T5W#169-Top 5 Gundam Opening Theme Songs

As a long time Gundam fan, the one thing ive come to associate more with more shows or films from the franchise…besides the mechs, the stories, the characters and other things…is the music.  Quite often Id find myself turning into new episodes just to hear the themes play on screen to get me amped for whatever came next, for better (Gundam Wing) or worse (Gundam Seed Destiny).  So for the next couple of weeks, ill be taking a look at the long history of Gundam theme music and choosing my five favorite opening and ending themes for two separate lists.  And we kick things off this week with my Top 5 Gundam Opening Theme Songs.  BTW rule of thumb here: most Gundam entries have anywhere from 2-4 themes per show (opening and ending).  So as much as I like every opening or ending for certain shows, only one entry per show per list.  Anyway, let’s get to it.

#5-The Winner (Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory)

Gundam 0083 has gained a bit of rep in the community as being the “Top Gun” of Gundam.  The initial setup would suggest that sure: a crew of training academy cadets competing with each other to see who will sit in the cockpit of the coveted Mobile Suit.  So it makes a little sense that the first opening theme, “The Winner” has an edge of your seat feel, matched to pictures of  gathering enemies and the action that unfolds when they meet.  Plus, the beat feels very remniscent of Top Gun’s main theme, “Danger Zone”.  And you better believe Kou Uraki and the crew of the Albion are heading right into it.


#4-Turn A Turn (Turn A Gundam)

Turn A Gundam is a strange but very beautiful entry in the Gundam franchise.  In many respects it feels more like Gundams answer to Escaflowne (same studio, and some talents from that show carried over as well).  With a setup as unique as Victorian Era biplanes battling War of the Worlds style Tripod Mobile Suits, you need a theme to match.  Turn A Turn is that theme and it feels like a Gundam theme (lots of rock guitars) but goes for more of a wondrous, mystical vibe (beautiful chants and flute play) rather than the call to arms you’d usually associate with Gundam.  


#3-Rhythm Emotion (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing)

While Just Communication kicked off the series right, Rhythm Emotion feels like a song that better defines Gundam Wing.  Theres an air of sad tragedy and romance to the whole tune, which fits the general change of mood for the story in the latter half when it appears (though imho it should have been used in the show at the halfway mark rather than the 7/8ths mark).  Still, Rhythm Emotion makes several appearances in the last act of Wing, especially when Epyon slices Space Fortress Barge in half in a single go.  What can I say, it’s just an awesome and super beautiful song that still manages to be action packed, like Gundam always is.


#2-Nibun no Ichi (Gundam Build Fighters)

I know there are some who call the Build Fighters/Divers entries half hour long toy commercials…and yeah they are that, a way to broadcast the ultimate Gunpla catalogue to the world.  But Build Fighters is still a super fun and excellent love letter to the Gundam franchise as a whole.  Nibun no Ichi is the perfect opening for this series, instilling a Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh kind of feel but in the best way.  It’s like schools out or Saturday morning is upon us and all you want to do is get out there and go build Gunpla with friends and ready them for shows, tournaments, shop displays.  Gundam has always been a pretty serious series.  So it’s nice to have a theme song that makes you feel like a little kid again discovering this amazing world for the first time.


#1-Rage of Dust (Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans)

While IBO might be a little hard for me to follow (or care in some instances), the theme songs all have that very hard rock edge that you’d associate with this entries title.  Rage of Dust was a good way to kick off Season 2 and, in my opinion, is one of the most blood pumping, energizing, get the crew together openings in all of Anime.  You even have your segments of the song where everyones just chilling out before its time to get right to the kick ass action.  I never finished Season Two of Iron Blooded Orphans but Rage of Dust was one of the main highlights of the show in general.  It’s the kind of theme every Gundam show should have at least once in its run.