Top 10 OPs & EDs of 2023

A bit of a boring title this year. Anyway! This has been an excellent year for anime openings and endings, to the point where especially with openings narrowing down a top 10 was extremely difficult. There were quite a few, like those of Tsurune: The Linking Shot, The Apothecary Diaries, Spy x Family Season 2 and Stardust Telepath, that would've made the list in any other year. But in the end, these are not "all the good stuff" lists - these are top 10 lists. The cream of the crop, the best of the best. So, let's get started. 

 Top 10 OPs 

10. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead OP "Song of the Dead" 

It would be an understatement to say that Zom 100's production has been troubled. One example of its effects is the opening, which had placeholder visuals for a good portion of it until episode 9. The final(?) opening is worth the wait though: energetic, well choreographed and, most importantly, very funny. Much like the series itself. Song is a banger as expected from Kana-Boon. 

9. Shy OP "Shiny Girl" 

Masaomi Ando directing a new series is always good news for fans of stylized anime, and Shy is no exception. Its opening showcases this with its bright colors, fluid transitions and seamlessly integrated credits - all staples of Ando's work. Fittingly for a superhero show, the opening song is some good ol' upbeat J-rock with some subtle foreshadowing in its lyrics. 

8. Vinland Saga Season 2 OP2 "Paradox"

While Tetsuro Araki is best known for his hyperdramatic action-thriller series like Death Note and the first season of Attack on Titan, sometimes he surprises the fandom with much more subdued, and even beautiful, openings. Last year we had Spy x Family's second OP, and this year we have Vinland Saga's second season's second OP. It is, like the series itself, a brutal look at the warrior culture of the Vikings, interspersed with brief memories of happier times for some of the characters before the merciless flow of life brought them to their current circumstances. It also reflects the inner growth and character development of Thorfinn as he comes to realize he was "getting lost in his own revenge". Getting Survive Said the Prophet back to do the song is icing on the cake. 

7. Skip and Loafer OP "Mellow"

For something a bit more "mellow", we have an opening containing, among other but less noteworthy parts, possibly the cutest and most wholesome sequence in any anime this year: Mitsumi and Shima's dance. Wonderful choreography, character animation, color design and VFX work. Lovely opening for a lovely show. 

6. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End OP "Yuusha" 

While the controversial song choice (for the record, I like it) has been the focus of most of the discussion about this opening, it does have plenty of merits on the visual side. Character introductions that leave an impression despite their briefness, elegant foreshadowing, pleasant colors and all-around good editing work. And even if you don't like the song musically, you have to admit the lyrics fit the story perfectly. (The full music video is also worth the watch.)

5. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 OP2 "SPECIALZ" 

Another controversial song, although to a lesser extent (for the record, I like this too), but few deny that visually this opening is among the best in JJK's run - boldly bathed in all shades of red, flashes of chaos and madness, contrasting the two factions descending upon Shibuya ready to fight to death... I cannot imagine a better fit for this arc. 

4. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Part 2 OP "slash" 

Like the previous one in the list, this one too is directed by Yuki Kamiya, and while the color use is less bold here, his signature blue-orange contrast is very much visible in many shots. Cool framing early on with the phone, cool lighting, cool symbolism (lots of reflections), just a really cool opening in general. Yama delivers with the song as always - worth listening to the full version for this one btw.

3. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation II OP "spiral" 

The first season of Mushoku Tensei used its over-the-episode opening sequences for worldbuilding and setting establishing to a great effect, so many were surprised by season 2 using a "normal" opening animation instead. I'm glad it exists though, because it is great. I've talked about my love of when openings use camera movement to connect shots, especially when it involves seamless transitions via crossfades, and this opening is full of that. It's no Ranking of Kings OP2, but it comes close. A bit of an unconventional song choice perhaps, but works super well. 

2. Oshi no Ko OP "Idol" 

Oshi no Ko is, unusually for me, a manga that I had been reading for a while before the anime was even announced, so I had high expectations for the adaptation. I was not disappointed in pretty much any aspect of it, and certainly not in the opening. At times stunning imagery that effectively gets across the idea that this is not your average idol anime, good flow and a banger of a song from Yoasobi. 

