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.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3z5655
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.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3z5651
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.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3z5654
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.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3z564z
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.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3z564w
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.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3z5650
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.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3z5652
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.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3z564y
Anime: Bubuki Buranki
Song: “ANGER/ANGER”
Artist: MYTH & ROID
Why I Love It: Good use of female vocals, a hard guitar, and autotune.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3z564v
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.
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