Great anime songs that colored the Heisei era
The 1990s…
Riding the wave of Jump’s golden age, the anime world was experiencing a huge surge in excitement.
One of the factors that fueled this anime boom was anime songs, or “anisong.”
In the early Heisei era, unlike today where popular rock bands often perform them, anisong were mostly sung by musicians who specialized in the genre.
This time, we’re spotlighting some of the most popular anisong from that Heisei period!
They’re all famous tracks that people of all ages have likely heard at least once, so be sure to check them out!
- [Nostalgic] Classic and Popular Anime Songs Recommended for People in Their 30s
- [Nostalgic & Latest] A Special Feature on Anime Songs Recommended for People in Their 20s
- Anisongs that were hits in the 2000s: a nostalgic collection of legendary tracks
- Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- [Heisei Songs] Classic hits from the Heisei era that are popular on Instagram Reels
- [Top 20] Anime Song Sales Ranking of the Heisei 30 Years!
- [Nostalgic Songs] A compilation of classic anime themes that hit home for those born in the Showa and Heisei eras
- Songs from the Heisei retro era that will get any generation excited! Timeless tracks you’ll want to listen to now.
- Iconic scenes overlap! Anime songs recommended for the yutori generation
- [Collection of Epic Songs] A compilation of cool anime songs chosen by anime fans
- Including global smash hits! Anime songs recommended for Gen Z
- [From 2010 onward] A roundup of anime that teenagers feel nostalgic about
- Anime songs recommended for people in their 40s, from nostalgic classics to the latest hits.
Great Anime Songs That Colored the Heisei Era (1–10)
We are!Hiroshi Kitadani
ONE PIECE is a work that has continued to captivate audiences for a long time.
It’s one of Japan’s most iconic manga and anime.
As a long-running anime, it has featured many theme songs, but perhaps the most popular of them all is We Are! It’s a signature piece by Hiroshi Kitadani, a member of JAM Project, and its appeal lies in a refreshing, grand melody that evokes the feeling of a voyage.
Until the World Ends…WANDS
In the past, it was common for anime theme songs to be sung by anison singers.
If there’s an anime that broke that mold, it would have to be SLAM DUNK.
The show drew huge attention because WANDS—a band that was extremely popular in Japan at the time—handled its theme songs.
These days, there are plenty of tracks that don’t quite match an anime’s vibe, but in WANDS’ case, what’s impressive is how perfectly they translated SLAM DUNK’s world into their music.
“Until the World Ends” (Sekai ga Owaru made wa…) was especially popular among their songs.
It’s a fantastic piece both as music and as an anime song, so definitely give it a listen.
A Cruel Angel's ThesisYoko Takahashi
The original anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, which became a social phenomenon in Japan.
Among early Heisei-era anime, it can be considered one of the biggest hits alongside Dragon Ball.
And when it comes to Neon Genesis Evangelion’s theme song, it has to be A Cruel Angel’s Thesis.
This classic by Yoko Takahashi is still used across various media today.
Here we’re featuring the orthodox version, but there are many different arrangements, so be sure to compare them and find your favorite!
Great anime songs that colored the Heisei era (11–20)
Fluffy TimeAfter School Tea Time
K-On! sparked a band boom among anime fans and had a major influence on later series as well.
Its big appeal lies in the gentle, everyday lives of the girls in the light music club, and the genuine band sound that’s born within those days.
“Fuwa Fuwa Time” is a song that appears in the show, and it’s notable that there are two different vocal versions depending on the story.
It’s a hit classic that conveys cuteness while delivering a light, energetic band sound—a catchy vibe that makes you want to cover it.
Moonlight LegendDALI
For millennial women, isn’t the most popular anime Sailor Moon? Beyond its popularity as a shoujo manga, it was a major hit as an anime as well, and its format continues to influence many works today, such as the Pretty Cure series.
The theme song of Sailor Moon is Moonlight Densetsu.
This song, which expresses both femininity and strength, immersed girls of the time in the world of Sailor Moon.
Until the world ends...WANDS
This is WANDS’ eighth single, which was used as the second ending theme for the 1994 TV anime Slam Dunk.
It played alongside Mitsui Hisashi’s comeback arc, topped the Oricon weekly chart for two consecutive weeks, and became a million seller.
Show Uesugi’s impassioned vocals and Tetsurō Oda’s masterful composition lyrically portray the sense of loss after heartbreak and the turbulence of shifting emotions, building gradually from the first verse and bursting open in the chorus—thrilling whether you sing it or listen to it.
Also included on the album PIECE OF MY SOUL, it remains an immortal classic loved across generations, continually covered by the reactivated fifth-generation WANDS since 2019 and by Show Uesugi himself.
peace signKenshi Yonezu
The single released by Kenshi Yonezu in 2017 is the opening theme for the first cour of season 2 of the anime My Hero Academia.
The song captures the protagonist’s determination to grow stronger in order to protect those he cares about, even while facing his own weakness.
Its exhilarating guitar-rock sound and powerful message of charging toward the future are truly stirring.
It’s the perfect track for times when you want to keep moving forward despite setbacks, or when you feel like doing your best for someone else.
There’s also an anecdote that Yonezu created it with the Digimon Adventure theme song in mind—perhaps another reason it’s loved across generations.
The music video surpassed 300 million views on YouTube in October 2024 and continues to inspire courage in many people.