Favorite Opening to a Show

[Slenn]

The title says it all. What are your favorite openings to a show that you've seen? This could be a cartoon/anime, live action, documentary, etc. And what about it made it one of your favorites? Was it that it had a smooth melody to it? Or did it get you energized for the cool action show that it proceeded? Did it prepare you for the drama that will happen?

One of my personal favorites goes to a show that's on one of my top favorite animes, Higurashi No Naku Koro ni Kai. This series was the 2nd season to Higurashi, a series that centralizes on murder and mystery. Not to spoil anything, but things get really heroic and epic towards the end of the show. And at that point, the intro felt like it was preparing the audience for all the great struggles our characters have to go through. God dang I love this intro.


(Don't pay attention to the thing at the end. This was the only video I could find that also included the translated lyrics.)

 

[Elfgore]

Higurashi could win an award for most misleading anime. It's like they do everything they can to hide you from the horror to come.


I really should just lock this thread now, cause you know. Nothing beats Hard Knock Days and nothing ever shall. Gets the tone of the show perfect. And even better, the band that sings the song is like a boy band from the nineties.

Spoiler: Just look at these moves.

 

[Vigormortis]

Favorite show opener, huh?

Spoiler: Obligatory choice.

I can't say that it's my only favorite, but damned if it's not high up there. Even today it still gives me goosebumps.

Man I miss that show. Such a work of brilliance, and that opening theme is still one of the most iconic themes any cartoon has ever had.

 

[Revolutionary]

But of Course...


Also

Spoiler: Honorable mention

Also the Dexter intro's pretty good.

 

[gigastar]

Game of Thrones get a +1 from me for the combination of a great musical score and using it to present vital information about the world, but for the sake of something different im going with the opening for Otorimonogatari;


Well honestly, any opening animated by Shaft would qualify, but im most partial to that one. For the moment.

 

[maninahat]

I'm getting used to show openings being more interesting than the actual tv show. Vikings has that haunting tune and a sinking ship, Black Sails has this impossibly detailed marble scupture, shown against a blaring hurdy-gurdy sea shanty. The best in a while though is the American horror Story openings, which are invariably creepier than anything that happens in the show:

Spoiler: Coven

Someone's already done Cowboy Bebop though, so there is that too.

 

[Harlemura]

Even though it's a terrible representation of the show's nature, Death Parade has one of the best openings I've ever seen.

Though this is one of the few I can say I think are good without the reasoning being "I like the show". With an example of that being...

Spoiler: K-On!!'s third opening.

I mean, it does a much better job of representing the show than Death Parade's opening, but when the show is as trash as K-On that doesn't mean much.
But it always makes me smile and that's all that matters to me.

 

[necromanzer52]

Gotta go with Star Trek.

Spoiler

That slow build-up with Picard's glorious narration, eventually exploding into the awesomeness of the main theme and ending with the Enterprise warping off into the distance to explore the galaxy.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Something anime

Spoiler: Nartuo openning 7

Something manily

Spoiler: Jojo's Bizzare Adventure Stardust Crusader

I HAD top include this openning

Something retro

Spoiler: Jayce and the wheel warrior

Something live

Spoiler: Smallville

Something current

Spoiler: One Punch Man

Something wacky

Spoiler: Freakazoid

Something Western

Spoiler: Samurai Jack

 

[happyninja42]

I'd probably go with Samurai Jack as well, but also the opening to Attack on Titan. I dunno, something about that really powerful singing and musical opening, coupled with the image of all the various soldiers rising up into the air in defiance of the titans, really gets me. But I'm something of a sucker for displays of defiance and resistance against a threat, and especially depictions of humanity working together against a common problem. So yeah, AoT is probably the opening of a show that I actually like simply for itself, and not the show it is opening for. Though I do like the show as well.

 

[Seraj33]

Game of Thrones get a +1 from me for the combination of a great musical score and using it to present vital information about the world, but for the sake of something different im going with the opening for Otorimonogatari;

Spoiler

Well honestly, any opening animated by Shaft would qualify, but im most partial to that one. For the moment.

That is definintely my second favourite. Though my number one is Orange Mint. Maybe just because I adore Yotsugi.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2cz1o1_tsukimonogatari-op_news

There isn't any unaltered version on youtube sadly.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Probably the Black Sails intro for both having an incredibly badass song and awesome visuals:


Yarharhar mateys, we be on an adventure alright. The show could use some more sea battles but overall it's rad.

And because anime is a popular thing in this thread I'll give a shout-out to this classic:


Still the best intro out there in terms of sheer coolness. Because goddamn that shit is cool.

Something current

Spoiler: One Punch Man

Oh my god they made that into an anime?! Good lord.

Edit: I just watched the first 2 episodes of it, actually the first anime I've properly watched in a long time, and...

Well this is one of the greatest things I've ever seen. Like, ever. Oh my God this totally is what I needed today, thank you.

Gotta go with Star Trek.

Spoiler

That slow build-up with Picard's glorious narration, eventually exploding into the awesomeness of the main theme and ending with the Enterprise warping off into the distance to explore the galaxy.

If you're going for Star Trek you just gotta name the original show's intro. Why? It has bongos!


Can't beat the bongos man, you just can't.

 

[47_Ronin]

Childhood pick:

Spoiler

Obligatory Anime pick:

Spoiler

Because I find EVERY Anime opener terrible.

 

[The Wykydtron]

Maybe it's just because i'm on a huge Yugioh binge right now and i'm even getting a physical copy of the Prediction Princess deck I use online for Christmas this year but the cheese in the song is so bad it's good. It also has good advice for any aspiring Yugioh player.

 

[Kingjackl]

The Get Smart intro is a classic.

 

[PsychicTaco115]

Too damn good

Who DOESN'T dig giant robots?

 

[Something Amyss]

Pretty much any variation of the Highlander intro:


Part of it comes right down to the use of Queen.

 

[Hawk of Battle]

I'm just here to post the obligatory mention of Gargoyles, X-Men the Animated series/Evolution, Buffy and Angel.

Aaaand I'm gone again!

EDIT' Whoops, almost forgot Farscape and Firefly. And that would have been terrible.

 

[Barbas]

Still number one, since I first located a VHS tape of it in the Nineties.

 

[Lieju]

Gotta go with Star Trek.

Spoiler

That slow build-up with Picard's glorious narration, eventually exploding into the awesomeness of the main theme and ending with the Enterprise warping off into the distance to explore the galaxy.

Yeah, I'm a fan.

Also this is so tacky but damn do I love this:

Spoiler

Also I've been getting back into Gintama and have this playing in my head now:

Spoiler

I really should just lock this thread now, cause you know. Nothing beats Hard Knock Days and nothing ever shall. Gets the tone of the show perfect. And even better, the band that sings the song is like a boy band from the nineties.

I dunno, it's good but no OP opening has beated this one for me personally: It's the 6th one I think.

Spoiler