Anime is known for having fantastically elaborate, memorable opening songs. They’re almost their own independent experience when watching them, like a wonderful bonus on top of each and every show. So, since it’s that time of year, we’re going to dive into the best openings of the best horror anime in existence, ranking them from “worst” (but still great) to best.

10. Angels of Death (2018)

Starting off the list, we’ve got Angels of Death. Based on the horror video game of the same name, Angels of Death is the story of 13-year-old Rachel Gardner who wakes up in a mysterious building where each floor contains a different killer obsessed with ending her life (including the hot-headed, scythe-carrying, bandaged-wrapped serial killer Zack).

The opening song, “Vital,” captures this creepy premise perfectly while balancing the show’s overt darkness and more humorous side; it contains thanks to the endearing relationship between Rachel and Zack. Speaking of Zack, the delightful visuals we get of him gleefully doing what he does best (killing brutally) are so fun to watch, it’s almost addicting. But the best shot is the ending image of Zack (exasperated) and Rachel (blank-faced) holding up their names for a joint mugshot.

9. Castlevania (2017)

This one is technically not an anime—but it is a very, very good horror show with anime-style animation. Also based on a popular video game, Castlevania is a dark medieval fantasy following the last surviving member of the vampire hunting Belmont clan, Trevor Belmont, as he, a talented sorceress, and Dracula’s son attempt to save Europe from Vlad Dracula Tepes’ deadly wrath. Though the show itself is wildly gore-filled and blood-spattered, the opening mostly relies on darkly colored, artistically stylized shots that showcase the underlying themes of the series: religion, betrayal, love, and humanity. It’s an OP (opening) that doesn’t have lyrics, and it doesn’t need them. The understated instrumentals alone create a foreboding, dread-inducing feeling that vocals on top would simply lessen the impact rather than heighten it.

The moment of pause in the music as Dracula has the ashes of his wife run through his fingers is … stunning. Then, the music flairs back in and Dracula erupts into pure rage, all the visuals exploding right along with him. It’s a masterfully crafted, beautiful opening. My one complaint about it is that it doesn’t appear in every episode.

8. Devilman Crybaby (2018)

Now, the only other show on this list with an OP that has no lyrics: Devilman Crybaby. Tragedy, horror, and straight up insanity can be found in this anime—a story about two best friends (the gentle, sweet Akira and genius, callous Ryo) in a horrific world where demons have returned to take over humanity and destroy it.

As a nihilistic show that dives straight into the ugliness at the heart of human nature, it’s fitting that it should have such an unusual, discomposing opening (“Man Human”). With its strange, pulsating beat and accompanying surreal-yet-symbolic imagery, there’s something unnerving but compelling about it, letting you know that something is off but intriguing you enough to keep you glued to your seat.

7. The Promised Neverland (2019)

As a show about children being farmed as food for demons, The Promised Neverland definitely has a twisted side to it. However, the main trio (Emma, Norman, and Ray) have such a deep and heartwarming bond that, despite the sinister plot, TPN has an element of purity and hope that makes the storyline as a whole stand out among other horror/psychological thriller shows. This side of hope is what the OP, “Touch Off,” focuses on portraying. There’s no doubt a great sense of urgency throughout it, perhaps even a slight undertone of unease, but there’s also something so exhilarating about it—a special kind of energy that both pumps you up and sparks the tingling of anxiety.

The scenes of the trio sprinting and jumping through the forest are especially brilliant, making you unsure if they’re running for a game of tag, or running for their lives. That dichotomy of being carefree children and fighting tooth and nail to survive for the sake of reaching freedom is such a central part of The Promised Neverland’s story, as is the takeaway of the song’s lyrics: “Never, ever give up.”

6. Future Diary (2011)

Following high schooler Yukiteru Amano and his obsessive stalker, Yuno, as they compete in a death game to become the next God, this anime offers a combination of absolute bizarreness (not a Jojo reference), mind games, and a constant bloody massacre of deranged fun. What makes it even better, Future Diary’s opening is nothing short of iconic. Starting with what sounds like a blaring church choir and a close-up shot of an eye crying a tear of blood, it begins with a bang and only gets better from there. Then, the heavy guitar hits like a blow to the head, as do the rest of the visuals which become increasingly disturbing—just like the show itself.

Also, this opening spoils what is arguably one of the biggest plot twists in anime history, but you don’t know it until you’ve already finished the show. How cool is that? Answer: very, very cool.

5. Tomodachi Game (2022)

I mentioned that Future Diary had an element of mind games, but it does nothing to compare to the head-spinning, outlandishly creative, twisting plans of Tomodachi Game (technically more psychological-nightmare x thriller than horror) that will repeatedly drop the floor out from under you. Translating to “Friends Game” in English, this show follows Yuuichi Katagiri and the rest of his friends after they are kidnapped and forced to play in a mysterious game meant to tear apart your friendships and throw you into debt and despair. It is especially notable for its outstanding, possibly-insane-but-definitely-brilliant protagonist who can be sweet and seemingly innocent one moment and utterly terrifying and evil the next. The opening, “Double Shuffle,” most certainly displays this duality, using shots of Yuuichi’s pure smile at the beginning before showing us his cruel, ice-cold smirk in the middle and, finally, his maliciously devious grin at the very end.

