#still old

Time to continue my personal track through memory lane. This decade is going to be longer than the previous one simply because I was a college student who was studying Japanese and even lived in Japan during this time. This list will also have some pretty obscure anime by today’s standards, as well as series that I didn’t like but I loved the songs for. Again, this is in no particular order, and it can contain any opening or ending songs from a single series (unless the series was broken up). Let’s begin!

1. Gundam Seed “Anna ni isshou datta no ni” (あんなに一緒だったのに) by See-Saw (2002)

This song was such a huge hit in Japan at the time, even without the anime. The series itself was pretty good but this ending made it all the better.

2. Gundam Seed Destiny “Bokutachi no yukue” (僕たちの行方) by Hitomi Takahashi (2005)

This was obviously a follow up season to Gundam Seed, but I’m counting it separately here. I loved this series and this song as well, even though the protagonist of the Gundam Seed series got on my last nerve (as many Gundam protagonists tend to do sometimes). Still, amazing song.

3. Wolf’s Rain “Stray” by Steve Conte (2003)

This was such a beautifully written series. But even though both the opening and the ending really gave it a different feel to most anime, the opening song was the one that really stuck with me. For one, an English song written and sung by an English artist is pretty rare in anime, but it fit the series so perfectly I couldn’t have imagined anything else.

4. Fullmetal Alchemist “Melissa” by Porno Graffitti (2004)

Yes, I’m old enough to have watched this series when it first came out while I was in college. I even remember singing this song with a friend in karaoke. There’s just something about this upbeat but slightly melancholic song that really fits this series. Even though I eventually loved Brotherhood more, none of the amazing songs can replace Melissa for me.

5. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood “Golden Time Lover” by Sukima Switch (2009)

I know that some people might think I’m crazy for not picking “Again”, but...I just like this song way more. I love the beat, the lyrics, and the animation that goes with it. It’s a perfect “middle of the road” song for a series like Brotherhood. “Rain” is a really close second (I even translated the lyrics on this very site and others), but this says “Brotherhood” to me.

6. Fruits Basket “For Fruits Basket” (For フルーツバスケット) by Ritsuko Okazaki (2001)

This was another series that I fell in love with while I was in Japan. The opening theme song sounds like she almost whispered it, but it works for the series at that time. So unassuming, like most people who walk into the series...only to be hit by the feels over and over again. Great series, great song.

7. Scrapped Princess “Daichi no la-li-la” Yoko Ueno / Masumi Ito (2003)

This is a series that I doubt many people remember, but it was one that I loved when I was living in Japan. Pretty different to most series I’ve ever watched, and the ending song is almost like something out of a renassaince fair...but matched perfectly to the strange blend of genres in the anime.

8. .hack//SIGN “Yasashii Yoake” (優しい夜明け) by See-Saw (2003)

I remember watching this series but I don’t remember much about it anymore. I do remember both the opening “Obsession” and the ending song...but I’ll give the nudge to the ending more than the opening. Definitely a good one.

9. Chrono Crusade “Tsubasa wa Pleasure Line” (翼はPleasure Line) by Minami Kurayabashi (2004)

Even though I had actually forgotten the anime itself until I looked it back up, I did remember this wonderful opening song. Very pretty, catchy and the lyrics are very well done. 

10. Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu “Sore ga Ai Deshou” (それが、愛でしょう) by Mikuni Shimokawa (2003)

It’s probably a well known fact how much I love this series overall. I’ve translated light novels, I’ve watched all four seasons, I’ve even summarized an audio drama from this series. It’s easily one of my favorite series of all time. And if I had to pick a single theme song to cover the three FMP series that came out in the 00s, it’s this one. Fumoffu was a huge hit, it was (and still is) hilarious. And this theme song was perfect in every way. 

11. Hikaru no Go “Sincerely ~ever dream~” by Dream (2002)

Hikaru no Go had so many amazing opening and ending songs, but this is the song that I think really sums up the entire series itself, even if it is an ending song. The songs actually kind of ‘grow up’ with the protagonist of the series, reflecting what he’s gone through. Even though “Days” makes me tear up, I’m putting this song as my favorite.

12. Soul Eater “Bakusou Yumeuta” (爆走夢歌) by Diggy-MO’ (2009)

This was a pretty fun series overall that took me a little while to get into. I love the 3rd ending song because it’s also a fun song that’s way different than most anime theme songs...much like Soul Eater itself.

13. The Twelve Kingdoms “Getsumei-Fuuei” (月迷風影) by Mika Arisaka (2001)

This was a series that I loved so much that it hurt to never have a proper ending for. In many ways, it reminds me of Yona of the Dawn...including the theme songs. The opening theme song was orchestral and beautiful..but I prefer the ending theme song. It’s a waltz that makes it sound very much like a journey, which is how I’ll always remember this series.

14. Inuyasha “Fukai Mori” (深い森) by Do As Infinity (2001)

I loved this series, and I absolutely loved this band. This song is completely different from the other, more pop-like theme songs. It’s very dark, slow and beautiful. I will always associate Inuyasha with this song.

15. Naruto “Haruku Kanata” (遥か彼方) by Asian Kung-Fu Generation (2004)

Yes, I did watch some Naruto...no, I didn’t keep up with it. But I lived in Japan at the time it started, so of course I tried it out. I did really like this song, though. It’s also about the point where all of my knowledge of the series ended. 

16. Fate/stay night “disillusion” by Sachi Tainaka (2006)

I watched this so long ago that I couldn’t tell you what happened in it anymore...but the song stuck with me. Beautiful, haunting and melodic...hard to beat a theme song like that.

17. Bleach “*~Asterisk~” (＊～アスタリスク～ Asutarisuku) by Orange Range (2005)

Ah, Bleach. Another shounen series ruined by never quitting. Just like Naruto, I started watching this series when it came out. Also just like Naruto, I dropped it pretty quickly when I realized it was never going to end. There’s a reason you don’t see these series (especially One Piece) on my lists...I don’t like series without constant character or plot development. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the songs...such as this one. I remember it well, even if I’ve forgotten most of what I knew about Bleach.

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This is the end of this list...I’ll be back soon for my 10s list soon.

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My Favorite Anime OPs/EDs from the 90s

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