5. My Hero Academia Season 7 (OP2)
OP Director: Haruka Iida
OP Storyboard: Haruka Iida
OP Animation Director: Yoshihiko Umakoshi
Dammit did My Hero Academia Season 7 absolutely deliver one hell of an opening with this one and it’s all thanks to Haruka Iida’s debut as an OP director and storyboard artist. The verse of the opening theme doesn’t have many moving parts like others on this list, but the detail is all in the symbolism and the character placements. Having Dabi cover his face, Shoto opens his hands. Toga hides her face, Ochako shows to hers, etc. The best way to define this is that it just screams “My Hero Academia” and I’d say it also has the best theme song of this entire list. Once the chorus hits and the action starts, it’s extremely difficult not to get goosebumps. It’s one hell of an opening with great animation that perfectly showcases the state of the story and its characters, making it more than deserving to be on any Best Anime Openings of Summer 2024 list.
4. Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
OP Director: Ciao Nekotomi
OP Storyboard: Ciao Nekotomi
OP Animation Directors: Kazuma Nakao, Masaaki Yamano, Takeshi Osame, Tomoya Atsumi, Yurika Sako
Even as someone who doesn’t watch the series, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feeling in Russian (Roshidere) gave us one hell of an opening. The transitions are undoubtedly the best of any opening on this list and the animation, along with stunning composition and even choreography, just makes everything in this opening shine bright. The storyboarding, especially at the beginning, does an incredible job of changing the focal point of each shot by carrying your eye to certain points on the screen. The opening theme, while solid, isn’t the best here and that’s what placed it at #4 for me. But one could certainly make the case for the visual aspect of the opening being the reason it should place first on this list.
3. SHOSHIMIN: How to become Ordinary
OP Director: Keisuke Hiroe
OP Storyboard: Keisuke Hiroe
OP Animation Director: ?
If I could describe the opening for Shoshimin in just one word it’d be cinematic. Ever come across an opening that looks fantastic but the series doesn’t? Well, luckily Shoshimin doesn’t have that problem because the series looks as stunning as this opening. Having the famous Eve performing a melodic theme song that really makes you feel as light as the clouds in the opening hooks you in from the very beginning. This opening deserves way more than its current 595,000+ views with its beautiful artwork, animation, and hints of symbolism. It’s just one of those openings where you can tell a lot of blood, sweat, and tears were put into it. The opening for Shoshimin could very well be the best of the season.
2. Oshi no Ko Season 2
OP Director: Ryohei Takeshita
OP Storyboard: Ryohei Takeshita
OP Animation Director: Kanna Hirayama
I have my criticisms for the series as a whole, but there’s no denying Oshi no Ko delivered once more with its opening for Season 2, even more so with another catchy theme song. Stellar artwork and animation are definitely the strong suits here as are its transitions. The storyboarding work, albeit not as intricate as Roshidere, is also pretty damn good. More importantly, there’s a narrative to it. If you showed this opening to someone who hasn’t watched the series then they’d probably be a lot more intrigued to watch it rather than if you showed them the first opening. I wouldn’t argue if someone told me the opening should #1 on this list.
1. Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!
OP Director: Takayuki Kikuchi
OP Storyboard: Takayuki Kikuchi
OP Animation Director: Kawakami Tetsuya
Makeine‘s opening is a breath of fresh air and more than deserving to be hailed as the best of the Summer 2024 anime season. Characters interacting with the credits, possibly the best use of vibrant colors of any openings here, and a catchy opening theme that you can’t help but (try to) sing along with all collectively bring together something fun leaving the viewers ready for the episode. Makeine‘s opening just shatters the normal ones we’re all so used to. It’s one of those you can say, “Now this is something different and it’s damn good too. I want to watch this series now.”
Your Thoughts on the 10 Best Anime Openings of the Summer 2024 Season?
A couple of honorable mentions for this list include the openings for the following: Shy Season 2, Sengoku Youko Season 2, and Why Does Nobody Remember Me in This World? Did an opening from this season that you loved not make the list? Let me know in the comments!
Featured image:
©K. Horikoshi / Shueisha, My Hero Academia Project
©Aka Akasaka x Mengo Yokoyari/Shueisha, “OSHI NO KO” Partners
© SUNRISE/ PROJECT Z-GEASS
The comments are temporarily unavailable for maintenance.