gbsmith
At this point, we’ve seen basically all there is to be seen for these two categories, barring any extra special versions any show wants to dump on us now, late in the Fall season, though I personally prefer the awards to go to regular OPs and EDs, since it’s not quite fair to compare the special one-off ones that appear now and then, since the production companies take extra special care with those.
The only sort of guideline I like to throw out there is that personally I try to judge the entire package of music and animation, not just “I love this song, therefore this is best” or “I love this show, so this is best.” [And in answer to a reviewer’s question, yes, the OP to YOI’s can count as a dancing opening].
daruswashington999
I’m liking the opening to Knights of Sidonia Season Two. Great blend of choir vocals, electronica music and mech action.
djnostyle
For OPs, I need to give it to Erased. Not only is Re:Re a nostalgia-trip and one hell of a song, but the animation and overall tone of the entire opening perfectly eases the viewer into each episode and was somewhat of a highlight itself every single week. Hearing the song kick on out of nowhere was constantly a punch in the face in the best possible way. Honestly, it’s probably a top ten all-time opener for me.
For EDs, Konosuba all the way. Not only am I a complete sucker for voice-cast songs, I’m a complete sucker for Celtic folk. With Konosuba bringing both those elements to the table, backed by one of the most intimate and catchy tunes of the season, I support this choice 100%. Listening to and watching the ending of Konosuba every episode was like unwinding after a long day. And, considering how much poor Kazuma had to go through, it’s a well-deserved rest.
bctaris
Eeesh… Yeah, Konosuba, Flip Flappers, and maybe even Showa Genroku for EDs. When I figure out which one, I’ll get back to it. OP’s are slightly wider open.
ink
OPs: While I LOVED Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju’s OP, I think the OPs for Mob Psycho 100 and Yuri!!! on Ice are more memorable. But since I find myself singing “We were born to make history!” out loud randomly in daily life more than I’d like to admit and remember more precisely the simplicity of expression that drives that OP, I claim the Yuri!!! on Ice OP winner of 2016.
EDs: As a man who values simplicity, I have to opt for Yamishibai’s third season’s ED as the best for imparting the perfect tone while using a very simple variation on a theme to increase the effect. Flip Flappers and To Be Hero, are honorable mentions.
impassionatek
I refer back to this (a previous discussion) for best opening: “I was born to make history…with my katsudon.”
chuckhodgin
It’s hard to not think about Yuri!!! on Ice right away here. That OP grabbed me from frame one and wouldn’t allow me to look away. The superb animation captures the loose, flowing style of figure skating, and the song is incredibly memorable. The Kiznaiver OP was very stylish, and the 91 Days OP had some brilliant direction, but Yuri takes the cake for me this year.
painicus
I too am in camp Yuri!!! on Ice here. The song is something I find humming to myself every so often in everyday life and the animation always has me at rapt attention.
But I also really liked 91 Days’ OP. I think it captured the somber nature of the show in general and whoever sings the song has a voice I like.
chuckhodgin
I just remembered the Mob Psycho 100 OP…awesome.
bctaris
For sonicbug’s [KJO] sake, we should get an informal list of DANCIN’ OP/EDs this year. YOI’s does count, as Greg, says, if you count figure skating. WWW.WORKING!! from this season has a brief sequence of the cast shimmying away, as well. Can’t remember stuff from rest of year…
For my own picks I’ll go with the crowd on YOI’s for OP. But Flip Flappers for ED: the cheerful animation below, illustrator tanu’s gorgeous fairy tale scroll on top (symbolism for the story’s Pure Illusion worlds floating above and beyond) combined with the quirky nostalgic singing of the wonderful Masumi Itoh unit, TO-MAS.
chuckhodgin
My favorite ED was Space Patrol Luluco. I just adore that music; it was such a chill comedown from the carnage and insanity that came before it. The sticker stuff was interesting, but the music kept me coming back to that one.
djnostyle
Honestly, I almost voted Sansha Sanyou for best OP.
venus_angel9
As for OP I agree with YOI’s, have not seen the anime yet but the OP is pure gold (pun intended) hypnotic. As a runner up, I would nominate the Mob Psycho 100 OP, that one’s pure psychedelia and max energy. As for endings I also like the Mob Psycho one, painted on glass, completely different from the opening, very understated and gentle. I need to mention the Days ending, it’s too adorable. Re:Life also gets props. Nothing much happens in it, but I just love the care they took to showcase a different song each week from Arata’s high school years (and probably mini disk collection). Made me feel nostalgic too.
kestrelswift
Speaking of Haikyuu!! (likely to be my favorite of the year, although Yuri!!! on Ice has a real chance), I’ll finally decide on some favorite OPs and EDs, starting with its ED as my favorite. NICO Touches the Walls goes for a different style but stays utterly catchy, set to a rundown of the many characters we’ve met throughout the series, which I love to see. Erased comes close with its haunting ED, but it probably does win OP for me, with Asian Kung-Fu Generation’s twelve-year-old song as fresh as ever and a truly brilliant sequence to accompany it.
