(Left to Right) I zuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia), Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto), Gintoki Sakata (Gintama), Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)

How hype can an anime theme songs get? The Shounen genre definitely sets the bar. Let’s look back at some of the best songs that got our blood pumping.


I’m looking at you, Shounen series with tons of episodes !

I think this goes without saying, but OP 100 of anime X will surely have spoilers for that show.


In no particular order (except for the last one for obvious reasons), here we go.

Bleach OP 13

Seasons: Fall 2010 & Winter 2011 | Title: Ranbu no Melody | Artist: SID

Oh god. It’s the first entry and the nostalgia is already hitting hard.

Ace of Diamond OP 5

Seasons: Fall 2015 & Winter 2016 | Title: Sora ga Aozora de aru Tame ni | Artist: Glay


This list is all about Shounen anime, epic sports shows included.



Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood OP 4

Season: Winter 2010 | Title: Period | Artist: Chemistry

Believe it or not, The tail end of Brotherhood was in the 2010s.

Kuroko’s Basketball OP 3

Season: Winter 2010 | Title: The Other self | Artist: GRANRODEO

You can feel it when the ball slams into the basket.

Gintama OP 13

Season: Fall 2012 | Title: Sakura Mitsutsuki | Artist: Spyair

It’s kinda difficult to determine the OP/ED number for a lot of these shows since they span across multiple seasons and series entries.


Sword Art Online OP 3

Season: Summer 2014 | Title: IGNITE | Artist: Eir Aoi

Apparently SAO isn’t considered Shounen, but with the number of sequels and movies the show has gotten I’ll let it slide.


Fairy Tail OP OP 17

Season: Fall 2014 | Title: Mysterious Magic | Artist: Do As Infinity

There may be some more hype Fairy Tail themes, but this one showcases the main characters well and I personally like the song.


Naruto Shippuden OP 16

Seasons: Fall 2014 & Winter 2015 | Title: Silhouette | Artist: KANA-BOON

I thought there was supposed to be a guy in a pink morph suit.

Bleach ED 28

Season: Summer 2011 | Title: Haruka Kanata | Artist: UNLIMITS

I had to include 2 songs for a few of these shows. How am I supposed to pick 1 song to showcase from a list of 50


Seven Deadly Sins ED 1

Season: Fall 2014 | Title: 7 -seven- | Artist: FLOW x GRANRODEO

FLOW and GRANRODEO? It can’t get more Shounen than that

One Piece OP 13

Seasons: Summer 2010 to Winter 2011 | Title: One Day | Artist: The Rootless

I haven’t seen One Piece. Are all the openings actually 2:30 long?

Yowamushi Pedal OP 2


Season: Winter 2014 | Title: Yowamushi na Honoo | Artist: MAGIC OF LiFE (formerly Dirty Old Men)

This show is as hype as the song, trust me.

Log Horizon OP

Seasons: Fall 2013 & Winter 2014 | Title: database | Artist: MAN WITH A MISSION feat. TAKUMA (10 Feet)


DATABASE DATABASE!

My Hero Academia OP 4

Season: Spring 2018 | Title: ODD FUTURE | Artist: UVERworld

All of My Hero Academia’s OP’s are great, but this one shines above them all.

Gundam Build Fighters OP 3

Season: Fall 2014 | Title: Cerulean | Artist: BACK-ON

This list has a surprising number of Fall 2014 songs.

Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma OP 2

Season: Summer 2015 | Title: Rising Rainbow | Artist: Misokkasu

This one was a hard decision as well. Just go watch all of Food Wars’s OPs and EDs.


Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans OP 1

Season: Fall 2015 | Title: Raise your flag | Artist: MAN WITH A MISSION

As Ishamael put it, “not only is this a perfect companion piece for the series but it is a damn good song in its own right.”


JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure OP 2

Season: Winter 2013 | Title: BLOODY STREAM | Artist: Coda

JoJo is known for its iconic theme songs. This one may be the best.

Twin Star Exorcists OP 4

Season: Winter 2017 | Title: Kanadeai | Artist: Itowokashi

A lesser known Shounen series, but this theme exemplifies how well the spirit of Shounen theme songs has been maintained through the second half of the decade.


Naruto Shippuden OP 8

Seasons: Fall 2010 & Winter 2011 | Title: Diver | Artist: NICO Touches the Walls

There are a number of bands that I would never leave off a list about Shounen theme songs. If you take a look at all groups that were included you’ll find that they’ve become the forefront of the genre.


Haikyu!! OP 4

Season: Winter 2016 | Title: FLY HIGH!! | Artist: BURNOUT SYNDROMES

This song is simply perfect for the show.

Black Clover OP 3

Season: Spring 2018 | Title: Black Rover | Artist: Vickeblanka

Black Clover has some damn good theme songs.

World Trigger OP 1

Seasons: Fall 2014 & Winter 2015 | Title: GIRIGIRI | Artist: Sonar Pocket

This one’s unconventional for a Shounen theme song, but I felt it had a place on this list.


Magi OP 2

Season: Winter 2013 | Title: Matataku Hoshi no Shita de | Artist: Porno Graffitti


NSFW a bit. Also Porno Graffitti is a rather NSFW band name, but they make some great stuff.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure ED 1

Seasons: Fall 2012 & Winter 2013 | Title: Roundabout | Artist: YES


Thanks for reading!

To be continued... but for only one more week. I have something grand in-store for the last article in this series. Be prepared.


Let me know if I missed any of your favourite Shounen theme songs (there were roughly 350 songs from these shows to choose from.

Here’s last week’s list!


Join us!

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