Listen More! A Collection of Hidden Gems in Anime Songs
In anime songs, there are insert tracks that only play in a single episode, and sometimes special ending themes too, right?
I imagine many people love those kinds of songs because they let you feel the world of the work more deeply.
So in this article, we’ll be introducing a generous selection of must-hear anime songs—undeniable masterpieces that you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
We’ll cover main themes as well, picking from a wide range of eras.
This playlist is a must-listen for anyone who only knows the theme songs from popular anime!
And for anime lovers, it might have you thinking, “Yes, this is it!”
- [Collection of Epic Songs] A compilation of cool anime songs chosen by anime fans
- [Nostalgic] Classic and Popular Anime Songs Recommended for People in Their 30s
- Moving and iconic anime songs, popular tracks
- [Nostalgic] A roundup of anime songs and theme songs that were hits in the 1980s
- Anisongs that were hits in the 2000s: a nostalgic collection of legendary tracks
- A Special Feature on Easy-to-Sing Anime Songs for Karaoke [100+ Songs]
- Touching Anime Ballads That Make You Cry [Moving & Heart-Wrenching]
- Masterpieces of poignant anime songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- [Hot & Cool] Up-tempo, hype-inducing anime song
- The Tear-Jerking World of Heart-Piercing Anime Songs
- [Burning] A Collection of Hype, Hot Anime Songs
- [Nostalgic & Latest] A Special Feature on Anime Songs Recommended for People in Their 20s
- Including global smash hits! Anime songs recommended for Gen Z
Listen More! Hidden Gems of Anisongs (21–30)
No buts!kawada mami
A track featuring an energetic sound and powerful vocals.
Released as a single in November 2010, it was later included on the album “SQUARE THE CIRCLE.” It was used as the first opening theme for the anime A Certain Magical Index II.
The lyrics express a strong will to keep moving forward while facing challenges and hardships, delivering courage and hope to listeners.
Mami Kawada’s vocals match the driving melody perfectly—it’s absolutely fantastic.
It also ties deeply into the anime’s world, so if you haven’t seen it yet, definitely give it a watch.
I SAY YESICHIKO
A very upbeat song that passionately sings, “I’ll always stay by your side.” It’s the opening theme for the anime The Familiar of Zero: Knight of the Twin Moons.
Performed by singer-songwriter ICHIKO, it was released in 2007 as her fifth single.
It’s a fast-paced electric number that really gets you pumped up, and the guitar solo in the interlude is awesome too! Perfect for when you want a boost of energy or to blow away anxiety and worries.
First KissICHIKO
An opening that hits hard with its distinctive chorus right from the start—an irresistibly catchy anthem that screams classic anime song! It’s the opening theme for the TV anime The Familiar of Zero, adapted from a landmark 2000s light novel.
If you spent your youth as an anime fan back then, there’s a good chance this track will bring tears to your eyes.
With its calm verse, gradually accelerating pre-chorus, and a chorus that feels like the world suddenly opens up, the structure is perfection—textbook anison.
The way it slips in that handclap-inducing rhythm midway through the chorus is brilliant, too.
ICHIKO, who performs and wrote the lyrics, hasn’t released a huge number of works, so her voice feels inextricably linked with The Familiar of Zero in many people’s minds.
Be sure to also check out I SAY YES, the opening theme for the second season, The Familiar of Zero: Knight of the Twin Moons!
Winding RoadMAN WITH A MISSION
An ambitious work that portrays a powerful sprint through life’s twists and turns with lyrics that skillfully interweave English and Japanese.
MAN WITH A MISSION’s signature hard-hitting rap-rock sound blends seamlessly with a grand melody, gripping the listener’s heart.
The track was included on the single “Take Me Under / Winding Road,” released in April 2018, which reached No.
4 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
It was later featured on the album “Chasing the Horizon.” Around the same time, it was selected as the opening theme for Season 1 of the TV anime “Golden Kamuy,” garnering attention as a song perfectly suited to the sweeping story set in Hokkaido at the end of the Meiji era.
This is a song for everyone who keeps moving forward, believing in the dawn despite setbacks and hardships.
Moon Bewitched, Wind Shadowedarisaka mika
The ending theme of the anime The Twelve Kingdoms.
The lyrics, which evoke a moonlit night, and the powerful vocals create a truly grand sense of scale.
It feels like they express the protagonist’s inner strength.
It’s a catchy song that you’ll find yourself wanting to listen to over and over again.
ironyClariS
This song is notable for its sparkling synthesizer phrases.
It’s the opening theme for the anime Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (Oreimo).
Performed by a female music unit, it was released in 2010 as their debut single.
The lyrics and composition were handled by the popular Vocaloid producer kz.
The lyrics capture the protagonist’s bittersweet feelings as she struggles with the emotional distance between herself and someone important to her, but thanks to the poppy sound, you’re likely to feel refreshed by the time the song ends.
Mosaic FragmentSun Set Swish
It’s a song by SunSet Swish that was used as the ending theme for the 2007 anime Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.
The title is said to liken life to a mosaic and conveys the idea of how the fragments of that mosaic shape one’s life.
The anime is about a young man who rebels against his country with conviction in order to seek vengeance, and the more you read the lyrics, the more you empathize not only with the protagonist but with the other characters as well.
It’s also used as an insert song in the movies, and the timing when it plays is absolutely perfect! I really hope you’ll watch it.