In recent years, with K-pop artists lending their vocals to anime openings and endings, anime and K-pop have become an undeniably potent combination. From uplifting ballads to dynamic beats that capture the emotional resonance and vibrancy of the shows, these collaborations have made it to every weeb’s go-to playlists.
With the recent announcement of Japanese singer-songwriter LiSA joining forces with Felix from the K-pop group Stray Kids for the opening of Solo Leveling Season 2, now’s the perfect time to revisit other memorable anime soundtracks by K-pop stars. Here's a rundown:
We Are – remix version (One Piece) by TVXQ
Just as One Piece remains one of the most iconic anime series of all time, its theme song ‘We Are’ by Hiroshi Kitadani has been a fan-favourite since its debut. However, K-pop duo TVXQ’s remix version of the song for the anime’s tenth anniversary injected fresh energy into the iconic opening theme. TVXQ’s version brings out the adventurous spirit of the Straw Hat Pirates perfectly. The band has also sung the 11th opening titled ‘Share the World’ to capture the dreams and resilience of Luffy and his crew during the Sabaody Archipelago arc and ‘Asu wa Kuru Kara’, the 17th ending theme.
LEveL (Solo Leveling) by TxT
Solo Leveling’s opening song ‘LEveL’ sung by K-pop group Tomorrow x Together and composed by Sawano Hiroyuki, has dynamic melody and powerful lyrics that perfectly mirror the highs and lows of protagonist Sung Jinwoo’s journey from being the weakest hunter in history to an unstoppable force in a world filled with monsters, dungeons, and life-or-death situations.
Top (Tower of God) by Stray Kids
Stray Kids’ ‘Top’ is the electrifying opening theme for Tower of God (Season 1), the anime adaptation of the popular Korean webtoon by SIU. Released in 2020, the track captures the suspense surrounding Bam’s journey ascending the mysterious Tower — a deadly structure that summons people with promises of fulfilling their desires. Recorded in Korean, Japanese, and English, ‘Top’ highlights the international appeal of Stray Kids, who also sang the second opening song for the show’s second season.
Everlasting Shine (Black Clover) by TxT
TxT’s ‘Everlasting Shine’, with its fresh and uplifting vibe, stands out as one of the most memorable openings for Black Clover. Used as the twelfth opening song in 2020, it marked the K-pop band’s first-ever contribution to anime. With lyrics infused with hope and joy, ‘Everlasting Shine’ brings out Asta and the Black Bulls’ perseverance and belief.
Forget Me Not (Re-main) by ENHYPEN
ENHYPEN’s Forget Me Not serves as a poignant opening theme for Re-Main, a popular sports anime series. Marking Enhypen’s foray into anime soundtracks, the song blends uplifting music with lyrics that reflect the protagonist, water polo player Minato Kiyomizu's struggles and determination to get back on his feet after a life-altering accident.
Masayume Chasing (Fairy Tail) by BoA
BoA, popularly known as the ‘Queen of K-pop’, created this standout fifteenth opening theme for the adventure anime series, Fairy Tail. In ‘Masayume Chasing’, which translates to Chasing a Dream, BoA adds a touch of her signature style, with its vibrant energy and powerful vocals, to bring out the themes of hope, courage, and strife that define Fairy Tail.
