Kicking the year off with a bang!

Yes it’s back!

After the success of the Spring OP Charts last year I couldn’t resist doing it all over again, hopefully this will become a regular event each season.

For those of you that don’t get the premise from the title, this is where I’ll watch almost every Anime OP of the season and rate them against each other to see which one is the best/worst/most surprising.

As with last year a big thanks to Youtube and AnimeNewsNetwork who make this event possible (even if they don’t know it exists).

I have tried to include all of the new shows this season as there aren’t a huge amount, if one is missing then I probably don’t know it exists or couldn’t find a video of it yet. I’ll make sure to keep this post updated each week as videos often get taken down and new ones go up. As usual if anyone has any requests or comments please make yourself heard below.

Last years version wasn’t actually a Chart (best to last in numerical order) but this years will be. I’ll still do the awards bit at the bottom as well and I’ll even try embedding the top 5 videos, what more can you ask for? Now, on to the rules!

The Rules

1.  The show has to have started airing in January 2008 or have a new OP first airing in January 2008
2.  The show has to have a streaming video of the OP on the web (that i can find without learning kanji)
3.  The judge (me) has to be vaguely aware of the show

Criteria

The OP’s will be judged on the Animation, Music and how they have been Combined overall (what I’ll call fusion). Quality of the version watched will be taken in to account as I don’t have time to download a perfect copy of each show. If there is a full version of the song it will not be taken in to account when judging. This is purely my personal opinion, it is not in anyway impartial, scientific, philosophical or based on any professional music training.

Rating

The OP’s will be listed from best to worst, 1st to 17th. They will also be rated on the criteria above from 0.0 to 5.0, 0 being the worst and 5 being the best.

The Contestants

Sisters of Wellber Zwei
Rosario to Vampire
H2O ~Footprints In The Sand~
Hatenkou Yuugi
Major 4th season
Persona – trinity soul -
Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
true tears
Shigofumi
Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de
Minami-ke ~Okawari~
Aria The Origination
Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino-
Ookami to Koushinryou (Spice & Wolf)
Noramimi
Hakaba Kitarou
Yatterman

The Positions

01.  Aria The Origination – Spirale by Yui Makino (video)

I have a confession to make, I’m in love with this song. From the first time I heard it I was enchanted, I had to hear it again and again. Even more astonishing I wanted to watch Aria even though this was the 3rd series and I’ve never seen any before. The music is so soft and soothing as is Yui Makino’s voice and the small bass kick just brings it in to this century. The animation is simple but attractive, the characters are cute yet complex. I could go on for days…..

Animation – 4.6 / Music – 4.8 / Fusion – 4.5

2.  true tears - Reflectia by eufonius (video)

Now that’s how you do an opening to a high school dating show. Starts slow and gets better, the singer has a really cute voice and the song really becomes catchy. The animation seems really nice quality and the characters doesn’t feel as generic as some of the other shows on this page. The OP gives me the impression that this series is really fun and fresh, in fact I like it so much that I’m gonna have to watch episode one now.

Animation – 4.0 / Music – 4.1 / Fusion – 4.4

03.  Hakaba Kitarou - Mononoke Dance by Denki Groove (video)

Once again I have no idea what the show is about, however this OP really intrigues me, I just might check this out if it gets subbed. The animation isn’t really to my liking but it’s definitely striking and a little retro. The song is excellent, a really good electro/dance piece that seems to pair with the animation perfectly. Mononoke Dance is simple but effective, I want to listen to it again!

Animation – 4.2 / Music – 4.4 / Fusion – 4.2

04.  Persona – trinity soul - Breakin’ Through by Shuhei Kita (video)

Ah the first anime of the new season with random feathers falling from the sky. On a serious note the songs really catchy, the singer has a great voice, the guitar riffs good and it gives me a positive feeling about the show. The animation seems pretty good as well but the character designs seem a bit bland, a man falls in some garbage though which gives it more points. Overall a nice OP, still on the fence about whether to watch the show or not.