1. Horimiya: The Missing Pieces OP "Shiawase" 

Horimiya is possibly my favourite romcom anime and to have it back for a season of side stories after it already reached the end of the story in season 1 was nothing short of a miracle. I'm always ready for more Masashi Ishihama kino, and this season - and its opening - delivered. All of his trademarks are here: stylized segments with a strong feel of texture, geometric shapes, fragmenting the screen, integrating the credits in various ways, forward momentum... I've also fallen in love with the song, a beautiful rock ballad from Omoinotake, the full version of which is highly recommended listening. With the translated lyrics if possible. 

Top 10 EDs 

10. Hell's Paradise ED "Kamihitoe" 

This one is definitely carried by the song, which is my favourite one I've heard from Uru, but the visuals aren't exactly bad either. It works as what it is, but it's clear that the production circumstances affected every aspect of Hell's Paradise, including this ending.  

9. The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You ED "Sweet Sign" 

Cute concept, cute execution. The song is once again a highlight - pleasant but catchy, especially the riff at the beginning and the end. 

8. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead ED "Happiness of the Dead" 

The use of different aspect ratios and almost pastel-like coloring gives this ending a bit of a retro feel, often emulating actual cameras to make it feel like videos and pictures taken by the characters. Works well, and the song is nice too. 

7. Dr. Stone: New World Part 2 ED "Suki ni Shinayo" 

This might be the most visually unique ending on the list due to it being made entirely(?) with actual sand art. That alone is already impressive, but it's also just generally a really nice ending, focusing on the female cast of the show in contrast to the previous ending focusing on the male cast, and the song has an adventurous feel to it. 

6. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation II ED "Musubime" 

Yuiko Ohara made all of the theme songs for season 1 of Mushoku Tensei, so it's good to have her back in season 2 even if just for the ending. Lovely song and a perspective shift from the opening with a focus on Sylphie instead of Rudeus. 

5. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End ED "Anytime Anywhere" 

Beautiful animation with an unusual style, using various cutout-like elements to smoothly transition between different scenes - over two thirds of the ending is a single shot, which is an impressive feat, only outdone by...  

4. Undead Murder Farce ED "Reversal" 

... this one, which is from start to beginning one continuous shot. Okay, there are some points where there probably was a cut, but the effect is maintained so well that it's barely even noticeable. Outstanding CG work, cool black-and-white aesthetic and a great song. 

3. Reign of the Seven Spellblades ED "Aimu" 

Sometimes all you need is still illustrations and some VFX. Everything about this ending, from the illustrations to the lyrics of the song, is foreshadowing for the big mid-season reveal of the anime, which single-handedly brought me 100% on-board after a few episodes of wondering if it was ever going to go anywhere. The most important thing, however, is that unlike with Hell's Paradise, nothing about this ending feels nerfed - the concept and delivery is so strong that there's no doubt in my mind that the final result is as the director envisioned without compromises. If that's an illusion, it's one hell of a skillful illusion. 

2. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Part 2 ED "Red:birthmark" 

Powerful imagery and a breathtaking song from Aina the End are a combo that is sure to stick in viewers' minds for a while - it certainly has in mine! From the bold broad brushstrokes of the chorus drop part to the tiniest details of two hands trembling, the animators went all out on this.  

1. Oshi no Ko ED "Mephisto" 

Similarly to the previous one in the list, this one also has a visual motif of a projector projecting something on a wall, alongside some powerful imagery, but somehow "Mephisto" manages to crank the powerfulness levels to even higher than "Red:birthmark". From beginning to end it is the ending of a thriller anime that knows the tools of symbolism at its disposal and is not afraid to use them. And even simple close-up shots of characters look intense due to the detailed linework and stark coloring and lighting. I did not have a particularly strong impression of Queen Bee based on what I'd heard from them before OnK, but this song changed my view completely. Another full song recommendation - that guitar solo deserves to be heard, and the way the song ends works even better in the full version. 

Peak Fiction: Attack on Titan: The Final Season: Final Chapters Special 2 ED "Nisennen... Moshiku wa.... Nimannen ato no Kimi e" 

Having this "ending" even in the same list as the others feels unfair to them, because competing against the final moments of a decade-long saga is just not something a "normal" anime ending can do. The narrative weight being carried is in a completely different category. I wanted to highlight it somehow though, so here goes. 

Ahem. 

HOLY SHIT REVO IS THE BEST COMPOSER OF ALL TIME AND YUICHIRO HAYASHI IS A BRILLIANT DIRECTOR 

... Yeah. That's it for this list. 

No honorary mentions this year because the competition is just too intense. I already had enough difficulties having this blog post out on the promised day at all. Next Sunday, if my strength and time allows: the top 10 anime of this year.