オープニングテーマopuningu tema
Quick definition:An opening theme is the song and animated sequence that plays at the start of an anime episode, introducing the series with music, images and the names of the main staff and cast.
Meaning
The opening theme, often shortened to OP, is the song that plays at the start of an anime episode, accompanied by a short animation of about ninety seconds. The sequence introduces the characters, hints at the story and shows credits for the main staff. It is sometimes simply called the theme song of the series.
Openings are important in Japanese television. Many are performed by popular bands or singers, released as singles, and sung by fans for years afterwards. Longer series often change their opening every few months, giving fans a new song and a new set of images, and some openings contain spoilers or small clues about the story.
Fans often rank their favourites and discuss the artwork, and some viewers choose to skip the sequence on repeat viewing. Streaming services provide a skip button, but many fans consider the opening an essential part of the experience, since the music gets them in the right mood before the story begins.
Origin:Opening theme is the English name for the Japanese opuningu tema, itself borrowed from English. Beginning a television programme with a theme song is an old practice, and the opening became a major selling point as the music industry started to promote songs through anime. Fans shortened the phrase to OP, a label that appears on fan lists and in file names.
Example:A weekly action series starts each episode with a fast song, a montage of its heroes striking poses and a brief glimpse of the enemy. Viewers recognise the first notes at once and often sing along, and when the series later changes to a new opening, fans debate whether the new song is better.
Did you know?The opening and ending sequences without credits are called non-credit versions, and studios sometimes release them on discs or online so that fans can see the artwork unobstructed. Collectors enjoy comparing the clean versions with the original broadcast.
