[Theme Song & BGM] Popular Anime Soundtrack Special

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.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

Kiki’s Delivery Service: Original Soundtrack Music CollectionHisaishi Joe

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!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

Lupin the Third Original SoundtrackŌno Yūji

Lupin the Third Theme ’78 – Yuji Ohno

Released in 1978, Lupin the Third Original Soundtrack is arguably one of the most famous anime soundtracks in Japan.

The irresistibly cool and stylish sound of Lupin the Third, crafted by Yuji Ohno—one of Japan’s foremost jazz pianists and composers—stands as a perfectly realized musical work on its own.

In particular, Theme from Lupin the Third is not only a theme song that belongs in the annals of animation history, but an eternal masterpiece of Japanese jazz.

Another distinctive feature is the inclusion of freshly recorded, lively dialogue exchanges by the main cast so familiar to the Showa generation—Yasuo Yamada, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Makio Inoue, Eiko Masuyama, and Goro Naya.

However, since some tracks have dialogue inserted midway, those who want to enjoy only the music are advised to pick up a reissue that includes the pre-edit versions as bonus tracks.

As an aside, this album is the soundtrack to the TV series’ second season; the first TV adaptation of Lupin the Third aired in 1971, and the music then was not by Ohno but by Takeo Yamashita—another leading Japanese jazz musician and a composer of international renown.

A bit of trivia to remember: that famous theme was born starting with the second series!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

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.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Araki Jakkan

Report a problem

TV anime ‘Sound! Euphonium’ Original Soundtrack: ‘Memory Music’matsuda akihito

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.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

Original Soundtrack of the TV Anime ‘Kemono Friends’Tateyama Akihiro

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!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hane Keisuke

Report a problem

Anime “Kids on the Slope” Original SoundtrackKanno Yōko

Moanin’ ORIGINAL COVER from “Kids on the Slope”

Speaking of Yoko Kanno, she boasts worldwide recognition for her genre-defying style and is one of Japan’s leading composers, active across a wide range of fields since the success of Macross Plus in 1994, including animation works like Cowboy Bebop and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, as well as her collaborations with Maaya Sakamoto.

Opinions on Kanno’s best work likely vary from listener to listener, but this time I’d like to introduce the soundtrack to Kids on the Slope, which was adapted into an anime and aired in 2012.

Centered on the theme of jazz, the series was highly praised for its superb visuals that faithfully recreated scenes of the characters actually performing jazz classics.

Naturally, the soundtrack Kanno produced is “jazz”-conscious as well, featuring up-and-coming musicians of the time such as Takashi Matsunaga on piano and Shun Ishiwaka on drums.

From Kanno’s original pieces to famous jazz standards, the album is a striking collection where thrilling, high-tension sessions give rise to spectacular performances.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem