2025 Classic Anime Music Recommendations: 10 Theme Songs You'll Never Forget
ANIHK 編輯部Classics Never Fade: The Timeless Charm of Anime Music
What makes anime so captivating is not only the exquisite visuals and gripping storylines, but also the essential soul element—the theme songs. Many classic anime songs, even after decades, can still evoke passion and emotion in fans. This article selects 10 timeless classic anime theme songs to take you back to those unforgettable melodies!
1. 《残酷な天使のテーゼ》（殘酷天使的命題）
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Anime：Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)
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Singer：Yoko Takahashi
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Reason for Classic Status：Hailed as the "National Anthem of Japanese Anime," it blends electronic rock with mythological metaphors in its lyrics, perfectly echoing EVA's philosophical exploration of humanity and existence. In 2018, the release of the high-definition MV on the official YouTube channel sparked a global wave of fan recreations.
2. 《Butter-Fly》
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Anime：Digimon Adventure (1999)
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Singer：Koji Wada
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Reason for Classic Status：Its passionate melody symbolizes the adventurous spirit of the "Chosen Children." Singer Koji Wada, who passed away in 2016 due to nasopharyngeal cancer, continued to perform this song until his death, and his "Undying Butterfly" spirit adds a legendary touch to the song.
3. 《鳥の詩》
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Anime：AIR (2005)
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Singer：Lia
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Reason for Classic Status：The opening song for Kyoto Animation's adaptation of Key's tearjerker masterpiece, its ethereal melody intertwined with imagery of summer skies has earned it the title "National Anthem of the 2D World" among fans. Lia's clear high notes remain unmatched to this day.
4. 《紅蓮華》
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Anime：Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)
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Singer：LiSA
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Reason for Classic Status：Paired with scenes of "Tanjiro Kamado" swinging his sword in battle, it set the world on fire! This song swept the Billboard Japan charts, making LiSA the first anime singer to perform on NHK's Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
5. 《世界が終るまでは…》（Until the End of the World）
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Anime：Slam Dunk (1994)
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Singer：WANDS
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Reason for Classic Status：The dedicated BGM for Mitsui Hisashi's redemption, its poignant lyrics express the regrets of youth. Its reuse in the 2022 movie "The First Slam Dunk" as the ending theme resonated across generations.
6. 《創聖のアクエリオン》（Aquarion of Creation）
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Anime：Genesis of Aquarion (2005)
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Singer：AKINO
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Reason for Classic Status：A divine song composed by Yoko Kanno, its chorus "Love of 12,000 Years" paired with mecha combination scenes created an addictive melody that became material for "ghostly all-stars" on bullet comment websites, familiar even to non-anime fans.
7. 《青い栞》（Blue Bookmark）
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Anime：Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2011)
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Singer：Galileo Galilei
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Reason for Classic Status：The opening animation with flying paper cranes and childhood memories of the "Super Peace Busters," combined with a light rock style, instantly brought viewers to tears. This song also boosted tourism in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, where the anime was set.
8. 《Moonlight Legend》
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Anime：Sailor Moon (1992)
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Singer：DALI
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Reason for Classic Status：A representative work of the 1990s trend of Westernizing anime, it blends pop-funk style with English lyrics, becoming a shared memory for "Sailor Moon" fans worldwide. The 2014 remake still used the original song as a tribute.
9. 《only my railgun》
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Anime：A Certain Scientific Railgun (2009)
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Singer：fripSide (Vocal: Yoshino Nanjō)
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Reason for Classic Status：Inspired by "Mikoto Misaka's" electric ability, its fast-paced melody established the epic status of "Railgun's" famous scenes, making fripSide synonymous with anime electronic music groups.
10. 《ブルーバード》（Blue Bird）
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Anime：Naruto Shippuden (2008)
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Singer：Ikimono-gakari
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Reason for Classic Status：Depicting "Sasuke Uchiha's" struggle for freedom, Ikimono-gakari's powerful vocals and fast-paced rhythm kept this song in the top three of karaoke anime charts for a long time and even reached No. 3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
Classics Never Fade: The Timeless Charm of Anime Music
These theme songs are not just the face of anime but also carry the youth and emotions of the audience. From the experimental styles after the bubble economy of the 1990s to the fusion of modern pop and rock, the evolution of anime music also reflects the export power of Japanese culture. Whether you are a seasoned otaku or a new anime fan, put on your headphones and let these melodies take you across time to relive the original emotions!
Which song was your gateway into anime?
