#naruto op

(via https://open.spotify.com/track/5ZaKWYtQTpOyRogPpE5Tyj?si=jktF4QqGRsiSrBGZwFxEcw)

I just ran through all the original Naruto Opening credit sequences to determine which is superior! For reference these rankings take into account the music a little, but mainly the focus on the editing and directing of the animated sequence that goes with it. With each OP I included my loose thoughts about why it is where it is. I only linked a video for the #1 OP, but if you want to see where I’m coming from with the others, you can find them all over the interwebs. Lets get started! 

#9: OP1 (ROCKS)

The first OP of the show does not hold up when compared with future OPs

Not a fan of the song; Really kills the pace of the fight scene

The best part is when it showed Sasuke and Sakura being vigilant and then Naruto being asleep.

#8: OP6 (No Boy, No Cry)

Most of the character shots and poses in this OP tell you nothing about the character. Like Shikamaru has his shadow move and that's it.

The group shots are even worse, everyone having the same pose. If this was your first time seeing Naruto, none of these characters would be unique at all.

Only good part is the beginning with the rain.

#7: OP3 (Kanashimi wo Yasashisa ni)

Music is extremely annoying, but does fit the earlier bits quite well.

Loved the early part where they were children, then it awkwardly transitions into their grown up forms.

#6: OP7 (Namikaze Satellite)

Pretty solid all the way through except for the very end which devolved into group shots that showed nothing of the characters.

The high saturation bits early on definitely showed some style

#5: OP9 (Yura Yura)

Gets bonus points for being the most stylized OP of the whole series.

While the silhouetted fighting is cool, it doesn't showcase any individuality of Naruto as a character.

The same goes for the group shots they cut to, no individuality to the characters just the same or similar poses for everyone.

#4: OP2 (Haruka Kanata)

Music is pretty good for the most part except for when it increases in tempo only for the OP to have slowly moving poses.

Did not like the stills for the first 3rd of the OP.

This OP is really saved by the amazing sequence where the different teams pop in to the beat of the music.

#3: OP8 (Re:member)

This OP gets some serious bonus points for being the only OP to show everyone's signature jutsu! Yeah, the only one.

Besides that, though, the rest felt unremarkable (not bad just unremarkable)

The exception was the introductions of each team which showcased one person's power then lead that into a group shot. That felt the most inspired of everything here.

#2: OP4 (GO!!! (aka Fighting Dreamers))

Scroll motif goes down as one of the best ways to get away with static character shots.

The ending sequence is legendary

The only part that holds this OP back is the part with the titular "Fighting Dreamers". For some reason they cut on "Dreamers" not "Fighting" so it feel disjointed and what they're cutting between is just static shots that aren't even that interesting.

#1: OP5 (Seishun Kyosokyoku)

Honestly this OP is pretty close to perfect. There wasn’t even a contest.

Things I particularly loved: 

The music felt perfect for the running sequence at the start

The part where Sasuke's hand drops his headband

The part where they changed it half way through to incorporate Lee and the sand ninja coming into the fight. 

In a family reunion where there were at least 20 people

My mother decided that they need some music and asked ME to put “cool” music

Me the antisocial introvert 18-years-old that stays almost the entire reunion in a corner with her little 13-years-old brother and her male 17-year-old cousin talking about anime and fandoms and memes

Do I look like someone who know what “cool music” means?

My mother take my phone to search some music

She read “Goofy wake me up inside ear rape” and “I’m a piece of garbage 1 hour” and “Naruto German opening”