50 Years of Anime OPs: ConnectiCon 2012

The following is a listing of the OPs presented during "50 Years of Anime Openings: Style and Symbolism," presented at ConnectiCon 2012. The videos were separated into the following categories: Chronology, Atmosphere, Character and Narrative, Music, Symbolism, WTF? and Filler Arc.

This time around, I was fortunate to have time to run both a "vamp" list 20 minutes before the panel, and had around 15 minutes extra for overflow content. I am happy to say that the panel went over well. It filled up before the formal start time, and had a line of about 20 people waiting outside for an open seat throughout the almost 2 hour duration. I even had to reserve VIP seats for some colleagues and friends.


Vamp: Something to start the show.
-Baccano!
-GrenDizer: the beginning of a few Go Nagai OPs
-Nichijou OP 2
-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1986: long live the 80s!
-Mobile Suit Gundam 0093 Stardust Memory: I wanted to show this one so bad, thank the anime gods for some overflow time.
-Dusk Maiden of Amnesia
-Vision of Escaflowne
-Avengers- Earth's Mightiest Heroes
-Sengoku Basara

 Intro: Every Anime OP Ever. Courtesy of Jenny Ng, a compilation video containing the popular tropes and elements that appear in pretty much every OP. While I'm aware of the sequel, I still prefer this one.

 Chronology: A rundown of the evolution of style and technology from the 1960s to 2011.
-Astro Boy
-Tetsujin 28
-Marine Boy US
-Speed Racer US
-Mazinger Z
-Cutey Honey: to be fair, I did tell them ahead of time I would be covering a lot of Go Nagai.
-Space Battleship Yamato
-Lupin III Season 2, OP 2
-Beast King GoLion
-Urusei Yatsura OP 5 "Rock the Planet"
-Aura Battler Dunbine
-City Hunter -Dragonball Z OP 1 "Cha La Head Cha La"
-Gundam Wing -Revolutionary Girl Utena
-Outlaw Star
-Pokemon US OP 1
-Gundam SEED OP 1 "Invoke"
-Toaru Majutsu no Index OP 1
-Shin Mazinger Shougeki Z-Hen OP 1: comparison for Mazinger Z. 40 years of technological advances, still remains true to original form.
-Hanasaku Iroha
-Haiyore! Nyaruko-san: or, Moe Moe Lovecraft.

Atmosphere: Where the OP is structured to reflect the emotional them of the show, or set the tone for the series. Frequently utilizes artistic themes and abstraction over character.
-Paranoia Agent OP 1: This is really the only one you need to see to get what I mean by atmosphere.
-Ergo Proxy
-Higurashi
-Usagi Drop

Character and Narrative: Where the OP focuses on the character instead of setting the mood. Single, multiple and cast are the main focal point.
-Azumanga Daioh
-Durarara! OP1
-Monster: another one I really wanted to show.
 -Bakemonogatari OP 4 "Renai Circulation"

Music: Experimenting with western music styles and imagery.
-Cowboy Bebop: avant jazz in deep space.
-Samurai Champloo: hip hop samurai
-BECK Mongolian Chop Squad: 90s alt-rock video
-Detroit Metal City: this one was the logical conclusion, especially since Elfen Lied is 18+

Symbolism: Insertion or construction of narrative around sacred/cultural symbols and contexts. Often used to enhance or impart plot, characters or theme.
-Neon Genesis Evangelion: throw as much imagery as possible at the viewer, then explain nothing.
-Eden of the East: see Eva entry, just flashier.
-Death Note: deliberate choice of imagery, fit into narrative. What EVA was aiming for.
-Mono-no-ke Bakeneko: "mysterious happenings." I personally love the ukiyo-e style and reliance on the weird.

What the #$%&??!: Openings with questionable music, imagery, progression or the just-plain-weird. A good question would be "why did they choose to do that?" when viewing these.
-Berserk: they're singing in English? Is this an OP or Gattsu's modeling shoot with music by his friend's Weezer cover band?
-Quack Experimental Anime Excel Saga: intentionally irreverent.
-Don Dracula: its Tezuka.
 -Kuragehime: spot the pop culture reference!
-Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei: BDSM I-don't-even...

Filler Arc: Because all long-running anime have filler arcs. No rules. ANYTHING goes here.
-Dragonball Z US OP "Rock the Dragon."
-Batman Beyond
-Pony Champloo
-Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger
-Evangelion Bebop
-X-Men 90s
-Getter Robo -Animaniacs