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The year of 2022 in anime music really ended on a high note, thanks to a particular anime that not only delivered in terms of visuals, but also in the auditory department.

If you weren’t able to guess which anime we’re talking about, it’s Chainsaw Man! Putting aside any opinions on the anime itself, we received a new ending theme song for each of the 12 episodes. So if it looks like we’re a bit of bias towards this particular anime, it’s not because of the anime itself, but due to the fact that they invited all the popular Japanese pop and rock artists.

Like previous years, the order of the songs are in no particular order. So now, let’s get into the top 25 anime opening and ending songs of 2022!

Chainsaw Man

first death by TK from Ling tosite sigure

TK from 凛として時雨 『first death』Music Video (TVアニメ「チェンソーマン」第8話エンディング・テーマ）

Joining as the ending theme song for Chainsaw Man episode 8, vocalist and guitarist TK brings a fierce and eccentric song, first death, that accommodates the theme of the anime.

first death

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Mob Psycho 100 III

1 by MOB CHOIR

Mob Psycho 100 III - Opening | 1

The musical unit MOB CHOIR, which was created specifically for the anime, draws out another heroic song. It features the familiar vocalist sana from the band sajou no hana.

1

Buy at iTunes

Ultraman Season 2

3 by NOILION

NOILION Anime『ULTRAMAN』Season2 OP Theme “３”［Official Music Video］

NOILION is a new face in the anisong scene but has proven itself to be a unit worth our attention. Produced by TeddyLoid, NOILION offers a modern sound that takes elements from our digital life. If that sounds intriguing, considering checking out our interview with NOILION where we learn about the song “3” and their modern concept.

3

Buy at CDJapan

Chainsaw Man

KICK BACK by Kenshi Yonezu

米津玄師 Kenshi Yonezu - KICKBACK

Serving as the opening theme song for Chainsaw Man, Kenshi Yonezu not only brings a peculiar song but, tied with the music video, incredibly comedic from start to finish.

KICK BACK

Buy at CDJapan

Kuro no Shoukanshi

Atamannaka DEAD END by RetBear feat. 10fu

「頭ん中DEAD END」レトベア（unknown Vo：10fu） ××Official Video××

The name RetBear has joined the anisong scene with its first single, Atamannaka DEAD END, that features an unknown vocalist under the pseudo name “10fu”. Behind the playful music is composer Kairiki Bear who is well-known in the Vocaloid scene.

Atamannaka DEAD END

Buy at iTunes

RWBY: Hyousetsu Teikoku

Beyond Selves by Void_Chords feat. L

Void_Chords - Beyond Selves (feat.L) (RWBY 氷雪帝国/RWBY: Ice Queendom OP) [Full MV]

Void_Chords, led by Ryo Takahashi, puts out another impressive, jazzy, and stylish work with a unique sound. We talked to composer Ryo Takahashi himself earlier this year, so if you want to learn more about his music, give it a read.

Beyond Selves

Buy at iTunes

Bleach: Sennen Kessen-hen

Rapport by Kitani Tatsuya

Rapport / キタニタツヤ – Rapport / Tatsuya Kitani

Kitani Tatsuya‘s snazzy rock track Rapport can be found as the first ending theme song in the new season of Bleach. However, it was first used as the theme song for “BLEACH EX.”, the manga exhibition.

Scar

Buy at CDJapan

Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou 2nd Season

Gedosanka by FantasticYouth

アニメ「ありふれた職業で世界最強」EDテーマ／FantasticYouth -「外道讃歌」（Gedosanka）MV

FantasticYouth is a duo that has been seeping into the anime scene recently, and from the anime Arifureta, we find Gedosanka, a tame yet incredibly powerful song.

Gedosanka

Buy at iTunes

Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e 2nd Season

Dance In The Game by ZAQ

ZAQ / Dance In The Game -Lyric video full size- TVアニメ『ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ 2nd Season』オープニングテーマ

The passionate musician ZAQ composed multiple bangers this year, but to limit ourselves, we ended up choosing the dance-inducing song, Dance In The Game. Liking what you hear? Don’t forget to explore more of ZAQ through our interview.

