Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. This week, we’re continuing our final look at 2019 by counting down the top 11 anime openings. Last week, I said that list was a daunting task because there were so many good anime. This list was a nightmare. Seriously, the number of great openings we had last year was out of this world and once again I feel like I’m doing a disservice by just naming only 11 openings. I’m sure I’m going to piss off a lot of people by not naming a particular opening so let’s get started. It’s your boy Nitsuj and these are the top 11 anime openings of 2019.
#11. Touch Off from The Promised Neverland
https://youtu.be/ir6AaBBEths (full)
It has been sometime since I was able to truly get behind and appreciate a song from UVERworld, but they really bought the fire with this opening and they know it as they say it multiple times through the song. For a series this low on action but big on intensity they knew the song had to match the anime and they succeeded as the song perfectly sums up their mental struggles and just how hopeless their situation seems. This song was so much fun to listen to from the saxophone, to the shouting of fire, and who can’t forget the nanananana parts. A second season is in the works and I only hope the next opening is just as good as this opening.
#10. shadowgraph from Boogiepop 2019 and Tit for Tat from The Cautious Hero
https://youtu.be/WeH2nuoQcYk (full)
https://youtu.be/iMRES9sp2Ns (full)
I decided to put these two openings together seeing as how they’re both sung by MYTH & ROID. This is a band that always makes good songs whether it be an opening or ending and these two openings show off a different aspect of the band. Shadowgraph uses an assortment of interesting instruments that you never thought you would hear and I just love the mysterious atmosphere that this opening creates. I wasn’t even interested in watching the anime but this opening just captured me that I took a chance and watched the anime. I didn’t get into it, but this opening alone more than makes up for it for it’s unique sound that MYTH & ROID always bring.
Tit for Tat was another good opening as well from MYTH & ROID. While I think shadowgraph is the better overall song, I still got a good amount of enjoyment from this song just for what it does. The song makes you feel like you’re about to watch this badass, intense, and hardcore isekai anime when really, it’s just what would happen if you combined Konosuba with Darkstalkers. That’s what makes MYTH & ROID songs so great. They know this is going to be a silly anime but they make you feel like this is going to be a hardcore series. Whether you prefer something on the softer/mysterious side or something on loud/hardcore side MYTH & ROID got you covered.
#9. Kaen from Dororo
https://youtu.be/9Q1rTavZBJo (full)
Dororo had the privilege of being the first anime I watched in 2019 and thus was the first opening I saw as well. This was an opening that gives off those Samurai Champloo vibes, it combines traditional Japanese music with modern day music, and makes them fit perfectly together. It starts off slow, sad, and peaceful, and then lights up the pace to let you know this isn’t going to be your typical samurai journey with a happy end, this is going to be a brutal and sad series. In the words of Etika (RIP. I miss you man) this opening slaps hard and gives you goosebumps just from watching it. The party may be over but I still want to listen to this song.
#8. Inferno from Fire Force
https://youtu.be/wfCcs0vLysk (music video)
First off, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fact that there’s a band out there called Mrs. Green Apple. Second, this opening is fun to listen to. I swear, as many times as I’ve listened to this opening I’ve never grown tired of it. If anything I find myself enjoying it even more. This was such a good and enjoyable opening that had a good beat and excellent lyrics to go along with it. It was so good that people were pissed when the second opening started to air and even opted to just play the first opening over it. The first opening was just so good and fun to listen to that nobody wanted to forget it just I’m sure nobody wanted to forget this anime as well.
#7. Shoukei to Shikabane no Michi Attack on Titan S3 Part 2
https://youtu.be/NCRcTZiahss (full)
The true sequel to the first opening of Attack on Titan. This opening was like a fusion of the first and third opening of the series, it had the intensity of the first opening but also the calm nature of the third opening that made you feel like you were a part of the Scouts ready to offer your heart to the cause. The lyrics once again tie in perfectly to the season and as each episode goes by and we learn new information they continue to hold more weight and meaning to them. While the first opening is still my favorite, this is definitely my second favorite opening in the series and really does sound like the second or third verse to the first opening.