The rhythm/beat of the song itself is extremely catchy, fast-paced, and, in a sense, unnerving when combined with the tone and pitch of the singer’s high voice. She carries an air of both deceptive cheerfulness and mal-intent as she sings—in fact, much like Yuuichi, it sounds as if there’s a hidden wickedness lurking behind the happy facade. Of course, the visuals pair with this voice and beat impeccably well, constantly cutting between the characters laughing with one another to them staring blankly ahead or leering out at you with a smug, deceitful expression that crawls its way under your skin and makes you twitch. A genuinely chilling OP for an even more chilling MC.

4. Vampire Knight (2008)

Right, so, this isn’t exactly a horror anime, either … but it is a supernatural, dark fantasy show that contains a very unique, creepy atmosphere for what really falls under the shoujo romance category. Vampire Knight takes place at an elite boarding school with a Day class (human students) and a Night class (vampire students), and is centered around Yuki Cross (a human girl), her troubled childhood friend (Zero), and the beautiful vampire who saved her life 10 years ago (Kaname). Say what you will about the plot of the show—it’s no secret that it has some, uh, questionable plot twists—but no one can deny that its opening is anything other than amazing.

The song is a little ominous, absurdly catchy, and kind of sad—but also undeniably romantic. Combine that with the visuals, and you get something that is, well, surprisingly dark and bleak for a shoujo romance that should only count as about 70% of a “real” show. The shots of Yuki staring longingly at Kaname before we cut away to see Zero staring with equal emotion at Yuki hit particularly hard. Truthfully, there’s a sense of tragedy underneath it all, hidden by the sheer beauty of the melody, voice, and stylistically drawn characters. Before judging it, just listen to it, ok?

3. Jujutsu Kaisen (2020)

Making the top three, we have Jujutsu Kaisen. As a series about sorcerers, curses, and demons, JJK is one of the most popular shonen anime currently on air, and it’s got a wonderful, unskippable OP to match. “Kaikai Kitan,” sung by popular Japanese singer Eve, has such a fun, high-energy quality to it that it is a real joy to experience every time. The surprisingly darker meaning of some of its lyrics—which delve into loneliness and inner turmoil—is almost completely masked by the happiness of the melody. Once you know what they are, the depth of the OP’s meaning only grows on you, getting you to think more about the darker themes presented in the show itself. Coming from studio MAPPA, it’s all made even better by pairing with some of the most beautiful animation you have ever seen in your life. Seriously, every transition flows seamlessly, the colors are impossibly vibrant, and each movement of a scene or character feels fully connected to the song.

The end product is a bit strange, more than a little funny, and also intriguingly mysterious as it doesn’t tell you much about what’s going on. With sorcerers fighting curses left and right, pandas running across rooftops, etcetera, it just does it. Considering the fun, unpredictable adventure of a show that Jujutsu Kaisen is, that’s just fine.

2. Death Note (2006)

Coming in at the number two spot on the list is Death Note—a show that is undeniably the king of mind games and psychological thrillers. It all begins when “average” (genius) high school student Light Yagami finds a notebook titled the Death Note and discovers that if he writes a person’s name in it, that person … will die.

The imagery in the opening, titled “The World,” is grand in scale and rich in biblical symbolism—fitting of the epic battle between two of the greatest minds in fiction. Watching it, you can feel the suspense building as you just know something big is going to go down. The lyrics go right along with it, speaking of darkness and revolution and giving insight into Light’s growing god complex with his uniquely skewed ideals regarding good, evil, and justice. To top it off, the backing guitar and drums also work incredibly well with both the vocals and visuals, easily making “The World” one of the most notable and well-remembered openings of anime.

1. Tokyo Ghoul (2015)

Tokyo Ghoul follows the story of Ken Kaneki—a kind, unsuspecting college student who is nearly killed by a ghoul (a being that feeds on human flesh) and is subsequently turned a half monster after receiving a life-changing organ transplant from his attacker.

Now, there was no question about which of these openings would come out on top. Not only is Tokyo Ghoul’s “Unravel” the best horror anime OP of all time, it’s simply the best anime OP of all time. There’s no competition. It’s got everything: thought-provoking lyrics, remarkable vocals, and stunningly breathtaking visuals. It’s an opening that takes you on a journey, starting off delicately serene—a quiet voice singing sans instrumentals—and quickly transforming into a dark, chaotic, unforgettable experience of a song with heavy-hitting guitar and impressively powerful screams. Pair that with shots like Kaneki sitting in a chair on a glassy, reflective sky and Rize’s colorful, kagune explosion, and you truly get an opening that cannot be done justice by the word ‘iconic.’

Once you know the meaning of the lyrics, the awe you feel toward “Unravel” only swells. Each line is a look into the fascinating, but tortured mind of our troubled protagonist, Kaneki, detailing his inner conflict with this change he’s going through; a twisted fate that he is thrust into, kicking and screaming, as he longs to remember the way he used to be. And for those lyrics to be sung with such pure emotion by the singer—a man whose voice is so unique you can tell who he is just by the way he breathes—it makes for an exceptionally, painfully beautiful song. Indeed, nothing compares.

There you have it, the best of all horror anime openings, ranked. Do you agree? I am open to discussion on all except for “Unravel,” because there is no point in discussing objective facts.

I hope you enjoyed, and feel free to come at me with your own anime music opinions.

A Ranking of Horror Anime Openings