8 Anime Where The Opening Lied To You

Anime openings tend to not only be a tease but also a gateway into the world of the anime that fans are about to watch, building anticipation for characters, themes, and even conquering battles well before they happen. However, there are rare and brilliant exceptions to such self-contradictory openings: they are deliberately misleading. They trick the audience, disguise the real mood of the show or hint at something that will become apparent only a long way through. It’s not some cheap trick the creators do to create more hype, but a deliberate red herring to add class to the proceedings.

15 Saddest Anime Movies, Ranked

These are some of the saddest anime movies that are heart-wrenching to watch.

Be it an optimistic montage, which is actually a cover-up for a psychological horror, or a hero shot of characters who barely make it past the first arc, these introductions create the wrong expectations in the right way. Below are eight examples of anime where the opening was a lie (and the show was better off because of it).

1

Narutaru (Shadow Star) – Opening 1

A Pastel Daydream Hiding a Nightmare

The first impression upon watching Narutaru would be that it is a light-hearted magical girl series. Its intro has an atmosphere of childlike amazement with harmonious music and frivolous images. It introduces easily likable animal companions and glittering skies to give the impression of a slice-of-the-life fantasy.

Then the show breaks that illusion. Narutaru is not just psychologically bleak but harsh, even physically. The themes that are explored are abuse, suicide, and human cruelty. Violence is constant and the mascots wielding cuteness are soon transformed into weapons. It is a straight misdirect by the opening, and it makes the experience of the show darker and much more shocking.

2

Your Lie In April – Opening 1

Warm Melodies Hiding Bittersweet Goodbyes

The first opening of Your Lie in April is shown as lively, vibrant, and with lots of decisions about the future. The use of smooth lighting, bright colors, and duets by the two leads create the illusion of a romantic journey where music plays the dominant role and helps the characters improve themselves.

However, wrapped inside the shining piano keys is a heartbreaking story. The story touches upon trauma, loss, and the burden of memories that cannot be taken back. The deception in the intro is like a last note that never closes. The opening does not lie in vain, but it wears a mask that hides how painful the music will be the moment it ends.

3

Elfen Lied – Opening 1

Angelic Artistic Imagery That Cloaks Carnage

Elfen Lied

Release Date

2004 – 2004

Network

AT-X

Directors

Keizo Kusakawa

The opening sequence of Elfen Lied is an stylish, haunting moment, featuring calm choir music and visuals reminiscent of Gustav Klimt, hinting at a highly symbolic and poetic story. Its tone is devout, gentle, and almost sorrowful, and it causes the viewer to believe that it will be a slowly paced drama or an arthouse TV series.

19 Of The Most Twisted Dark Anime Series

Dark psychological anime vary in content, but they provide impressionable and unforgettable stories. Here are some of the most twisted anime series.

The reality? Blood, cruelty and people losing limbs a few minutes into the first episode. Elfen Lied is infamous for its unabashed and violent story and dramatic content. The classical beauty of the opening and the horror of the show itself is one of the most shocking, and at the same time, most successful bait-and-switches in the anime world.

4

Death Parade – Opening 1

Party Vibes, But Everyone’s Already Dead

The opening of Death Parade is among the most lively and vivid openings to any anime series. The upbeat J-rock track and the characters dancing and laughing in rhythm seem to suggest weird comedy amidst the supernatural environment of a bar.

The reality is that Death Parade is a psychological drama that analyses the moral value of the human soul. Every episode discusses themes of regret, trauma, and death in unsettling detail. Not only is the opening misleading, it is ironically intentional and not serious in nature, but playing around to hide the true nature of human suffering that is targeted in the series.

5

Jujutsu Kaisen – Opening 1

Welcoming A New Friend Who Never Stays

The opening of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 1 introduces Junpei as a member of the main crew, as he hangs out, walks to the school, and even laughs with the core cast. His appearance creates the impression of a looming arc of redemption and friendship.

Related

Jujutsu Kaisen: Every Special Grade Curse, Ranked

Special Grade curses are exceptionally powerful, and they can make short work of the best sorcerers.

Instead, a depressing tragedy develops. Junpei does not really become a part of the crew, but his collapse breaks his heart and leads to his death shortly after meeting Yuji. The misleading of his arc with a false promise given by the intro is a gut-punch in itself, which makes this one of the most impressive misdirections in recent shonen history.

6

School-Live! (Gakkou Gurashi!) – Episode 1 OP

Bubbly And Cute – Until It Isn’t

School-Live!

Release Date

July 9, 2015

Network

AT-X

Directors

Fumio Itou, Yuu Kinome, Takanori Yano, Hitomi Ezoe

The introduction to School-Live!’s the first episode is a sweet and cute one, with high-pitched voices, chibi characters, and all the comical routine of school life. To a new viewer, it offers a heartwarming slice-of-life comedy featuring four chirpy girls.

Then the last turn of the episode comes along. Not only does it include a zombie-ridden post-apocalypse, but it also exposes the broken mind of the main character. This mismatch between the tone of the opening and the harsh reality of the series itself is a work of genius that makes this ultimate revelation that much more powerful.

7

Attack On Titan – Season 2 Opening

Dinosaurs? Whales? What Timeline Is This?

The Season 2 intro to Attack on Titan seems more epic than normal, with a touch of religious insinuation and shots of impossibly big animals, dinosaurs, whales, and extinct creatures stampeding through the scenery.

However, none of these creatures ever appear in the real story. Rather, they are visual metaphors that predict the greater mythos and evolutionary context of the series as well as an aspect of memory. Although some of it is misleading (literally), this is an intentional and stylistic deception to provide some depth and interest in subsequent viewings.

8

Made In Abyss – Opening 1

Adventure Beckons, But The Abyss Devours

Made in Abyss

Release Date

July 7, 2017

Network

AT-X

Directors

Hitoshi Haga, Shunsuke Takarai, Satoshi Mori, Motoki Nakanishi

The opening of Made in Abyss is a sales pitch for a huge adventure. Broad scenery, uplifting sounds, and two resourceful children going out on an adventure preclude exploration and discovery in an unknown environment.

Beneath all that lies the horror. The Abyss is inhumane and surrounded by grotesque monsters, body horror, and psychological trauma. The layers are darker compared to other anime series. The cheerful nature of the opening seems malevolent in retrospect—a masterclass in misdirection that entices the audience to be swayed into a near-emotionally numbing watch, the likes of which very few anime have accomplished in recent history.

More

Best Anime Openings Of All Time, Ranked

These anime openings are so iconic any fan of Japanese animation will instantly recognize them.