#6. Rise from The Rising of the Shield Hero
https://youtu.be/VTTP0-mfMMo (full)
When you imagine the opening of the Shield Hero your first thoughts would be something on the rock band side but nope, we instead get a boy idol group and I do like how this was there big break for the world to see. Like I said in my review I really did enjoy this opening a lot. It gets me pumped, the lyrics match up perfectly with the series and just like Inferno from Fire Force I never get sick or tired of listening to this opening because of how good and enjoyable the song is. It’s inspiring that let’s us know that matter what the world throws at Naofumi nothing will stop him from achieving his goals.
#5. Kiss Me from Carole and Tuesday
https://youtu.be/3FX-0Z9pdgw (full)
If it’s an anime being done by Watanabe, you know the opening is going to be good and the first opening of Carole and Tuesday isn’t just good it’s beautiful and breathtaking. I love how the animation syncs up so well with the song. Just with the main characters the song has this since of innocence and realism to it. It’s not trying to be big or epic it’s just two girls chasing a dream, being passionate about it, and just wanting to do what they love to do. Like I said before the animation is just beautiful. Hand-drawn and you just feel the passion and effort that went in to making this opening look gorgeous. Watanabe does it again and delivers on originality.
#4. Paradise City from Cop Craft
https://youtu.be/kxYT4C5PjPw (music video)
This opening that honestly gives off Cowboy Bebop vibes. In an era where everyone seems to be focusing on rock and pop music, it was a surprise and a breath of fresh air to hear a song that gives off that big band jazz feel. This opening just makes me think Kamurocho from the Yakuza games. I keep imagining Kiryu walking down the streets and just beating up anyone stupid enough to fight him. It was a fun and energetic opening that I was always excited to listen to whenever I watched the anime.
#3. Share the Light from Assassins Pride
https://youtu.be/v1_imzHPjhM (full)
Whatever your thoughts may be about this anime, I think we can all agree that this opening was top tier level. From the vocals to the piano to the violin to the instrumental as a whole, this opening delivers on all aspects and made you kept coming back to the anime. This was the opening everyone never skipped over because it was just so good. Seriously, as soon as Crunchyroll uploaded the opening to their channel I rewatched it so many times because of how good it was. I had no idea Run Girls Run did pop songs like these. I always thought it was rock songs with them but nope, they’ve done a few pop songs here and there and this one by far has got to be one of their best songs as they go all out here. On top of the great song, the animation is also great with this opening. The way it’s shot and how each character has their own distinct color to them really makes them stand out and gives us insight into their character. Melida’s run at the start of the song, masterful and graceful (I wish the same could be said for the anime). Whether you liked the anime or hated it, you can’t deny that this opening was catchy and kept you coming back.
#2. Gurenge from Kimetsu no Yaiba
https://youtu.be/3YDN2Yk1mAI (full)
Over the last few years LiSA has become one of the most popular and well-known singers when it comes to anime openings. Best known for her openings in the SAO series as well as the Fate series, you can always count on her to deliver a great opening. She sang a number of openings over the years but the best one of them all had to be Kimetsu no Yaiba’s opening. The opening perfectly encapsulates the series and feels you with so much emotion as you listen to it. Sadness, hope, courage, and determination. These are the emotions I get from this opening and not only does it describe the series but it describes Tanjiro perfectly. This opening was so good and popular that they didn’t even bother to change it even when the anime reached its halfway point. It was so good that they knew fans would riot if they changed it, so they kept it to the very end. Even the first season of the anime ended with this song playing. In all the openings that LiSA so far stands as my favorite from her.
And the number one opening of 2019 is. . .
#1. Meguro Mono from That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime
https://youtu.be/LySiyYcPjsw (full)
This is technically cheating seeing as how it came from a 2018 anime, but the opening began airing in 2019 so it counts. I swear, when I heard this opening I said to myself that this was going to be the best opening of the year and with all the great openings we had this year that says a lot. Those first 10 seconds of the song are magical and grab your attention. From there the song just takes off and puts a smile on your face. Like I said in my review this song sets the narrative for Rimuru’s character of how much he’s lost but at the same time how much he’s gained. The song does a great job at feeling grand but at the same time peaceful and relatable thanks to Takuma’s great singing. He just leaves it all on the table here, he holds nothing back in this song and it’s because of that this song was so beloved by everyone and considered my favorite opening from 2019.
Thanks reading, let me know what you’re favorite opening was from 2019, and be sure to tune in next week when I do the top 11 endings of 2019. I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.
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