Anime TV series that change their OP/ED animation every episode

[pianocello]

Is there any anime TV series (TV series only NOT OAVs) where the animation of every episode for the OP or ED is changed? The only one I can think of is Genshiken which has a different ED animation every episode.

[Kellory]

Didnt Trigun's change?

I know Chrono Crusade did. The endings to His and Her Circumstances were all unique.

I knnow there have been others. Quite a few really. Although only a few of them have come over to R1 land intact.

[BluWacky]

I know Chrono Crusade did. The endings to His and Her Circumstances were all unique.


Chrono Crusade's OP only changed in the broadcast version for the first few episodes; in typical Gonzo fashion, they hadn't actually finished the OP in time for the broadcast, so it didn't kick in until episode 6 or so.

The only show that personally springs to mind is Arjuna, which didn't even really have an OP but had a different "opening credits" sequence every episode.

[ADC]

Vandread's openings included brief episode previews about halfway through each, and Trigun's usually had the enemy of the week at the midpoint as well.

[Captain Impulse]

Vandread does this as well.

Edit: Gah! Too slow.

[SnowfairyX]

The OP for Moon Phase change every episode I believe. Also the ED for Bottle Fairy.

[Pelianth]

Vandread's openings included brief episode previews about halfway through each, and Trigun's usually had the enemy of the week at the midpoint as well.
The rest Vandread Second Stage's OP also changed significantly about halfway through the season.

[Captain Impulse]

Vandread's openings included brief episode previews about halfway through each, and Trigun's usually had the enemy of the week at the midpoint as well.
The rest Vandread Second Stage's OP also changed significantly about halfway through the season.

Yeah that's right. The episode that sparked that is still one of my favorite anime episodes ever.

[ADC]

Vandread's openings included brief episode previews about halfway through each, and Trigun's usually had the enemy of the week at the midpoint as well.
The rest Vandread Second Stage's OP also changed significantly about halfway through the season.
Yeah that's right. The episode that sparked that is still one of my favorite anime episodes ever.
I remember that sparking some controversy back in the day because one bit of the OP was spliced or something, so Pioneer (as we used to call them) didn't have to make a new English-language credits page, and it either was the 'revealed' version in the first half of the series or the 'obscured' version in the latter half. One or the other. Ah, memories. One of these days I really need to watch Vandread again.

[ricecooker]

I can only think of:
Bleach ED 3, 9
Inu Yasha ED 2
s-CRY-ed OP
Vandread OP 1, 2

[Serial Experiments Nobue]

While not for every single episode, the OP for Planetes evolves and changes every few episodes. The changes are subtle, but they are there.

[aquapermanence]

Not every episode, but openings changed in Tenchi GXP. Different characters were in shadow or revealed depending on whether they had appeared.

[LenMiyata]

Grumble Grumble Grumble

The Studio GONZO series 'Samurai Seven' also had slightly different opening sequences as new characters were introduced into the series...

[mandisaw]

Hmm, not every episode, but every few eps/every arc. Samurai 7's opening (or was it the ED?) revealed each character from shadow as they were added to the group. Also, Shana's opening shows different bad guys depending on who is the villain of the arc. Since the arcs run about 2-4 eps ('til the last 1/3 or so), that's pretty frequent.

[LordGeo]

Hmm, not every episode, but every few eps/every arc. Samurai 7's opening (or was it the ED?) revealed each character from shadow as they were added to the group. Also, Shana's opening shows different bad guys depending on who is the villain of the arc. Since the arcs run about 2-4 eps ('til the last 1/3 or so), that's pretty frequent.

Well, then GunXSword was the same, with a bunch of silhouettes being unvieled until near the end, when all the shilhouettes were revealed.

Also, the opening of every episode of Layzner had a small scene, usually some sad moment, from the episode the show was on.

[Crystallized]

Kyo Kara Maoh's endings do, but that's because they're made mostly of episode recaps and previews.

[TnAdct1]

Add Pani Poni Dash to the list, as each episode has its own unique ending animation sequence.

[Lego]

While not for every single episode, the OP for Planetes evolves and changes every few episodes. The changes are subtle, but they are there.

Yep, Planetes was one if you didn't catch it you wouldn't of known it changed. Depending on whats going on certain characters are shadowed and so on. Someone had this huge image of the changes but I can't seem to find it now.

Trigun was the first show to come to mind as they had a weekly opening depending on the baddy in that episode.

[Splitter]

Futakoi Alternative has 4 different ending animations

[something]

Hate coming into these threads late since I know everything I want to say has probably been said... but I'm gonna say it anyway! So nyah.

Tsukuyomi ~Moon Phase~ changed its OP every episode.
Pani Poni Dash changed its ED every episode.

I assume we're not counting cop-outs that just replay scenes from the episode for their ED. Yes they're "different" each time but it's... boring. Stellvia did this for most or maybe all episodes, but I give that a pass because Angela's theme songs for Stellvia = WIN^3.

[Mitsuki]

Fruits Basket, Full Moon (first ED - New Future) and Fushigi Yugi have "summary"
EDs that show scenes from the episode.

