Summary
Angela is a Japanese pop-rock duo best known for their energetic and emotionally charged music featured in numerousanimeseries. The band consists of two core members: atsuko, the charismatic lead vocalist who also contributes to lyrics and composition, and KATSU, a multi-talented musician responsible for keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, shamisen, DJ work, as well as composition and arrangement.
The band originally formed in 1993 and spent their early years performing as street musicians, steadily building a grassroot following. Their official debut single arrived in 1999, but it wasn’t until 2002, when they signed with the Starchild label, that angela truly broke into the mainstream. Here’s some of angela’s best music for anime.
In addition to the main duo, angela often collaborates with a rotating group of six support musicians who lend their talents to specific singles and albums.
10KINGS
K
Kings is angela’s 19th single and serves as the opening theme for the anime K, also known as K Project. The song perfectly captures the series’ stylish, enigmatic atmosphere through its powerful vocals, rich orchestration, and dramatic flair. Originally released as a single in 2012, Kings quickly gained popularity and became one of angela’s most recognizable anime themes.
Angela also provided one of the insert songs for K, Itsuka no Zero Kara.
Due to its strong reception, the track was later featured on several of the duo’s compilation albums, including Zero (2013), Treasure Box II (2014), and Takarabako to Takarabako 2 ga Haitta Blu-ray de Kikuyatsu (2014), further cementing its status as a fan favorite.
The single release also included the off-vocal version of Kings as wellas the track The Darkand its own off-vocal version. Both songs were featured in the K anime and contributed to the series’ signature moody, cinematic soundscape.
9Sakebe
Fafner In The Azure: THE BEYOND
Sakebe is angela’s 30th single and serves as the opening theme for Fafner in the Azure: The Beyond, a continuation of the long-running Fafner mecha anime series. Known for its emotional depth and intense narrative, Fafner has maintained a close musical partnership with angela, and Sakebe continues that tradition with a powerful, emotionally charged performance.
The single was well-received, peaking at number 11 on the Oricon Singles Chart, and was praised for its dramatic orchestration and evocative lyrics that align with the series’ themes of sacrifice, survival, and hope in the face of despair.
8Asu E No Brilliant Road
Stellvia
Asu e no Brilliant Road (translated as Brilliant Road to Tomorrow) is the opening theme of the 2003 anime series Stellvia. Released as a single on Jun 09, 2025, the song marked a major turning point in angela’s career. It was their first notable release after signing with Starchild, a sub-label of King Records renowned for its work with anime music and voice actors.
The B-side of the single, Kirei na Yozora (Beautiful Night Sky), was used as the ending theme for Stellvia.
With its soaring vocals, energetic tempo, and futuristic tone, Asu e no Brilliant Road perfectly captures the spirit of Stellvia’s sci-fi narrative. The track resonated strongly with fans and became angela’s breakthrough hit, propelling the duo into the spotlight and firmly establishing them in the anime music industry.
7Hitohira No Mirai
Eternal 831
Hitohira no Mirai (translated as A Glimpse of the Future) was written by angela for Eternal 831, a feature-length anime film created to commemorate the 30th anniversary of WOWOW, Japan’s prominent satellite broadcasting network. WOWOW is known for airingiconic anime seriessuch as Trinity Blood, Berserk, and Cowboy Bebop, and Eternal 831 marked a milestone project in its legacy.
When composing Hitohira no Mirai, angela aimed to capture the emotional core of the film. The song mirrors the protagonist’s inner struggles, particularly the anxiety and uncertainty that come with making life-changing decisions. Through thoughtful lyrics and a stirring melody, the track reflects a journey of hesitation, growth, and ultimately, the courage to seize the future.
6Welcome!
The Family Circumstances Of The Irregular Witch
Welcome! is the ending theme for the anime The Family Circumstances of the Irregular Witch. True to the show’s quirky and heartwarmingthemes of found family, the song is vibrant and playful, featuring a lively blend of instruments with a strong emphasis on trumpets. This brass-forward arrangement gives the track a whimsical, carnival-like flair, evoking the fun and chaotic energy of an amusement park, an ideal match for the anime’s comedic and fantastical atmosphere.
