25 anime with the best soundtracks

The moment I heard Fujisawa Yoshiaki was the composer of this visually stunning (surprise considering how terrible other CGI anime are) and well-written series, I knew the OST was going to be something special.

You see, Yoshiaki is well versed in classical music. And heclearly knows how to arrange the pieces to get the full effect. I like his work onGATE , Dimension W andlove live .

This is one of his best works, which organically complementsunique peaceHouseki no Kuni rich instrumentalparties, filled with fantastic strings, keys, woodwinds, chimes (or bells) and percussion.

The soundtrack feels unhurried, always in control and aware of what it should evoke and when it should be more personal or inclusive.

6.FLCL

FLCL introduced me to The Pillows. And for that I am eternally grateful.

Seriously, I don't even remember exactly what happened in the anime because it's been over ten years since I last saw it.

And yet I have been listening to this soundtrack in its entirety at least twice a year since around 2016.

This is my favorite rock anime OSTnever and nothing comes close to the unleashed joys and energy of youth it brings from beginning to end.

FLCL quite unusual and frenetic (but still deep), and his music is very appropriate.

It's not exactly lo-fi music. But it has these "flaws" of the record that give it a sense of sincerity that is very different from the over-produced, distressingly flawless sound quality of some of today's rock albums.

Even if the series is not interesting to you (but should be), listen to this. At least try my favorite track: "Stalker Goes to Babylon".

5. Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju

For years, Studio Deen has been the target of many jokes due to the way it handled several anime titles - then in 2016Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju appeared .

Somehow, the studio went all out not for a shonen or harem show, but for a josei drama set in Japan in the early 20th century. In particular, about the (dying) art of rakugo and the people who seek to preserve it while facing their own personal problems.

This soundtrackimpeccably combines orchestral and jazz compositions. They depict the rich, vibrant history that beloved MCs lived in as they moved from the countryside to the cities to showcase their talents, learning to continue their art even as the drastic socio-political and cultural shifts over the years took place.

The relatively young composer and pianist Kana Shibu must be very proud of her work here. Perhaps her great opus.

4. Cowboy Bebop

What else can be said about this soundtrack?

Cowboy Bebop considered a masterpiece. And his Yoko Kanno OST (and the "Seat Belts" band she made especially for the show) are just as worthy of praise.

The most popular OST is the first one, it's just calledcowboy bebop .

This soundtrack features the iconic song "Tank!" OP, and it's the best introduction to jazz and blues on the show - and it has a very short "Cosmos" that seems perfect for black coffee on a rainy Sunday.

You can then move on to the three soundtracks: "No disk" , « Blue" and "Blues of the Future" .

Theyall considered more diverse in their sound, spanning everything from swings, heavy metal, and hall to Arabic music.

Blue there's a whistling "Go Go Cactus Man" followed by a funky "Chicken Bone" but the most popular track there, for good reason, is "Call Me Call Me" (although the orchestral performance of "Hail Mary" is also notable).

3 Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion will forever remain a controversial franchise. But one thing is certain: it isone of the most influential anime in history .

If you've seen the anime, you know how grandiose, crazy, and unfailingly unsettling its music can be.

Especially when the action reaches its peak and when things get apocalyptic.

This is all thanks to the legendary Shiro Sagis, who has been in the industry since the 1970s.

For a quick look at his genius mind at work, check out the orchestral-filled OSTEnd of Evangelion (in fact, he is the main composer of almost all soundtracks forEvangelion ).

And if you need a breather, listen to the first soundtrackNGE , containing "Cruel Angel's Thesis", "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Komm, Susser Tod" (preferably drink orange juice for this track).

2. Koe no Katachi (Quiet voice)

It was hard for me to choose between this and my #1 choice because both are masterpieces and in"Quiet Voice" there is a soundtrack that works and becomes very meaningful only in the context of the movie.

That's the problem:

The Shape of Light: Small Voice Original Motion Picture Soundtrack not like all the others.

It's not flashy at all, and most of its instrumental compositions aren't the usual classical tracks filled with fiery strings, melodic pianos, fantastic woodwinds and brass, or angelic choruses.

But this roughly two-hour, two-CD OST is the only work of its kind I've heard that eloquently translates into music what a deaf girl and a repentant bully go through in their hectic lives.

It sounds soft and bare, sometimes even unpleasant. But everything is for the viewer to understand the vulnerability and isolation of the characters, to understand how they perceive their social environment and how they really feel.

Did you know that Kensuke Ushio put a microphone in a disassembled piano to make the tracks sound like they do? All to evoke this relative unease amidst the silence between the keys.

"Quiet voice" is an important film. And I'm glad director Naoko Yamada helped Ushio find the best way to compose the soundtrack. Truly, there is nothing better than "illuminated" accompanying the perfect final scene.

1. Zankyou no Terror (Terror in Resonance)

Should have been at the top"Silent Voice" or "Horror in Resonance" , and I think it would be correct anyway.

Despite its shortcomings,Horror in Resonance" is still one of my favorite anime - probably my favorite anime of the last decade.

In my eyes, this is a problematic masterpiece.

Zankyou no Terror is a psychological detective thriller with high aims, dealing with international politics, terrorism and a distinct sense of disunity and loneliness (especially among the millennial generation). It is not known to know the future, but not to know whether ordinary people can influence change.

It's an amazing show from a technical standpoint, with top-notch art, character designs, animation, and cinematography that give it a cinematic feel.

But let me focus on the soundtrack and why it deserves the crown.

Given what I just said about the show, the music had to be part of its personality.So much so that key moments can happen with little or no dialogue, only the visuals and music tell the story of Nine, Twelve and Lisa.

Director Shinichiro Watanabe said Sigur Ros (an Icelandic post-rock band) was what led him to create the storyTerror in Resonance , and that the commandI even went to Iceland to record an OST.

I didn't know about this tidbit when I watched the show six years ago. But I've already commented on how the show looked and sounded cold and brooding, even before the show itself mentioned Iceland.

Yoko Kanno has composed a ton of great anime music throughout her career. But I sincerely believe that this is her best work.

Two of the soundtracks have an Icelandic attribute in their genetic code. I'm not sure about everything, but many of the tracks have Icelandic titles and some have Icelandic vocals. However, even without the Icelandic titles and vocals, every song still sounds Icelandic.

Even "ドブと小舟と僕らの神話 (Full Version)", whose Japanese lyrics are sung by Yuki Ozaki Galileo Galilei, still feels cold, Icelandic. Thisembarrassingly wonderful how consistent OSTs are anime counterparts.

Now I don't know how Kanno was able to translate into music what Watanabe imagined while listening to Sigur Ros. This is amazing.

But don't get me wrong:

Tracks still differ in the mood they evoke. The opening track "lolol" is sinister and sets the tone for the series.

'Von', 'hanna', 'birden', '22', 'bless' and 'ís' are beautiful voices and are crucial to some of the most iconic scenes.

Songs such as "veat", "crystalized", "wilhelm", "ioloi", "wolke", "future Terror", "vad" and "pcp" can cover scenes of investigation, suspense and action, while " ioloi" shares the same sinister "lolola" vibe.

"Nc17" and "ess" fit certain parts of the anime - and the same goes for the playful, childish Juno.

Finally, there is "Elan", used in perhaps the anime's most emotionally resonant moment. No dialogue, just a song that plays while "Nine" looks at something far away.

In other words, soundtracks for the film "Terror in resonance" - itmasterpieces, which are just made for anime shows. If asked about my favorite OSTs across media (including non-anime titles), it would still rank high on my list - and it might even rank #1 again.