I'm putting together a playlist of the best anime openings to get a friend into the medium, and I want to include tracks that are not only iconic but also visually spectacular and representative of their series' tone. Classics like "Tank!" from Cowboy Bebop and "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" from Evangelion are already on the list. What are some of your personal favorite openings from the last five years that have incredible animation sequences paired with a song that you just can't skip?
Chainsaw Man—Kick Back is a slam dunk: the animation is wild and the song is instantly recognizable; perfect for a high-energy opener.
Jujutsu Kaisen openings (Kaikai Kitan and VIVID VICE) are standout for pairing pulsing visuals with a hooky track; they set the tone for the series in a way a lot of openings don't.
Spy x Family—Mixed Nuts works great as both an intro for newcomers and a pulse-raiser for fans; it captures the show's quirky family energy with top-tier animation.
For something a bit more cinematic, Demon Slayer continues to wow with color and motion in its openings—the sequences feel like short films and the music supports that mood.