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Soundtracks are the soul behind an anime. Take One Piece and ‘Thriller Bark’ arc, for example; once the anime gets comfortably knee-deep into the plot, “Bings Sake” cheers the audience on with intense passion. An anime wouldn’t work without its soundtrack, which can unlock elements behind the action and visuals that were previously never even considered. Sometimes even the characters in an anime series feel incomplete without the proper music to accompany their actions.
All in all, it’s undeniable that the audiovisual aesthetic (music) in an anime is just as important as the illustrations, plot, direction, and any other creative element. The soundtrack in any given anime is as varied as the depth of the plot and range of its characters, but it can frequently come across as more surprising.
Updated July 6th, 2021 by Daniel Kurland: Sometimes an anime truly doesn’t come alive until music is added to the package. It’s such a significant element that it’s not uncommon for an anime’s soundtrack to be viewed as its own character. Music can often go under-appreciated in anime series, but when it properly connects with the right material then it’s an absolutely transcendent experience. Accordingly, here’s a solid selection of anime soundtracks that are far too easy to leave on repeat.
15 FLCL Uses Music To Reflect The Chaotic Nature Of Adolescence
FLCL is a burst of magic that tells a coming of age story in a wildly unique way where practically every frame subverts expectations. FLCL’s follow-up series, FLCL Progressive and Alternative, explore the same themes, yet through different ciphers.
FLCL slightly changes and tackles different fears and vulnerabilities, but the aggressive and passionate music by the popular Japanese group, The Pillows, perfectly establishes FLCL’s unpredictable and brash sensibility. FLCL is a truly chaotic journey, but its impact would be much less effective without its energetic music.
14 Dragon Ball GT’s Music Is The Sequel Anime’s Secret Weapon
It’s easy to criticize Dragon Ball GT as an odd misfire in the larger Dragon Ball franchise. Dragon Ball GT may contain questionable plotting, but the anime’s score by Akihito Tokunaga is absolutely phenomenal. Tokunaga’s music for Dragon Ball GT conjures the playful nature of the original series, but still displays an evolution of themes that mesh with Dragon Ball Z’s more action-packed battles.
Dragon Ball GT’s main opening theme song, “Dan Dan Kokoro Hikareteku” is pure bliss and it makes it that much harder to accept Mark Menza’s hip-hop nu metal approach to Dragon Ball GT’s American score.
13 Hiroyuki Sawano’s Score In Attack On Titan Is As Crucial As The Deadly Giants
Attack on Titan is one of the biggest anime of this generation. It’s an absolute accomplishment when it comes to storytelling, characterization, and animation, but the series’ epic and inspirational music really helps establish Titan’s grandiose tone.
Attack on Titan’s music is a vital component of why the series is just so exciting, but the fact that there are massive concerts full of passionate fans that perform alongside Hiroyuki Sawano’s compositions is proof of the power and sense of community that Attack on Titan’s soundtrack generates. All of the theme songs pump up the audience in a sublime fashion.
12 Neon Genesis Evangelion’s Music Helps The Anime’s Crippling Subject Matter Resonate
Neon Genesis Evangelion should be mandatory viewing for every person that’s a fan of psychological and mentally draining narratives. On its surface level, Evangelion is a mecha series, but it’s so much deeper and it examines the human condition and depression with startling clarity.
Shirō Sagisu is responsible for Evangelion’s haunting music, which emphasizes the moody, melancholy, and spiritual nature of the series. On top of everything else, Evangelion’s iconic opening theme, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” performed by Yoko Takahashi, is still widely considered as one of the best anime opening songs of all time.
11 Music Is Essential To The Conversation In JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a masterpiece that’s tremendously creative with the way in which it evolves its narrative into a sprawling generational story. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is distinctly itself, but it also has a deep passion for music, right down to character names.
Yugo Kanno is responsible for the majority of JoJo’s music since Stardust Crusaders and it creates an elegant and exciting environment for the series to exist in. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure also treats its opening and closing songs very seriously, with them often pulling from famous American music that fits the themes of the season.
10 Takeshi Abo’s Work On Steins;Gate Brings The Action To Life
The soundtrack to Steins;Gate displays a great level of variety. Like a standard anime, it consists of openings, endings, and themes. Takeshi Abo is the main music contributor to the anime. The opening “Hacking to the Gate” performed by Kanako Itō and composed by Chiyimaru Shikura is an all-time favorite.
However, the standout track in Steins;Gate is a symphony called “Gate of Steiner” composed by Takeshi Abo. Other phenomenal tracks by Takeshi Abo are “Cycle,” “Explanation,” and “Assailant.” There are really no misses in the mix and it features some of the best music from the larger Steins;Gate universe.
9 The Haunting Music In Death Note Gets To The Root Of The Characters
The Death Note original soundtrack is composed by Yoshihisa Hirano. It isn’t as elaborate as other soundtracks in the list. The timing of “Death Note” by Hideaki Taniuchi couldn’t have been aptly placed in the anime. The track restores faith in post-rock music.
“Requiem” is another cult favorite from the anime, which makes it easy to pine for L. “Domine Kira” is an ode to Lord Kira. “Alert” will always have the words, “Dad, no please” reverberate in the listener’s ears. “Teleology of Death,” “Dirge,” and “Lights Lights up Light” are a couple more fantastic tracks in the anime. Overall, Death Note proudly boasts a winning soundtrack when the anime’s plot hits deeper on the loop.
