Summary
Openingsare a huge deciding factor in determining whether a new season of animeis going to explode in popularity not. Anime studios are perfectly aware of this, and that’s why they put so much effort and resources into crafting incredible openings for their shows.Ufotableis definitely one of the best users of this practice.
The talented animation studio behindDemon Slayerhas managed to create amazing OPs that are filled to the brim with beautiful animation, cinematography, and music. All of these elements have cementedDemon Slayeras a shōnen anime with some of the best openings in the entire industry. The only question remaining is: How do they all stack up against each other?
5Akeboshi
Mugen Train Arc
As solid as this opening is, it’s most likely that a lot of people missed it, since it was made exclusively for the TV adaptation of theMugen Train Arc, whereas most fans have experienced this story by watchingDemon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Trainin cinemas. The good news is, they haven’t missed much.
Since the Mugen Train Arc takes place entirely within its titular vehicle, there’s not much variety in the locations and imagery of this opening. There are still a lot of really good-looking scenes, especially those that are centered on theFire Hashira,Kyojuro Rengoku.The final shot ofTanjirotrying to reach him hits especially hard after watching the arc in its entirety.
LiSAcame back from Season 1 to deliver yet another great song for aDemon Slayeropening. WhileAkeboshiis quite solid, it’s sadly nowhere near as good as some of the upcoming openings. This song feels slow and, at times, has a weird tone that doesn’t really fit this tragic arc.
4Mugen
Hashira Training Arc
TheHashira Training Arcis relatively short, and focuses mainly on building up hype before the climax of the entire series, andMugendoes exactly that. It’s a lighthearted opening that shows all the characters training and preparing themselves for the inevitable final encounter againstMuzan Kibutsuji.This is the calm before the storm.
Animation-wise, it looks wonderful, but it has something that no otherDemon SlayerOP has ever featured:shots of every single Hashira in action, which is a great inclusion and a huge treat for the fans. The song, by the bandMy FIRST STORYand the musicianHYDEfeels very different from what viewers usually expect from the opening themes of this anime. While some parts can feel generic and bland, it has such a cheerful atmosphere that it’s impossible to dislike it.
3Kizuna no Kiseki
Swordsmith Village Arc
At first, a loud & heavy rock song may seem uncharacteristic forDemon Slayer,but the further this excellent opening goes, it becomes the more obvious that it’s extremely fitting for this arc. After all, theSwordsmith Village Arcisone of the most intense and action-packed parts of this story, so it definitely needed a song as exciting asKizuna no Kiseki.
The bandMAN WITH A MISSIONcollaborated with the singerMiletin order to craft this catchy tune, and it works surprisingly well. The voices of the two vocalists are completely different, yet they complement each other perfectly, and the instrumental part also sounds great.
The animation does a good job of using satisfying imagery to describe the main location of this arc, as seeing all the swordsmiths working on their blades is really charming. It gets even better when the song reaches its chorus and the OP showsTanjiro,Genya,Kanroji,andTokitofighting against their enemies with dynamic animation. Eagle-eyed viewers may have even noticed that the very last shot of this opening features a small hint atsomething important that happens at the end of the season.
2Zankyosanka
Entertainment District Arc
Zankyosankaperfectly describes the Hashira that stars in this arc:Tengen Uzui, since it’s flashy and over-the-top, yet undeniably charismatic,just like the Sound Hashira. After all, the main location of theEntertainment District Arcis a colorful place that is brimming with people, events, and all sorts of entertainment, so it’s only fitting that the opening of this season is this cheerful. Animation-wise, the highlight of this OP are the various shots of Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke fightingDaki(with a small appearance byGyutaro) alongside Uzui.
Yet the brief scene of the Sound Hashira’s tragic past teases viewers with the possibility of a dark subplot, and the use of festival imagery – such as fireworks – ties everything together. On the other hand, Japanese pop singerAimerknocked it out of the park with this song. The beat is extremely catchy, and her voice sounds amazing. The best part, however, is the use of an entire chorus during the intro, middle, and outro of the song, since they help make this cheerful opening feel epic, which works surprisingly well.
1Gurenge
Demon Slayer Season 1
The very first opening of an anime is of extreme importance. After all, this is most viewers’ first impression of a show, something that will help them determine if they will keep watching or not. Luckily, the first season ofDemon Slayerfeatured what is possibly one of the best openings in the entire industry.
In just a few minutes, this opening manages to tell the tale ofTanjiro and Nezuko Kamadoin an extremely efficient way, by showing their struggles, andthe trials and tribulations they had to go through, and it culminates in some beautifully animated action scenes that give viewers a little taste of how the battles of this anime are going to look. Meanwhile,Zenitsuand Inosukeare introduced in a way that perfectly showcases their goofy personalities. The most interesting parts of this OP are the brief teases of theUpper Moonsand theHashiras, hinting at what’s to come.
Japanese singer-songwriterLiSAhas been behind some of the most iconic anime OPs of all time, and this time she lived up to her reputation, sinceGurengeis a catchy song that combines her beautiful voice with some amazing rock music. While it would be unfair to say that this incredible OP isentirely responsible forDemon Slayer’sinitial success, it definitely helped it become even more popular.
