10 Greatest Anime Openings Of All Time
8. Paranoia Agent
If this were a strangest openings list, Paranoia Agent would be running away with the number 1 spot. Boasting an intro brimming with the maddened laughter of its characters, the viewer’s ears are filled with what could be described as a Japanese interpretation of yodeling. It’s all rather unsettling, confusing even, but once one gets past the bizarre nature of it all, the attention to detail make it something special.
The laughter is often surrounded by less than joyful surroundings, giving the opening a menacing vibe over a comedic one. Scenes include a woman gearing up to leap from the top of the building and a laughing man in front of a mighty mushroom cloud. Later, 2 women are spotted cackling hysterically in an expansive sea of garbage.
Surreal and sinister, the opening provides an eye opening showcase of director Satoshi Kon’s eccentric penchant for dark, ironic humour. The ominous, confusing nature of the opening provides plenty of room for interpretation and discussion. In this regard, it is a perfect set-up for the wildly unpredictable, often confounding themes present throughout the 13 episode series.