ITT we discuss the best anime intros we know. When in doubt about if you should focus on music/animation, choose music. Otherwise, the two can't really be separated so try to assess the whole things.
Try to keep to one intro/post for increased clarity and activity. No age requirement for the intros, but don't just discuss the two last seasons.
The obvious threadstarter is of course:
the Neon Genesis Evangelion intro.
The Yuusha ou GaoGaiGar OP, Yuusha ou Tanjou!
>>1
Best NGE parody ever is here: http://www.geocities.jp/empress48511/
My own vote is currently split between Paranoia Agent & Azumanga Daioh OPs, both very trippy but both very different. I love them equally and shan't decide!
Also, the Densha Otoko OP is pretty cool for various reasons, but I guess it doesn't really count as a real anime OP.
I was going to post this thread tonight, but then I didn't! Oh well.
>>2 is of course http://astrange.ithinksw.net/sa/music/Yuusha-Oh%20Tanjou!.mp3, one of the greatest giant robot songs ever (although not the best version of it). It's even better than SKILL and almost as good as King Gainer Over.
But you can't sing along to it as easily as to http://astrange.ithinksw.net/sa/music/GreatMazinger.mp3, unfortunately.
The Nadesico opening wins a lot too. Nadesico's music in general is refreshing, it uses horns/similar well, for instance. This could have something to do with the whole mecha heritage though.
Oh and YOU GET TO BURNING is amazing engrish, and this series knows it.
Úr Wikipedia, frjálsu alfræðiorðabókinni
∧＿∧ ┌────────────
◯i ´∀｀ ）◯ ＜ Kouyama Mitsuki-chan!
＼ ／ └────────────
_／ ＿＿ ＼_
（＿／ ＼＿）
ｌｌｌ
SKILL is the best. The version of the Gaogaigar theme where there's this chorus in the background going "GAGAGAGAGA" etc the entire time is tied for second best with King Gainer Over. YOU WA SHOCK is third best.
Actually, let me restate that.
The order is King Gainer Over! < Yuusha-Oh Tanjou! < SKILL < Yuusha-Oh Tanjou! Grand Glorious Gathering (the chorus) < Yuusha-Oh Tanjou! Perfect Yell Version
Unfortunately the last doesn't really work unless you've seen a few episodes, because it's the theme remixed with all the things they shout during episodes.
Also, King Gainer Over! can be listened to on repeat forever, but you get tired of Yuushaoh Tanjou.
I of course have all of these:
http://astrange.ithinksw.net/sa/music/Overman%20King%20Gainer%20-%20King%20Gainer%20Over!.mp3
http://astrange.ithinksw.net/sa/music/JAM%20Project%20-%20Skill.mp3
http://astrange.ithinksw.net/sa/music/gagaga_ggg_opening.mp3 (first half, the complete is in some torrent I don't feel like tracking down)
http://astrange.ithinksw.net/sa/music/10%20-%20Yuusha-Oh%20Tanjou!%20-Perfect%20Yell%20Version-.mp3
I personally kind of like the Planetes OP animation + song myself.
Zettai Shounen OP looks great but I hate the song.
I wanna ROCKS
FLY AWAY SOU TAKAKU
Best intro:Tobe Gundamu , need i say more.
also i like the intro of cowboy bebop anb Stand alone complex.
I hate mentioning such a recent anime, but...
The first intro of Honey & Clover owns owns owns! It's the intro that all the cool strange intros want to be in their dreams. I love that woman's vocals too.
>>13
the video for Dramatic is also pretty cool. it features honey, clovers, and a bear
For relatively recent shows, the openings I've seen that have really impressed me have been Honey & Clover, Fantastic Children and Emma (Which has a surprisingly strong opening, considering the otherwise slow-moving nature of the series). Zettai Shounen and Pani Poni Dash are also fairly impressive.
For slightly older series, some that have left an impression on me include Stellvia (One of the most powerful openings since Evangelion), Twin Spica, Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito (If only for the incredibly disquieting close-up of Ken-chan's eye), Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto and Sakura Taisen (Everybody knows this one rocks). I am sure I am forgetting a bunch here.
For even older series, I am getting a bit foggy, but Evangelion and Nadesico have already been mentioned, with good reason.
Ooh yes, I've always liked Sakura taisen's OP.
Here's another one for Honey and Clover too. I don't like the 2nd OP... the first one was absolutely nuts! I loved it! That lobster hand really spooked me the first time! The song went so well with it too.
>That lobster hand really spooked me the first time!
I always feel something is missing when the sound of it attacking isn't present in the second intro version. ; )
PaniPoni Dash intro is very catchy (the show itself is so damn cute)
>>18
Indeed.
Excel Saga's wins for quirkiness, Kiminozo's wins for teariness, School Rumble's wins for 0wning so damn much.
Excel Saga's opening I'll agree with, it's awesome, and I haven't seen School Rumble's, but Kiminozo? I always thought that opening was solidly average.
SORE WA AI JA NAI
cough cough
Crest of the Stars wins for having an intro that's 100% old school sci-fi without any explanations or excuses.
Oh, does that mean it's going to have an intro? Because I just watched the first episode and it only had some zoom effects on pixelated images of starfields.
∧＿∧ ┌──────────────────
◯（ ´∀｀ ）◯ ＜♪"I ♥ U" wo anata kara kikitai
＼ ／ │ kiss suru shunkan no chikai kokyu wo♪
_／ ＿＿ ＼_ └──────────────────
（＿／ ＼＿）
ｌｌｌ
Giant Robot show ops FTW! (ﾉ･∀･)ﾉ
I really liked the Godannar opening.
Besides that, Tsukuyomi's, Honey & Clover's, and a lot of the Naruto ones (though Naruto itself isn't that good.)
hay! I just did a search for Yuushaoh Tanjou! using google.co.jp, and we were on the first page! Go 4-ch!
GaoGaiGar has to potental to be the best ever, but it's not humanly possible to put enough energy into the "ga-ga-ga ga-ga-ga gao gai gar" parts.
Years ago, IGN Sci-fi used to have a whole series of articles about anime openings. Each one examined the opening of a prominent anime, and they took you through the techniques and structures used in it. It's too bad they appear to be locked away in the insider section now. I used to watch the quicktime videos repeatedly to see all the nuances in the animation.
The ones that stuck with me the most because of a high quality visuals and good music were Those Who Hunt Elves(nice timing of action to the music), Orguss 02(the dub version of the song, which sounds better than the original version although I only heard the original recently), Key the Metal Idol, Lain(these two for the wierd melancholy mood), Gunsmith Cats (awesome style), and the aforementioned Nadesico and EVA.
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Anybody catch "Air"'s intro? Amazing song and very fluid movement throughout. It's on my morning "pump you up for the day" playlist.
higurashi no naku koro ni