One of them is the Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan ED. Evan Call’s composition there is magical.
I’ve never seen anyone mention it, so I’ll say the ending for Kyokai no Kanata (Beyond the Boundary). It’s so good, and the way they lead into it at the end of the episode is great. Unfortunately you don’t see that part in the linked video.
https://animethemes.moe/anime/kyoukai_no_kanata/ED-NCBD1080
Recently, the ending for How Raeliana Ended Up in the Duke’s Mansion. Again, the way they lead into it every episode is great. And the one episode where they changed the song got me super emotional unexpectedly.
https://animethemes.moe/anime/kanojo_ga_koushaku_tei_ni_itta_riyuu/ED1
Alternate song (pretty big spoilers in this one): https://animethemes.moe/anime/kanojo_ga_koushaku_tei_ni_itta_riyuu/ED2
Honorable mention: All of the Eureka Seven OP/EDs. I wouldn’t quite say they’re underrated, but since the show is almost 20 years old now I’m guessing a lot of people haven’t seen them.
Not really sure what qualifies as underrated/overrated,… BUT in terms of things I can find on YouTube and general sense of amount of discussion I’ve seen,… I think the OPs get more attention than the EDs of these series when I’ve tended to like the EDs better
Seisenshi Dunbine’s ED because power ballads are fun
Gundam IBO S1’s ED feels James Bondy with the swung feel and the strings (incidentally Aria the Origination’s OP Spirale, also great, kinda feels James Bondy to me but more for the chromaticism,… ANYWAYS)
and yeah, this was a stacked season (with competition like Bocchi the Rock) but I think my favorite ED of that season was Do It Yourself’s ED because of its ultimate comf (kinda gives me the same feel as Nichijou’s first ED)
Seisenshi Dunbine’s ED because power ballads are fun
If you haven’t seen it, check out L-Gaim’s OP 1st OP as well. Same singer, great power ballad vibe.
Edit: oh, hey, and 0083’s “Men of Destiny”, too!
Honestly, MIO / MIQ should have been the fifth (sixth?) Knight Saber.
Paranoia Agent’s OP and ED are creepy and really good. Probably not underrated but I don’t know anyone else IRL who’s seen it.
I also really like Haibane Renmei’s ED.
Susumu Hirasawa also did the OP and ED to Kon’s Paprika and I haven’t managed to find clips of him performing any of Paranoia Agent live, his live shows look like a trip with him performing with a laser controller
Synchronicity! Months later, I’m listening to a video essay about Paranoia Agent, as I search Lemmy for any actual discussions about Haibane Renmei!
I hope anime discussions (in general) become more popular in Lemmy. It’s hard to start topics as someone who mostly watches old stuff but it’s nice to know there are people interested in these around here!
I’ve been tempted to post an Old Anime Discussion thread. I don’t keep up with what’s new, because I like to watch an entire series at once before starting another one, so I mainly stick to older shows. I super don’t watch new episodes weekly unlike most anime fans.
I miss the other website, where I could read through years of discussions about shows like Shinsekai Yori and Mushishi. The more time passes, the more I feel like breaking the strike and posting there again.
One I never see mentioned anywhere is the ED for Asterisk War. Mediocre show but you get to hear Maaya Sakamoto sing in English.
