Matt Schley
October 8, 2015 There are perhaps no more important 90 seconds in an anime series than its opening or ending theme song.
Either setting the tone for the entire series to come or serving to wrap up episode after episode, the best opening and ending themes are destined to be sung at karaoke boxes throughout Japan and at anime conventions around the world for years after the series itself ends.
Anime pollsters Charapedia have asked readers to rank the anime songs that get them most hyped up, and the readers have complied, creating a list of tunes that’ll get your heart pumping. Let’s check it out.
20. “GO!GO!MANIAC” – K-On!
19. “Kakushinteki☆Metamaruphose!” – Himouto! Umaru-chan
18. “This game” – No Game No Life
17. “Genesis of Aquarion” – Genesis of Aquarion
16. “Maji LOVE Revolutions” – Uta no Prince-sama
14. “IGNITE” – Sword Art Online
14. “Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari” – Monogatari series
13. “Makka na Chikai” – Buso Renkin
12. “Unravel” – Tokyo Ghoul
11. “Namae no nai Kaibutsu” – Psycho-Pass
10. “Maji LOVE 1000%” – Uta no Prince-sama
9. “Connect” – Puella Magi Madoka Magica
8. “Sugar Song and Bitter Step” – Blood Blockade Battlefront
7. “Pride Kakumei” – Gintama
6. “Butter-Fly” – Digimon Adventure
And the top five…
5. “God knows…” – The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
4. “Crimson Bow and Arrow” – Attack on Titan
3. “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” – Neon Genesis Evangelion
2. “Rising Hope” – The Irregular at Magic High School
1. “only my railgun” – A Certain series
Coming in at number three: “Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” the opening from Neon Genesis Evangelion, which, despite having turned 20 this year, still the most-played song at karaoke boxes throughout Japan. Its lyricist, Neko Oikawa, recently revealed she has never seen Evangelion and wrote the lyrics in two hours.
Number two: “Rising Hope,” the first opening theme from last year’s The Irregular at Magic High School. “Rising Hope” was performed by Japanese singer-songwriter LiSA, who has also done tunes for Fate/Zero, Sword Art Online and Nisekoi.
Finally, as the most get-hypest anime song of them all, Charapedia’s readers chose “only my railgun,” the opening from A Certain Scientific Railgun. The 2009 track was performed by pop/trance duo fripSide, who went on to do several more Railgun theme songs. Even folks who aren’t fans of the series must admit: this song Certainly gets the blood flowing.
Okay, Otaku USA readers, your turn: what anime songs get you pumped?!
Source: Charapedia
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