Kiddy Grade has two alternating ED animations (one with the last shot of Eclair and one with the last shot of Lumiere).

Evangelion has a different SONG each time. (Or rather the same song, with a different singer or tempo/arrangement.)

[tenton]

Not every episode, but openings changed in Tenchi GXP. Different characters were in shadow or revealed depending on whether they had appeared.

Best Student Council will do the uncovering shadows in later episodes.

I, Me, My Strawberry Eggs has an OP part that's specific to the episode (briefly, the first part).

Galaxy Angel A (and the first episode of AA) has a brief part that shows a few shots from the episode.

[Serial Experiments Nobue]

Evangelion has a different SONG each time. (Or rather the same song, with a different singer or tempo/arrangement.)

Using this qualification, you could then include Sakura Wars OVA 2.

[pianocello]

I assume we're not counting cop-outs that just replay scenes from the episode for their ED. Yes they're "different" each time but it's... boring.

Of course and maybe I should specify this. I'm NOT talking about the ones where they merely reuse scenes from the episode but one where they actually change the entire animation. Genshiken is the classic example of this - NONE of the ED animation is reused.

[pianocello]

Fruits Basket, Full Moon (first ED - New Future) and Fushigi Yugi have "summary"
EDs that show scenes from the episode.

Kiddy Grade has two alternating ED animations (one with the last shot of Eclair and one with the last shot of Lumiere).

Evangelion has a different SONG each time. (Or rather the same song, with a different singer or tempo/arrangement.)

Eh? But I'm talking about one where they change the animation EVERY episode.

[pianocello]

I can only think of:
Bleach ED 3, 9
Inu Yasha ED 2
s-CRY-ed OP
Vandread OP 1, 2



While I haven't seen enough of Scryed to comment and I'll probably need to rewatch Vandread since I can't seem to remember the changes that everyone here is talking about. I'm pretty sure that InuYasha and Bleach do not change their animation for the OP or ED every episode.

[something]

Of course and maybe I should specify this. I'm NOT talking about the ones where they merely reuse scenes from the episode but one where they actually change the entire animation. Genshiken is the classic example of this - NONE of the ED animation is reused.
Well I doubt you'll find any others if you mean COMPLETELY NEW animation EVERY EPISODE. Most of the time shows that change each episode are changing little things. Or it's something that can be changed very easily. I haven't seen Genshiken yet (it's in the backlog), but how complex is the animation they're changing each time? Full blown complex animated sequences with different themes and concepts and styles and all, or something easy to change every time like PPD?

PPD's *is* completely different each time, but it's just a parade of chibis really.

[ricecooker]

I can only think of:
Bleach ED 3, 9
Inu Yasha ED 2
s-CRY-ed OP
Vandread OP 1, 2



While I haven't seen enough of Scryed to comment and I'll probably need to rewatch Vandread since I can't seem to remember the changes that everyone here is talking about. I'm pretty sure that InuYasha and Bleach do not change their animation for the OP or ED every episode.

For Inu Yasha, Fukai Mori (the second ending theme) features the stock Sesshoumaru/Jaken footage along with clips from the episode. For the U.S. release, Viz just stuck with one version. For Bleach, the third ending theme Houki Boshi showcases each squad captain and his/her lieutenant. The ninth ending theme Baby it's You has a character highlight in the middle of the song.

[TnAdct1]

Evangelion has a different SONG each time. (Or rather the same song, with a different singer or tempo/arrangement.)

Using this qualification, you could then include Sakura Wars OVA 2.

As well as Negima!?.

[pianocello]

Of course and maybe I should specify this. I'm NOT talking about the ones where they merely reuse scenes from the episode but one where they actually change the entire animation. Genshiken is the classic example of this - NONE of the ED animation is reused.
Well I doubt you'll find any others if you mean COMPLETELY NEW animation EVERY EPISODE. Most of the time shows that change each episode are changing little things. Or it's something that can be changed very easily. I haven't seen Genshiken yet (it's in the backlog), but how complex is the animation they're changing each time? Full blown complex animated sequences with different themes and concepts and styles and all, or something easy to change every time like PPD?

PPD's *is* completely different each time, but it's just a parade of chibis really.

I haven't seen PPD(perhaps you can enlighten me more on how PPD changes each episode) so I can't comment but for Genshiken, the ED will always show the Genshiken members in the clubroom watching Kujibiki. However it is ALWAYS different and will reflect what happened in the episode. For example in one episode, Saki gets mad and goes after everyone with a broom. The ED for the episode shows the guys in the room with broom marks looking tired. Then there's the episode where most of the other members were not present. The ED (which takes place after Saki has left the room) shows a darkened room. Then there's the ED where everyone is staring at Ogiue. So as you can see, NONE of the EDs are ever similar. Even the Kujibiki animation playing on the TV is always different.

While I don't necessarily mean that the entire animation has to be changed, I mean one where a significant enough portion of the animation is changed to the point that the audience can see that it is noticebly different.