The song was released as part of an album also titled Welcome!, which marks angela’s 11th full-length album. Its joyful tone and catchy melody quickly made it a standout track, further showcasing angela’s talent for creating music that enhances the emotional and thematic essence of the shows they work on.
5Zenryoku☆Summer!
Aho-Girl
Zenryoku☆Summer! (translated as Full Power☆Summer!) is angela’s 26th single and serves as the opening theme for the 2017 anime Aho-Girl. True to the show’s zany, over-the-top humor, the song is fast-paced, energetic, and brimming with chaotic charm. Its mix of rapid, upbeat sections and slower, more relaxed phrases adds dynamic contrast and cleverly reflects the unpredictable nature of the series and its eccentric protagonist.
The popularity of Zenryoku☆Summer! extended beyond anime, as the song was later covered by Atsumi Munakata inthe popular rhythm gameTHE iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage, further cementing its place as a fan-favorite summer anthem.
4Andante Ni Koi Wo Shite!
Andante ni Koi wo Shite! (Fall in Love with Andante!) is the opening theme for the anime My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! True to the show’s lighthearted and comedic tone, the song is bright, upbeat, and full of whimsical charm. It cleverly incorporates Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, blending the classical piece seamlessly with pop melodies. This fusion of classical and modern elements reflects the anime’s playful spirit and the quirky, unpredictable nature of its protagonist, Catarina Claes.
Released as angela’s 31st single, Andante ni Koi wo Shite! peaked at number 38 on the Oricon Singles Chart. Its cheerful melody and clever composition made it a standout theme of the season, resonating well with both anime fans and music listeners alike.
3Sidonia
Knights Of Sidonia
Sidonia is angela’s 21st single and serves as the opening theme for the anime Knights of Sidonia. Notably, this track marked a creative first for the duo, as it was the first anime theme song they wrote that directly includes the title of the anime within its lyrics.Atsuko and KATSU drew inspirationfrom classic mecha anime such as Tetsujin 28-go and Mobile Suit Gundam, where the opening themes often feature characters repeatedly calling out the name of the central robot.
The theme song was also inspired by different European countries' anthems.
The full version of Sidonia showcases angela’s signature storytelling through music, with a dynamic structure that reflects the anime’s narrative arc. It begins with a mechanical, almost militaristic rhythm, evoking the strict, survival-driven world of Sidonia. As the song progresses, the tempo and tone shift into more lyrical, fluid passages, symbolizing the emotional evolution of the characters and the human connection at the heart of the story.
2Shangri-La
Fafner In The Azure
Shangri-La is one of angela’s most iconic and enduring songs, originally serving as the opening theme for the 2004 anime Fafner in the Azure. The track became a defining moment in angela’s career, with its powerful vocals, dramatic instrumentation, and emotionally charged energy capturing the spirit of the mecha series and resonating strongly with fans.
Due to its lasting popularity, Shangri-La was re-released multiple times, and in 2010, the song was even brought back asthe theme for the stage play adaptationof Fafner in the Azure, underscoring its emotional weight and cultural significance within the series.
In 2017, a viral video mashupthat blended angela’s Zenryoku☆Summer! (the opening theme to Aho Girl) with the chorus of Shangri-La sparked a wave of fan enthusiasm. The unexpected fusion of two vastly different tracks became a meme sensation and was later brought to life during angela Zenryoku☆Live! 2017, where the duo surprised the audience by transitioning mid-performance from Zenryoku☆Summer! into Shangri-La.
1The End Of The World
Stellvia Of The Universe
The end of the world was angela’s second single of 2003 and served as the second ending theme for the anime Stellvia of the Universe. Released shortly after their breakout hit Asu e no Brilliant Road, this track continued to showcase angela’s unique blend of emotional depth and futuristic soundscapes.
Notably, an off-vocal (instrumental) version of The end of the world was also used as an insert song within the series, adding an extra layer of atmosphere to key moments.
