5. The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3
OP Director: Shingo Yamashita
OP Storyboard: Shingo Yamashita
OP Animation Director: N/A
“Shingo Yamashita can do no wrong” might be a statement that holds nothing but truth nowadays given his recent work on the openings Ranking of Kings, Chainsaw Man, Urusei Yatsura (2022), and Jujutsu Kaisen. Now bringing his talents to The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3, Yamashita gave us one of the best openings of not just the season but the entire year. Shelving opinions on the series itself, there’s no denying the incredible work he’s able to produce backed by one of the best theme songs of the season.
The composition in any of Yamashita’s work is downright beautiful. The beginning visuals match the tone of the music to a T and get you excited for the episode that follows possibly better than any other opening here. I also love how Yamashita doesn’t go down a simple route of showing characters completely still. He always makes sure to give them some sort of shot or movement that showcases their own personalities in real-time, even if it’s just slight like we got here with this opening. It’s a lot better than just having still, group shots of characters smiling like they’re posing for a picture.
Anyone who’s a fan of Yamashita’s opening work knows when that chorus hits, we’re going to see a storm of captivating storyboard work, composition, and animation and we, of course, got that same feeling with this opening. There isn’t much in terms of creative transitions like many other openings on this list, but Yamashita loves his soft fades and even quick cuts (see above). The key animations, minus corrections, weren’t done by Yamashita but his wonderful storyboard work and direction are apparent.
Bringing back MADKID to do the opening was the right choice. I wouldn’t put “SIN” on the level of “RISE” (Season 1 theme), but it’s great in its own right. I always love it when a series can stay consistent with its artists like Haikyuu with Burnout Syndromes or Tokyo Revengers with Official HIGE DANdism. MADKID continues to produce hit songs for Shield Hero and I’d be shocked if they don’t do the next opening whenever a new season is announced.
4. Undead Unluck
OP Director: Riki Matsuura
OP Storyboard: Riki Matsuura
OP Animation Director: Hideyuki Morioka
What do you get when the Chainsaw Man opening animation director teams up with another veteran animation director such as Morioka? You get one of the best openings of the year. Opening Director Matsuura also worked as a key animator under Morioka on the first Fire Force opening. This time around, they team up to give us one of the best openings of 2023.
I’m not saying the theme song by QUEEN BEE is what carried this opening, but I won’t deny that argument either. I personally think it’s one of the top five tracks of the entire year and the replayability is an easy 10/10. The art and color script for the opening is what intrigues me. It borders monochrome in a lot of shots and I’m here to say that’s not a bad thing. It plays well in part to the artistic nature of the opening with the kaleidoscope effects and it helps focus on what’s center framed. I love this technique. We saw it earlier The Quintessential Quintuplets Special opening and also in the Mushoku Tensei Season 2 opening. It helps to focus on the animation and the characters themselves without drawing much attention to anything else.
I was definitely expecting there to be an array of colors when Fuuko steps on the ground right before the chorus hits when we see the purple and pink splatter everywhere, but damn it’s so well done. The way all the characters join in different action sequences reminds me of what Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari Season 2 did with their opening this year. Everything after 0:23 drags your eye to the center of the frame right up to the very end. Seriously, go back and watch. Your focus will more than likely be at the center at all times and part of that comes from the animated shapes in the background. I’m a sucker for this kind of storyboard work.
The opening gives little breadcrumbs into Fuuko’s mindset and ability while traces of Andy’s past creep to the surface, showcasing the side characters in perfect fashion is just the cherry on top. Everything about this opening is great. The insane amount of cells that Chief Animation Director Shunichi Ishimoto had to draw for the shot of Andy walking between the bones @0:58. The outstanding key animation work from Touya Ooshima @1:09 – 1:11. And what is probably my favorite sequence of all by Konno Miaha (below), whose work Director Matsuura even praised.
3. Ragna Crimson
OP Director: Shin Oonuma
OP Storyboard: Shin Oonuma
OP Animation Directors: Shinpei Aoki (Series CAD), Kazuya Hirata
If there’s anyone on this list who can compete with Yuasa in terms of a decorated career, it’s Oonuma. His record of work on just openings alone is so extensive you can’t even count the amount on your hands…twice over. So while I could sit here and dive deep into all of Oonuma’s previous works and how they transition into his work for Ragna Crimson, it’s probably best to spare you a week’s worth of rabble.
However, I’m surprised by this opening. For a series that’s hell-bent on its action, this opening doesn’t have a single fighting sequence at all. It’s shocking when we consider that a lot of Ounuma’s recent openings work, including The Misfit of Demon King Academy Season 2, has a ton of action. He took a lot more elements from his work on Misfit and Strike The Blood III instead of, let’s say, the opening for Deep Insanity: The Lost Child and the second opening of Bofuri Season 2, which Animation Director Hirata also worked on with him. But it still felt unique in its own way. There were some similarities but this opening for Ragna Crimson didn’t seem to completely copy any of his previous works (see below).
