Top 25 Anime Ending Themes, Version 1.0: Part 3

HEHEHEHEEEEY.

 

Just like a reoccurring shonen antagonist, I HAVE RETURNED.

Sooooooo let’s pick up where we left off on our list of top anime ending themes……..

Shall we begin?  Again?

 

13.)  Magia, by Kalafina

          Madoka Magica  ED 1

If it wasn’t for the fact that this ED theme was basically a simple walk-cycle courtesy of Madoka Kaname, I would’ve placed this ED a little bit higher on this list.  Thankfully though, the singers from Kalafina (or, as I like to call them, “Yuki Kajiura’s Personal Girl Band”) provided us with an aesthetically pleasing ED that is a much better match to the show itself than the OP for sure.  Also, you know an ED is pretty badass when the creators use it for certain action scenes in the actual show, soooo there’s that.

Yeah, I can’t find a decent YouTube video that actually had the ED itself, but here’s the actual full version because you should listen to it anyways.”

 

12.)  Kirameki, by wacci

            Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso ED1

A more recent addition to this list, Kirameki is a song that reflects it’s show’s theme rather well, with its upbeat melody and overall positive tone that proves to be a perfect match for the show’s first half.  Being a great listen as well on its own, there’s rarely a moment where I listen to it on a nice, cool, sunny day and not drift into a daydream about all the good things I’ve experienced in life, however short in number those good things are.

But, I digress.  I initially didn’t think much of this, but after listening to its other version at the end of the series, I had to reconsider.  Frankly, I find myself liking both of them equally.

 

11.)  Departures, by EGOIST

            Guilty Crown ED1

A quiet, soulful, and mellow ED theme that is brilliant in and of itself.  “Departures” is another ED theme that does not particularly rely on its animation (although it ain’t bad) but rather one that allows the song itself to whisk you away with just how darn beautiful it is.  I feel that this song is one of those things that made Egoist such a sought-after band today, and considering their work on this song, I’m not really surprised.  Oh, and it’s also a part of one of it’s OSTs, soooo yeah.

 

10.) Splash Free , by Style Five

            Free! ED1

“OMG KEN LIKES THAT SONG FROM THAT GAY ANIME-”

-yeah no just stop that joke has been beaten to death so hard it passed through the core of the Earth and out the other side already.

Call me whatever you want, but I love this ED.  This was undoubtedly the marquee ending theme for the show, and why wouldn’t it?  It has an addictive tune to it, trademark KyoAni-tier animation, and it even tells some sort of story:  Haru walking a camel being an obscure metaphor for an adolescent’s emotional development, and how the desert is supposed to represent Haru’s dry state of mind without the presence of water, or in this case, his friends and comrades, and how Rin, being a prince, reflects how……..

Oh, who am I kidding.  I watch it for that club scene.

 

9.) Hare Hare Yukai , by Aya Hirano, Minori Chihara, & Yuko Gotou

            The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya ED1

Really, there’s no need to elaborate on this ED theme is on this list, right?

No self-respecting KyoAni fan would be found dead without adding Hare Hare Yukai on their favorite ED-theme lists.  With an addive beat coupled with an even more addictive dance that was all the rage in the anime community, as otakus from different walks of life forsook their dignity trying to learn how to dance to this ED theme PROPERLY, Hare Hare Yukai has been one of the many marks that the actual show it represents has placed not just on the otaku community, but on the history of anime itself.

That alone gives it a nice little spot on the list.

Now excuse me as I attempt to emulate how this dance goes by watching a YouTube tutorial.

 


Aaaand, that’s a wrap for now.  I’m sorry I haven’t been active for about a month now.  Things happened and I was stressed because university was starting soon.  But I’ve got things sorted out, finally, so I’ll be able to focus on the things I have to do, including keeping you guys entertained and/or infuriated with my thoughts and opinions on various anime and anime-culture in general.

So don’t worry; after this list I have many reviews planned (some are already penned) and then some, so stay tuned.  For now, watch out for the next part to this list.

Until then, this has been Ken, for thebuttonsmashers.com, and I’ll see you guys in the future.