The English anime opening is a lost art. As anime censorship eased up in America, the original Japanese themes - once deemed unacceptable - were left more and more intact. Today, if an anime's opening is in English, it's likely that it's that way in Japan, too. But that wasn't always the case. In the late '90s and early 2000s, as anime began to pick up steam in America, censorship was rampant and extended even as far as the theme songs. Rather than cut the intro sequence altogether, censors commissioned themes just for the American release.
These English openings were full of candy-pop beats and sweeping, epic instrumentals. They're far too catchy to be forgotten. But, since their heyday, there have been plenty of great originally-English openings as well. Let's rank the very best from the traditionally cartoonish to the absurdly abstract.
6. Yu-Gi-Oh!
“It's time to d-d-d-d-d-d-duel!”
The catchphrase that launched a thousand schoolyard rumbles absolutely pops, a straight banger on Saturday mornings. Even the narration leading in to the theme itself is pure hype - after all that, who wouldn't want to grab their deck and do battle with ancient magical beasts? “Your move!” welcomes the viewer in to the wild world of card battles and, after a sick bass rift, it's pure nostalgia for the early 2000s. Especially considering how lackluster Yu-Gi-Oh!'s 4Kids dub was, the intro is so absolutely epic that a kid could ride the high for the entire 24 minutes with no regrets.
5. Pokémon
Rocky Balboa has “Eye of the Tiger,” Ash Ketchum has “Gotta Catch 'em All.” The insanely popular children's series children led to many parents' first introduction to anime as this earworm wriggled its way into their brains - whether they liked it or not. As a theme song, it delivers on multiple fronts, setting the stage for the basic premise of the series - catching 'em all - and providing a positive message on the importance of friendship. Though lacking in subtlety, “Gotta Catch 'em All” is a classic if only for its place in the hearts and minds of generations of Pokémon fans that can pop off the lyrics like they're hardwired.
4. Digimon
As Pokémon fever swept America, along came Digimon with its own iconic intro. The number of times “Digimon!” is said may set a world record for namedropping. Given that the series involves monsters in a digital world, the intro works to set the stage with a techno sound that'd be at home on the dance floor of any German night club. If repetition is the key to learning, one could picture an army of children lumbering zombie-like through school halls mumbling to themselves: “Digimon digital monsters Digimon are the champions.” The only real hit against this intro is that each new Digimon series consistently outdoes it.
3. One Piece
When the B-Boys are poppin' and lockin' all over the pirate ship, it's time to set sail for One Piece. The English opening begins with traditional exposition before exploding into a hip-hop rendition cataloging everything in, around and slightly tangential to the series. This theme is pure excitement as the unseen hype-man calls out each protagonist like they're in a rap battle. With all the grace of the Fresh Prince, the intro lays the foundations for the pirate crew's adventures. If the series creators had spliced break dancers into the anime action, not a single soul would mind.
2. Sailor Moon
The grandmother of hype English theme songs, Sailor Moon's introduction is a beautifully animated classic set to a Kidz Bop smash. Kiddie thought it may be, this theme gave Sailor Moon a magical sound and got people excited for what became a gateway to the world of anime. As the years pass, it's hard not to appreciate those on-the-nose lyrics like one would an old friend. After all, the series is in fact about a group of middle-school girls who fight evil and chase boys. For that reason, the theme is certified gold and holds that special kitsch factor only nostalgia can give.
1. Serial Experiments Lain
From Saturday morning cartoons to mind-warping surrealism, Serial Experiments Lain had an unexpected banger with “Duvet” by the British band Bôa. The indie rock group's theme for the series acted as a melancholy welcome to the renowned horror series and left an impression on Western audiences. The popularity of the theme song actually led Bôa to tour the convention scene in the early 2000s, where their indie cred was seriously tested by swarms of raving anime fans. With the opening's muted visuals, thought-provoking glimpses at a sepia-saturated Japan and the mysterious Lain herself, “Duvet” does everything a great theme song should.