[pianocello]

I can only think of:
Bleach ED 3, 9
Inu Yasha ED 2
s-CRY-ed OP
Vandread OP 1, 2



While I haven't seen enough of Scryed to comment and I'll probably need to rewatch Vandread since I can't seem to remember the changes that everyone here is talking about. I'm pretty sure that InuYasha and Bleach do not change their animation for the OP or ED every episode.

For Inu Yasha, Fukai Mori (the second ending theme) features the stock Sesshoumaru/Jaken footage along with clips from the episode. For the U.S. release, Viz just stuck with one version. For Bleach, the third ending theme Houki Boshi showcases each squad captain and his/her lieutenant. The ninth ending theme Baby it's You has a character highlight in the middle of the song.


Actually I'm refering more to shows where the animation for the OP or ED changes for every episode throughout the entire series.

[Mitsuki]

I haven't seen PPD(perhaps you can enlighten me more on how PPD changes each episode)

Basically, it's chibi versions of characters moving across the screen. Each episode the characters or their clothes change based on what the episode was about.

[Hayate Kurogane]

A number of series from Sunrise feature openings and endings that change within a series. Some have already been mentioned. Infinite Ryvius, Gasaraki, s-CRY-ed, Planetes, and every Gundam TV series with the exception of the original series (as well as the 0083 OVA).

All are disqualified because none of them change either their opening or ending animation in every episode.

Likewise, while Gun Sword's openings appear to be ever-changing, there are at least two instances of repeated opening sequences, and thus it too is disqualified.

Somebody mentioned Arjuna, and that arguably does count, not for its openings (since only one episode actually has what would be considered a proper opening sequence), but for its endings, which are unique across all episodes as far as I can remember.

Chances are excellent that there's something else that does qualify out there, aside from shows like Vandread or Trigun whose openings feature clips from the episodes they precede, but Genshiken and Paniponi Dash! are the only two TV series I can think of with a change for every single episode.

[Hayate Kurogane]

Vandread's openings included brief episode previews about halfway through each, and Trigun's usually had the enemy of the week at the midpoint as well.
The rest Vandread Second Stage's OP also changed significantly about halfway through the season.
Yeah that's right. The episode that sparked that is still one of my favorite anime episodes ever.
I remember that sparking some controversy back in the day because one bit of the OP was spliced or something, so Pioneer (as we used to call them) didn't have to make a new English-language credits page, and it either was the 'revealed' version in the first half of the series or the 'obscured' version in the latter half. One or the other. Ah, memories. One of these days I really need to watch Vandread again.

I was the one who brought it up, and Jim Lazar saved it for reference/posterity on his Anime Prime page. Essentially, the portion of the Second Stage opening sequence that features the combining sequences (over which the chorus of the song plays), starting with the screen that shows the opening theme credits, is blurry for the first half of the season and clear for the second half. The song credits were the only screen for which Bang Zoom! had to produce an entirely new screen of text in English (the other screens, as you'll note, have English already alongside the Japanese), and rather than producing another one for the second half using the correct animation in the background, simply reused the first one. Whether this was done consciously to save time, or in ignorance, I don't know. They screwed up correct opening sequences again with Fafner, so maybe someone just needs to pay better attention, whether it's the folks at Bang Zoom! or any dub studio working on English credits, or the studio overseeing the R1 release, be it Geneon or whomever.

[curr]

Gasaraki's opening changes ever eps.

[The Great Bear]

Aria the Animation (I haven't seen any of the Natural yet). the OP plays over different scenes every episode. The only constant is the Episode Title screen (which shows the Aria Company house and a gondola and the episode title).

[DataDogEin]

Stellvia's ED always changes, showing recap clips of that episode; the ED theme also changes between the upbeat "Kirei na Yozora" and the somber "End of the World", depending on the tone of the episode.

[pianocello]

Stellvia's ED always changes, showing recap clips of that episode; the ED theme also changes between the upbeat "Kirei na Yozora" and the somber "End of the World", depending on the tone of the episode.

As we discussed earlier, recaps don't really count since they are a cheap to recycle animation instead of creating new ones.

[BluWacky]

Somebody mentioned Arjuna, and that arguably does count, not for its openings (since only one episode actually has what would be considered a proper opening sequence), but for its endings, which are unique across all episodes as far as I can remember.

Unfortunately not; several episodes reuse the live-action Mameshiba footage (with the girl running) particularly towards the beginning, although there are a few different ending sequences.

[Sheena]

Aria the Animation (I haven't seen any of the Natural yet). the OP plays over different scenes every episode.

Yes they kept doing that with entirely new OP for each episode of the second season as well (Aria the Natural).

[Hayate Kurogane]

Somebody mentioned Arjuna, and that arguably does count, not for its openings (since only one episode actually has what would be considered a proper opening sequence), but for its endings, which are unique across all episodes as far as I can remember.

Unfortunately not; several episodes reuse the live-action Mameshiba footage (with the girl running) particularly towards the beginning, although there are a few different ending sequences.

But are they all the same? I seem to recall minor differences in editing as far as cut order and cut selection, but my mind has been known to completely betray me when it comes to things like this, so... :sd: