Continuing with the spooky October theme this week I’m counting down my favourite creepy anime OP’s and ED’s. These may or may not belong to creepy anime but the music certainly fits a horror story. As always I’d love to know your choices so if you have a favourite creepy OP or ED be sure to share it in the comments below.
Number 5 – From the Edge (ED from Demon Slayer)
There’s not a lot to say with this one and I’m sure most of you have been listening to it for the past six months. While the visuals are relatively optimistic from the opening notes to the undertones of the song, I found this one relatively creepy and when closing my eyes I could imagine a much darker horror story playing out around this music.
Number 4 – Ghost Hunt Main Theme
Visually this one is probably the least spectacular on the list but in terms of atmosphere it has definitely hit the right mark. Despite it being relatively dull to look at I don’t think I’ve ever skipped the OP when watching Ghost Hunt as it really just sets the mood absolutely perfectly. It’s one of those times where I feel if they ever rebooted the series or made a continuation they would have to get this music again.
Number 3 – Still Doll (ED From Vampire Knight)
From an anime that definitely isn’t creepy despite the presence of vampires, unless you find the main character’s relationships shiver worthy, Vampire Knight gives us an ED that is both compelling and unnerving. This is another one of those songs I never skipped and is one of the few anime songs I learned the lyrics to in Japanese because I just find it really great to listen to (not that I can actually hit all the notes). Still, it is one of my favourite creepy anime songs.
Number 2 – Magia (ED from Madoka Magica)
Considering some of the themes and decisions characters had to make in Madoka Magica, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that some of the music in it was quite dark. Where both Ghost Hunt and Vampire Knight go for a more quiet and contemplative take to build unease, Madoka manages to bring the fully creepy while still seeming upbeat and driving. It is one of those songs that just perfectly catches a mood and a tone and fits its anime absolutely perfectly.
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Number 1 – Naraku no Hana (OP from Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Kai)
I absolutely loved this OP the first time I saw it. I remember I saw this as part of a You Tube compilation video and tracked down the anime from there. Which also explains how I managed to watch Kai before the first season because I didn’t actually realise it was a sequel. That said, this opening gives us the full package of creepy music and visuals. Sure there’s moments of brightness and happiness but there’s a lot of fairly dark imagery underpinning this opening as well and it has definitely earned its place at the top of my list.
Over to you: Which anime OP’s and ED’s do you think are the creepiest whether the anime they are attached to are scary or not?
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Karandi James
I have to agree, the ending for Magica Madoka is pretty creepy. It shows something terrible is about to happen.
The first Higurashi opening has always been one of my favorites. Both of them are really good, I think it’s more that I just like the first song better.
As for other creepy OPs, I have two nominations. Yamishibai’s original OP, with the grinning masked storyteller and those soulless-looking kids on the swings. And Narutaru’s opening, which is so impossibly, ridiculously upbeat that it turns into something creepy in its own way, especially once you’ve watched it and know how dark and gruesome the actual story is.
I think I like the second Higurashi opening because I heard it first though the first one is also a very creepy and great opening.
Thanks for the nominations. I’ll have to check them out at some point.
Youjo Senki’s not “creepy”, but I always found the opening so violent. Not that it’s gory or anything, but the music by MYTH/ROID is so loud and messy in that track (in a good way). The visuals are also very grainy and confusing, fitting with Tanya’s frustration at her ordeal.
Same goes for Watamote, I guess,lol.
Interesting choices.
I was gonna say Still Doll. That song is absolutely haunting.
Totally agree.