As the winter 2016 season comes to a close, let’s look at some of the best anime theme songs it had to offer.
Anime: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu
Song: “Usurashi Shinjuu”
Artist: Megumi Hayashibara
Why I Love It: This lounge singer-style Jazz song is so unlike the vast majority of anime themes out there, I can’t help but love it.
Anime: Haruchika – Haruta & Chika
Song: “Niji wo Ametara”
Artist: fhána
Why I Love It: Upbeat songs with a mixture of male and female vocals are the best.
Anime: Dimension W
Song: “Genesis”
Artist: STEREO DRIVE FOUNDATION
Why I Love It: When even the main character of the anime can’t help but dance to this song, what chance do I have.
Anime: Fairy Tail (2014)
Song: “Ashita wo Narase”
Artist: Shishido Kavka
Why I Love It: Hard rock guitars and women singing in perfect harmony. Nuff said.
Anime: Detective Conan
Song: “Hane”
Artist: Inaba Koshi
Why I Love It: This song makes Detective Conan seem way more epic than the formulaic mystery it actually is.
Anime: Active Raid
Song: “Golden Life”
Artist: AKINO with bless4
Why I Love It: I’ve come to the realization that I’m going to like every AKINO song I come across. Her belting soprano voice gets me every time.
Anime: Durarara!!x2 Ketsu
Song: “Steppin’ out”
Artist: FLOW
Why I Love It: Not only is the song great, but the opening introduces all the important characters by name as well. Then it gives you a brief recap mid-song that reminds you of important moments from previous episodes that are vital to what you’re about to watch.
Anime: Erased
Song: “Re:Re”
Artist: ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Why I Love It: The tone of the song manages to capture both the everyday life nature of the show as well as the looming threat lying just beneath the surface.
Anime: Bubuki Buranki
Song: “ANGER/ANGER”
Artist: MYTH & ROID
Why I Love It: Good use of female vocals, a hard guitar, and autotune.
Anime: Ajin
Song: “HOW CLOSE YOU ARE”
Artist: Miyano Mamoru
Why I Love It: This is a rather laid-back ballad offset with images of Ajin dying hauntingly in a beautiful art style.
Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.