A compilation of jazz insert songs and covers from anime
Looking for anime songs you can enjoy in a jazz style?
Theme songs, insert songs, and ending themes from Japanese anime have now established themselves as a major genre known worldwide as “anisong.”
At first glance, anime and jazz might not seem like they go together.
But once you listen, you’ll find that many famous anime tracks actually have a strong jazz flavor.
For those who love both anime and jazz, here are some songs you should definitely hear, including notable cover versions.
Give them a listen!
- Special Feature: Iconic Songs from Anime | Packed with Great Tracks!
- [Collection of Epic Songs] A compilation of cool anime songs chosen by anime fans
- Classic swing jazz tunes. Recommended popular songs.
- Great for karaoke too! Jazz classics you’ll want to sing at least once
- Recommended anime songs for people in their 50s. Classic and popular anime theme songs.
- A roundup of famous jazz standards featured in the hugely popular jazz manga BLUE GIANT
- Ranking of Popular Jazz Songs
- Popular anime songs you often hear on YouTube Shorts
- Including global smash hits! Anime songs recommended for Gen Z
- Listen More! A Collection of Hidden Gems in Anime Songs
- Captivating female jazz singers who illuminate the history of jazz. Recommended jazz vocals from around the world.
- [2026] A Collection of Classic Japanese Ballads with a Jazz Flavor
- Summary of theme songs and insert songs from HUNTER×HUNTER
Anime Jazz Insert Songs and Covers Compilation (1–10)
bartenderNachuraru Hai feat. Shiina Junpei
The song created by Natural High in collaboration with Junpei Shiina is a masterpiece that captures the subtleties of adult romance and life.
Its rhythm, featuring Latin and jazz influences, creates a sophisticated, urban atmosphere.
Released in December 2006, it was used as the opening theme for the Fuji TV anime “Bartender.” Through scenes set in a nighttime bar, the track expresses the complex emotions and heartache of adulthood, with Shiina’s soulful vocals further enhancing its appeal.
It’s a tune that resonates with mature listeners—perfect for enjoying with a drink after work.
Fly Me to the MoonBart Howard
When you hear “Fly Me to the Moon,” you think of a classic jazz standard.
It’s also widely known as the ending theme of the TV anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, but it wasn’t written as an anime song—it was first recorded by American singer Felicia Sanders.
The original title was “In Other Words,” and it was a gentle waltz in 3/4 time rather than in 4/4.
It became famous after composer-arranger Joe Harnell gave it a bossa nova-style arrangement in 1962, which boosted its popularity.
Incidentally, for the Evangelion ending theme, the piano is performed by Japanese jazz pianist Makoto Kuriya.
Be sure to compare it with the original as well.
The Galaxy Express 999Platina Jazz
If you’re an adult in Japan, you’ve probably seen Galaxy Express 999 at least once, right? This video features a jazz arrangement of the theme song from the film Galaxy Express 999, originally by Godiego.
It’s amazing how simply changing the rhythm and harmony can turn it into such a stylish jazz piece.
It’s a different song from the TV anime version—the TV version had a very Showa-era kayōkyoku feel, while the movie version is a bright tune about traveling through space, which likely resonated with modern audiences and made it famous.
Listening to the swing jazz version makes me want to drink wine on a train.
Anime Jazz: Insert Songs and Covers Collection (11–20)
Fly Me to the MoonNEW!CLAIRE
The original song is a jazz standard, and its romantic worldview—evoking a longing for the moon and outer space—is truly captivating.
Claire’s clear, translucent vocals and the sophisticated arrangement leave a quiet afterglow.
First released as a single in October 1995 and reissued as a double A-side single in March 2003, this long-beloved piece beautifully adorned the ending of the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, which aired the same year.
Offering a soothing contrast to the intense main story, it’s perfect for unwinding at the end of the day or spending a quiet moment gazing at the night sky.
On nights when you want to sink into an exquisite mood, be sure to give it a listen!
Cutie HoneyWatanabe Takeo
Cutie Honey is a popular series that aired as a TV anime in the 1970s and has since been remade and adapted into live-action many times.
This is a jazz arrangement of that famous theme song, performed by a piano trio of piano, bass, and drums.
Even in a jazz setting, the drive of that intro is still very much alive.
The ad-lib solos in the middle are super cool and stylish—something that would fit right into a jazz bar—and the arrangement is one you’ll want to listen to over and over again.
Lupin the Third ‘Theme of Love’Ōno Yūji
This theme song that you hear casually when you enter the shop is a masterpiece created by Yuji Ohno.
The intro begins with an elegant atmosphere infused with jazz elements and unfolds into a ballad marked by a wistful melody.
Used as the ending theme for an anime that aired starting in 1977, it became a piece that remained in the hearts of many.
Ohno’s distinctive sound, influenced by jazz and fusion, exudes a sophisticated vibe.
The work portrays a powerful longing for a loved one far away, and its lyrics are characterized by a sense of nostalgia and poignancy.
Over the LimitROUTE85
This is a captivating track with a driving rock sound filled with passion.
It brilliantly captures the world of the anime Yowamushi Pedal: GLORY LINE, weaving the characters’ growth and inner struggles into the lyrics.
Released in May 2018, it was used as the ending theme for the anime’s second cour.
Performed by ROUTE85, a unit of six voice actors, the song also comes with individual character versions, making it irresistible for fans.
Listening to it while picturing the youths devoted to competitive cycling makes it resonate even more deeply.