Animation – 3.9 / Music – 4.3 / Fusion – 4.0

05.  Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei - kuso Rumba by Kenji Ohtsuki and Zetsubo Shojo-tachi (video)

The show that dares to be different returns with another good OP. If you don’t want to do the Rumba after this song then there’s no life in you! Ok the music is a bit ‘harsh’ but I think it fits the mental state of the show perfectly, the female voice actresses really pull it together as well. Not much can be said about the animation as it seems to change each episode. In the first episode there really wasn’t any, but I won’t mark it down to much on that. Overall great OP.

Animation – 3.5 / Music – 4.2 / Fusion – 3.9

06.  Ookami to Koushinryou (Spice & Wolf) - Tabi no Tochu by Natsumi Kiyoura (video)

While this show doesn’t really interest me the OP seems polite and inoffensive. The music seems to suit the pacing and style of the show while the animation seems varied and detailed. The nudity is a bit odd but I guess that’s part of the show. While the OP didn’t really make me want to watch the show it did give a good impression of itself, the music and animation complemented each other well.

Animation – 4.0 / Music – 3.7 / Fusion – 4.2

07.  Hatenkou Yuugi - Heartbreaking Romance by Kanako Ito (video)

I’m a little torn about this OP, it starts well, gets worse and then gets better at the end. The song is quite nice apart from the chorus and the animation is quite nice apart from the lazy character design. Seems to be a show that’s nearly there, but would probably tend to be more bland than exciting. Still the OP does a reasonable job of selling it, music and animation go well together.

Animation – 3.4 / Music – 3.6 / Fusion – 3.8

08.  Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino- Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi by KOKIA (video)

Straight off the bat I have to say that i really love this song, its a powerful ballad that seems to fit the persona of the show, unfortunately I can’t say the same for the animation. The animated landscapes seem reasonably nice but the rasterized photos are a bit confusing, I’m not sure what they have to do with the show. Once again this didn’t really make me want to watch the show and it doesn’t really give you any indication what the shows about.

Animation – 3.0 / Music – 4.0 / Fusion – 3.6

09.  H2O ~Footprints In The Sand~ - Katayoku no Icarus by Yui Sakakibara (video)

This OP starts well and gets worse for me. It goes from nice moving animation to moving the camera about to simulate movement with girls that look like they are cut out of any random h-game. The song likewise starts off nice and softly then goes all shouty at the end, the woman’s voice just doesn’t sound shouting like that. Overall though the music and animation seem to compliment each other.

Animation – 3.4 / Music – 3.6 / Fusion – 3.8

10.  Noramimi – ????? (video)

Sorry but I couldn’t find the name of this song so if you know then please share. The main reason I even bothered putting this OP in is because of the watercolour style artwork, its absolutely lovely. While I can’t say the song is good, it definitely suits the show and has a playful air about it. Overall the OP put across a heart warming feeling and I’m sure the shows thoroughly enjoyable, if this is your sort of thing.

Animation – 4.0 / Music – 3.0 / Fusion – 3.8

11.  Minami-ke ~Okawari~ - Kokoro no Tsubasa by Rina Satou, Marina Inoue & Minori Chihara (video)

Oh dear, the people that animated Shuffle! strike again… The songs ok, but unless the shows completely changed from season 1 then its a bit out of place, to loud and excited. The animation is pretty poor, especially at the beginning, robot walking? flashing eyes? I’ll take the first seasons OP thanks. Not really sure what to say about the fusion, it wasn’t a mismatch but then they hardly went brilliantly.

Animation – 2.9 / Music – 3.3 / Fusion – 3.4

12.  Sisters of Wellber Zwei – Theme of Wellber by Dobashi (video)

The song so good they used it twice, well, not quite. While they have indeed used the song again I don’t think the animation fits the song as well this time, the action and over the top cgi just feel a bit out of place. There’s not really much you can say about the song, its quite grand and definitely has some grace about it, but using it again just feels like pure laziness. I heard the first season wasn’t that good so I’d expect the same this time round.

Animation – 3.6 / Music – 3.8 / Fusion – 3.2

13.  Yatterman – Yatterman’s Song by Saemon Onyakichi (video)

Hm. Yes… Yatterman. Well it’s not awful, I’ve seen far worse OP’s. Still there’s not much to go with here. The animation is bright and inoffensive and its hard to complain about a giant mecha dog, I’m not sold on the hats though… The song appears to involve a lot of barking and shouting “Yatterman”, its definitely retro but it has a certain charm about it. Overall at least it didn’t send me to sleep like the Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de OP.

