Image by Nicole. Shiina, Kimi ni Todoke Volume 1, Viz Media. Morishita, A Sign of Affection Volume 10, Kodansha.
Giving Extra Appreciation for Shoujo Anime Songs!
I most often post reviews and recommendation lists, but many of the shoujo mangas I’ve reviewed or enjoyed have anime adaptations, so I thought it would be fun to make this extra blog about which shoujo anime songs I like in particular.
In my opinion, reading a full manga series and then watching the anime afterwards is the best way to enjoy a series. I love appreciating the original work first, and then seeing how they blend animation, music, and voice acting to bring what I read to life in a new form!
There’s tons and tons of awesome anime songs out there, but this post will specifically be featuring shoujo anime songs, or in other words the opening and closing songs of a variety of animes based on original shoujo works.
Because I often listen to songs that originate from the same anime, I decided to group this list by the series.
I’ve also tried to include links to music videos provided by the artists’ youtube accounts or other sources, but unfortunately not all of these songs are accessible that way (or even found on music streaming services) so you may need to search them up yourself!
I also included links to a few of my manga reviews for those who are interested.
(๑>◡<๑)
Kimi ni Todoke
Kimi ni Todoke is a classic shoujo choice, and the music created for the anime adaptation feels perfect for the series.
The openings of each season are extremely cute and sort of on the softer side, so if you’re looking a softer shoujo anime song feel, these three are all great picks! I love these songs, but something about that first season song feels extra nostalgic to me.
- Season 1 Opening: “Kimi ni Todoke” by Tomofumi Tanizawa – Music Video
- Season 2 Opening: “Sawakaze” by Tomofumi Tanizawa – Music Video
- Season 3 Opening: “Et Cetera” by Imase – Music Video
You can read my review for Kimi ni Todoke here!
Skip Beat!
Skip Beat! is one of my favorite manga series of all time. Although this series only received one season of an anime adaptation, I have rewatched it several times and I still love to put it on in the background while I work or clean.
The songs found in the anime adaptation are really addicting—I especially love “Eien.” It is a very emotional and somber song, but I really like it and think the artist has a very beautiful and powerful voice.
Unfortunately, some of these songs are a bit hard to find officially or on streaming.
- Opening 1: “Namida” by 2Backka
- Opening 2: “Renaissance” by The Generous
- Closing 2: “Eien” by Yusaku Kiyama – Music Video
You can read my review for Skip Beat here!
Kamisama Kiss
I feel like it would be crazy not to include this iconic shoujo anime in this list. Even those who haven’t seen the anime may recognize the first opening, as it is such a widely used and adored shoujo anime song.
It’s super cute and catchy, so of course I have it on my personal playlist. I really like the second opening too, so I included it here as well!
I particularly like the artist’s music video of the second opening—if you haven’t watched it, it’s very colorful and fun, so check it out!
- Opening 1: “Kamisama Hajimemashita” – Hanae – Music Video
- Opening 2: “Kamisama no Kamisama” – Hanae – Music Video
Honey Lemon Soda
I was surprised to see Honey Lemon Soda have songs by &Team, a Japanese boy band! These two songs are really catchy and fun, so those looking for more upbeat shoujo anime songs may love these.
Both songs are great, but I really liked the closing song, especially while watching the anime. The ending animation sequence is so cute and fun, I let it play with each episode (I’ve included a link to that as well).
- Opening 1: “Magic Hour” by &Team – Music Video
- Closing 1: “Wonderful World” by &Team – Music Video + Anime closing music video
You can read my review for Honey Lemon Soda here!
A Condition Called Love
I have to admit, I’m obsessed with the opening of A Condition Called Love. It’s so much fun, but sadly it isn’t available on the music streaming platform I use. Perhaps one day!
The closing is much more relaxed and has a really good feeling to it. I like the difference in the vibes of the opening and closing songs—A Condition Called Love gives you a bit a of variety!
- Opening 1: “Kimi no Sei” by Sexy Zone – Music Video
- Closing 1: “Every Second” (Japanese Version) by Mina Okabe – Music Video
You can read my review for A Condition Called Love here!
Shugo Chara
Shugo Chara is an anime I enjoyed at a younger age, so these songs hold a lot of nostalgia for me! I still like them to this day, too. They are just so full of energy and lots of fun. They sound very happy and perfectly capture the vibe of a Japanese idol group! Those looking for cheerful, cute shoujo anime songs may love what Shugo Chara has to offer.
If you were already a Shugo Chara fan, you’ll likely recognize these. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any official videos to put here, so you’ll need to do your own searching.
(￣ω￣;)
- Season 1 Opening 1: “Kokoro no Tamago” by Buono!
- Season 1 Opening 2: “Minna Daisuki” by Buono!
- Season 2 Opening 3: “Omakase Guardian” by Guardians 4
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon is another shoujo that absolutely belongs on this list—it was one of the first animes I ever watched, after all. This series has plenty of great examples of shoujo anime songs, and they all have a bit of an older feel to them.
Although Sailor Moon has a ton of well-loved and amazing songs, I don’t necessarily need to tell you to go listen to the iconic “Moonlight Densetsu,” haha. Instead, here are two other songs from the anime series I really enjoyed:
- Sailor Moon R Closing: “Otome no Policy” by Yoko Ishida – Music Video
- Sailor Moon Super S Closing: “Rashiku Ikimasho” by Meu – Music Video
Singular Songs From Other Great Shoujo Animes
Rather than multiple songs from a singular title like what’s found above, this section explores singular songs that I enjoyed from a few other series! The following are all superb shoujo anime songs each with a different feel or vibe:
- A Sign of Affection Closing: “Snowspring” by ChoQMay – Music Video
- My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 Opening: “Gradation” by KANA-BOON – Music Video
- Blue Spring Ride Opening: “Sekai wa Koi ni Ochiteiru” CHiCO and Honeyworks – Music Video
- A Star Brighter Than the Sun Opening: “Stellar Days” by Motohiro Hata – Music Video
I personally listen to a couple other KANA-BOON songs, and have always been familiar with Honeyworks. If you aren’t familiar with Honeyworks but love the cuter side of music or shoujo, definitely check it out… you may find yourself going down a massive youtube video rabbit hole, though!
Final Thoughts
Anime openings and closings play a large part in the culture of anime and manga. When I hear these songs, I think of my experience reading or watching the series. Even though I primarily read manga, I still really enjoy anime songs, too!
I hope that you still enjoyed today’s topic, even though it was not the usual manga review or recommendation! I had a lot of fun listening to these songs while writing this blog, and I may do another anime song post sometime that focuses on romance anime songs in general (not just shoujo).
(´｡• ᵕ •｡`)♡
