. Unsurprisingly, Ishitani’s vision isn’t a fluke as she leads what is easily the most ambitious 1:30 of the year. Using a sweet and adorable song written from its subject’s perspective (a Yoasobi classic) Ishitani iterates on some of what made “UUUUUS!” special: multiple iterations of the title card, hard cuts of characters in the same perspective, and a willingness to go off model.
But “Watch Me” also pushes even more forward. Early on are excellent zoom outs from the perspective of Nico and Morihito, taking viewers from their eyes to their reactions. Twice the OP plays with framerates, first speeding it up in a gag with Kanshi and then slowing it down to recreate the actual manga Witch Watch hails from. Every shot plays drastically with lighting and color. And best of all, no title goes unintegrated. There is no creditless version of “Watch Me” to link here, because the staff credits are themselves a part of the experience. There’s no way to cut proper attribution away for this one. [Travis Hymas]
Watch Witch Watch on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
6. “KUSUSHIKI” – Mrs. Green Apple (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)
The first word to come to mind while listening to the buoyant “KUSUSHIKI” by Mrs Green Apple is “charming.” It’s a term that applies to the OP in general. On a purely sonic level, the song is addictive with its jaunty, punchy rhythm and over-articulated delivery. The visuals really add to the nature of the number, which are deceptively playful while suggesting greater themes of grief, loss, and future obligations. The 3D masks that adorn the characters’ faces might be jarring at first, but they also work in tandem with some of the more straightforward, 2D imagery. A mask out of place, just off-center and off-kilter enough to make us wonder just what lies underneath.
But the true magic of the OP comes in two specific sequences. The first is when protagonist Maomao is showcased through the vantage point of secondary and even tertiary characters. The second is the evolution from that point, highlighting all the people that have made an impact on her life – especially Jinshi poignantly under a full moon – which gains greater depth in as Maomao faces very real consequences in the story. [Ally Johnson]
Watch The Apothecary Diaries on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
5. “Protect the Light” – SPITZ (Spy x Family Season 3)
What’s so great about “Protect the Light” by SPITZ, which starts with an ominous, if telling, militant march, is how unexpected it is. Considering the popularity of Spy x Family, the expectation is something with an obvious hook. Instead, the OP, mirroring the more somber tone of Season 3, delivers something haunting and melancholy. Sure, there’s the requisite humor – such as a barrage of Bond as different critters – but even that speaks to the overall theme of the OP: the possibilities that childhood suggests when our futures have yet to be set.
The shot of the child versions of Loid and Yor running and playing along with Anya is powerful. It’s sweet on its own, but means much more with Loid’s backstory being such an integral piece of Season 3 and how his history informs his desire to ensure that no other child is left to cry alone from warfare. With its sunny color palette and reflective tone, it does what a good OP does best: set the story up and offer even greater depth through the art of its details. [Ally Johnson]
Watch Spy x Family on Netflix and Hulu.
4. “Summer Time Ghost” – Wednesday Campanella (Kowloon Generic Romance)
“Summer Time Ghost” offers a strange dissonance, with bright vocals clashing against the nicotine stained, retro aesthetic of the visuals. This introduction is a reflection of Kowloon Generic Romance itself; showcasing a kaleidoscope of scenes devoid of context and fragments of memories that remain elusive. It’s not often a series remains unpredictable throughout its duration and the opening effectively mirrors this quality of the show. The OP makes it easy to begin leaning in, hoping to connect the dots from a fleeting glimpse of scenes, only to be left feeling both disappointed and increasingly intrigued. This experience nests in comfortably in a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of humid summer nights and sun-bleached days. [Carly Johnson]
Watch Kowloon Generic Romance on Crunchyroll and Apple TV.
3. “saikai” – Vaundy (The Summer Hikaru Died)
It takes a few episodes of The Summer Hikaru Died to genuinely connect with its opening. It’s a single song that feels like it could be three, accompanied by visuals that bounce between the unsettling and joyous. The opening represents one of the show’s key takeaways: that our emotions and experiences are not felt in isolation. Instead, they often unfold and coexist simultaneously. As Yoshiki struggles through mourning someone who stands right before him, the music transitions from eerie to hopeful. The notes and visuals begin intertwining guilt and anxiety with love and healing, fully embracing the duality of the series core relationship. [Carly Johnson]
Watch The Summer Hikaru Died on Netflix.
2. “Ao to Kirameki” – spira spica (My Dress-Up Darling Season 2)
My Dress-Up Darling, with its lovable, expressive characters, deserves an OP as infectious as “Ao to Kirameki.” sipra spica’s track wastes little time in embracing the frenzied energy of protagonist Marin, launching into a high-pitched, saccharine-sweet number. The opening defines who Marin is without asking the audience to recall the first season or of having seen anything of the series before.
From her daily persona to the way her actions and physicality changes depending on her cosplay to her utter mortification and head-over-heels reaction to finding her crush and friend, Gojo, at the end, Marin’s personality rings true. Cool and confident in her hobbies, and a complete mess when it comes to the boy she likes. But as with a music video, it’s a nice reminder that these OPs are an art form, too. There’s real direction and style to how the sequencing plays out, so much so that one of the best shots in any OP this year is of Marin falling through a bundle of fabric, which billows up to reveal the CloverWorks stamp. It’s simple, clever, and literally bursting with personality. [Ally Johnson]
Watch My Dress-Up Darling on Crunchyroll.
1. “Angel and Devil” – Gre4n BOYZ (One Piece)
The Egghead arc continues to be where One Piece OPs step their game up. 2025 delivered two pitch-perfect ones, but “Angel and Devil” by Gre4n BOYZ sticks the emotional landing. Because my lord, the chills. Kuma’s backstory and Bonney’s journey are so integral to Egghead that it makes sense that they’d be featured in the opening, highlighting their relationship. But it’s the direction and how the visuals swell with the song itself that makes it so impactful.
The vocals burst with color and energy, backed by a melody and percussion that continually ramps up the anticipation. The shot of Kuma and Bonney doing the Nika dance and, later, the image of the world through Bonney’s eyes as she sits on Kuma’s shoulders in a free, limitless but imagined present for her are some of most striking visuals the anime has ever had. In both, the OP visually articulates two overarching, crucial truths of One Piece. The first is how a single figure can inspire hope and immeasurable change. The second, the profound, priceless necessity of hope in achieving our dreams. [Ally Johnson]
Watch One Piece on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
