Timeless Openings

Krafty · Post by **Krafty** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:55 pm

Thinking about Sugarcels' recent thread about shows that give you a renewed love for anime and Duo's thread on watching OPs and EDs from May '07, I wondered what you think about opening sequences.

If you were to pick one or two anime intros that are special to you, what would they be and why?
Is it/will it be an intro you'll still enjoy 10+ years later?

My favourite remains The Hakkenden; has been since I saw it years ago. The combination of slow movements, cutting the visuals to beats and the stunning music which evokes a romantic samurai setting is perfect. It's similar in style to traditional Japanese cinema which fits the theme and I sense that honourable and admirable 'samurai spirit'.
With so many intros relying on fast-paced visuals and either soppy J-Pop or techno soudtracks, this one is different and very successful. It's certainly one I'll never grow tired of.

See The Hakkenden OP here on YouTube

darksuzaku · Post by **darksuzaku** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 1:56 pm

Yep, that kind of Opening theme is the one i like.

Let me explain. Normally i like an opening just because i like the song. So in that case i just say i like the song. To consider an opening as a whole i take in mind both the song and the footage. And the most important thing for me is too see if the song and the footage match each other.

The Hakkenden opening matches those requirements and so it's very good opening.

My favorite is the With Hunter Robin opening,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS1-7CV_t1s

The footage and the song match perfectly. It's as if the song had been done precisely for those scenes.

iwakuralain16 · Post by **iwakuralain16** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 2:55 pm

I love Witch Hunter Robin. ;_; The ending always gets me. LOL *never watches alot of new anime, just rewatches the old* @_@

I have always really liked was the .hack//SIGN opening. The gamer inside me loves that anime. LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrcL2yJ8rAU

I also really liked the Fushigi Yuugi Original TV series OP. First anime I watched in full.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-spe3sv5OKo

ReiTheJelly · Post by **ReiTheJelly** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:12 pm

I consider the Escaflowne OP to be the most amazing anime opening sequence. It has a wonderful song by Maaya Sakamoto that fits with the gorgeous animation. The fantasy and mech themes are blended perfectly.

Other openings that I find "almost perfect" are the X TV opening sequence and the Evangelion opening.

I have dial-up, so someone else will have to hunt down the YouTube files for these openings.

EternityOfPain · Post by **EternityOfPain** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:48 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GUTS5lkdhQ

Ike Ike from Ichigo 100%

Wins!

iwakuralain16 · Post by **iwakuralain16** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 4:14 pm

EternityOfPain wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GUTS5lkdhQ

Ike Ike from Ichigo 100%

Wins!

That song reminded me of this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DGClABR ... re=related

I was all "Is that BOOM BOOM DOLLAR?!?!" but then i remembered it was sung by a guy not girls... LOL

Post by **JWR** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 4:51 pm

I have a couple that both feature the music by the group Coo Rie

Midori No Hibi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRoSP-h-QcM

The World of Narue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cUnTAqq ... re=related

Gonzai · Post by **Gonzai** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:05 pm

For some reason, I am a huge fan of Openings from Studio Gonzo.
I think because they do a great job of bringing out all the main characters.

Samurai 7 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba0ac9K3 ... re=related

Basilisk - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS5bU5VuB8c

Trinity Blood - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqc3Dei_zwI

buma · Post by **buma** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 6:27 pm

Krafty - that's one great OP. I've never seen or heard of the series before, but that OP is simply gorgeous.

Okay, trying to follow that up, here are my selections (fyi - links below all go to youtube):

1. Neon Genesis Evangelion - what can I say about this classic? It evokes a tinge in me every time I hear those opening words and see the imagery. (tangent - here's a great parody of the OP - keep watching and maybe you'll bust out laughing too like I just did as I was looking for youtube links to post)

2. Cowboy Bebop - here's another classic one. I just love the 'noir' feel to the opening and how a lot of it is told in monochrome silhouettes. It also doesn't hurt that 'Tank' done by the Seatbelts / Yoko Kanno is an extremely catchy song, too...

and if I may, I'd like to add 2 more that I just like the music to:

1. Dai-Guard - Pa, pa da pa, pa pa pa, pa pa pa, pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa.... Just shear brilliant lyrics like that can't be bad! When watching this series on dvd, most of the time I didn't skip over the OP like one normally does as it's just so catchy (and it goes on you like mold).

