10 Worst Opening Themes in Anime, Ranked

For many who grew up in the ’90s, the classic “Gotta Catch ’em All” intro from Pokémon is a beloved memory. From die-hard anime fans to casual viewers, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” from Neon Genesis Evangelion is a well-known tune in Japan, often sung during karaoke. More recently, the opening theme for Dandadan titled “Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts has quickly risen to popularity as one of the best openings in recent years. While there are numerous anime openings that spark nostalgia and gain widespread acclaim, there are also many that fall short of expectations.

As an observer, I must admit that some of these series openings fall short of expectations. While certain series themselves are quite engaging and worthy of watching, their openings often disappoint with subpar animation, visually dissonant or misrepresentative visuals compared to the actual anime, or simply atrocious music. The music, which is typically the highlight of an opening theme, seems to be the most problematic aspect here as it often fails to live up to its potential as the main appeal. And in some cases, the overall quality dips so low that the openings are downright dreadful. In the realm of terrible anime opening themes, these certainly rank among the worst offenders.

10) Berserk 1997 OP

In simpler terms, although many people adore the anime “Berserk” (especially the 1997 series), its initial theme song, “Tell Me Why” by Penpals, is both well-known and quite disappointing. The song seems out of place, leading viewers to believe that this dark series might eventually have a happy ending despite its gloomy nature, due to its cheerful melody and light lyrics.

In a playful twist among fans, the heavily accented English lyrics of the song have taken on a life of their own, often comically repeated as “put your grasses on.” However, despite the song’s reassuring chorus that “nothing will be wrong,” the reality is quite the opposite. In truth, everything could potentially go awry.

9) Psychic Princess OP

In a more casual and engaging style: “The Princess of the Spirit” by Lei Minmin Ci, serving as the opening theme for ‘Psychic Princess,’ delivers an intentionally humorous singing style that might seem overly exaggerated. The odd, nasal tone could initially give the impression of a racially insensitive parody, but rest assured, the series itself is a genuine and highly-regarded Chinese production, far from being a mockery. Despite the peculiar singing, dance club rhythm, and vibrant colors, the animation quality is decent, albeit with a touch of silliness.

8) Kill Me Baby OP

Is it possible that the chaotic and seemingly disjointed opening theme for “Kill me Baby,” titled “Kill Me no Baby!” by Mutsumi Tamura and Chinatsu Akasaki, was intentionally made to be bad since the series is a comedy? Could the English lyrics have been written to feel jarring or confusing? The lyric “Homie’s nothin’ to me” might seem out of place, but perhaps it fits within the context of the show. One thing that’s certain is that the anime opening stands out as iconic due to its frantic nature, with unexpected moments like the sudden exclamation “Holy sh-t!” adding to the chaos and making it a masterfully crafted mess or kludge.

7) Gakuen Handsome OP

In a straightforward manner, “Gakuen Handsome” intentionally sets out to be laughably bad, and it certainly delivers on that promise. However, its poor quality isn’t just for jokes – it’s genuinely terrible in an earnest way. It’s spectacularly and memorably terrible. The characters strike typical yet eerie poses, the backdrops are full of overused tropes, and the scenes are grandiose. The music is a conventional, upbeat tune. The characters, particularly the ridiculously good-looking ones with their oversized chins, are laughable. To put it bluntly, “Get!! Yume & Dream” by Kagami Shou is dumb. Yet, it’s also addictively entertaining. In essence, it’s an amusingly terrible opening theme for an amusingly terrible anime.

6) Spiral: Bond of Reasoning OP

The opening theme for the mystery drama Spiral: Bond of Reasoning, “Kibouhou” (“Cape of Hope”) by Strawberry Jam, could more appropriately be called “Cape of Headaches”. Despite the series being generally well-regarded as a compelling investigation into a detective’s disappearance and his brother’s subsequent framing for murder, the jarring opening theme is a loud and discordant mismatch that might cause actual headaches if not skipped.

5) NieA Under 7 OP

Some singers possess a soothing, gruff, or raw tone that can add depth to songs, but this singer doesn’t seem to fit that description. One might expect an anime produced by the team behind Serial Experiments Lain to be more discerning when selecting an opening theme, especially for a show within the healing genre like iyashikei.

The opening sequence of this anime, surprisingly, is quite harsh and doesn’t seem to fit the usual style of surreal, avant-garde, or intellectually stimulating themes. The opening theme song “Koko Made Oide” by SION clearly features a vocalist who sounds like they’ve been smoking heavily for years and have a persistent lung infection.

4) Musashi Gundoh OP

The song “Ghost Busterz” by ULTRA BRAiN is not related to the popular film featuring Bill Murray. Instead, it’s actually the opening theme for the lesser-known anime series titled “Musashi Gundoh,” which revolves around a samurai who uses a gun.

The anime’s introductory song starts off with quite an abrupt and harsh audio experience, reminiscent of chiptune malfunctioning. Furthermore, the lyrics are somewhat difficult to understand and seem more fitting for a Tony Hawk Pro Skater game soundtrack. In summary, the opening theme is disappointing and lacks any lasting impression.

3) Honey and Clover OP 1

Although “Dramatic” by Yuki is not the most ideal opening song, be aware that the visuals might deceive you. Contrary to appearances, Honey and Clover isn’t a high-end anime, as it only showcases plated meals on screen without any animated sequences from the series itself. Instead, it uses stop-motion animation, which adds a touch of appeal to it. In essence, it is quite endearing.

Some of the dishes show creativity, such as the adorable floral foods and the pasta shaped like a mummy. However, there are questionable items, like the plate that appears soiled with underwear or the hand spelling out “help”, which I hope is ketchup and not something more disturbing. Also, the shrimp-like hand at the end is startling for a josei audience, though it does evoke strong Beetlejuice vibes.

2) Baki the Grappler OP 2

The second intro of “Baki the Grappler” using “All Alone” by Techno Sheep showcases a poor quality animation and a tune that doesn’t seem to align with the show’s theme, either musically or conceptually. Instead of generating excitement for an action-packed martial arts spectacle, it offers a more sensual vibe that can feel discordant.

Furthermore, although many anime openings effectively incorporate English lyrics that enhance the song’s atmosphere, this particular one falls short. The lyrics, entirely in English, are rather awkward, disconnected, and, to be honest, don’t seem to convey a clear meaning. However, it does feature some memorable, albeit somewhat humorous, lines such as “She makes me feel a little special, yeah!

1) Naruto German OP

The song “Believe It” by Giovanni Rubbiani, performed by Jungle Crew and Silvia Orlandi, is poorly suited as an opening theme for Germany. One could argue that they should have chosen another existing theme or opted for silence instead. Interestingly, the poor quality of this opening isn’t just a reflection of Germany’s questionable choice to import the show, but it seems that the series was notoriously mishandled due to heavy censorship, leading to one of the worst adaptations of the entire series.

The heavily censored version of Naruto has undergone such extensive alterations – removing entire sequences, inappropriately omitting blood, and completely avoiding death scenes – that it’s hard to believe they didn’t just ban the series entirely. One might even argue that the opening itself deserves a ban due to these changes.

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2025-08-12 20:55