In recent weeks, the internet community in Japan has been immersed in a heated debate regarding the tendency of some anime fans to skip the opening and ending sequences of the serieswhich has generated conflicting opinions and considerations about whether this practice is “regrettable” or simply a choice of viewers.
The opening and ending sequences, commonly known as “OP” and “ED” respectively, are essential elements in anime culture. These sequences, which are often accompanied by catchy songs and eye-catching visuals, serve as the introduction and conclusion to each episode, giving viewers a complete experience that goes beyond the main narrative.
Opening sequences often introduce the main characters, establish the atmosphere of the series, and, in many cases, contain subtle clues about the plot. On the other hand, ending sequences offer an opportunity to reflect on what happened in the episode and often feature emotional or comedic moments.
Both sequences are considered a form of art by many fans and are appreciated for their contribution to building the series’ identity. However, some netizens have expressed displeasure at watching other viewers skip these sequences, arguing that this shows a lack of appreciation for the artistic work and creativity involved in its production.
The question of whether or not skipping the opening and ending sequences is “regrettable” or simply a personal choice has generated divided opinions. Many argue that while these sequences are valuable, the decision to skip them or not depends on the quality and enjoyability of the sequences.
Some fans maintain that if the sequences are well made, with high-quality animations and immersive music, viewers are more likely to choose to watch them rather than skip them. On the other hand, if the sequences are perceived as boring or repetitive, it is understandable that some prefer to fast-forward them:
- «Isn’t that precisely why streaming platforms added a “skip” function?».
- «I guess it depends on the series».
- «It is the fault of the production itself if the fans decide to skip the opening or ending, if they do not choose a good song or play things that are not relevant, then they will be skipped».
- «Sometimes the openings are disappointing, so I understand the need to skip them».
- «I like the way the studios end up trolling those who go to the next episode immediately when the ending starts, adding post-credits scenes».
- «Sometimes I don’t play the ending because I think the song is good, but most of the time I do it. I think it serves to reflect that openings and endings can only be bad or good, there are no in-betweens.».
- «From the second time they appear, I start skipping them in each episode».
- «Well, many times there are boring openings with uninteresting songs.».
- «If there is some constant change in the openings and endings of a series, I will watch it, but if it always stays the same, I will skip it. You can always spot a post-credits scene by checking the trailer bar».
- «If I like the song, I won’t skip it. But I don’t even bother to watch the visuals, I just do something else while the episode goes on».
- «There is no reason to watch the same thing over and over again. But changing it in each episode also seems like a bad idea, remember what happened last year with a certain popular anime».
- «There is always the possibility that the opening or ending changes subtly as the story progresses, which is why I never skip them.».
- «Many anime these days don’t seem to put any effort into the opening and ending sequences because they know viewers will skip them anyway. In the past, many people watched anime on DVD or on television, so it was harder to make the jump. I guess nowadays it’s just a form of “short film”, where they test some animating talents».
- «There are twelve episodes, so that’s about 36 minutes wasted if you look at the opening and ending sequences, that’s the length of another two episodes!».
Fountain: Nijipoi