2. Gantz - the OP for this anime ain't so hot IMHO, but man, Supershooter by Rip Slyme is just so awesome sounding! (and yes, this is a link to an AMV I made using the song, not the original OP)

otakusin · Post by **otakusin** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 7:40 pm

The ones that come immediately to mind are...

Princess Tutu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTu5FRgKm7U

Matantei Loki Ragnarok
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGSmRzpbA-I

Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwDjL8iHETA

Last Exile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxoH4cfm8qM

Samurai Champloo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNdAUdigcjg

These next three have already been mentioned but they are so good I had to second them!!

Witch Hunter Robin

Fushigi Yuugi TV

Cowboy Bebop

This is one of my personal all time favorites but I could be completely biased!!

Tenshi ni Narumon Second Opening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd46WiLOlbY

Cordelia · Post by **Cordelia** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:03 pm

For me the music can make or break the opening. I find that many of the new animes use shortcuts - plenty of fast still shots and a pop/ rock tune that somehow doesn't gel with the graphics.

Samurai Champloo has a very memorable opening. Who would have thought to mix retro graphics and jazzy rap with samurai anime?

FY TV opening gets to me everytime. The music was specially composed for the anime, it gives a feel of enchantment and adventure.

I love the song 'Dress' in Trinity Blood opening! Very gothic and sexy

RK has pretty nice openings too....they don't save on the action sequences. Most memorable one is of cse the 1st opening....ahh I still bob to the song by Judy and Mary.

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:32 pm

I would have to say Escaflowne TV opening, Rayearth TV op for the first season, and the Fushigi Yuugi TV op. All three of those series were being fansubbed back in the mid to late 90's, a time I was fresh out of high school and fresh into anime. I remember watching those series, especially Escaflowne, while gorging myself on ramen noodles and Ande's Mints until I was sick, lol.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:32 pm

That is a rather sweeping generalization about three of those series were being fansubbed back in the mid to late 90's a time I was fresh out of high school and fresh into anime.

Cenbe · Post by **Cenbe** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:50 pm

For me, it's pretty hard to beat the openings for the Ghost in the Shell movies. (The closings for both movies are superb as well!)

The combination of otherworldly, almost alien-sounding music with the beautiful animated visuals of cyborg manufacture makes for a very compelling beginning that just sucks you in. You know the movie is going to be great!

GITS 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc_jDEvG ... re=related

GITS 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kp-Q06m ... re=related

For a TV series, my undisputed favorite is Gunslinger Girl; very powerful, evocative music with an excellent animated sequence that ends perfectly with Henrietta stepping skyward to liberation! (well, my interpretation anyway)

Gunslinger Girl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEMjq9Vp ... re=related

Kata · Post by **Kata** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 12:24 am

Sorry krafty, I can't give you a new OP sequence as my first favorite, since THE Hakkenden has been and is my absolute favorite OP sequence along with the music. I have to agree with you it's the best OP sequence.

Now as a second one, I always thought of the Rurouni Kenshin OPs that fit very good with the story of Kenshin, how he wanders and you somehow get a feeling of strenght, happieness and sadness at times. It's difficult to explain.

My favorites from Kenshin OP are:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Saish0hCg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ6jo4a5CJE

Basilisk as Gonzai mentions is also one that I really liked and that has a great sequence, shows each character and same time the music fits to the sequence. Also, it shows "hints" of each characters strength. The art is just beautiful.

And there is Samurai Deeper Kyo where the music and sequence just "fit". I really like the sequence and music together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaJs2BU5wmQ