If there’s something everyone can agree on aboutBleachis the quality of its music. Perhaps the best among the Big 3, Bleach’s Openings, endings, and soundtrack themes are staples of shonen anime. And with almost 400 episodes, there’s plenty of variety and Japanese musical excellency, not to mention the accompanying iconic videos by Studio Pierrot, some of which have been paid homage to in modern fan art.
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From early 2000s anime charm to a new triumphant return with modern animation, Bleach has a lot to give in terms of great openings. Let’s count down the best themes from this anime classic.
10Harukaze By SCANDAL
For ten years, this was the series’ final opening, and so it carries a great emotional significance among fans. It’s a beautiful and heartwarming theme, feeling like a sort of goodbye because, for the time, this was the end of the anime. And what hammers that feeling home is the visage of Ichigo walking with every single episode title card passing in succession behind him.
So simple, yet it is some of the most emotional visuals in the series. With Ono Haruna’s beautiful voice, fans said goodbye to Ichigo and his friends.
9After Dark By Asian Kung-Fu Generation
Asian Kung-Fu Generation is a band that needs no introduction. They are true anime music staples, creating so many iconic openings and endings. Every anime fan knows of them, and they were everywhere in the mid-2000s.
After Dark may have one of their repertoire’s most distinct guitar riffs. Along with a catchy drum rhythm, this is a song that’s immediately recognizable. Serving as the opening for the Invasion of Hueco Mundo, we get to see all the Espada in one fantastic panning shot, sitting together with their leader, Aizen Sousuke.
8Shojo-S By SCANDAL
Before Harukaze, this was SCANDAL’s first theme for the series, and it has since left a great impression. A more energetic tune and a catchy melody paired with the fantastic visual ofRukiaand Orihime dancing together.
This theme brings such cool energy to the show. Beautifully painted shots of the members of the Gotei 13, as if posing for a photoshoot, driven by the spunky rock song. This theme is catchy and energetic, but it still falls short compared to the giants coming up.
7Anima Rossa By Porno Graffitti
While Bleach suffers from a lot of filler content, like its Pierrot-animated Big 3 brother,Naruto, the Zanpakuto Rebellion Arc is considered to be a great entry despite its nature. And so, its opening theme is a great companion for the best filler arc in the series. The almost rap vocals do this sort of question-reply with the electric guitar, making a natural and enticing flow for the song.
The all-encompassing acoustic guitar serves as the road on which the rest of the instruments walk. All culminating in a catchy and melodic chorus that takes it home.
6Asterisk By Orange Range
The one that started it all and left a long-lasting impression on fans. Asterisk is still widely beloved as one of those classic shonen openings. Orange Range’s pop rap style goes so well with Bleach’s characteristic urban fashion aesthetic. Dressing the main cast in these stylish outfits that are reminiscent of the ones Kubo makes for covers in the manga.
Bleach is directly tied to fashion among anime fans, and its first opening theme immediately makes it clear why. But while iconic, the next entries are just so good that this one just doesn’t compare.
5Velonica By Aqua Timez
Now, this is an impossible song to sing along to. Aqua Timez has many songs where the main vocalist, Futoshi, just goes and sings at the speed of light. Velonica is perhaps the best example of this, and that’s great. Futoshi’s vocals reach incredible speeds during the verse and then come crashing with a climactic chorus, making this song really unique. The electric guitar, with the ramped-up distortion, feels like a powerful Cero from a Hollow, an intense sound guiding the ear through this marvelous tune.
4Scar By Kitani Tatsuya
Back in September 2021, the Bleach EX exhibition was being held, and atrailerfor it premiered on YouTube, using a brand-new song by massive Bleach fan Kitani Tatsuya. Fans adored the theme and hoped to hear it as the opening for the new anime, and while it wasn’t the case, Kitani’s music did get used.
Scar is drenched with the rock and roll energy that defines the series while accompanied by a unique, magenta-filled video that proved to be relevant for the final episode. Bleach has a brand-new opening, and it is fantastic.
3chAngE By Miwa
The end of the Hueco Mundo Arc and the legendary battle between Ichigo and Ulquiorra is one of the peaks of the series. Well, this opening serves it perfectly. Miwa’s beautiful voice, the masterful electric guitar, and the hard-hitting drums go so well with the expertly animated visuals.
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The battles of fake Karakura town, filled with the memorable top three Espada, the Gotei 13, the Vizards, and of course, the main villain,Aizen Sousuke. Beautifully represented in the video, all being capped off with the now iconic yet terrifying visage of Vast Lorde Ichigo.
2D-Tecnolife by UVERworld
One of the greatest bands to grace the anime industry with their distinct sound creating one of the greatest openings in shonen anime. This theme still stands the test of time as an absolute hype fest among anime fans. The famous and renowned Soul Society Arc opened each episode with UVERworld’s magnum opus. It filled fans with so much excitement, which still works to this day. D-Tecnolife is an absolute classic, and anime fans all over still cherish it. But there is one opening better than it, only one.
1Ranbu No Melody By SID
For some, Soul Society is the peak of the series. But for many others, the end of the Fake Karakura Town, Ichigo versus the evolved Aizen Sousuke, is the highest point of the series.
Ranbu no Melody serves as the greatest opening of Bleach. Extraordinary visuals that still remain unmatched by most other works, and SID’s absolute best song. The video goes from the very start of the series with the ghost girl to a flash forward to the Fullbring Arc, ending with the chills-inducing sight of Dangai Ichigo. This is still the greatest there is in Bleach.
