Winter 2025 Had Some Incredible Anime Openings, And We Lost Our Minds Over These 10

One of the best parts of an anime is almost always its opening theme song. As the first thing a person sees when they start an episode, a good theme song can get even the most skeptical of fans excited about a show, and in some cases, they’re so good that people will watch an anime solely because of how much they like the theme song.

It’s always a great thing when an anime has a stellar theme song to open its story with, and the winter 2025 anime season was no exception. Winter 2025 was filled with plenty of great anime old and new, and going right along with that, the anime of the winter 2025 season all had incredible theme songs to kick off each of their episodes that were often the best parts of their respective shows. A few of those theme songs especially stand out, as even if someone isn’t a fan of certain shows, their theme songs are nonetheless unavoidable.

10 “Run, Sakamoto” By Vaundy (Sakamoto Days)

Opening Theme To TMS Entertainment's Sakamoto Days

TMS Entertainment’s Sakamoto Days stars Taro Sakamoto, a man who was once the world’s greatest assassin before he retired to start a family. Five years later, Sakamoto runs a convenience store and has put on a lot of weight, but when a bounty on his head starts putting him and his family in danger, he’ll have to come out of retirement to protect his new life and the people he cares about.

Sakamoto Days’ lackluster production has always been a problem, and unfortunately, that can also be seen in its theme song, as the visuals for Sakamoto Days’ theme song, “Run, Sakamoto” by Vaundy, are filled with very basic art and animation that does a poor job of selling the anime’s action and is mostly carried by the incredible vocals and music. It’s hardly the worst anime opening around, but the fact that it’s so middling is nothing but disappointing.

9 “Cuz I” By Hikaru Makishima (The Red Ranger Becomes An Adventurer In Another World)

Opening Theme To Satelight's The Red Ranger Becomes An Adventurer In Another World

Satelight’s The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World stars Togo Asagaki i.e. Kizuna Red, the leader of the sentai team Kizuna Five who just sacrificed himself to save the world. To Togo’s surprise, however, his death transported him to a fantasy world, and with his new world having its own share of danger, Togo once again takes up the mantle of Kizuna Red to protect the innocent from evil.

While “Cuz I” by Hikaru Makishima isn’t the most visually impressive theme, not only do the few dynamic shots perfectly illustrate what to expect of the story, but the song, itself, is very energetic in the exact vein of the tokusatsu stories the anime is parodying. The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World’s theme song works because of how fitting it is to the anime’s central gimmick, and that makes it always fun to watch.

8 “Casanova Posse” By ALI (Dr. Stone Season 4, Part 1)

Opening Theme To TMS Entertainment's Dr. Stone

In TMS Entertainment’s Dr. Stone, all of humanity was suddenly turned into stone one day, and by the time the genius high schooler Senku Ishigami breaks free of his petrification, 3700 years had passed and the world has returned to a primitive state. Senku wasn’t deterred in the slightest, however, and despite the seriousness of the situation, he made it his mission to uncover the truth of the mass petrification and rebuild the world with the power of science.

Dr. Stone has returned with the first part of its fourth and final season, and very fittingly, Dr. Stone’s new theme song, “Casanova Posse” by ALI, is an incredibly fun song that does wonders to welcome fans back to the show with as much energy as possible. It leaves a bit to be desired in the visual department, but overall, it’s an incredibly fun theme song in every regard.

7 Kinnikuman Hero By Masaaki Endoh (Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc Season 2)

Opening Theme To Production I.G's Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc

Production I.G’s Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc is the sequel to the legendary shōnen anime Kinnikuman. After Kinnikuman was crowned the king of Planet Kinniku, the galaxy was supposed to enter a new era of peace, but that was shattered when the villainous Perfect Chojin returned to destroy all Chojin they see as inferior, forcing Kinnikuman and his friends to once again fight for justice.

While “LOVE & JUSTICE” by FLOW was great for season 1, not only does “Kinnikuman Hero” by Masaaki Endoh have much more dynamic animation and visuals, but the song, itself, has a pleasant, old-school energy to it that’s much more in line with the themes of the original anime. “Kinnikuman Hero” is a perfect theme song for Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc season 2, thanks to how well it pays respect to Kinnikuman’s history, and it’s always fun to watch or listen to because of that.

6 “My Own Revolution” By Shishamo (Flower And Asura)

Opening THeme To Studio Bind's Flower And Asura

Studio Bind’s Flower and Asura stars Hana Haruyama, a girl who loves reading stories to the children of her small island town. One day, Hana’s talent for storytelling is noticed by Mizuki Usurai, the president of her school’s broadcasting club, prompting Mizuki to recruit Hana for the club and sending Hana on a journey of new experiences as she learns to love reading more than ever before.

