[Theme Song & BGM] Popular Anime Soundtrack Special

TV anime 'Sound! Euphonium' Original Soundtrack: 'Memory Music'Akito Matsuda

Tutti!

Hibike! Euphonium, a hugely popular anime by Kyoto Animation with a music theme like K-On!, is based on Ayano Takeda’s novels and carefully portrays an ensemble drama of high school students spending their youthful days in a concert band.

Naturally, the soundtrack of Hibike! Euphonium is highly acclaimed and enjoys strong popularity on its own.

In this article, let’s introduce the Season 1 TV anime soundtrack, Omoide Music.

The score by composer Akito Matsuda—who openly calls himself an anime and voice-actor enthusiast—comes in a lavish two-disc set packed with everything from the famous concert band classics featured in the show to brand-new pieces written specifically for this work.

The performances are by the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Freshman Wind Ensemble.

Whether you have experience in wind ensemble or not, simply listening might spark your interest in the world of concert band.

samurai champloo music record departureNujabes、Fat Jon

Samur‎ai Cham‎ploo – Dep‎art‎ure (Nuja‎bes/fat jo‎ (2004) Original Soundtrack

With his innovative beat-making sensibility, Nujabes influenced track makers around the world and is often called the de facto pioneer of the internet-born genre “lo-fi hip hop.” Although he sadly passed away in February 2010 at the young age of 36, the many remarkable beats he released continue to be loved by creators not only in Japan but across the globe.

The only anime he contributed music to during his lifetime was Samurai Champloo, a TV animation directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, also known for Cowboy Bebop.

A passionate music fan himself, Watanabe approached Nujabes directly, and together they succeeded in creating a work that daringly fused period drama with hip hop—an idea that would be difficult to execute even if one thought of it.

The release covered here is the first soundtrack, Samurai Champloo Music Record “departure,” featuring Nujabes and American music producer Fat Jon.

Now regarded as an early milestone of lo-fi hip hop and popular even in Japan, at the time there were few anime fans in Japan who understood the combination of hip hop and anime, and it was actually more popular overseas—a telling and fascinating anecdote that reflects the subcultural climate of that era.

Kiki’s Delivery Service: Original Soundtrack Music CollectionJoe Hisaishi

Yumi Matsutoya – Rouge no Dengon (Yumi Matsutoya Concert Tour The Universe Library 2016-2017)

Speaking of Ghibli films, Joe Hisaishi’s music is inseparable from them.

Whenever we recall Ghibli masterpieces that continue to be loved across generations, many of us can’t help but hum the melodies of Hisaishi’s wonderful scores.

Every Ghibli soundtrack he composed is a classic, making it extremely difficult to pick just one, but in this article I’d like to introduce the soundtrack to Kiki’s Delivery Service, released in 1989.

While Yumi Matsutoya’s opening theme “Rouge no Dengon” and ending theme “Yasashisa ni Tsutsumareta Nara” are well known, the soundtrack itself is also truly outstanding.

Reflecting the film’s richly European atmosphere, it employs European instruments such as the dulcimer—a folk instrument that is a forerunner of the piano—along with guitar and accordion, and features many dance-like pieces in waltz rhythm.

Simply listening conjures up vivid images of unfamiliar, foreign European landscapes.

Of course, it’s delightful as a film soundtrack, but it also seems perfect as background music for an afternoon tea time!

TV Anime “Forest of Piano” Music CollectionHarumi Fuki

Rie Murakawa / Place of Beginnings (TV Anime “Forest of Piano” Season 2 Ending Theme)

The anime Piano no Mori unfolds from the moment the protagonist, Kai Ichinose—who grew up playing a piano in the forest from a young age—meets his classmate Shūhei Amamiya, who aspires to be a pianist, and their teacher, the former pianist Sōsuke Ajino.

As the title and synopsis suggest, the work features many famous piano pieces and classical music.

However, what we’re introducing here is the soundtrack of Piano no Mori’s original compositions, which play during the drama segments and more.

It’s a collection of BGM that conveys the atmosphere of each scene and the characters’ emotional shifts.

The key point might be that it’s “not just piano pieces.”

Yutra♨ Yuri!!! on ICE / Original SoundtrackShōjima Taku, Umebayashi Tarō

DEAN FUJIOKA – “History Maker 〜HITM Ver.〜” Music Video

Yuri!!! on ICE is an anime that portrays the story of young people striving to push each other to greater heights in the world of figure skating.

It also drew attention for having DEAN FUJIOKA—who is active as an actor and model—perform the opening theme.

Figure skating and music are inseparable.

However, the soundtrack introduced here isn’t a collection of the songs played during competition scenes; it’s a compilation of background music used in the drama parts and elsewhere.

Even so, every track is of high quality and truly resonates with the heart.

If you’ve watched Yuri!!! on ICE, I bet these tracks will bring specific scenes to mind the moment you hear them.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Music CollectionYuki Kajiura

ClariS “Connect” -reformare- Music Video [TV Anime “Puella Magi Madoka Magica” Opening Theme]

Yuki Kajiura, who has composed strikingly distinctive music for works with unique atmospheres such as NOIR, The Garden of Sinners (Kara no Kyōkai) series, and the Fate/stay night movie, is a highly acclaimed composer.

Although the popular female unit Kalafina has sadly disbanded, she also flourished as their music producer, and more recently, it’s still fresh in our memory that she composed and arranged LiSA’s hit Homura, which won the Grand Prix at the 62nd Japan Record Awards.

Among the soundtracks Kajiura has crafted for animated works is the 2011 anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, which became a hot topic for its shocking plot developments.

Speaking of Madoka Magica, including Kalafina, who performed the ending theme, the association with “Kajiura’s music” is incredibly strong, and of course, the score—richly reflecting her style that freely traverses Western and Eastern musical traditions—has been very highly praised.

In fact, the Madoka Magica soundtrack was originally available as bonus CDs included with the Blu-ray and DVD releases, but in 2013 it was officially compiled and released as the Puella Magi Madoka Magica MUSIC COLLECTION.

It also includes the cast’s vocal tracks, the opening theme Connect sung by ClariS, and the ending theme Magia by Kalafina, making it a must-have album for anyone who wants to fully immerse themselves in the world of Madoka Magica!

Original Soundtrack of the TV Anime 'Kemono Friends'Akiyuki Tateyama

TV Anime 'Kemono Friends' Original Soundtrack PV

Speaking of Kemono Friends, its theme song Welcome to Japari Park became a huge sensation! The soundtrack for the series was handled by Akiyuki Tateyama, who is active not only as a composer but also as a musician.

He has also worked on the soundtrack for the anime Laid-Back Camp (Yuru Camp△).

In this work, from tracks with powerful rhythms that evoke a vast savanna to beautiful pieces that conjure images of serene waters, the nature-inspired music sparked conversation among fans as being soothing to listen to.

Of course, the iconic Welcome to Japari Park is included as well!