A panel of music experts from around the world have selected the top 10 greatest anime songs of all time, and many in the community are finding it hard to dispute their choices. As the medium has grown in popularity around the world over the past decade, Japanese music has also introduced many anime viewers to many popular artists through their favorite shows and movies. Everyone has their favorite opening themes, but a select few have (and will) stand the test of time, with some entries on this prestigious list dating back decades.
As anime began to find its footing in the West in the late 80s and early 90s, it has exploded in popularity over the past decade, with several heavy-hitting shonen series getting more people interested in Japanese animation than ever before. Earlier this year, it was announced that the anime market would reach $2.1 billion in 2025, but this number is far from the peak. According to market research firm Emark, the anime market is projected to reach $4.1 billion by 2034, with easier-to-access subscription services and more accessible merch making it easier for international audiences to engage with the medium. Anime music has also enjoyed incredible success, and every year, more and more Japanese artists hold concerts overseas.
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Music professionals around the world choose the top 10 anime songs of all time
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A Cruel Angels Thesis (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
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Blue Bird (Naruto: Shippuden)
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Cha-La Head-Cha-La (Dragon Ball Z)
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Gurenge (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)
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Moonlight Densetsu (Sailor's Moon)
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Tetsujin 28-go (Tetsujin 28)
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Astro Boy (Astro Boy)
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Zenzenzense (your name.)
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We are! (one piece)
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always with me (spirited away)
On June 22, Japanese variety show Professional ranking As chosen by 166 music professionals from around the world, the top 10 anime theme songs of all time have been announced. It featured singers, music producers, composers, and composers from 41 different countries, with the top spot going to the ever-popular “A Cruel Angel's Thesis.” from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Sung by Yoko Takahashi, the track recently celebrated its 1,000th week on the Oricon Weekly Karaoke Rankings chart, making it the fourth song in history. Blue BirdThe third opening theme for Naruto: Shippudenn, took second place, while Dragon Ball Zis distinguished Cha-la head-cha-la A third appears.
Neon Genesis Evangelion Celebrating its 30th anniversary throughout 2026, several special events and crossovers have been announced over the past few months. a new one Evangelion The anime project was announced in February, which will be written by Yoko Taro (Nier) and directed by Hideki Enno's protégé, Kazuya Surumaki. Additionally, the beloved anime series is set to invade the world of video games, with a Evangelion-Theme raid is coming Final Fantasy 14 Its next expansion and crossover was announced recently Sonic Race CrossWorlds In the near future.
Many of the entries on the list will strike a chord with those who discovered anime in the 90s and 2000s. Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, a pieceand Enthusiast away Still beloved by fans who grew up with these ever-popular releases. The latter remains one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli releases, hitting theaters in 2001 and grossing nearly $400 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in Japan's history for 19 years. Monster Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Movie: Mugen Train In 2020.
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Both Astro Boy and Tetsujin 28 Stay timeless classics as the old ones help develop the anime and manga industries as a whole. Written by legendary animator and cartoonist Osamu Tezuka, the manga series inspired its first anime adaptation in 1963, which quickly became popular in both Japan and the United States. Written and illustrated by Mitsuteru Yokoyama Tetsujin 28 From 1956 to 1966, its 1963 anime adaptation (known as huge in the United States) is one of the first to feature a giant robot.
- Release date
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1995 – 1996
- network
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TV Tokyo
- directors
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Keiichi Sugiyama, Masahiko Otsuka, Tensai Okamura, Shoichi Masuo, Minoru Ohara, Seiji Mizushima, Tetsuya Watanabe, Ken Endo
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Megumi Ogata
Shinji Ikari (voice)
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Kotono Mitsushi
Misato Katsuragi (voice)
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Megumi Hayashibara
Rei Ayanami (voice)
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Yuko Miyamura
Asuka Langley Soryu (voice)
Source: Livedoor
