Summary
When anime made its way to English-speaking audiences in the early 90s,producers of the dubs updated the opening credits sequences in order to appeal to American viewers, introduce characters and plot points quickly, and drivemerchandise sales. The results ranged from bizarre bombs to instantly recognizable bops. The best were those that honored the spirit of the anime’s original theme song, like the belovedSailor Moonopening. In contrast, others seemed more concerned with selling a product than introducing the series. These openings, likeDigimon’s, usually relied on repeating the title to the song’s beat, mimicking the success of the Saban-producedMighty Morphin Power Rangers' iconic theme.
While the English-dub opening original creations of the 90s and early 2000s may seem dated,they remain a touchstone to when anime was lesser known and seemed brand newto Western audiences. Today, as anime is more mainstream in North America, modernEnglish-dubbed anime openingsare either left unchanged or translated simply. While the quality of these English-dub opening themes varies, many remain classic earworms that continue to evoke fond memories.
The Most Unskippable Anime Openings, Ranked
The opening of an anime is the first impression many fans get as to what the series is all about. Some of the most iconic are impossible to skip.
10One Piece
2004
The 4Kids English dub ofOnePiecegives viewers one of the most divisive original themes of all time. Colloquially known as “The Pirate Rap”, the “One Piece Theme” is an unexpected opening that begins with the standard spoken word exposition detailing the legend of the eponymous lost treasure. Then it transitions intoa bonkers rap introducing protagonist Monkey D. Luffyand his crew of Straw Hat Pirates.
Performers Russel Velàsquez and Frescho spend their minute-long, high-energy rap weaving in cursory plot details like, “His name isLuffy! He’s gonna be king of the pirates! He’s made of rubber!” The lyrics may lack creativity, but it’s a quick, fun way to open the show and get to the plot. Initially maligned for its unserious tone and forced lyrics,this song now enjoys cult classic statusfor its quirky charm and nostalgia factor.
9Ronin Warriors
1995
Five fantastic battle-armored samurai, the titularRonin Warriors,have magical transformation sequences and fight the forces of evil, much likeSailor Moonbut with an all-male team.The show’s opening is a very simple voice-over narrating the premise of the show over electic guitar riffs, while a chant of, “Ronin warriors!” repeats softly in the background. Though it can’t compete with the original JapaneseSamurai Trooperstheme, which features sugary synth-pop and foreboding thunderclaps,Ronin Warriors’opening has quintessential 90s charm. The effective use of repetition to ingrain a show’s brand identity in viewers' minds still stirs memories of the covetedRonin Warriorsaction figures.
TheWarrior’s inclusion in the legendary Toonami lineup on Cartoon Network cements its nostalgia factor. This afternoon programming block is often credited as introducing anime to many Western viewers, making it a major part of the history and cultural impact of anime. Even if this particular show is not as popular today, it isa worthy candidate for a reboot or revival; its theme of harmony with nature is more relevant than ever.
8Case Closed
2003
Crunchyroll’s dub of long-running anime hitDetective Conannot only updates the title toCase Closedto avoid legal issues, but also adds its own charming original theme. The dub keeps the melody of the original Japanese theme song and splices in new English lyrics to remainauthentic to the series without alienating the audience.The result is a memorable mix of old and new elements that matches the show’s modern take onclassic detectives like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.
Case Closedfollows teen detective Jimmy Kudo, who is trapped in the body of an elementary school boy, as he solves weekly mysteries and tries to revert to his teenage form. Thecomplicated premise benefits from recappingthis information in the opening sequence, and highlights the show’s balance of the overarching mystery with the weekly cases. Once the plot recap is out of the way, the theme song kicks in with a fun rock backing and faithfully-interpreted lyrics about the power of self-determination, setting up the exciting detective work to follow.
7Digimon: Digital Monsters
1999
Saban’s English dub ofDigimon Adventuretrades a benign synth-rock Japanese theme for the simple, repetitive chant, “Digimon! Digital monsters! Digimon are the champions!” Other than a sing-songy ad-lib from an unknown man in the middle, there’s not much to it.Saban likely trimmedDigimon’s introto extend airtime for commercials, resulting in a bare-bones sequence that seems perfunctory. Despite its simplicity, theDigimontheme is still extremely popular and recalls the magic of Saturday morning cartoons, when escaping into the digital world was less of a reality.
Eventually, Saban realizes their audience wants something truer to the spirit of Japanese-style anime openings. The show’s fourth season,Digimon Frontier,introduces a theme song that is the opposite of its predecessor and delivers a heartfelt rallying cry about harmony and teamwork.Frontier’s “A World For Us All” is less well-known than the originalDigimontheme used in the first three seasons, but its rousing lyrics and industrial rock backing music marka shift towards a more authentic anime experience.
6Yi-Gi-Oh!
2000
Yugioh best duels poster featuring Yugi, Joey, and Kaiba, and their iconic duel monster partners in the Dark Magician, Red-Eyes Black Dragon, and Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
The 4Kids dub of the classic card game-focused animeYu-Gi-Oh!has an unusually nuanced and layered opening theme. Wayne Sharpe’s “Yu-Gi-Oh! Theme” begins with wind instruments that evoke the ancient Egyptian themes present in the anime. The song then shifts to layers of shredding guitars and blaring horns, culminating in the iconic line, “It’s time to d-d-d-duel!” The dark, frenetic audio matches the quick-cut visuals depictingYugi dueling rivalsand summoning the distinctive monsters the series is famous for. The epic opening becamea staple of the Kid’s WB Saturday morning lineupin the early 2000’s.