It has a distinct style and direction. The constant rippling lines within Ragna’s character design throughout really paint that picture of pure rage that his character is warped around. The bridge has the best build-up to its chorus on this list next to Undead Unluck and the chorus itself proves, yet again, that English theme songs in anime are some of the best. That beat drop on the chorus hits with emphasis and it really exemplifies the overall theme and mood of the series itself.
But what I think I love a lot about this opening besides the head-banging theme song by Ulma Sound Junction is that it feels like it is its own opening. It’s not necessarily copying anyone else’s and it stands out from the others in its own way. The staircase in black and white at the beginning to being full of color with different characters (no spoilers) tells a story in itself and is one of many reasons why Ragna Crimson is a top 3 anime opening for the Fall 2023 season.
2. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 (OP2)
OP Director: Yuki Kamiya
OP Storyboard: Yuki Kamiya
OP Animation Directors: Sayaka Koiso (Series CAD), Yuuta Iino
Yes, it’s another opening that had to grow on me this season. I’m still not very fond of the theme like millions of others are so what landed this opening at number two was heavily carried by Kamiya’s innate ability to craft a fantastic opening on a visual level. And, at this point, I’m going to run out of things to say about Kamiya’s work unless I want to repeat myself.
Simply put, Kamiya has shown there’s no certain distinct style to her openings other than making them extraordinary. Now, of course, she doesn’t do it all by herself. The opening has many talented people like animators such as 10+10, Kaito Tomioka, Tai Wei Lu, and Keiichirou Watanabe along with talented color designer Naomi Nakano, who also handled the color setting with Chie Oku. But when Kamiya is credited for the following roles, it’s safe to say she has a big handle on the opening herself: director, storyboard, animation direction, photography direction, 3DCG, key animation, editing, and motion graphics,
My preference heavily leans toward the opening theme of the first opening for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, which ended up taking the number one spot on my Summer 2023 anime openings list. That being said, there’s no denying the simply remarkable work here and it’s more than deserving of being second on this list.
1. The Apothecary Diaries
OP Director: Norihiro Naganuma (Series Director)
OP Storyboard: Norihiro Naganuma
OP Animation Director: Yukiko Nakatani (Series Animation Director + Character Designer)
The Apothecary Diaries is the alpha and omega this season when it comes to creating a beautiful masterpiece of an opening without the insatiable urge to go over the top. There’s an entire story to be told here and Director Naganuma knew exactly what he was doing with this opening too. And who better to team up with than the actual series’ chief animation director and character designer, Yukiko Nakatani?
This is one of those openings you yell at your friends or family for wanting to skip to watch the episode, This easily could’ve been some sort of slow or cute opening for a series that doesn’t have any action or flashy elements other than the setting and character designs themselves. There’s no monstrous, intimidating demon lord or an all-out brawl with villains and heroes clashing. There’s no array of forgettable characters whose names we can’t remember all standing around. It’s just Maomao dancing, a lot of symbolism, and possibly some foreshadowing. This is one of those openings where it either succeeds from creativity or falls flat from the lack thereof.
The entire choreography with Maomao from the bridge to the end of the chorus is captivating in every sense of the word that showcases Director Naganuma’s work from the first opening for The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 1. It brings out a beauty that Maomao herself and the series define. That certain beauty with a hint of danger behind it. Her hands forming the shape of a blooming flower before she’s falling might’ve been my favorite sequence (see below). Going from her dancing in a dress and makeup back to her original, rear-castle outfit at the very end. The camera work as she’s dancing and the transitions on her dress are absolutely stunning.
This opening doesn’t overload on transitions and tells its own little story about Maomao’s duality from beginning to end just adding to the mystery that the series itself brings forth. It’s not spoiler-heavy like so many openings are nowadays and Ryoku Oushoku Shakai gave us a banger for an opening theme and one of the best from this year. There’s just simply nothing wrong or bad about this opening in any sense. The Apothecary Diaries undoubtedly has the best anime opening of the Fall 2023 season.
Your Thoughts on the Top 10 Anime Openings of the Fall 2023 Season?
Did you have a favorite from this top 10 anime opening list? Did I leave out one that you loved? Let us know in the comments! Dr. Stone: New World, Goblin Slayer Season 2, Dark Gathering, Tokyo Revengers Season 3, Kingdoms of Ruin, and SHY were some that barely missed out on this top 10 anime opening list.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End © Yamada Kanehito, Abe Tsukasa /Shogakukan / “Sousou no Frieren” Production Committee
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 ©Gege Akutami/Shueisha/JUJUTSU KAISEN Project
Spy x Family Season 2 © Tatsuya Endo, Shueisha / Spy x Family Project
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