Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. As is tradition around here we’re taking one final look at 2024 by naming the best animes, endings, and of course openings. The openings of 2024 were a bop so this list was a tough one to make and look forward to your hate. I’m Nitsuj and these are the Top 11 Anime Openings of 2024
#11. Shika-Iro Days from My Deer Friend Nokotan
https://youtu.be/QKgcYyGQXpk?si=tO41FYtQJZWClJXL (full)
We start with this addicting and catching as hell song. Once you hear it’s not getting out of your head. There’s not much to say here. Just listen to the song and you’ll see why people love it so much. It’s upbeat, catchy, and addicting to listen to. You could slap it into a Bollywood dance sequence and it would still fit.
#10. Showdown from High Card S2
https://youtu.be/zuY92jNmwqg?si=6Nxe2ky6iM_Y9Yf8 (full)
You would think nothing would top Trickster, but the second season said hold my royal flush and busted out this bop of an opening. The song fits the second season perfectly as the stakes are higher, secrets are revealed, and our characters caught in the middle of it all. I always love it when Japanese switch from Japanese to English and the singer of this band does it so effortlessly that it catches me off guard. This was an opening that matched up with the second season perfectly and made each episode feel important.
#9. Iinazukkyun from Ranma ½ 2024
https://youtu.be/qAqAqvcXu2U?si=ZifoCvUt8qzsVYbN (full)
The perfect blend of nostalgia and something new. I love the instruments in this song and all the callbacks it makes to the first anime. It’s a song you never get tired of listening to because it sounds so familiar yet so new at the same time. The song really captures the comedic and fun atmosphere the series is all about and I always have a smile on my face whenever I hear it.
#8. Chained from Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Disturbance
https://youtu.be/-JqYdRbuib4?si=dZYzS7AA7tQAYmIW (full)
How did they get two of the hottest artists in Japan to collab together? That’s awesome! This whole song just feels like an apology letter from Kenshin. In order to protect the country and everyone he’s come to care about he has to abandon them and become something he swore he would never be again. This song captures those sad emotions with the lyrics but also conveys a sense of wanting to keep hold of those days and if by stroke of luck return to them. On top of that the high energy beat of this builds up to the inevitable that is to come and all parties moving forward. They may all be taking different paths but their destination remains the same and they’ll all meet there.
#7. Wild Boy from Viral Hit
https://youtu.be/sDI3PHTohn0?si=rAVfgC2cfJXzbtZT (full)
I was kind of surprise to hear so little people talking about this opening. This is a very motivating song. I love the build up to the chorus and how it gets you pumped for a fight. It makes you feel like a badass getting ready to take on Mike Tyson in his prime and walk out the champion. It’s an underrated anime with an underrated opening that deserves way more attention and should be added to your workout playlist.
#6. Otonoke from Dandadan
So Creepy Nuts has been growing in popularity as of late. Just like a lot of their songs this song has a lot of moving parts and layers but it works. They blend everything together so perfectly that it’s impossible to skip. Every time you listen to this opening you hear something new and unique that only enhances the song. The first part is catchy and the second part euphoric and ethereal. Other worldly but gives you a sense of peace and happiness whenever you hear it.
#5. Kyunrious from I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince
https://youtu.be/Zm_mP7-ibRM?si=yXyj7I9zT4atzQcZ (full)
Easily my favorite opening from the spring lineup. In a season that had a lot of big name animes coming out this anime managed to stand out by having this fantastic opening that captures the curiosity and joy that comes with the sense of adventure and learning something new. This anime may not have been the best but this opening sure as hell made it memorable and a joy to check out.
#4. Namaramenkoi gal from Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!
It’s a song by Oishi Masayoshi, of course it’s going to be good. This was the first anime I watched in 2024 and was the first opening I heard and liked. It’s funky, catchy, light-hearted and captures the overall feeling of the anime and it’s characters. Apparently, the people of Hokkaido like it too as they played it everywhere. Whether you were in the center of Sapporo or the rural regions chances are you would have heard this song if you visited Hokkaido during this anime’s run and you’ll probably still hear it to this day. It’s a great song to listen to and if I ever go to Hokkaido you can bet I’m playing this song on my headphones as I walk the streets.
#3. Fatale by Oshi no Ko S2
https://youtu.be/8tQiWHXSGN0?si=rcmTvmr9nkUJe6PD (full)
Man this opening was lit. This opening casts off the idol vibes of the first opening and embraces its more dark nature the first opening was trying to cover up. Once again the opening does a good job capturing the emotions and inner thoughts of the main character who hasn’t moved on and I can’t move on from the death of his idol and is now determined more than ever to find the killer. The opening uses all of those intense emotions and gives us a song that makes the first opening sound like the prelude to a darker story. The first opening overall is more iconic but this opening in my opinion is the one I like more.
#2. Kimi no Sei from A Condition Called Love
I was not expecting this kind of song for a romance anime, but I’m glad they went with it because it’s great. The song gives off wholesome vibes of being with someone you love and feeling all of kinds of emotions around them. You discover new sides to yourself that you never thought you had and you love everything about it. This song was definitely a banger and I’m mad the full version isn’t on Youtube.
And number one. . .
#1. Bling-Bang-Bang-Born from Mashle S2
https://youtu.be/mLW35YMzELE?si=dH2rEHYrqRAyouan (full)
Could there be anything else? Creepy Nuts really took off this year and this song played a major part in it. It’s like Otonoke but better and catchier. I mean it, the internet went crazy over this song. Almost everyone was making cover songs and making amvs with their favorite animes and games. The song just had that IT factor that you can’t duplicate and it had that funny but easy to do dance that anyone could do. It’s rare when openings elevate the anime but this opening manage to do it. Mashle became a must watch anime thanks in large part to this opening. The anime was already good but this opening made it great.
And that’s my list. I know I left some out, so let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.