Lovely anime song

[I Want to Get Fired Up!] A Special Feature on Anime Songs That Pump You Up

Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerWakachan Araki
I started playing guitar in middle school and focused on band activities during my student years. I’ve been a hobbyist Vocaloid producer for over 15 years. After entering the workforce, I gained experience in various roles, including event sound engineering and videography/photography. As a writer, I’ve contributed introduction articles for music and manga websites, and in 2022 I had the opportunity to write the bonus liner notes for IA SUPER BEST. My specialties are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Anime songs, now even considered a music genre in their own right, enjoy immense popularity.

Many people got hooked on anime by watching shows tied to their favorite musicians—and the reverse is true as well!

From among these inseparable companions to anime, this article will introduce tracks that are sure to get you pumped up when you listen to them.

They’re all certified classics, and before you know it, you might find yourself wanting to watch the anime they’re from.

Use this list in all sorts of situations: when you’re feeling low, when you want to boost your mood, or when you’re searching for anime songs that will get the crowd going at karaoke!

[I Want to Get Fired Up!] A Special Feature on Hype-Inducing Anime Songs (141–150)

SeventeenYOASOBI

YOASOBI “Seventeen” Official Music Video

Seventeen YOASOBI

Seventeen has also drawn attention as a collaboration between YOASOBI and Miyuki Miyabe.

It’s based on The Mismatched Cards, a suspense novel featuring a 17-year-old girl as the protagonist.

The song channels that dense story through a driving, fast-paced sound.

A key change is used in the scene where the protagonist gets caught up in the incident, perhaps symbolizing her stepping into a chaotic world.

There’s also another key change just before the final chorus.

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slashyama

yama 'slash' Lyric Video (TV anime 'Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury' Season 2 Opening)

slashyama

Slash is a track distinguished by its striking use of strings.

Written by yama as the opening theme for the anime Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Season 2, the song conveys the inner feelings of various characters, using key changes to express shifts in perspective.

Its structure also accelerates toward the end, building a palpable sense of climax.

Be sure to listen for how the lyrics in the first and second verses form a paired relationship, too.

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WithNightmare

NIGHTMARE 「With」 MUSIC VIDEO

With Nightmare

Nightmare is a visual-kei rock band, well known for producing numerous anime theme songs.

They wrote “With” as the opening theme for the anime The Last Summoner.

It’s a high-energy track that conveys the protagonist’s resolve to confront a cruel world.

The subtle touches—like the sampled ticking of a clock woven in at key moments—are also compelling.

Plus, the music video, which showcases the band performing in darkness, is exceptionally engaging.

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01Queen Bee

TV Anime 'Undead Unluck' Non-Credit Opening Movie / Opening Theme: QUEEN BEE '01' | Undead Unluck Noncredit Opening Movie

01 Queen Bee

“01,” chosen as the opening theme for the anime Undead Unluck, was released in 2023 by Queen Bee, a rock band drawing attention across music, dance, fashion, and more.

The song depicts the protagonists—who bear the traits of immortality and misfortune—struggling to live while confronting their own destinies.

It opens with tribal-tinged guitar and choral elements, unfolding into a fast-paced band performance.

Paired with Avu-chan’s passionate yet cool vocals, it’s a rock number that sparks anticipation for the start of new days.

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Flying DeityAyase × R-Shitei

Flying Deity

Hiten Ayase × R-Shitei

Hiten, a digital single chosen as the opening theme for the newly remade 2023 TV anime Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story.

Created by R-Shitei—known from Creepy Nuts and Umeda Cipher—and Ayase, active as a Vocaloid producer and a member of YOASOBI, the track’s breakneck call-and-response creates a thrilling ensemble that really amps you up.

The lyrics, which link to the anime’s story, evoke a universal theme: even in doubt, you can only keep moving forward.

It’s a track that lingers with the striking contrast between aggressive rap and lyrical melody.

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Flying DeityAyase × R-Shitei

Ayase × R-Shitei “Hiten” Official Music Video

Hiten Ayase × R-Shitei

The opening theme song for the anime Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, born from a collaboration between R-Shitei and Ayase of YOASOBI.

Its message—living in the present so that you can even come to love the wounds you’ve suffered—powerfully resonates, portraying a protagonist who keeps fighting head-on despite regret, setbacks, and countless obstacles.

No matter how many times you fall, stand up and take flight toward greater heights.

With that strong will embedded in it, be sure to listen, sing along, and charge up to your next step!

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MAGICAL DESTROYERAimi

AIMI – MAGICAL DESTROYER (TV Animation “Magical Destroyers” OP Theme)

MAGICAL DESTROYER Aimi

MAGICAL DESTROYER, sung by voice actress and singer Aimi, is a chaotic track chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime Magical Girl Magical Destroyers.

It starts with a simple heavy rock-style distorted guitar in the intro, but the real highlight is how it suddenly shifts in the middle into an industrial, psychedelic section.

From there it flows into a rap part, then returns to the main vocal melody—an arrangement that’s sure to get your heart racing!

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