[Nostalgic] Classic and Popular Anime Songs Recommended for People in Their 30s
Do you have any anime you used to watch all the time? I think many people had anime close to their daily lives—like tossing down your school bag the moment you got home and waiting in front of the TV, or getting excited talking about shows with friends.
Just those 30 minutes could whisk us away to a world of dreams.
As adults, we sometimes suddenly remember, “Oh yeah, I used to watch that back then,” or find ourselves humming the theme song without thinking—there are many ways we look back.
In this article, we’ll introduce a collection of nostalgic works for people in their 30s, focusing mainly on anime songs from the 1990s to the 2010s.
Be sure to read to the end!
- [Anime Songs] Anime tracks recommended for men in their 30s to sing at karaoke
- [Collection of Epic Songs] A compilation of cool anime songs chosen by anime fans
- Anime songs that were hits in the 1990s. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- Anime songs recommended for people in their 40s, from nostalgic classics to the latest hits.
- Anisongs that were hits in the 2000s: a nostalgic collection of legendary tracks
- [Nostalgic & Latest] A Special Feature on Anime Songs Recommended for People in Their 20s
- [Top 20] Anime Song Sales Ranking of the Heisei 30 Years!
- A Special Feature on Easy-to-Sing Anime Songs for Karaoke [100+ Songs]
- [Nostalgic] A roundup of anime songs and theme songs that were hits in the 1980s
- Recommended anime songs for people in their 50s. Classic and popular anime theme songs.
- Iconic scenes overlap! Anime songs recommended for the yutori generation
- Masterpiece anime that Heisei-born people feel nostalgic about
- Including global smash hits! Anime songs recommended for Gen Z
[Nostalgic] Recommended Anime Song Masterpieces and Popular Tracks for People in Their 30s (161–170)
againYUI
The songs YUI weaves are characterized by lyrics that resonate with the heart and powerful melodies.
This work portrays the aching longing for what’s been lost, regrets about the past, and hope for the future.
It was used as the opening theme for the anime Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and released in June 2009.
It debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon chart, recording first-week sales of over 100,000 copies.
It’s a song that will surely give courage to anyone trying to move forward while facing their past.
Wrapped in YUI’s clear, translucent voice, it’s perfect for times when you want to gather your thoughts.
only my railgunfripSide
This fripSide track carries a message that symbolizes strong will and a forward-looking spirit.
Its theme of carving out the future by one’s own power is depicted using a railgun as a metaphor.
Released in November 2009, it was used as the opening theme for the TV anime A Certain Scientific Railgun.
With a driving, trance-influenced sound, the first-press limited edition included a DVD featuring the music video.
The song expresses a determination to push forward along one’s own path without yielding to any hardship, making it perfect for anyone looking to take on something new.
Princess MononokeYoshikazu Mera
The theme song from the film Princess Mononoke brought the vocalist Yoshikazu Mera to widespread fame.
At the time, many people were captivated by that beautiful voice, and some may even have tried to imitate it, singing along in the same way.
The lyrics are also remarkable, capturing the world of Princess Mononoke in just six lines.
Simply hearing the melody is enough for many to vividly recall the characters—like Ashitaka and the titular princess—as well as the film’s most memorable scenes.
Hit in the USABEAT CRUSADERS
Hit in the USA, which opens the anime BECK, captivates with BEAT CRUSADERS’ energetic guitar riffs and catchy melodies.
The English lyrics heighten the sense of speed, and the chorus sticks in your mind, making you want to sing along.
It conveys the sense of liberation and forward-looking energy that young people felt at the time.
For those in their 30s, it offers a chance to escape everyday noise and experience a fictional musical story that brings a momentary sense of comfort and courage.
It’s a heart-pounding number that seems to whisk listeners away to the free-spirited scenery of the American West Coast.
Shangri-Laangela
angela’s “Shangri-La” is a classic that was also used as the theme song for the anime Fafner in the Azure.
Its distinctive melodic line sticks in your head after just one listen, leaving a lingering, resonant aftertaste.
Atsuko’s overwhelming vocals grip the listener, while KATSU’s meticulous sound production amplifies the song’s appeal.
Especially in the climactic sections, you feel a sense of unity as if it were your own experience, and you can’t help wanting to sing along.
It’s rhythmic yet peppered with dramatic developments throughout, revealing something new no matter when you listen.
Drawing listeners into a whirlpool of passion, this track delivers both nostalgia and exhilaration, along with memories of that anime once seen on TV.
We are!Hiroshi Kitadani
Speaking of One Piece, it’s famous as a masterpiece that Japan’s comic culture can proudly present to the world.
It’s such a hugely popular series that there’s hardly anyone who hasn’t heard of it.
I feel nostalgic for those days when, as soon as the anime aired, I would sit glued to the TV and practically forget to breathe until the words “TO BE CONTINUED” appeared on the screen.
And of course, the first opening theme, “We Are!,” is an indispensable song for that grand adventure.
I bet many people can still sing it even without looking at the lyrics.
Fight! Red BaronShinichi Ishihara
Red Baron is an anime remake of the live-action series Super Robot Red Baron, but the content is quite different.
It follows protagonist Ken Kurenai as he fights his way to victory in a robot combat sport called Metal Fight.
The opening theme was sung by Shinichi Ishihara.