Part 85: Side Note #06: Anime Openings 1

Side Notes 06: Anime Openings

Oh golly gosh it's time to talk about that darn anime again. Or more specifically, the Johto anime. Now I have maybe five words about one of the most uninteresting sagas in the show's history, but hell, let's talk about Johto. The one hundred and seventeenth episode of the anime was the first episode of the Johto saga and aired 14th October 1999. This is notable as the games themselves didn't come out until 21st November 1999. This is so far the only time the anime has ever done this, though they could've easily put some episodes in detailing how Ash and friends went from Pallet to New Bark in like five seconds.

Anyway, new anime saga, new openings. We are jumping over the Orange Islands saga, but I will be going over it in this thread. Later. For now, we'll be taking a look at the first of the Johto openings, since, unlike the Kanto saga, there were three distinct openings, which is more in keeping with how the anime does things nowadays. So let's have a comparison.

Japanese Opening (You can find the extended movie version here and the translated lyrics here)

English Opening (An extended movie version can be found here)

Just before we compare and contrast, can I just say how much I absolutely love the opening battle for the third movie? I'll be gushing about it when I talk about Movie 3 proper, but god, it's so sooooo good. The battle flows so well, it's realistic, it makes sense, it uses it environment and it's just an absolute joy to watch. Sure, there are some questionable moments (Bulbasaur got bodied way too easily), but this is something all anime battles should strive for and in all honesty, this is the best battle of the series, no question.

Anyway, like with the first opening, I think both of them are very good, just in different ways. Well, Johto Journeys is a very nice change of pace from the last two openings, being very happy, bubbly and full of colour, helped by this was the first digital animation seen in Pokemon. I really like this opening, though it is brought down by 4Kids insisting on using footage from actual episodes, but otherwise it works really well and I'm a fan.

OK! meanwhile blows it out of the fucking water. While I still enjoy Johto Journeys a lot, maaaaaaaaaaaan is OK! one of the best openings. Maybe I'm just a sucker for guitar and bass, but ahhhhhhhhhhh I love this song. And you may recognize the singer as Rica Matsumoto, the voice actress of Satoshi. This is the third opening she's sung over now and it would be far from her last. The energy and enthusiasm she brings to this song is just fantastic and it's always a good time.

And that's it for the anime for now, but there's still plenty to go over in this thread. Oh boy is there...