Behind every good anime is a good soundtrack. Not only does the show stick with you but you find yourself humming all the tunes you heard. Or, you end up at a karaoke place that has Japanese songs. I had to carefully consider this list. What anime have I watched through the years had a soundtrack that was unforgettable? Most animes have a cool opening, but I was trying to see the whole picture. So, after careful thought I chose these three. Check out the videos to listen to the songs.
1. Cowboy Bebop
Not only was the anime amazing, but the soundtrack was unforgettable too. It was composed by Yoko Kanno and the band Seatbelts. Cowboy Bebop’s songs are amazing. I think the songs made the anime. It was full of so much variety. You have the jazzy, wakes-you-up-in-the-morning tune, “Tank!” I would always jump a little when this came on. One of best episodes, “Ballad of Fallen Angels”, had two great songs: “Green Bird” and “Rain”. I will never forget that episode or its music. The song “Blue” is my personal favorite of the whole soundtrack. You can never forget hearing the song at the end of the series while you were trying to hold back the feels.
2. Neon Genesis Evangelion
When you think of Evangelion’s music, the first song that comes to mind is “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis (残酷な天使のテーゼ Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze)”. While it is the most famous song, it isn’t the entirety of the soundtrack. Evangelion’s music matches the insanity of the series. There are the many crazy versions of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly me the Moon”. It is out of place but suits the anime. There are also times when elevator like music plays during scenes. The songs lend their own brand of creepiness to the series. Evangelion isn’t known for its cheerful and straightforward plot lines. The music helps to set the mood for the craziness of the series.
3. FLCL (Furi Kuri)
Trippy would be a word I would use to describe FLCL. It is definitely one of the stranger animes I’ve ever watched. The soundtrack was not something I expected to hear in FLCL. I was expecting something that sounded like a cross between Pink Floyd and funk. Performed by The Pillows, the music has a jam band quality that fits well in the anime. The rock tunes by the Pillows makes the soundtrack entertaining to listen to. For an anime soundtrack, it’s just good music. “Ride on a Shooting Star” is a really fun song and it is my top pick from the soundtrack.
What are your favorite anime soundtracks? Feel free to let me know!
