Top 5 Opening Themes in Gundam

Here's the next in my series of music-related Gundam Top 5 posts. My first list focused on battle themes, so I thought it would be interesting to move on to actual songs. We'll be counting down the catchiest, most memorable opening themes in Gundam animated history.

Naturally, it's hard to be objective about music so think of this list as more of a fun project rather than a serious, thoughtful post. The main decider will be personal preference, but I definitely won't be picking the songs mindlessly. These are the opening themes I see as being timeless and enjoyable no matter what your taste in music is. They flow seamlessly with the shows they're presenting, and they never failed to get me in the proper Gundam mood.

Now, to start with...


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5. "Tobe! Gundam" - Koh Ikeda (Mobile Suit Gundam)
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Moegare~ Moegare ~ Moegare GANDAMUUU~
This is about as old-school as it gets, and I absolutely love it. A lot of older pop music is hard to get into in this day and age, but "Tobe! Gundam" precedes even that. It sounds like a heroic fanfare, and is very reminiscent of the classic super-robot shows that I grew up on. It's fun and easy to appreciate, which is why it gets its honorable spot here.


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4. "Men of Destiny" - MIO (Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory)
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There's something about this song that makes me want to join the Federation forces, go through basic training, and fight battles in space. It's even called "Men of Destiny", so maybe it has some manly effect. Anyway, the song is upbeat and exciting from beginning to end, and it fits the Stardust Memory OVA perfectly. Playing this in the background of the fights between Kou and Anavel Gato would have been the perfect way to send some chills down many spines.


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3. "Daybreak's Bell" - L'Arc~en~Ciel (Gundam 00)
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Here's the start of a pattern. I had to decide between two great songs from each show represented in the top 3. In the case of Gundam 00, I battled between "Ash Like Snow" by the brilliant green and "Daybreak's Bell". I happen to love the brilliant green, but I felt that L'Arc~en~Ciel's song fit the series better. Maybe it's Hyde's deeper vocals, or the overall mellowness of the song; it simply flowed well going into each episode. I've always been a big fan of L'Arc, and I love this style of rock, so naturally this is a favorite of mine.


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2. "Believe" - Nami Tamaki (Gundam Seed)
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As many of you will know, Gundam Seed is notable for its great soundtrack. It was host to such a large number of memorable tracks that I considered adding more than one from Seed. Alas, I have decided on one, and I've gotta say that "Believe" is definitely the best of the bunch. Whereas T.M. Revolution's "Invoke" introduced the show with a more frantic pace, "Believe" starts the second half of Seed with a hint of somberness to it. The opening itself feels more subdued, as if to reflect the battle-weary cast.

But hey, that's just over-analysis. It's all about the song. The song is just plain fun to listen to. I guess I'm just a sucker for that electronic rock (or whatever it's called). Out of the 4 opening themes, this is the one I can enjoy even after the end of the episode.


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1. "Resolution" - Romantic Mode (Gundam X)
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I had a hard time deciding between this song and "DREAMS", which is the first opening theme. I honestly thought about adding both, but I wanted the list to be a little more diverse. The point is, I love both Gundam X's opening themes. They have that old school kick that makes them easy to enjoy even after all these years.

As I always say, Gundam X is super underrated. The show got cancelled prematurely, the designs are great but oft ignored, and the opening themes are some of the best in the series. Just...just listen to it. Listen to this song. Makes me wanna dance. Makes me wanna fuckin' dance.


Check out my other Gundam Top 5 lists~