Lovely anime song

A compilation of jazz insert songs and covers from anime

Representative, Elysion Philharmonic Orchestrasai-kisaragi
Heisei College of Music, Composition Course. Studied composition and conducting under Keizo Ideta, piano under Chinami Kira, and arts management under Takuma Konishi. With a focus on community and music, I work to revitalize my hometown of Saga Prefecture. While performing as a double bassist with wind ensembles and orchestras across Kyushu, I participated on double bass in the “Orchestra Without Borders” orchestra camp of the professional game and anime music ensemble Eminence Orchestra, held in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture in September 2012. During CAPCOM’s Kyushu Tour in 2016, I not only performed as an orchestra member but also served on the production staff. I currently serve as the managing representative for the game and anime performance groups Elysion Philharmonic Orchestra (Saga Prefecture) and Fukuoka Game Music Wind Orchestra (Fukuoka Prefecture), and handle conducting, arranging, and public relations.

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!

Anime Jazz Insert Songs and Covers Compilation (21–30)

DevilmanPlatina Jazz

Anime Jazz Cover | Devilman (from Devilman) by Platina Jazz

DevilmanPlatina Jazz

Here is a big band jazz cover version of the Devilman theme song.

Devilman is an anime created by Go Nagai and produced between 1972 and 1973, depicting a boy possessed by one of the demons and the battles he faces.

While the original song has the tone of a hero anime and also hints of a jazzy atmosphere, this arrangement starts with a drum solo reminiscent of the jazz classic “Sing, Sing, Sing,” and evokes a mood that leans toward the manga’s “horror” theme.

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The Curious Case FileAsami Seto

Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai ED Theme “Mysterious Chart” Sakurajima Mai Solo Ver.

Asami Seto of the Mysterious Medical Record

The light novel series Seishun Buta Yarou by Hajime Kamoshida.

In the TV anime adaptation Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, the Japanese jazz band fox capture plan handled the soundtrack.

Not only that, but the ending theme was composed and arranged by the band’s bassist, Hidehiro Kawai.

The intro starts with an elegant string-led atmosphere, then shifts to a poppier feel after a vibraphone-and-drum fill-in.

The piano and drums are great too, but it’s the strings and vibraphone that really elevate the elegance! You’re bound to love the piano solo in the latter half, which has a distinctly jazzy flavor.

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NAJICADiligent Circle of Ekoda

Najica Blitz Tactics OP Non-Credit HD-style

NAJICADiligent Circle of Ekoda

The opening theme of the spy-action anime Najica Blitz Tactics, which aired in 2001.

It’s performed by Diligent Circle of Ekoda.

Is jazz the go-to sound for anime with hardboiled elements like suspense, spy stories, and gangster themes, as in Cowboy Bebop or Lupin the Third? The show even includes parodies of the 007 series, and the track conveys a spy-thriller tension that evokes that vibe.

It’s a cool, stylish instrumental opening theme.

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Anpanman's MarchTokyo Brass Style

Anpanman's March

Anpanman’s March Tokyo Brass Style

Tokyo Brass Style is a Japanese brass band made up of female members.

They perform famous songs—such as anime themes—in jazz arrangements, and this one is the universally known Anpanman theme.

Weaving in phrases that jazz fans will recognize—like something out of the jazz classic In the Mood—they turn Anpanman’s March into jazz with a swing rhythm.

The must-hear highlights are the mid-section ad-lib session between sax and piano, the solos handed off to trumpet, and the trombone backing that joins in.

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Rhapsody in BlueGeorge Gershwin

Rhapsody in Blue (Pianica Version)

Rhapsody in BlueGeorge Gershwin

This piece, which seems to fuse jazz and classical music, is by the American composer George Gershwin.

It was also performed in the popular anime “Nodame Cantabile,” which features classical music.

It’s a masterpiece that continues to be played by many musicians.

In the original, the clarinet solo is particularly striking, but in both the anime and live-action drama versions, the protagonist Megumi Noda performs while wearing a mongoose costume, and “Nodame” plays the melodica, so a Pianica (melodica) version is featured.

While the source material centers on classical music, the ending is actually orchestral jazz.

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Boomerang Boogie ~Uncle from Nampūdō~PE’Z

Boomerang Boogie ~Nanpudo No Ojisan~

Boomerang Boogie ~Uncle from Nampūdō~ PE'Z

This is the theme song of the sci-fi anime GAD GUARD, set on Earth hundreds of years in the future.

It’s a track by the jazz instrumental band PE’Z.

It starts with a lively piano and maintains a sense of speed throughout, so be sure to give it a listen!

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Never Looking Back ~With a Transparent HeartRie

انمي جديد رومانسي مشوق anime dw Crystal blaze 1 اون لاين

Never looking back ~ With a Clear, Transparent Heart, Rie

This is the opening theme of Crystal Blaze, created with the theme of “an anime adults can enjoy.” It’s sung by Rie from HIIH, who performed the theme song for the horror film Ring.

The cool vocals and fast-paced rhythm leave a strong impression—it has a mature vibe.

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