The Summer 2024 season is coming to a close so it’s time to reflect on what I think were the best anime openings. This is the first time where I can confidently say that every opening in the top five deserves to place first in their own right. As stated previously for other seasons, this list will focus on the entire opening, which includes animation, music, composition, color design, replay value, transitions, etc.—not just one thing or the other. So without further ado, here are the best anime openings from the Summer 2024 anime season. (*Note: Creators’ names with hyperlinks are connected to their personal X (formerly Twitter) accounts.)
10. Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture
OP Director: ?
OP Storyboard: ?
OP Animation Director: ?
Could the opening for Code Geass: Roze of the Recapture placing on this list be a hot take? Absolutely. But I couldn’t help but hear Linkin Park during the chorus. And with impressive color transitions and framing, this opening feels like its own thing and it drastically stands out among the 100+ openings from this season. It’s nothing spectacular but it has just its own level of uniqueness for it to deserve a spot in this top 10 for me.
9. Wistoria: Wand and Sword
OP Director: Mitsutoshi Satou (サトウ光敏)
OP Storyboard: Masashi Ikeda
OP Chief Animation Director: Sayaka Ono
OP Animation Directors: Eri Kojima, Katsunori Tanaka, Kousuke Kawamura, Masumi Houjou, Noboru Jitsuhara, Takeshi Itou
The opening for Wistoria: Wand and Sword doesn’t necessarily do anything out of the box tet it also doesn’t do anything wrong either. It has some hints of standard fantasy, and there are definitely dungeon-raiding cliches in it. But it has its little tidbits from the storyline (0:05-0:07 and 0:56-0:59) that I love and the chorus is one of the most hype of the entire season, especially when the backup vocals come in at the end. It showcases all of the main characters respectively and, most importantly, it really shows you that this series is first and foremost about its action alongside Will’s and Elfaria’s story.
8. Days With My Stepsister
OP Director: Souta Ueno
OP Storyboard: Souta Ueno
OP Animation Director: Manabu Nii
I always love an opening that tells a story within itself and that’s exactly what this one for Days With My Stepsister delivers. There’s a certain amount of care and love poured into it that can’t go without notice. While a lot of openings within the same genre are most often all fluff and big smiles, this one for Days With My Stepsister delivers not only a great theme song but some wonderfully creative storyboarding and direction that make me intrigued to watch the series.
7. Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master
OP Director: ?
OP Storyboard: ?
OP Animation Director: ?
One of the best openings from the Spring 2024 season surprisingly carried into the Summer 2024 one. Despite being a two-cour season, Yatagarasu production made the surprising decision to keep the same opening and I couldn’t be happier. The use of 3D camera work, heavy symbolism, and downright gorgeous artwork and lighting throughout make it one of the best openings of the season. It’s a beautifully executed opening that really portrays the mystery side of the series, leaving me with goosebumps every single time, especially towards the end of the chorus much like Wistoria‘s.
6. The Elusive Samurai
OP Director: Miyuki Kuroki
OP Storyboard: Miyuki Kuroki
OP Animation Director: Yasushi Nishiya
The Elusive Samurai opening doesn’t necessarily do anything spectacular but it also doesn’t do anything one could place below “very good”. DISH// delivered yet another catchy opening theme song as they always do which also does a fantastic job by matching the tone of the series in its comedic regards, not the head-slicing ones. It almost feels like it was tailored specifically around Tokiyuki’s personality. The visuals during the verse don’t do much for me and are carried by the song at that point, but from the bridge to the end of the chorus, everything explodes in an array of stunning artwork, transitions, and animations.
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