Brianna Fox-Priest
November 27, 2022 Every week gets better and better this anime season. Us anime fans have been spoiled with a fully loaded fall schedule, featuring highly revered series, reboots, and returning seasons of fan favorites. Of course, no great anime would be complete without a great theme song and trust that this season has no shortage of high-quality openers. Maybe even some of the best this year.
We bring you our favorite theme songs from this fall’s lineup (in no specific order).
“KICK BACK” Chainsaw Man
Are you sick of Chainsaw Man yet? Of course, you’re not. Arguably this year’s most anticipated anime, Chainsaw Man has a long list of things that make it amazing. It’s a rare find when the story, character development, comedic relief, animation, style, AND music are all home runs, so the hype that Chainsaw Man receives every week (more like day) is justified.
Debuting at the top spot on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, “KICK BACK” by Kenshi Yonezu captures Tatsuki Fujimoto’s style to a T. Starting with strumming of the bass, the opener quickly turns chaotic, just like Denji. It jumps from key to key, creating a certain discourse that fits the feel and tone of the show. A perfect 10 of a song.
“SOUVENIR” SPY X FAMILY
The world’s favorite family of spies, the Forgers made their return with a bang this fall. SPY X FAMILY, is a delightfully wholesome slice-of-life series that stole the hearts of many this year. Obviously, its theme songs have to live up to the show’s adorable story, and following cour one’s opening, “Mixed Nuts” by Official HIGE DANdism, SOUVENIR by Bump of Chicken had big shoes to fill. And they did. SOUVENIR perfectly resembles the story and personality of the characters.
“AIUE” Urusei Yatsura
Urusei Yatsura invaded our screens in October ‘22, and to say Fuji Animation Studio had big shoes to fill is an understatement. Appealing to the original’s fans and those unfamiliar with the anime is not easy. Aside from assembling a skilled animation team, they made the right move using the experimental project, MAISONdes, for Lum’s return to Earth. Both the opening and ending themes of the Urusei Yatsura reboot are fantastic. AIUE by MAISONdes feat. Minami, SAKURAmoti is a great composition of lyrics, fast-paced beats, and hyper J-Pop, that feel as if Lum sang it herself.
“Seishun Complex” Bocchi The Rock!
K-ON!’s anxious little sister, Bocchi The Rock!, takes the stage! These sweet musicians may be small and clumsy, but pack a punch once they have an instrument in hand. As this is a rock comedy series, all of the show’s songs are “created” by the girls’ band, the Kessoku Band. The opening theme, “Seishun Complex”, has a nostalgic J-Pop rock sound to it that alone would still have the same impact.
“Scar” BLEACH: Thousand Year Blood War
After a full decade since the last season, Ichigo is back with a vengeance. Fans can finally have the conclusion to the “Thousand Year Blood War Arc” they deserve. There’s not much to say here, as BLEACH has a long history of killer OPs, and the same is true with the new season’s “Scar” by Tatsuya Kitani. Give it a listen, I’m confident you’ll enjoy it just as much.
Sadly, there is only so much space to cover this fall season’s anisongs, so let us know which ones you are playing on repeat!
