Better late than never. To be honest, this felt a little bit difficult because there wasn’t many shows this season so it was hard to pick out anything I liked. On the other hand, I wasn’t really struggling with having ten picks, though that was never a huge problem to begin with. This time around, I felt I should be a bit more truthful about my picks so (that means this will be unpredictable I hope) I put a lot of thought into each OP and, again, I don’t base it on the show itself.

10. Seikon no Qwaser OP – “Errand” by Faylan

To start off, I haven’t actually seen this show, but I knew about the manga long ago (right after the My-Otome manga ended, to be exact) and so this is a very ecchi, sketchy show. You first get treated to a naked lady, which was probably one of the finer moments (and a good hook). The animation isn’t bad either so it’s very nice to look at. In the end though, I didn’t really feel much impact from it. Last thing I noticed was at the end it looked like Soul Eater, lol.

9. Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Bangaichi OP – “Ringo Mogire Beam!” by Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi

[Note: This song was used for Zan SZS last year but I'd like to go over this version which is from the OAD of this year.] I thought SHAFT already outdone themselves with Zetsubou OPs but they apparently can never seem to not outdo themselves in the OP department. I thought that the third season’s OP was the most nuttiest thing since the Zoku OVA, but SHAFT created the most obnoxious, in-your-face-type, whack of an OP. Better yet (or worse) they multiply the chaos by two, as the OP sequence now runs at three minutes, a first I’ve ever seen or heard ever. Despite the pandemonium works, I can’t stop looking at the crazy visuals and catchy tune (though it’s still nothing compared to Kuusou Rumba).

8. Ookamikakashi OP – “Toki no Mukou Maboroshi no Sora” by FictionJunction

FictionJunction! It’s a great song, but I’m not sure how well it goes with the sequence. I certainly get the mystery and supernatural vibe from this, and it sounds nothing like Higurashi’s, which is a nice change of pace. However, I’ve yet to grown to like it more and the game’s OP just seems that much better.

7. Shakugan no Shana S OP – “Prophecy” by Kawada Mami

I haven’t seen Shana since the first season and I don’t know where it is right now, so I may not understand the sequence as others would. From what I see though, Shana’s grown as a character and that’s what this OP is emphasizing. My favorite part is where Shana takes a leap into the sky and spreads her flaming wings with her blazing red hair blowing in the wind. As always, Kawada Mami sounds great.

6. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu OP – “Perfect-area complete!” by Aso Natsuko

My opinion hasn’t changed since the last time I talked about this. Again, the animation is well done, the colors are so bright and fuwafuwa I can jump into it and feel cozy. The sequence and the song are a perfect fit and I really like the visual design choices for certain scenes.

5. Soranowoto OP – “Hikari no Senritsu” by Kalafina

I am told that uploading a video mirrored goes through the copyright. No idea WHY, but whatever. So if you can see the original or just watch this through a mirror or something… Anyway, the OP captures the spirit and atmosphere of the series and it sounds very whimsical and captivating it almost draws you into their world. I really like the artistic visuals, which I find are the best parts. The animated scenes I’m not that keen of really, but overall it’s a nice OP with a soothing melody.

4. Durarara!! OP – “Uragiri no Yuuyake” by THEATRE BOOK

Roar out louder! Doesn’t the beginning remind you of FLCL a bit? Chick on a bike who’s lost her head? Haha, yeah. Anyway, there’s a cool song that goes with a cool sequence. Nothing more, nothing less. It gives the show a bit of an edge and with the staggering amount of characters, it kinda tells you that characterization is pretty important, and they’re all connected in some way or another. On the other hand, I feel that the abundance of character freeze frames kind of takes away from actual putting out some animation, but it’s only a minor complaint. Other than that, I really like how the scenes transition from one character to the next. The last part with Celty slicing up the title is a very nice touch.

3. Fullmetal Alchemist OP4 – “Period” by CHEMISTRY

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST! Is it a coincidence they used a song from a group called CHEMISTRY for a show about alchemists? Chemistry, alchemist…. there’s a connection, all right. Anyway, yet another great output from BONES. From a visual standpoint, I find it a little better than last opening’s. I do prefer listening to Golden Time Lover, but as far as syncing the visuals and the audio, Period fits extremely well, and the tension seen in this OP tells you things are getting more awesome in the show. Now I’m wondering just how many OPs will there be after this, if any?

2. Nodame Cantabile ~Finale~ OP – “Manazashi Daydream” by Sakai Yuu

Gyaboooo! This is just a lovely OP and it conveys the right kind of mood you should feel from watching Nodame Cantabile. I feel the scene transitions and direction are top-notch and imaginative, especially once it hits the chorus. What’s also great about this OP is that it puts a lot of focus on Nodame, the titular character. The first two seasons felt like it was more about Chiaki, but this time I get the sense that Nodame’s time to shine has come. The only thing I’d have to nitpick on is the ending feels abrupt, but other than that, it’s an outstanding OP. In some ways, I felt this should have been my ultimate pick (and I was contemplating about this a lot), but alas the #1 spot goes to…

1. Katanagatari OP – “Meiya Kadenrou” by Kuribayashi Minami

This is a spectacular OP. I just really love the lush colors and the 2D plane; it’s as if Japanese woodblock prints have come to life and display itself in a more dynamic way. The traditional Japanese aspect is really what’s the eyecandy and it works wonders; I was quite stunned. Kuribayashi once again provides her voice for the show and Meiya Kadenrou sounds magnificent. Sorry about the cut-off at the beginning; that’s all I found. That split-second does make the startup better. Overall, brilliant OP and I can’t see it being more perfect.

So what are your thoughts on the OPs from this season? Stay tuned for the EDs entry!