Naruto‘s popularity cannot be overstated, as it is part of the Big Three in anime. Moreover, its fanbase is one of the largest in the world. The anime has withstood the test of time and is still among the most talked-about shows today. Although the series might have ended, it left fans with many memorable moments, some of which are the iconic openings from the series.
Even for those who don’t understand Japanese, these Naruto openings hold a special place in the hearts of fans as they embody the emotions from each of their respective arcs. That being said, here are some of the best Naruto openings.
‘Lovers’
“Lovers” by Seven Oops was one of the most popular Naruto: Shippuden openings while the show was still airing. The opening ran from episodes 206 to 230. As the name suggests, the opening shows Sakura torn between her love for Sasuke and Naruto. Despite not having romantic feelings for the latter, the two had grown close, and the opening highlighted that. The opening ends with Naruto and Sasuke on a mountain split through the middle, depicting their different views and how they couldn’t stand together.
‘GO!!!’
Despite being one of the earlier openings, the iconic opening is still a major hit song. While “GO!!!” may pale compared to most of the more recent openings in terms of visuals, but the song is still one of the series’ most iconic. It was Naruto’s fourth opening and was the perfect song for the ambiance of the early 2000s. The song, which was performed by FLOW, earned the popular title “Fighting Dreamers” from numerous fans. The song shows Naruto taking his first real steps to becoming Hokage as he goes to train with Jiraiya and ultimately masters the Rasengan.
‘Kara no Kokoro’
“Empty Heart,” or “Kara no Kokoro,” is the series’ last opening and holds some of the most nostalgic moments for fans. Anly’s song combined perfectly with the visuals, making this an instant favorite among longtime viewers of the show. Despite only running for 20 episodes, the opening was well received as it showed how everyone’s favorite characters had grown up. Furthermore, the song perfectly highlighted the new journey and adventures each character was embarking on.
‘Sign’
Emotions are the biggest part of any song, and the ability to convey that to the listeners is the difference between a great song and a good song. “Sign” by FLOW embodied these emotions, doing justice to one of the most painful arcs in Naruto, i.e., Jiraiya’s death. The opening sent shockwaves throughout the community as Jiraiya was shown seemingly finding peace after he died. While the Toad Sage’s death was the main talking point, it also showed scenes from Itachi’s fight with Sasuke.
‘Blue Bird’
Ikiminogakari’s “Blue Bird” is among the most iconic Naruto openings that has gained a reputation as one of the most famous Japanese songs ever. The iconic opening talks about freedom for someone locked up and trying to break free. However, the song’s message of determination and strength resonated with anime and J-pop fans worldwide. “Blue Bird” shows Sasuke pulling farther away from the village and how everyone had moved on except Naruto, who struggled to let him go.
‘Silhouette’
To this day, KANA-BOON’s “Silhouette” is still praised as the best Naruto opening ever. Despite only being used for episodes 380–405, the song became the poster child for the entire Shinobi War arc. The fantastic song, combined with the visual aesthetics, produces what many know as a masterpiece. It showed Naruto chasing after Sasuke with an amazing sequence of running animations and transitions to them now fighting side-by-side. The fast-paced song, combined with the amazing visuals, makes this one of the best anime openings currently.
