The year of 2020 brought on a lot of binge watching sessions. For me personally, I took a journey through many anime series I hadn’t had time to watch before. I can always tell it’s going to be a great show when the opening song (OP) just hits the tone right away. If the opening sequence can get you excited about a show you know nothing about then they’re definitely doing something right.

To commemorate a year of bops. I’ve decided to commit to a personal top five anime OP of 2020 list. This doesn’t mean the anime had to be released in 2020. It means I watched it in 2020. To make it fair, I will put my watch list at the bottom of this post (no judgments on the amount of television I watched, we’ve all been here).

This was a hard list to make as I have a lot of favorites. I focused on three things to make this list:

• Is the opening sequence interesting to watch? Am I excited to sit through the opening before I get to the show?
• Do I want to listen to the whole song rather than just the edited for TV version?
• Did this song immediately get added to my anime playlist and was then played on repeat? (To check out my playlist reflecting my watch journey head here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5EkIEjBwiepuDEkXSIVprr)

With that let’s get this party started!

Number 5

Song: Tank!
Artist: Seatbelts
Anime: Cowboy Bebop

Yes this definitely did not come out in 2020 but it’s a classic. Just listen to that brass section blast it out. Immediately you’re jamming. Sound the trumpets! Sound the saxophones! The music in Cowboy Bebop is just as much a key player as any of the characters. This opening sets the stage of the world you’re about to experience and the attitude of the show itself. If you love “Tank!” then you’ll love the rest of the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack.

Number 4

Song: Kaikai Kitan
Artist: Eve
Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the best anime to come out of 2020. This opener by Eve is just fun to listen to wherever you go. Throw it on your running playlist and let that mile slid by. The opening animation calmly introduces you to all the players before breaking into action. Visually there is so much going on it’s hard to process it all on your first watch through. Subtle hints set up the events that are about to unfold, all to a background ready to get you pumped up.

Number 3

Song: Mr. Fixer
Artist: Sou
Anime: ID: Invaded

The piano is the star of “Mr. Fixer.” It tells a story all its own. Sou’s melodic voice pairs beautifully with this story. You can hear the anguish and the lingering questions he shouts to “Mr. Fixer.” Sou moves through this piece with so much energy, you can’t help but feel it. The opening sequence is visually stunning as well. First time viewers probably have no idea what’s happening but you’re left wanting to know more. This anime is so clever in its story telling and this opener perfectly parallels the story about to unfold.

The full version of “Mr. Fixer” has a beautiful video with an English translation if you want a complete understanding of the song. After watching the anime it complements nicely.

Number 2

Song: Doubt and Trust
Artist: Access
Anime: D.Gray-man

This song opens with a mesmerizing piano and guitar duet. You’re immediately drawn into the moment and then the guitar riff just drops. Whatever is about to go down is serious. “Doubt and Trust” is used for the third opening of D.Gray-man and it perfectly encompasses the tone of the season. The exorcists are scattered with the Akuma on their tail. This feels like a rally before the battle right before an explosion of action as they enter the fray.

Also how can you not love watching Access rock it out with a backdrop on fire?

Number 1

Song: Kyouran Hey Kids!!
Artist: THE ORAL CIGARETTES
Show: Noragami Aragoto

Finally! Number 1! Going back to 2015 to “honor the hero.” Someone recently told me this sounds like ska mixed with Duran Duran. The complex guitar and drum combo reels you in. It’s a showcase of a good time. There are moments of high action and high emotions wrapped around small moments of friendship and humanity. The use of black and white with splashes of color is striking. You get a simplistic sense of this show without really knowing what it’s about. The cords suck you in and leave you ready for more. Hit that repeat button and let’s get crazy.

Honorable Mentions:

• Black Catcher, Vickeblanka [Black Clover]
• Home, Asako Toki [Fruits Basket]
• Goya No Machiawase, Hello Sleepwalkers [Noragami]
• Ready To, Sumire Morohoshi [BNA: Brand New Animal]

Full watchlist 2020:

• Black Clover
• Bleach (seasons 1 – 8)
• BNA: Brand New Animal
• Cowboy Bebop
• D.Gray-man
• Dragon Ball Super
• Fruits Basket
• K
• Knights and Magic (first 5 episodes)
• KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World! (episodes 1 – 7)
• ID: Invaded
• In/Spectre
• Inuyasha
• Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (also known as DanMachi)
• Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (episodes 1 – 3)
• Jujutsu Kaisen
• My Hero Academia (second half of season 4)
• Noragami
• Outlaw Star (episodes 1 – 16)
• Plunderer
• Radiant
• Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World
• Sailor Moon Crystal (season 1)
• Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath of the Gods
• Sorcerous Stabber Orphen (2020) (episodes 1 – 4)
• Sword Art Online: Alicization – War of the Underworld
• That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
• The Irregular at Magic High School (season 1)
• Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun

Before you ask yes I’ll be back with my top 5 anime endings (ED) of 2020. Surprisingly it was much easier to narrow down that list.

What are some of your favorite anime OPs? Give me some recommendations in the comments!