This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something we may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. (Learn more).
From 4Kids to Funimation, there’s been a good number of openings that have either been translated to English, or made specifically for an English audience (usually for kids).
Though the number isn’t terribly high, a lot of the time the translations are usually pretty good adaptations in my opinion. And the kids versions are, if not good, still very memorable.
English openings have a bit of a special place in my heart. It took me a long time to really get into watching anime subs, so I’ve seen a good amount of openings translated.
For this list we’re specifically looking at official English openings to rank the best-of-the-best. And without further ado, it’s time to catch ‘em all. Or at least find the very best like no other OPs ever were.
I only started watching Yo-Kai Watch a few months ago, and I’m admittedly not too far into it.
But I really think the theme song, while cheesy, is very fun.
That sentiment describes a lot of the songs on this list. But the fact that there’s not much nostalgia in this one means it actually earned its spot here!
And listening to the Japanese version as well, they did a good job adapting a theme song very fitting for kids, without making it feel like it lost the energy of the original.
So when I really started getting into anime, past the old stuff that they used to show on Toonami, I started my journey on Netflix.
And this is one of the first shows that I ever got into.
It set a bit of a precedent for me, as I actually expected that any show translated into English would also have an English opening… but I soon found out that wasn’t the case.
This theme is another one that’s very faithful to the original. And honestly, it’s just a very sweet song to get you excited about the romcom-type shenanigans that happen in Ouran High.
I promise that this will be the only time I cheat like this on this list…
But Let Me Hear is such a good song, and the vocals were done incredibly well by a Japanese vocalist singing English.
The synthesizing of the voice gives it an alien-like feeling and really sets the tone about this otherworldly horror that has set its sights on humanity.
The energetic instrumentals also set such a tone that gets you ready for both the horror and action aspects of the show, that if I didn’t put this on the list, I’d feel like I cheated myself.
It was a lose/lose situation, so I decided to lose in my favor instead!
Joining Sailor Moon on the list of iconic theme songs, “Free Your Soul” is an absolute banger that gets me excited for a show that I have extremely mixed feelings on.
The fact that I love this theme song is a testament to how infectious the positive energy is that the Dragon Ball franchise gives off.
And even though I’m not the hugest fan of the series myself, it lives rent free in my head, and brings a smile to my face whenever I hear “Don’t stop, don’t stop, we’re in luck now!”
Nowhere is safe from the all-encompassing being that is Sonic the Hedgehog.
Anime is no exception.
“Gotta Go Fast” is probably where the blue hedgehog’s phrase was most popularized to a lot of kids.
The theme song was addictively catchy, and I hear my friends humming it constantly.
Now if only I could get my friends to remember more lyrics than JUST gotta go fast, I’d probably like it even more…
But friends singing the same lyrics over and over again aside, I really do love this song, and I like just how perfect a fit it is for one of my favorite gaming icons.
Yes I’m a Sonic fan, please don’t make fun of me, I already suffer enough.
Here’s a very inspirational theme for a show that was translated to a kids audience – and Shaman King’s theme song asks you to look beyond the surface of the world.
But it also talks about the burden of destiny of the main character himself.
It just always fills me with a giddy feeling inside, and was actually the reason I started to watch Shaman King recently.
Surprisingly, a kid’s opening was good enough that it actually got me to watch the original anime.
That’s not something that has ever happened to me before, so I thought it worth mentioning.
When most people think of Yu-Gi-Oh’s English opening, they usually think of the iconic “It’s time to d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-duel!” mantra.
But honestly, that theme doesn’t have much going for it.
Those are really its only lyrics. And otherwise it’s just a set of intense instrumentals that certainly don’t fail at making the show exciting, but also don’t bring anything really interesting to the table.
Now Hyperdrive is actually a very beautiful song.
It encapsulates the themes of the whole show: rebellion, freedom, and card games on goddamn motorcycles!
All jokes aside, I actually really like this song, and implore you to take a listen if you’ve never watched past the original Yu-Gi-Oh series – which you also should do if you can.
This is one that some people who are sub purists will even listen to over the original.
The singing of this theme is absolutely divine.
And I just absolutely adore the soft vocals overlaying an intense action scene, plus there’s something about the contrast that just gets me excited to see some serious fights.
Beyond the vocals though, the instrumentals make such a good use of guitar and bass to give it a perfect 90s feel.
It’s no secret to anyone who knows me, but I absolutely adore One Piece the world over again.
I started watching One Piece in English, and my ears were treated with the absolute delight that is the Funimation openings.
And “We Are!” is easily my favorite of them.
Some of you may have expected to see the Pirate Rap on here.
But while I do love that cheesy and goofy mess, this song is actually a very heartfelt rendition of the original Japanese theme.
It really feels like the crew is asking you to come with them so you can sail off onto a grand adventure with a bunch of lovable idiots – and I’m always here for that.