8 Ghost In The Shell Embraces Experimental Sound To Unpack Its Complex Themes
The soundtrack to Ghost in the Shell is another masterpiece. Composed by Kenji Kawai, Ghost in the Shell’s orchestrations result in a globally acclaimed soundtrack. Those that value drums should have an extra level of appreciation for Kawai’s work here. Kawai breaks from the norm and showcases some experimental ideas with his Ghost in the Shell compositions.
Kawai claims to have incorporated Indian drums to compose Ghost in the Shell’s sound, on the request of the director, Mamoru Oshii. Kawai then struggled with the scaling of drums. Some of the iconic tracks are “M02 Ghosthack,” “M08 Floating Museum.” The soundtrack can be best described as tribal ambient with magnanimous female voices.
7 Tatsuya Kato’s Music In Free! Iwatobi Swim Club Drives The Characters To Work Harder
Free! wouldn’t have told the story of Rin and his three friends with the same impact if it wasn’t for Tatsuya Kato’s soundtrack. The soundtrack mainly consists of electronic music. Fans should consider listening to this album as an equivalent of getting a shot of adrenaline. There are sixty-four tracks at their motivational best.
Every soundtrack is curated perfectly to the plot in the anime. Tracks such as “LADDERLESS” and “Serious Game” never get redundant. Released by the label Lantis, the soundtrack to Free! is a great way to build up energy and a proactive atmosphere.
6 Pokémon 2.B.A. Master Features Uplifting Tracks To Inspire Its Audience
Twenty years ago, the Pokémon 2.B.A. Master album came out. Produced by John Loeffler, the album was the first soundtrack curated for global audiences. Hence, the soundtrack was in English. Pokémon 2.B.A. Master sold millions of copies worldwide and was nothing short of a mega-hit. All of this pales in the light of the fact that the album became a phenomenon worldwide. Jason Paige’s iconic performance during the opening theme, “I wanna be the very best like no one ever was…” reverberate loud and clear to this day.
It’s still hard to deny the impact of the magic words, “Gotta catch ’em all.” The song and soundtrack raised a generation of ’90s kids who will never forget it. Other easy favorites in the list are “PokéRAP” by James D-Train Williams, “My Best Friends” by Ray Green, and “You Can Do It,” by John Loeffler.
5 Bombastic Music Powers Up Gundam Build Fighters For Combat
Gundam Build Fighters comes from Yûki Hayashi. Hayashi is a Japanese composer who has gained an immense reputation with some of his latest work, with that most prominently being My Hero Academia: Two Heroes. Hayashi’s soundtrack for Gundam Build Fighters might possibly be the finest contribution of his career.
The soundtrack picks an exciting pace with a combination of synthesized sounds and traditional instruments. The soundtrack includes 55 tracks all of which make a musical magnum opus. Right from the opening theme, “Nibun no Ichi” to “Imagination > Reality” to “Chase Me,” Gundam Build Fighters’ soundtrack steals the show.
4 Log Horizon Leans Into RPG Staples To Create An Incredible Soundtrack
Log Horizon is based upon Mamare Touno’s novel series of the same name. Yasuharu Takanashi has composed music for the anime. The anime’s opening theme is a delight and it quickly proves that Takanashi is a musical genius. Log Horizon’s original soundtrack consists of 35 songs, mainly dominated by the sound of electric guitars in battles.
The frenetic music that’s reminiscent of RPG battle music is easily the highlight of Log Horizon. The effect of traditional RPG music elevates the plot to a higher pedestal. Every single track in Log Horizon is perfectly crafted for its purpose.
3 Naruto’s Soundtrack Crafts The Perfect Sound To This Exciting Adventure
The soundtrack to the original Naruto series is an album composed by Musashi and Toshio Masuda. Released back in 2003, songs like “Rocks” and “Go GO Naruto” became instant favorites. Naruto’s main theme and Sakura’s theme are some of the finest in the compilation.
Other songs, such as “I said I’m Naruto,” “Victory,” and “Turn Over!” are also incredibly infectious and hard to ignore. Naruto is an iconic anime for many reasons, but Musashi and Masuda’s music is a genuine factor for why Naruto has been able to break through as such a mainstream hit.
2 The Music In Cowboy Bebop Is Just As Much Of A Character As The Crew
There’s no way this list could have been compiled without an ode to the genius of Yoko Kanno. Her soundtrack for the must-watch anime, Cowboy Bebop, is some of her strongest work and it immediately establishes the sci-fi anime’s voice. Cowboy Bebop’s album is put together by the Seatbelts, Kanno’s acclaimed blues/jazz band.
It’s impossible to deny the infectious quality of Cowboy Bebop’s opening number, “TANK,” but the elegiac “Real Folk Blues” is just as powerful. These emotional songs represent the many extremes of Cowboy Bebop, but the soundtrack features lost of diverse musical genres that represent the versatility of this foundational anime series.
1 The Epic Journey In One Piece Is Not The Same Without Its Iconic Soundtrack
Plenty of anime have satisfying soundtracks, but it’s hard to compare with the masterpiece of music that’s been put together for shonen anime staple, One Piece. One Piece’s soundtrack has received acclaim from critics and fans alike and its theme, “We Are,” won anime theme song of the year back in 2000.
One Piece’s musical accomplishments have only grown more intense. As with any long-running shonen series, One Piece has put out a long list of theme songs, which currently tops two-dozen. This music often functions as fitting odes to pirates, the sea, and treasure. One Piece has even ambitiously included Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and Dvorak’s “New World Symphony” in its soundtrack, too.
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