The show’s theme is unlike any other animated show of its time, but its surprising maturity makes it feel timeless for all ages. The theme song’s blend of antique and modern instruments reflects the show’s tension between ancient mythology and ultra-high-tech card battles. Unsurprisingly,Yu-Gi-Oh!endures as a cultural phenomenon, with ten anime series, multiple movies, video games, and a physical card game fueling demand for more.
5Cowboy Bebop
2001
The great thing aboutCowboy Bebop’s opening theme, “Tank!” is that it’s shared by both the Japanese original and Animaze’s English dub, making it universally recognized by viewers worldwide. Seatbelt’s big-band jazz piece is instantly iconic and a perfect choice for an anime as musically-focused asBebop. The visuals are simple shadow box vignettes of the main characters, guns, and spaceships, which prime viewers forthe stylish neo-noir Western adventureahead.
Although primarily instrumental, “Tank!” is one of the most electric, engaging themes in anime history. The frantic dueling trombone and saxophone, over plucking bass and shrieking trumpet are unmistakable, and the bongos add an anxious tension to the conclusion. These dizzying, complex layers of music perfectly capture the improvisational nature of space bounty hunter Spike and his crew.“Tank!” remains popular to this day, being featured in Netflix’s live adaptation opening and inspired a popular remix by Steve Aoki.
4Dragon Ball Z
1997
Funimation’s 1997 dub ofDragon Ball Zkicks off with thepumped-up rock anthem, “Rock the Dragon”, to get viewers ready for exhilarating action. Curiously, Funimation, now known as Crunchyroll, trades out the original visuals for footage from the first threeDBZfilms. The movies are a bit faster-paced than the early episodes of the series, and the footage showcases allthe power-ups and martial arts the series is recognized by. This strategic decision smartly introduces the action up front and doesn’t waste time retreading details covered in the show.
The English dub ofDragon Ball Z Kai(2010) is a recut version of the original show that removes elements not featured in the manga, streamlines battles, and improves upon the animation and dialogue quality.Kai’s opener, “Dragon Soul”, is likely amea culpafor the consumerist intro of the 90s dub, as it is much more faithful to the Japanese version. Despite its modernity, the updated song can’t compete with theold-school metal vibe of “Rock the Dragon"set to gorgeously grainy hand drawn animation.
3Yu Yu Hakusho
2002
Yu Yu Hakusho’s English theme song, “Smile Bomb” is a poignant introduction to the emotional complexity of our team of spirit detectives. The 2002 dub of the beloved shonen features Sara White’s beautiful translation ofYu Yu Hakusho’s original theme, complete withsoaring vocals and poetic lyrics.The sentiments about friendship and teamwork reflect the dynamic of the show’s main quartet, and the vocal delivery matches the high drama between them.
Surprisingly, the song is one of the few anime openings to remain the theme for its entire series run, becoming synonymous with Yoshihiro Togashi’s creation. WhileNetflix’s 2023 live adaptationdoesn’t feature “Smile Bomb” as its opening theme, it can be heard on the radio as an Easter egg in the first episode.This tribute underscores the song’s importance to the showand respect for the audience enjoying both adaptations of Yusuke’s tale.
2Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon, perhaps one of the most recognizable anime characters for English audiences, is known forfighting evil by moonlight and winning love by daylight. This iconic phrase is lifted directly from the opening theme, which not only introduces the titular hero, but highlights the other sailor guardians one by one. The theme has an uplifting and magical tone that embodies the essence of Sailor Moon’s glamorous and romantic adventures.
Producer DiC trimmed the accompanying visuals for length and content, resulting ina short and sweet tune that all ages can enjoy. This is the first of many instances of censorship inSailor Moon’s initial run in North America, culminating in the cancelation of the final season’s dub. In 2019, Viz Media finally made the entire uncensored English dub available for the first time ever, this time featuring the original Japanese theme.
1Pokémon
Pokémon,one of the biggest franchises in the world, needs an appropriately monumental theme song. Recorded by Jason Paige in 1999, the unexpected hit “Pokémon Theme (Gotta Catch ‘Em All)” is a call to action to enter the world ofPokémon, and strive to be the very best, like no one ever was. The energetic music and unforgettable lyrics are why it remainsa cultural phenomenon that inspires jokes, memes, and parodies 25 years after its debut.
The song conjures daydreams of hitting the open road with Ash and Pikachu, capturing the autonomy and freedom experienced in the games. Few shows deemed “children’s programming” can match the popularity and ubiquity ofPokémon’s English opening theme. While the series continues to grow and evolve, it has yet to produce a tune that matches the greatness of4Kids’ original masterpiece.
Pokémon
Cast
Pokémon follows Ash Ketchum on his journey to become a Pokémon Master, accompanied by his loyal Pikachu. Released in 1997, the series explores Ash’s travels through various regions, where he encounters new friends and challenges, underscoring the themes of adventure and teamwork.