Dance In The Game

Buy at CDJapan

Urusei Yatsura

Tokyo Shandy Rendezvous by MAISONdes feat. KAF, Tsumiki

【239】[feat. 花譜, ツミキ] トウキョウ・シャンディ・ランデヴ / MAISONdes

MAISONdes did an outstanding job capturing the mischievousness of the anime Urusei Yatsura through the ending theme song, Tokyo Shandy Rendezvous. We’re especially happy to see KAF performing the vocals, which elevates the song even further.

Aiue / Tokyo Shandy Rendezvous

Buy at CDJapan

Yofukashi no Uta

Yofukashi no Uta by Creepy Nuts

TVアニメ『よふかしのうた』ノンクレジットED【Creepy Nuts「よふかしのうた」】| 毎週木曜日24時55分からフジテレビ"ノイタミナ"ほかにて放送中！

There’s no coincident that the funky song Yofukashi no Uta and the anime share the same name. In fact, the manga author Kotoyama—being a fan of the hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts—asked Creepy Nuts if it was okay to use the same title for the manga. Despite being a song from 2018, Yofukashi no Uta ended up joining the anime adaptation in 2022 as the ending theme song.

Yofukashi no Uta

Buy at CDJapan

Chainsaw Man

Zanki by Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni.

ずっと真夜中でいいのに。『残機』MV (ZUTOMAYO - Time Left)

“Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni.”, also known as ZUTOMAYO, joins anime Chainsaw Man with the quirky song Zanki for episode 2. Naturally, the band didn’t forget to include those funky bass licks that they’re known for.

Zanki

Buy at iTunes

Shingeki no Kyojin: The Final Season Part 2

The Rumbling by SiM

SiM – The Rumbling (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

SiM honored Shingeki no Kyojin with the anime’s heaviest track to date, The Rumbling! The song was so well-received that the anime music video on YouTube reached 30 million views in just three weeks. We talked to SiM about this, see how they responded in our interview.

The Rumbling

Buy at iTunes

Chainsaw Man

HAWATARI NIOKU CENTI by MAXIMUM THE HORMONE

『チェンソーマン』第３話ノンクレジットエンディング / CHAINSAW MAN #3 Ending│マキシマム ザ ホルモン 「刃渡り2億センチ」

MAXIMUM THE HORMONE caught us completely off guard with its ritual chant song, when it appeared as the ending theme song for Chainsaw Man’s episode 3. This chaotic and demonic track is one to watch out for!

HAWATARI NIOKU CENTI

Buy at iTunes

Bucchigire!

Danzai Democracy by Jisho Sonzai name-less

自象存在name-less『断罪デモクラシー』Music Video

The jazzy song Danzai Democracy is chock-full of attitude and is the second original song by “Jisho Sonzai name-less” (selfish-being name-less). As the artist name implies, they’re quite a mystery at this stage.

Danzai Democracy

Buy at CDJapan

Gaikotsu Kishi-sama, Tadaima Isekai e Odekakechuu

Aah, Waga Rouman no Michi yo by PelleK

Skeleton Knight in Another World - 嗚呼、我が浪漫の道よ (Official Op)

Nine years ago, the Norwegian singer PelleK did his first anisong cover. Six-hundred cover songs later, he finally managed to perform for an actual anime! The result is the powerful and hair-raising song, Aah, Waga Rouman no Michi, for the anime Gaikotsu Kishi.

Aah, Waga Rouman no Michi

Buy at iTunes

Bucchigire!

Ichiban Hikare! -Bucchigire!- by Takanori Nishikawa

西川貴教 - 一番光れ！-ブッチギレ-｜Official Music Video

Veteran anisong singer, Takanori Nishikawa, never fails to deliver energy-boosting tracks. Interestingly, the music video rendition of “Ichiban Hikare! -Bucchigire!-” is an amalgamation of several other music videos. It just goes to show how perfectly planned this piece of work was!

