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Anime openings and endings have grown to be as eagerly awaited as the upcoming seasons and plotlines they introduce. While fans are captivated by the action and narrative, compiling anime playlists to enjoy outside the screen has become an equally thrilling hobby.
Some anime themes are so irresistibly catchy that they linger in the minds of fans long after the episode ends, and there’s a good reason for it. These memorable tunes do more than entertain; they evoke cherished memories of beloved storylines, characters, and moments, creating a lasting connection with the audience each time they play.
The second ending theme of Gintama, “Mr. Raindrop” by the fleeting rock band Amplified, exemplifies a tune that’s impossible to shake off once heard. This song accompanies the peculiar alien character, Elizabeth, who skips through the credits under a red umbrella with a hauntingly vacant expression. Interestingly, out of more than twenty ending themes, two spotlight Elizabeth’s quirky escapades, both of which are considered musical gems.
Gintama Has So Many Great Songs, but Only One Real Earworm
Image via Sunrise
Gintama‘s second ending theme, “Mr. Raindrop,” by the short-lived rock band Amplified, is the kind of song that once you hear, you can’t stop hearing it. Paired with one of Gintama‘s most bizarre alien enigmas, Elizabeth, she skips through the credits in the rain with a red umbrella and an unnerving blank expression. As a hilarious aside, across over two dozen ending songs, two feature Elizabeth’s wacky adventures, and both songs are absolute masterpieces.
“Mr. Raindrop’s” playful repetition is enough to lodge the song firmly in the listener’s ear. Considering it was Amplified’s debut single back in 2006, they definitely had a knack for catchy tunes. Sadly, as of 2007, the band is no longer together.
Every Jujutsu Kaisen Opener & Closer Is An Earworm, but Kaikai Kitan Stands Out
Image via Studio MAPPA
There is no denying it. Jujutsu Kaisen‘s anime outdoes itself in every story arc with openers and closers. Fans walk around singing them, even if they have no idea what all the lyrics actually are, because they don’t speak Japanese. “Kaikai Kitan” by Eve was the very first JJK opening theme, introducing fans to Yuji Itadori and the devastating world that was about to drag him into its darkness.
For a lot of fans, the nostalgic factor of “Kaikai Kitan” will draw them right back to the moment they discovered an anime that would quickly become a favorite. The way Jujutsu Kaisen utilizes both its opening and closing credits to connect fans to very specific story arcs is brilliant. There’s not a JJK fan who doesn’t understand the hype and excitement that builds up the moment “Kaikai Kitan” launches.
DanDaDan’s Savage Opener Dominated the Fall 2024 Anime Season
Image via Science SARU
Fans were already excited for Dandadan to get an anime adaptation, so when the first episode dropped and that catchy opener hit, it was an instant earworm. Creepy Nuts’ “Otonoke” was so popular, it spent weeks dominating Oricon’s charts. Fans couldn’t get enough of the deliberately tribal beat of “Otonoke,” which backed up the supernatural elements that dominate Dandadan‘s overall theme with lyrics featuring ghosts and demons.
Much like Jujutsu Kaisen‘s “Kaikai Kitan,” the way “Otonoke” came to define the moment fans first set eyes on Science SARU’s adaptation of a beloved manga. Even fans who only discovered Dandadan through the anime will remember that introduction every time they hear the opening beats of that song, and then they’ll be singing it all day.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Part 1 Opener Is the Catchiest Anime Tune of 2025
Image via TOHO Animation
After The Apothecary Diaries‘ successful first season, fans were champing at the bit to find out what mysteries everyone’s favorite apothecary would solve in Season 2. Even more exciting was the prospect of the slowburn romance between Maomao and Jinshi inching toward a reveal.
Launching into The Apothecary Diaries second season with “Hyakka Ryouran” by Lilas Ikuta was as much a promise of things to come as it was a near-relentless earworm that had fans wanting to learn Japanese for the sole purpose of being able to sing along. In fact, the song was so popular, it’s still winning awards over a year later.
Naruto Shippuden’s Season 1 Opening Brought Everyone’s Favorite Hero Back Into Action
Image via Studio Pierrot
“Hero’s Comeback!!” by nobodyknows+ is glorious hype, announcing the return of a shonen hero embarking on the second half of his epic journey to save his best friend and become the hokage one day. Studio Pierrot wasted no time between the original Naruto anime’s ending and the premier of Naruto Shippuden. Fans didn’t even have time to miss Naruto and the ninjas of the Hidden Leaf, because Shippuden launched just one week after the end of the original anime.
The importance of “Hero’s Comeback!!” lies in the two-year timeskip between the two anime, where Naruto was away from the village and training with Jiraiya. There’s a nostalgic feeling, even now when the drums start, like the viewer is coming back home along with Naruto. As silly as it might sound, nobodyknows+ perfectly captures the heroic vibe with the song, which, once heard, will probably groove without a cover charge inside the head for days on end.