My first top 10 of the year has to be a look back at some of my favorite openings. There were a lot of candidates but I narrowed it down to the ones that shined among the rest. I watched a lot of shows last year but most of them weren’t actually released in 2022 so those won’t count. The rules are; the show must have either debuted in 2022 or ran in 2022. For example, if a show debuted in 2021 but had another season in 2022, I count the season only released in 2022. Also, anything is up for grabs! It can be an anime or an OVA, movie, or Netflix original, if it had an opening, I’ll consider it.

They are numbered from 10 to 1 and they’re in order of ‘I listen to this religiously every day’ to ‘I just really enjoy this track.’ I mean the top 5 I listened to almost every day and I never skip them when watching. Alright, now that your minds have been refreshed, here’s a look at my personal top 10 anime openings.

1. KICK BACK – KENSHI YONEZU [CHAINSAW MAN]

You cannot look me in the eye and tell me if you were a fan of chainsaw man, this opening didn’t hype you up. It’s not possible. From the revving of the chainsaw to the funky bassline, mixed with the opening video that references several blockbuster movies, it was a genius on all accounts. I won’t lie, it was a back and forth between this one and the other top four. This opening truly encompasses the phenomenon known as Chainsaw Man.

2. DATEN – CREEPY NUTS [CALL OF THE NIGHT]

Call of the Night is one of those anime’s that didn’t make sense to me at first but each episode seemed to draw me in further and further. If you like vampires and fan service then it’s right up your alley. Part of what made me fall in love with the show is the opening and ending by Creepy Nuts. First of all, what kind of name? Second of all, both were unexpected contributions but captured the vibe of the show. Even with it’s purple-hue scenes flooding my memory, it was ultimately the music that made the show memorable for me. Also, the jazziness. You know I love my jazz inspirations.

3. NARIHIBIKUKAGIRI – YUKI [DANCE DANCE DANSEUR]

A very bubbly song for a very dramatic show. I’d also credit DDD with having one of the most creative opening sequences in anime. The first person view of Junpei as he goes along with his daily school life and practicing his ballet. There’s so many unique aspects to the anime and song and really, it’s just a catchy tune. Normally, I’m not a fan of high pitched vocals (I thought she was going to straining her voice on some notes) but I could ignore it while humming along.

4. CHIKICHIKIBANBAN – QUEENDOM [YA BOY KONGMING!]

If you haven’t heard this song, you’re missing out. I’ve been trying to find the full version for months, so this is my first time hearing it in full. Also, recently I found out the full song was released on apple music so now I can enjoy it every day! I love it that much. Also my name gets dropped in the first verse too so I’m a bit biased. Another stand out show for me last year dealing with the music industry, it was a welcomed change of pace.

5. SOUVENIR – BUMP OF CHICKEN [SPY X FAMILY]

At this point I know I’m repeating myself, but never have I heard a song just go so perfectly with the mood of an anime. Spy x Family is pure wholesome, fun content and this opening is a direct reflection of that. I also got a nice Fall vibe from it. I’m not sure how to explain it but it’s not quite summer-y yet not winter-y. Close to spring-y but definitely an Autumn jam. So far, SxF is 2-0 with openings.

6. サイレントマイノリティー KASHITARO ITO [TRAPPED IN A DATING SIM: THE WORLD OF OTOME GAMES IS TOUGH FOR MOBS]

First off, this show is hilarious. I know there was some discourse about it from some Otome fans but I thought it was a funny take. Anyway, my main reason for loving this op is because of the vocals from Kashitaro Ito, especially during the chorus. As you can guess, all of these songs are catchy to me (or they wouldn’t be on this list), so it’s no surprise that I was bewitched by the melody.

7. PRESENCE – SUPERFLY [AOASHI]

This song just sounds epic, especially for a sports anime. When we got into the second cour of the show and I first heard it, I thought, ‘This fits…perfectly!” Maybe a better way to think about it is ‘We Are the Champions.’ Most people use it whenever their favorite team has overcome a tremendous amount to win. That’s what this song feels like from start to finish. With the way Aoashi is so particular with soccer and focused on teamwork, the song feels like the victory at the end of a long hard fought battle.

8. GIRI GIRI (FEAT. すぅ ) – MASAYUKI SUZUKI [KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR]

It’s safe to say I’ve always liked Kaguya-sama’s openings. They perfectly contrast the modern show. Also I love the sound of this man’s voice and it makes you wanna dance. It gives a little bit of disco and funk blended together.

9. SCAR – TATSUYA KITANI [BLEACH: THOUSAND-YEAR BLOOD WAR]

Next up, Bleach rarely misses with me when it comes to their music. I don’t know if it’s part nostalgia or just being a Bleach fan but it’s a great start in terms of openings. It was like when they played the first episode and the ending played with flashback scenes and montages. I was just feeling overwhelmed with happiness. Now, if I add this to the epic list of Bleach op’s, it’s not my absolute favorite. To be honest, it probably wouldn’t crack my top 10. However, it was a shiny star of ’22.

10. THE WARRIOR – NOVELBRIGHT [SALARYMAN’S CLUB]

Last but not least, another sports show that managed to be under the radar last year, it produced one of my favorite songs. At first, I thought it was, well, in a sense ‘grittier’ than the show it was playing for. Seeing images of company men who enjoy badminton in their spare time didn’t seem to quite fit with other sports anime. Of course, never judge a book by its cover! It was very much intense and dramatic like any other sports show. I laughed, I cried, I headbanged to the op, it fit right on in.

So there you have it! My top 10 anime openings. Spoiler alert; that means there will be a top 10 closings, so be on the look out! Furthermore, I’ve compiled my list into a Spotify playlist. I really wanted to use apple but unfortunately, I haven’t figured out how on here yet. Let me know in the comments what your top opening of 2022 was 😊