There’s no doubt that TV shows and anime specifically are popular forms of entertainment. When we the watch title of a show like ‘The Walking Dead’, ‘Peacemaker’, or ‘Naruto Shippuden’, a kind of magic could be felt as music (whether is has lyrics or not) is playing while scenes from the show are interspersed as the song continues to play.

A good opening credit would almost always catch the viewer’s attention and make them interested in watching the show. It’s no surprise that both Western TV shows and anime both use this to good effect but the latter has elevated this technique into an art form. But what makes an anime opening memorable? This is where a bit of science comes in.

Music has contributed to elevating the narrative of moving pictures and the title sequence is no exception. The title sequence is a segment that uses conceptual visuals and sounds to introduce the characters of a certain show. Music that is used in media falls into two categories: diegetic and non-diegetic music.

Diegetic music is defined as the music that are intrinsic to the narrative world such as music being played in a radio or TV.

On the other hand, non-diegetic music, oftentimes called “mood music” or “thematic music” are those which are external and are used to convey emotion or a kind of information. According to Guido Heldt, a renowned German musicologize, the purpose of this kind of music is to evoke a certain feeling.

The music, together with the visuals of the opening scene, enhances the audio-visual experience of the viewer and inviting them to the show’s world. The title sequence of a show combines both non-diegetic music and artistic visuals to give the viewer a taste of the story and its worldbuilding.

To put this into example, take a look at the first opening of the anime ‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’ with the song ‘Again’ by Yui.

For those unfamiliar with the anime, the series centers on the brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric and their pursuit of the Philosopher’s Stone, a potent artifact. Their goal is to undo the terrible consequences of a prohibited ritual that was originally used to resurrect their mother.

With lyrics like “I’ve still got a lot of years ahead of me to just erase these feelings?,” the song that goes with the original scene begins softly. “I want to go back and finish the things I haven’t finished” is a metaphor for the main characters’ life prior to the tragic events. The scene is juxtaposed with a man sporting blonde hair reaching out his hands towards the viewer which then transitions to a woman looking gently, a hint of possible romance between the two.

The video continues narrating the story of the main characters as children until the fateful day they burned down their family home which serves as a motif of the characters. The opening also presents the anime’s immense worldbuilding which is  primarily through alchemy or the ability to transmute the properties of one thing to another.

Alchemy and its uses are a recurring theme throughout the anime and how it could be used not only for good, but also for evil. As the song builds up speed, we are then shown the different characters that Edward and Alphonse meet throughout their arduous journey. Their interactions are interspersed with fighting scenes. Finally, the opening sequence ends with the characters looking at the sky with their shadows stretching behind them. This could represent the long journey ahead of them and the obstacles that they need to overcome. 

An anime’s opening, if crafted right, would be as memorable as the anime itself. When you talk to another person about anime, perhaps the one thing that strikes out is the opening of that anime. Anime openings are the hook that grab you into entering their world.

Other POP! stories that you might like:

Should parents have a say or limit what they wear to their child’s graduation?

‘Nakauwi na ang main character’ why going home to the province became a holiday label

Here’s what we know about Olivia Rodrigo’s new album, ‘you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love’