#20
The Seven Deadly Sins ED 1
Here's a catchy ending sequence to an anime I haven't even seen. The Seven Deadly Sins anime may have slipped through the licensing cracks, but that didn't stop users from uploading bits and pieces of it online. I caved and watched the OPs and EDs of the anime, and found this song to be energetic and the visuals appealing... that is, except for the skirt-lifting bit. Still, of the four sequences this anime had, the first ED is my favorite by far.
#19
Slayers OP
From main character Lina's declaration of, "VICTORY WILL BE MINE" (take my word for it-- the video isn't subtitled) you know that this OP means business. And does it deliver! Full of action and with a pumping theme song, the opening to Slayers is a fun one.
#18
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood ED #2
Now for another ED from an anime I haven't seen... yet. Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood has a number of excellent sequences set to some really cool songs, but this is the one that never fails to give me chills. From the minimally animated scenes of the cast to childhood flashbacks of protagonists Edward and Alphonse, this ending sequence really draws the viewer in. And let's not forget the song. It fits in beautifully with the sunny images of wide, green fields. Plus, the vocals are absolutely beautiful.
#17
Naruto Shippuden ED #14
Here's another one that never fails to give me chills. The concept of female lead Sakura walking down the beach, with a backdrop of fireworks, is simple. The execution is amazing. From the fireworks bursting in the sky to Sakura singing along with the song, this sequence is bound to take your breath away.
#16
Death Note ED #1
You expect dark themes from an anime called Death Note, and the ending sequences are no exception. What made me choose this ending over the other one was the song. It feels scary without getting in your face. My favorite part of the animation is when main character Light tosses an apple in the air as the scene switches from upside-down to rightside-up. Look closely, and you can briefly see female lead Misa on a screen in the background in that scene. Stringing a few seconds of animation together that's just that intricate and memorable takes skill.
#15
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic ED #2
Both ending sequences from Magi are winners, so it was hard to pick between the two. I ended up choosing the second one due to the fact that it switches up stills of the characters just about every time. Throw in a catchy song and a little preview of what happens in the next episode and you've got an ED that you never want to miss.
#14
Escaflowne OP
I told you already that I like songs taken at a waltz pace. Getting such a song in an anime OP is a rare thing. This song of unrequited love blends in beautifully with the dreamy, flowing animation. It's almost as if you can get a feel for the characters in the sequence, even before you're introduced to them in the show itself.
#13
Attack on Titan ED #1
With the song's intro, one is deceived into thinking that this is a lullaby. Then come the knives. Lead female Mikasa is haunted by her past, which is portrayed in the flashback. Then the animation flashes forward to the present, in which Mikasa has to face the future with a hardened heart. All of this is set to a song that starts out gentle, but soon swells into a mournful ballad. It's nothing like the other sequences of Attack on Titan, but it still gets the same bleak feeling across to the viewer.
#12
Trigun OP
This opening tells the viewer that Trigun is a sci-fi western full of action, danger, comedy, tragedy, and mystery. And it does it without saying a single word. The instrumental is a guitar-heavy rock song with a huge "aw yeah" factor. This is one of those openings you just have to watch. The little teaser of what will happen in the upcoming episode doesn't hurt that either.
#11
Cowboy Bebop OP
Speaking of openings without singing... ah, you knew this was coming. Who am I kidding? Anyway, Cowboy Bebop takes a rather unique approach to its opening. The sequence involves animated silhouettes of the main characters set against a monochromatic background. All of this is set to a riveting 12-bar blues piece. Let's face it: Cowboy Bebop has music that's solid-- almost infamously so. The way the songs accent the animation is my favorite thing about the anime. The music alone is so great that for a while, it was the only thing that truly attracted me to the show, and made me want to keep going to the end. That, and the fact that the ending was spoiled for me before I even got to it, so I HAD to see how they got there.
