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An opening to a show should be just as beautiful and expressive as the anime itself.  Being able to introduce the characters, elude to the story and express the artistic route in which the series will go is a feat which should be praised for its success.  We’ve all come across some terrible openings, some to really good shows, others that are just as bad as the anime itself and then there times we are graced with the talent of some such as listed below.

Hellsing
The opening to this fantastic show is very laidback with its choice of music, while very dark in its imagery.  It has a well balanced use of character introduction, especially with Alucard, Sir Integra and Seras and shows off each of their personalities.  Alucard is cool and calm, much like the tone of the music, while Integra is beautiful and domineering, Alucard’s opposite, creating tension for the show, and Seras completes the opening with the constant struggle she has with the gore of the vampire world.  I could watch this opening over and over.

Samurai Champloo
Woodblock inspired art mixed with hip hop music has never felt so right.  This show, already on a genius level, has such a fun and exciting opening.  The artwork is absolutely beautiful and simplistic, the counter to the quick beat of the freestyle music.  The opening uses no stock footage and creates an introduction to the three characters, Mugen, Jin and Fuu, each that represents who these people are.  The no-rules lifestyle of Mugen is portrayed through his fighting style, while the strict code of the warrior is implemented in Jin’s, and Fuu’s introduction is sweet and innocent, much like who she is.  The opening also implies a journey with hard times ahead, giving interest to the viewer before the show has even begun.

Bleach
The first opening to this show I enjoy very much.  It follows the same artistic approach of Samurai Champloo, combining something beautiful and its extreme opposite.  Bleach uses a trip-y rap song and imagery of underground street art, while it is shown in relation to the character introductions, which are very quick and hint almost nothing as to who these people are, leaving the mystery of their personalities to the show.  The music and style does balance nicely with Ichigo and Rukia wielding swords and wearing kimonos and fighting, hinting at the conflict in this anime.

Paprika
While this is a movie, the opening is still beautiful.  The music, to describe it, makes one feel free, which fits perfectly with the film’s use of dreams.  Anything is possible in a dream and Paprika shows this through her adventure on rockets, moving in and out of televisions and computers, all while the music seems to unconsciously open us, the viewer, up to the possibility of anything, which when handling such subject matter that Satoshi Kon does, is quite imperative to enjoying the movie.

Paranoia Agent
Without a doubt, the most haunting anime opening I’ve ever seen.  Another of Satoshi Kon’s work and I didn’t really intend to have his anime on the list twice, but there was no way I could avoid Paranoia Agent.  Every character in this show is a main character in their own sense, but none of them are introduced in the opening, they are all simply seen laughing in various locations, many of which actually pertain to the drastic problem in their life.  The laughing gives off the impression that they have been hiding what has been torturing them, faking a laugh is easier than confronting what pains you.  In a sense, that is what each of these people do until they face off with Lil Slugger, who is seen at the end of the opening.  A brilliant anime opening, probably my number one favorite.

There are obviously many more openings which deserve praise but due to space, could not be written about.  Feel free to share your favorite anime opening and why you think it is a great accomplishment.