Let’s face it, if there were a hierarchy of anime openings and endings, then the fanservice dancing ones would be on top. They’re like the royalty of anime OPs and EDs, not only in terms of quality and fondness but also in how unforgettable or distinctive they are. Remember that dance in Haruhi? Or the Lucky Star opening? Or my personal favorite, the seconding ending to xxxHOLiC? As soon as you infuse some dancing into an opening or ending, they improve or, at the very least, become more memorable. This year, we witnessed the origination of several new dancing openings and endings, with each showing its influence by being some of the most cherished and celebrated sequences of the year. And for this day, I want to honor these select few openings and endings for being some of the best in 2012.
Below is my personal list of anime openings and endings that prominently featured dancing in them. And since this is a list comprised of the anime I watched in 2012, some shows might be missing from this list, so it may not include every opening and ending with dancing in it for now. If anyone feels that I should make an addition or exception, please let me know. And with that said, onto the OPs and EDs!
Kill Me Baby ED:
Nisemonogatari OP 3:
I could not find a quality video online that would embed here. Go ahead and rewatch it though, since it is fantastic.
Tsuritama OP:
Joshiraku ED:
I could not find a quality video online that would embed here. Watch it again since watching chibi like this dance is brilliant.
Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita OP:
Space Brothers OP 2:
And yeah, that’s it. Although dancing OPs and EDs are among the most famous, there really aren’t too many each year which kinda keeps them atypical and exclusive. However, they are among the best for what they do. Each of these openings and endings are still memorable, even long after the anime they belonged to have finished and we’ve moved onto the next batch of anime. And they also serve as a gateway to our memories, bringing back our recollections of the anime of seasons passed. Really, anime OPs and EDs are fantastic things that often make up bits and pieces of my free time as I transition from one thing to another, so it’s about time I spend some time on them and acknowledge some of the best of 2012.