SINGularity II – Kakeisei no protoCOL –

Buy at CDJapan

Utawarerumono: Futari no Hakuoro

Hito Nanda by Suara

Suara「人なんだ」

Suara is a household name for fans of the Utawarerumono series, with her previously performing numerous theme songs for the anime. Naturally, Suara is back with another pop and folk song that fits the anime.

Hito Nanda

Buy at CDJapan

Kidou Senshi Gundam: Suisei no Majo

Kimi yo Kedakaku Are by Shiyui

【MV】君よ 気高くあれ / TVアニメ『機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女』EDテーマ【Prod by ryo (supercell)】

Kimi yo Kedakaku Are is Shiyui’s debut single and was composed by no other than ryo (supercell)! Surprisingly, the song is quite aggressive for one that is created by ryo (supercell), but we really dig it!

Kimi yo Kedakaku Are

Buy at CDJapan

Chainsaw Man

Deep down by Aimer

Aimer 「Deep down」MUSIC VIDEO（TVアニメ「チェンソーマン」エンディング・テーマ）

When Aimer received the offer to perform a song that would fit the description, “the story suddenly plunges into deep muddy waters”, she was honored, as they considered her to be the right fit. The song Deep down captures that description exceptionally, and it’s a piece where we can truly appreciate Aimer‘s breathtaking voice.

Deep down

Buy at CDJapan

Peter Grill to Kenja no Jikan: Super Extra

Kurenazumu Yakusoku by Isekaijoucho

ヰ世界情緒 #31「暮れなずむ約束」【オリジナルMV】

Isekaijoucho‘s song Kurenazumu Yakusoku elegantly paints a fantasy world with its sophisticated sound. Color us surprised when we found out that it was featured as the opening theme song for the spicy and contrasting anime, Peter Grill to Kenja no Jikan: Super Extra.

Kurenazumu Yakusoku

Buy at iTunes

Akuyaku Reijou nano de Last Boss wo Kattemimashita

Nomic by ACCAMER

ACCAMER「ノミック」Music Video

ACCAMER puts out a stylish opening theme song that was written and produced by Mirin Shiino, a Vocaloid producer. She also previously worked with other notable Vocaloid producers such as syudou, DECO*27, and Hiiragi Kirai.

Album

Buy at iTunes

Build Divide: Code White

Gold by EGOIST

EGOIST『Gold』Music Video（TVアニメ「ビルディバイド -#FFFFFF-」オープニングテーマ）

The song Gold is a collaborative work between EGOIST, TeddyLoid, and Giga. The tie-up yielded an energetic and punchy DTM-infused (electronic) song!

Gold

Buy at CDJapan

Chainsaw Man

Fight Song by Eve

ファイトソング (Fight Song) - Eve Music Video

Eve ended the Chainsaw Man anime with its wholesome Fight Song for episode 12. Even though we already expected an elaborate music video from Eve, this one dazzled us with its intricate environments, character designs, and story!

Fight Song

Buy at iTunes

Overlord IV

No Man’s Dawn by Mayu Maeshima

前島麻由「No Man's Dawn」Music Video（TVアニメ「オーバーロードⅣ」EDテーマ）

Mayu Maeshima joins the Overlord theme song lineup this year with the wistful song No Man’s Dawn. If her voice sounds familiar, it is because she previously partook in Overlord‘s theme songs as the vocalist of MYTH & ROID.

No Man’s Dawn

Buy at CDJapan

Bonus song:
Bocchi the Rock!

Ano Band by Kessoku Band

【LIVE映像】結束バンド「あのバンド」LIVE at STARRY / 「ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！」劇中曲

In episode 8, Kessoku Band gave a raw rock performance of the song Ano Band. We’ve been keeping this catchy, technical track on repeat ever since. The song also gave us vibes found in another music anime called Fukumenkei Noise, similar to the song Falling Silent. If you like Ano Band, we suggest giving Falling Silent a listen as well; we featured it as a bonus song in our 2017 anime song list.

Kessoku Band

Buy at CDJapan

We hope you liked our picks! Leave a comment below if we missed your favorite anisong!

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