As simplistic as the visuals in “My Own Revolution” by Shishamo are, they pair perfectly with the anime’s slice-of-life vibes and are overall gorgeously animated, and with how great the song is, Flower and Asura’s theme song is one that more than succeeds both visually and musically. Studio Bind is famous for their incredible work on Mushoku Tensei, and that level of craft is more than evident with Flower and Asura, as well.

5 “Splendid Bounty” By Lilas Ikuta (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)

Opening Theme To OLM, Inc.'s The Apothecary Diaries

OLM, Inc.'s The Apothecary Diaries takes place in an Imperial China-esque setting and follows Maomao, a sharp-witted apothecary who is abducted and sold into the emperor's palace. Using her extensive medicinal knowledge and keen observation skills, Maomao demonstrates her value beyond just being a worker, andher talents soon attract the attention of the enigmatic eunuch Jinshi, leading to a deeper and more dangerous involvement in court affairs.

The Apothecary Diaries is back with its second season, and regarding its opening theme, “Splendid Bounty” by Lilas Ikuta is a great theme song for The Apothecary Diaries season 2 not just for its vocals, but for its stunning visuals and animation that highlight the increasing complexities of Maomao’s life in the palace and her relationship with Jinshi. Season 2 will likely adopt a new opening for its second half, and hopefully, it will be just as good, if not better.

4 “Bow And Arrow” By Kenshi Yonezu (Medalist)

Opening Theme To ENGI's Medalist

ENGI’s Medalist stars Inori Yuitsuka, a young girl whose dreams of becoming an Olympic figure skater are hampered by how even at 11, she’s considered too old for serious training. One day, however, Inori meets Tsukasa Akeuraji, a former ice dancer on the brink of giving up skating, and when Tsukasa agrees to become Inori’s coach, they both begin to show the world just how talented they are.

“Bow and Arrow” is a new song by legendary artist Kenshi Yonezu, and sure enough, Medalist’s opening theme, in addition to featuring a great song, is structured in a way that gets the most out of the show’s animation to highlight the intensity of its story at every turn. It’s a theme song that does a perfect job of illustrating the story behind it, and it’s a big part of why Medalist has been so great to watch.

3 “ReawakeR” By Lisa (feat. Felix of Stray Kids) (Solo Leveling Season 2)

Opening Theme To A-1 Pictures' Solo Leveling

A-1 Pictures’ Solo Leveling takes place in a world where people can awaken to supernatural abilities and become Hunters to challenge mystical Gates for profit and to protect the innocent, and among those Hunters is Sung Jinwoo, an absolutely weak E-Rank Hunter. When a near-death experience gives Jinwoo a video game-esque power, however, he’ll use it to slowly become stronger than everyone and find the means to support his family and gain a sense of self-worth.

In addition to gorgeous animation, Solo Leveling is also known to have an incredible soundtrack, and going right along with that, Solo Leveling season 2’s theme song, “ReawakeR”, is an amazing opening theme because of its incredible vocal tracks and the gorgeous and stylish animation accompanying it all. The theme song perfectly conveys the non-stop action people are in for, and there was no theme more fitting for season 2, as a whole.

2 “Zen” by BAND-MAID (Zenshu)

Opening Theme To MAPPA's Zenshu

MAPPA’s Zenshu stars Natsuko Hirose, an antisocial animator who dies and awakens in the world of A Tale of Perishing, the film that got her into animation. A Tale of Perishing is supposed to end in tragedy, but with how important the movie was to Natsuko, she’ll use her newfound powers to bring her drawings to life to change the story and give everyone the happy ending they deserve.

It’s one thing for “Zen” by BAND-MAID to be an amazing vocal track that perfectly complements the dark tone of the story, but the visuals are also amazing for the level of craft behind them and how much they play into the metatextual nature of the story. Zenshu’s opening theme song does a perfect job of highlighting what to expect from the series both visually and narratively, and it’s no wonder why the series was as good as it was.

1 “KiLLKiSS” by Ave Mujica (Ave Mujica — The Die Is Cast)

Opening Theme To Sanzigen's Ave Mujica — The Die Is Cast

Sanzigen’s Ave Mujica — The Die is Cast is the latest BanG Dream! series,a sequel to 2023’s BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!! Picking up where the It’s MyGO!!!!! left off, Sakiko Togawa, the main antagonist of BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!!, has started her new band Ave Mujica, but despite their success, Ave Mujica’s quest to stardom is nonetheless hampered by the emotional traumas Sakiko and her bandmates struggle to deal with.

Ave Mujica sells itself as being a darker story compared to its predecessors, and sure enough “KiLLKiSS” by Ave Mujica does a perfect job of conveying Ave Mujica — The Die is Cast’s dark tone with its haunting and creative imagery paired with its incredible vocal tracks. It’s an amazing theme song from start to finish, and it’s an easy contender for the best theme song of the winter 2025 anime season.