Anime Anime Global

October 17 is “Karaoke Culture Day”.

The anniversary was established as All-Japan Karaoke Industrialist Association was founded on the same day. Karaoke, born in Japan, is one of the familiar entertainment among anime fans. Many people will like to sing the theme songs and insert songs of their favorite works and have fun with their friends.
In recent years, anime songs often occupy the higher places of karaoke-related rankings. Among such anime songs, what is the most popular one among the Anime!Anime! readers?

Therefore, Anime!Anime! conducted an annual reader survey titled “What is the most uplifting anime song for karaoke?”. During the survey period from October 4 to 11, a total of 102 responses were received. For the gender ratio, the females were the majority with about 70% while the males were about 30%. For the age distribution, we received the majority of responses from the young readers: about 55% were from teens, and 25% were from those in their 20s.

■Hit songs in 2020 and 2021 have also been ranked in!

1st Place

1st place went to A Cruel Angel’s Thesis by Takahashi Yoko of “Neon Genesis Evangelion”. The support rating was about 12%, and the song is topping the list for two years in a row.

This is an opening theme song of the TV anime that started broadcasting in 1995. The received comments include, “This is a representative anime song, which is known by all ages. The first song that I got to be able to sing was also ‘A Cruel Angel’s Thesis’. I remember that this song livened up the atmosphere when we sang it”, and “I am not from the generations that were watching the TV anime in real-time, but we got to sing this song after playing it for a music festival in my elementary school”. This song received some votes from teens, which reconfirms that it is popular among various readers regardless of age and sex.

2nd Place

2nd place went to Sugar Song and Bitter Step by UNISON SQUARE GARDEN of “Blood Blockade Battlefront”. The support rating was about 5%, and the song has moved up from 8th place of last year.

This is the ending theme song of the TV anime that began broadcasting in 2015. The received comments include, “When I go to karaoke with my friends, we never forget this. The up-tempo melody is easy to sing” and “I typically sing it while dancing just like the ending anime”. As well as the music itself, the degree of perfection of the ending anime also contributes to the popularity.

3rd Place

3rd place was shared between Ojamajo Carnival!! by MAHO-Dou of “Ojamajo Doremi” and Gurenge by LiSA of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”.

“Ojamajo Doremi” is a popular series that began broadcasting in 1999. “Ojamajo Carnival!!” is the opening theme song of season 1 and is especially popular among the readers in their late 20s and 30s. The readers said that this is a go-to song that everyone knows, commenting “When I go to karaoke with people around thirty, this is the one!” and “This song can’t go wrong when I’m with people from the same generation as me. The song of our youth!”.

The TV anime of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” began broadcasting in 2019. “Gurenge” is the opening theme song of season 1 and received comments, such as “This is the theme song of the blockbuster anime that everyone knows. The song is perfect for singing with friends or just by myself!”. “Homura”, the theme song of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train” has also come in 7th place in a tie, receiving the comments such as “This song is somewhat melancholy, but ‘wow’ in the middle leads to a big chorus”.

■Let’s introduce other comments!

“Melissa” － “Fullmetal Alchemist” Opening
“This is a very uplifting song with the up-tempo rock tune and the contrary lyrics with pessimism that perfectly match the world-view of the work and feelings of the protagonists. Porno Graffitti is a national band, so this go-to anime song can be enjoyed even with people unfamiliar with anime.”

“Inferno” － “Fire Force” Opening
“This is an outstanding anime song for me among the ones released in recent years! The opening footage was also amazing, so I sing it while recollecting the footage.”

“Galaxy★Bang! Bang!” － “Galaxy Angel” Opening
“Response to the main part Bang!Bang! creates a sense of unity, which is super fun. All the theme songs of ‘GA’ are good for having fun with my friends, and I really love them!”

“Umapyoi Densetsu” － “Uma Musume Pretty Derby” Ending
“This song was used in the game after raising and in the anime as the ending theme song of episode 13. It is very addictive and up-tempo music. This song was also performed in ‘SHIBUYA NOTE’ of NHK and ‘FNS Music Festival’ of Fuji TV, which also became a hot topic.” The popular work released in 2021 has also been ranked in.

In the survey 2021, anime songs from various works released in the 1990s to 2020s have been ranked in. In the overall ranking, most of them are opening theme songs, but some ending theme songs, including “Sugar Song and Bitter Step” in 2nd place and Sunny Sunny Happiness of “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya”, still have a strong showing.

■Overall Ranking

－What is the most uplifting anime song for karaoke? 2021－
1. A Cruel Angel’s Thesis “Neon Genesis Evangelion”
2. Sugar Song and Bitter Step “Blood Blockade Battlefront”
3. Ojamajo Carnival!! “Ojamajo Doremi”
3. Gurenge “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”
5. only my railgun “A Certain Scientific Railgun”
5. Kaikai Kitan “Jujutsu Kaisen”
7. Can Do “Kuroko’s Basketball”
7. Cry Baby “Tokyo Revengers”
7. God knows… “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya”
7. Snow halation “Love Live!”
7. Umapyoi Densetsu “Uma Musume Pretty Derby”
7. Genkai Toppa × Survivor “Dragon Ball Super”
7. Some Like It Hot!! “Gintama”
7. Tachiagari Yo! “Inazuma Eleven”
7. Sunny Sunny Happiness “The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya”
7. Homura “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train”
7. Maji Love 1000% “Uta no Prince-sama : Maji Love 1000%”
7. Lion “Macross Frontier”

（Survey Period: October 4 – 11, 2021）

*This survey is intended to research the readers’ “interest in anime and characters today”. It is not intended to discuss the relative merits of each character nor work. I would be glad if this article can help you develop an understanding and interest in anime and characters.