Questions regarding theme songs of anime shows. This tag should NOT be used for music identification questions, as these are no longer accepted here.
To be used for only opening and closing theme songs.
Other songs should use music tag.
Questions tagged [theme-song]
71 questions
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When and why did the trend of 1:30-long openings and endings begin?
I've started to notice lately that the vast majority of anime (that I can find, anyway) seems to have opening (OP) and ending (ED) sequences which are 1 minute and 30 seconds long.
Some examples (though I'm sure there are lots that I haven't…
Cattua
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About the artworks used in the Elfen Lied opening scenes (contains nudity)
The anime Elfen Lied is notorious for its one of a kind OP, featuring the mesmerizing theme song Lilium composed by MOKA and performed by Kumiko Noma, as well as sequences of art porn, a homage to Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt. The idea to…
Gao
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Why do some anime not have an opening in the first episode?
A lot of anime I've seen don't have openings in the first episode, instead the openings start from the second episode. I cannot particularly name any of them besides Boku Dake ga Inai Machi.
Why do some anime not have openings in the first episode?
Quill
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Was Lilium written or composed solely for Elfen Lied?
Elfen Lied's opening, Lilium, is a symphony sung in Latin.
Was it written/composed just for Elfen Lied (like for example, the opening songs for Pokemon)?
Madara's Ghost
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14
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What do the symbols in the OP refer to?
In the opening theme song of The World God Only Knows, a couple of symbols fly around the screen.
This one seems to matches the loose soul detector that Elsie wears on her head
However, i don't understand the references in the other…
Toshinou Kyouko
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3 answers
Why do many anime OPs and EDs have onscreen lyrics?
I have noticed that much, but by no means all, of the anime that I've seen has had lyrics onscreen during either its OPs, EDs, or both. Why is this so?
I know karaoke is fairly popular in Japan, so do people actually sing along while they wait for…
Miguel
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Is it common for seiyū's to also be singers?
While listening to the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Openings I noticed that the first 4 Opening songs (Original Series - StrikerS) were all sung by Nana Mizuki, the seiyū of Fate Testarossa. Looking at her Wikipedia Page I've also noticed that she's…
Memor-X
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Why did the anime stop having ending songs since episode 279?
Since episode 279, the One Piece anime doesn't have ending songs. Instead, it has long openings: almost 3 minutes, instead of the usual 1:30 openings.
What was the reason for this change?
Ikzer
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What was the first anime that uses different ending/opening songs in every episode?
After watching a few series I realised that some of them use different opening/ending songs in each episode (e.g. Oreimo). I noticed that it must've been quite expensive to do this, and some other animes like Love Live use the same song sang by…
Enrico Susatyo
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Does the theme song "Inochi no Namae" have any meaningful connection to the story of "Spirited Away"?
The theme song いのちの名前 (Inochi no Namae) is the lyricized version of あの日の川へ (Ano Hi no Kawa e), but it was never sung during the film, and therefore it is only included in Kimura Yumi's first single and later in the Spirited Away Memorial Box.
Does…
Magistel2
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Was it formerly common practice to credit voice actors in opening credits?
The final OP for Monogatari Series Second Season (the Koimonogatari OP) is sort of an 80s-throwback sort of deal, with all the hallmarks of old anime styling - funky "lens flares", those old-school clouds, a song reminiscent of 80s-era pop,…
senshin
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What does the German say in the opening of ef - a tale of melodies?
The OP sequences for ef - a tale of melodies have a lot of German text in the background. The text seems to be the same for all of the different versions. This version is from episode 6, and features the instrumental version of the song (Ebullient…
Logan M
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Is the art made for anime openings made first or are the created vocals done first?
Sometimes the song matches perfectly with the opening like the beginning of Little Witch Academia, so I was wondering if the art for the opening was done then the song was made to match the art, or if the song was created, and the artists made the…
bbcream
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Why is Toradora's ED about oranges?
This site has Toradora's second ending theme, Orange (オレンジ), together with lyrics both in Japanese and translated.
First, it's worth noting that the word Orange is ambiguous in English, referring both to a color and a fruit, and it is used to this…
Logan M
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Are songs written for anime openings or endings?
I know that some songs in anime openings or endings come from popular J-Pop singers/albums (such as the Bleach opening Rolling Star by Yui). However, some opening songs seem to show up during the show, such as themes appearing during final battles.…
kuwaly
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