2022is soon coming to an end, and with it a whole year ofgreat anime series, many of which either adapted new hit manga or brought back long-dormant franchises.2022 was definitely a big year for anime, and will be remembered as such for the foreseeable future.
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With the huge spread of anime that came out this year came a just as large variety of anime openings and endings. Anime songs have been a mainstay tradition of the medium, and fans always eagerly anticipate the opening theme for their favorite series. Here are thebest songs of the year that were used for anime openings.
10"Shall We Dance?" (Shadows House Season 2)
After providing the ending song for the first season ofShadows House, ReoNa has returned to perform the opening this time with “Shall We Dance?”, a song that jumps between a somber, mysterious classically-influenced atmosphere to one that is more lighthearted and poppy.
While that contrast might seem off-putting at first, it perfectly representsthe dual nature of the residents of Shadows House, with each of the Shadows living in conjunction with their personal Living Doll that is meant to mimic their every action.
9"The Rumbling" (Attack On Titan Final Season Part 2)
The second part of the final season ofAttack on Titanis accompanied by the song “The Rumbling,” performed by the metal band SiM. As the incredibly popular anime series finally nears its conclusion, “The Rumbling” provides an epic track filled with heavy guitars and growling vocals.
While the song is certainly hard-hitting, it also has its moments of somber melancholy, with the chorus evoking feelings of regret and determination simultaneously. “The Rumbling” is a perfect opening theme forAttack on Titan, and possibly one of its very best.
8"Kaze No Oto Sae Kikoenai" (Sabikui Bisco)
Performed by pop singer JUNNA, “Kaze no Oto Sae Kikoenai” serves as the opening forSabikui Bisco, a series centered around two Mushroom Keepers living in a post-apocalyptic world plagued by the mysterious rust.
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The opening is an energetic hard rock tune with squealing guitars and speedy drum lines. JUNNA’s vocals are also a major draw, with her strong and passionate voice carrying the energy throughout the entire track.
7"Naked Hero" (Ranking Of Kings)
WhileRanking of Kingsdebuted in the Fall 2021 anime season, “Naked Hero,” performed by Vaundy, debuted in the second half of the series' run during Winter 2022. That makes it technically eligible for this list, which is good because it is easily one of the best openings of the year.
Vaundy’s vocals are easily the star of this track, going from tender and intimate to loud and anthemic at the drop of a pin. The instrumentation is also incredible, with soft acoustic guitar giving way to emphatic strings and booming drums during the chorus.
6"Daten" (Call Of The Night)
Call of the Nightwasone of the best series to come out of Summer 2022, and its opening was similarly one of the best as well. Performed by hip hop duo Creepy Nuts, “Daten” is an incredibly groovy joint that will have listeners jumping out of their seat for sure.
Taking elements from jazz, swing, funk, and more, the song’s ambiance perfectly matches the nocturnal aesthetic of the series, combining both mellow and playful in a way that doesn’t cause one mood to step over the other.
The opening toSkeleton Knight in Another Worldis a rare occurrence where a Japanese artist was not tapped to perform it. Instead, the song is performed by PelleK, a YouTuber known for his covers of anime songs. He brings an incredible performance to the song, helping to create one of the best openings of the Spring 2022 season.
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The song itself is an anthemic hard rock banger, with PelleK’s soaring and angelic vocals being the highlight of the song. The opening is a pure ball of energy that is sure to get any listener pumped up for any adventure.
4"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (Ya Boy Kongming!)
Ya Boy Kongming!was a sleeper hit during the Spring 2022 anime season,and as a musical anime, its opening couldn’t be lackluster. Thankfully, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is a massive pop hit, and one of the major draws that attracted people to this series.
Performed by music group Queendom, the song evokes 80s-era city pop and dance pop to create a groovy vibe that’ll certainly have listeners moving in their seats. It’s a perfect intro to a series about a fledgling pop singer trying to make it in the music industry.
3"Kick Back" (Chainsaw Man)
With so much effort being put intoChainsaw Man’s anime adaptation, including commissioning twelve different ending songs, it would be a shame for it to have a lackluster opening theme. Thankfully, “Kick Back” by Kenshi Yonezu brings out the right energy needed for this new hit series.
The tune itself has a strong mid-tempo groove that reflects the occasionally goofy, yet quietly dark nature of the series before blasting into an energetic chorus that gets the viewers pumped up forhigh intensity chainsaw action.
2"GIRI GIRI" (Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War Season 3)
Masayuki Suzuki returns yet again to sing the opening for the third season ofKaguya-sama: Love Is War, dueting with Suu of Silent Siren this time. This opening is just as good as the last, with Suzuki’s vocals once again pulling most of the heavy weight.
The instrumentation is horn-heavy as always, with a bouncy groove persisting throughout the entirety of the song. Suu’s vocals also provide a subtle support to Suzuki’s more powerful vocal performance, making for the best opening of the Spring 2022 season.
1"Aiue" (Urusei Yatsura 2022)
After more than thirty years of being off the air,Urusei Yatsurareturns with a brand-new series rebootingthe classic Rumiko Takahashi work. The new series debuted in Fall 2022 with “Aiue” as its opening theme, performed by the music collective MAISONdes as well as singer Minami and composer SAKURAmoti.
The song is an incredibly catchy and energetic pop tune that perfectly matches the chaotic and wild energy exhibited by the characters in the show. Minami’s vocals are easily the highlight, going from playful to fierce in a single breath. An unexpected highlight from a series that might not be getting the most attention in such a stacked season.