Animation – 3.4 / Music – 3.2 / Fusion – 3.4

14.  Rosario to Vampire – COSMIC LOVE by Nana Mizuki (video)

Fanservice go! Right, the songs catchy and exciting but nothing ground breaking. It seems to me that it probably matches the mood of the show, a bit silly, a bit violent and very insubstantial. The animation is pretty much the same, generic looking characters, high school, pantsu, bright colours, weaselly males and nothing to get worked up over. Seems a rather average OP for an average show, still, its a bit of fun I suppose.

Animation – 3.0 / Music – 3.2 / Fusion – 3.4

15.  Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de – Hizamazuku Made 5 Byo Dake! by Miyuki Hashimoto (video)

Another game conversion. The OP is hardly anything to get excited about, cue cheery Jpop with bouncy bass and an average singer. Characters aren’t quite so generic but the setting seems enough to put me to sleep. Girls living in a house?! Wow that sounds….. like 500 other shows. Definitely a very average OP which leaves me wondering why so much VA talent is on board for it.

Animation – 3.0 / Music – 3.0 / Fusion – 3.0

16.  Shigofumi - Kotodama by ALI PROJECT (video)

I’m gonna come straight out and say it, I don’t like Ali Project. Their music is always over excited, confused and the lyrics are all over the place, this song is a perfect example of that. The animation is alright and that’s being a bit generous. Lots of black, ctrl-c and more generic characters. Oh and there were more feathers. I was going to watch this show but the OP has nearly put me off, never a good sign. Still, despite the boring OP I’ll give it a try.

Animation – 2.2 / Music – 2.4 / Fusion – 2.6

17.  Major 4th Season - Rise by Ootomo Kouhei (video)

The man singing this song seriously needs to clear his throat, god what an awful song. I wasn’t expecting much from the OP to Major season 4 and it definitely smashed my expectations out of the park, home run, as fast as possible away from this OP. Bland manly song with highly unoriginal animation. About the only positive thing I can say is that it was baseball animation for a baseball show, good job….

Animation – 2.5 / Music – 1.3 / Fusion – 2.8

Awards

Most Surprising OP – true tears (This OP convinced me to start watching the show, not much higher praise than that)

Most Surprising Song - Hakaba Kitarou (Wasn’t expecting anything from this OP but the song’s pretty good if you like electro music)

Most Surprising Artist - Persona – trinity soul - (I’d never heard of Shuhei Kita before but I’ll definitely look out for them/him in the future)

Most Surprising Animation - Noramimi (The watercolour style is really nice, makes the animation seem less childish)

Worst OP - Major Season 4 (Atrocious song, generic animation, no thanks)

Worst Song - Shigofumi (Give it up Ali Project you can’t sing)

Worst Animation - Minami-Ke ~Okawari~ (I really expected more from this OP…)

Best  OP – Aria the Origination (Probably just me on this one but its perfect)

Best  Song – Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (Was close between this and Persona but I had to give Zetsubou Sensei a nod)

Best  Animation - Persona - trinity soul - (The animation seems quite detailed and stylish)

Aftermath

Overall I was surprised by the quality of the OP’s this season as with no big name shows I wasn’t expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised by several of the songs and some solid animation. Persona, true tears and Hakaba Kitarou all did well with convincing animation and catchy songs. Minami-ke ~okawari~ disappointed me with an average song and awful animation while Major season 4 and Shigofumi were just plain bad.

It feels like I was more generous with the marks this time round, I’m not sure if the OP’s have gotten better or my standards have gotten lower. Overall the music was of better quality than the animation with nothing really memorable on that front. As usual most of the shows combined the music and animation together in a decent fashion.

Conclusion

Once again this was an enjoyable experience, other than watching episode one of every show I don’t think there’s a much better way to get a feel for the series on offer in any given season. Once again I messed up with the HTML and the spelling as always is atrocious, hopefully it didn’t spoil the experience to much. This seemed to take up more time than I’d bargained for but looking back over it, it still feels a bit basic. I’ll definitely have to think of a way to spice this up next time round.

Anyway, thanks for reading and I hope everyone finds it useful to have all the seasons OP’s in once place. I’ll also try and get some full version of the songs up on the box music player thing as they get released.