Forum - View topicOf Background Music in Anime
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Samurai-with-glasses
 Posts: 628 |
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[/First-time thread starter]
Well, having freshly finished the latest Fooly Cooly marathon on Adult Swim (thank God! It's been such a long time) I have come to notice the constant presence of The Pillows' background music and appreciate it, as well as realizing that many shows divert on how they use background music. Thus, I'm hoping to start a little discussion here, since music's only mentioned in passing by most discussions around each show. While music is well taken into account by ANN's reviews (good work!), we don't see much of the discussion about a show's background sound beyond "it's awesome" in the forums around here. Usually it's the opening/ending themes that get discussed. Of the different styles of background music, I'd bring up a few examples: My Neighbor Totoro: Miyazaki's movies often have less-than-usual background music playing around, especially compare to the American counterparts in Disney, or ordinary anime shows. Totoro have very little background music, and only used sparingly. Spirited Away, too, use less-than-usual amount of background music, though much more than Totoro, and only in particularly dramatic scenes, rarely asserting* itself beyond simple buildup of the mood. Cowboy Bebop (and Samurai Champloo): music is one of the more important components of these shows, as they emphasize on this particular element in them. The jazz of the former and the hip-hop of the latter occasionally asserts itself openly as opposed to staying in the background. Honey and Clover: Openly play lyrical music (as in, music that actually have people singing words) in some scenes that push music into the front, rather than just building the mood from the background. During these scenes the show almost feels like music video with depictions of scenes and people in support of the mood directed by the music, comparing to just the music supporting the mood. Neon Genesis Evangelion: Normally rather quiet, with appropriate background music on more active scenes. The notable 24th episode uses the powerful Ode to Joy to direct the force of the climax assertively, giving an ironic, glorious feel to it by the contrast between the music and what's playing on the scene. Fooly Cooly: there is always some kind of music playing in the background, and often have lyrics, with varying levels of sounds. The songs go dramatic with actual singing and stuff at appropriate scenes. And I think is one of the awesomest things to ever be heard on TV. *By asserting I mean the "aggressiveness" of how the music plays out. Is it only playing in the background, as by definition, and you don't exactly notice it without some consciousness on your part? Or is it directing the scenes by its own force, having you notice it, perhaps even more than what's going on on the screen itself? Or somewhere in-between? Now, my question is: How important is background music to you? What is your favorite "philosophy" on background music, and why? And what's your favorite show on this department? |
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Shiroi Hane
Encyclopedia Editor
 Posts: 7585 Location: Wales |
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You can't really go wrong with a Yuki Kajiura score, although once you've heard one album you pretty much heard them all bar a few tracks.
Generally I'll pick only a few tracks from an album and stick them in the "anime instrumental" folder on my PSP. The current exceptions where I have the whole album(s) are My-Hime, Utakata and Kiddy Grade. I'm also fond of the Witch Hunter Robin soundtrack, although I currently only have a few of the tracks on. |
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Nagisa
Moderator
 Posts: 6128 Location: Atlanta-ish, Jawjuh |
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This feels more like something that'd go in the Music forum, so I'm gonna move it over there. You didn't do anything wrong, this just feels more like a thread that'd work out better there.
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murph76
 Posts: 3291 Location: Akron, OH |
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His and Her Circumstances has excellent music. The classical, pop and jazz score fits well with the many moods of the show and helps emphasize the comedy and drama.
I find it to be a unique sound that adds to the overall impact of the show. Also, I just bought the soundtrack, which is a good listen by itself. 
-Murph |
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TestamentSaki
 Posts: 1012 |
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The BGM has to agree with the happenings in the series. Many shows have pretty good BGMs, but my faves are:
-FLCL: the pillows made a great job at it. I personally like the BGM in the 2nd chapter (Thanks to Hybrid Rainbow) -D.N.Angel: Beautiful songs. The calm scene ones have some really nice songs (such as Soshite Hitotsu Ni, Shooting Stars and Mitsumeru Saki Ni Wa). And of course, Miyamoto Shun'ichi-kun made a great job singing
-Captain Tsubasa (all the sagas): Well, in the first series you almost laways had the variations on Moete Hero and Fuyu no LION, but there were some pretty good ones for the action scenes. Later, in CTJ, the real great BGM appeared (in my opinion). Good action music, pretty calm scene BGM (especcialy the Go! Tsubasa ballad version in C major). I really recommend this one. Saldy, it's very rare to get it. In ROAD to 2002, the BGM is so varied and extense it took about 3 CDs to get it all. Some of the songs are variations or second parts of other songs, but they really go along with some scenes. Sometimes, it doesn't really go well, but hey, we're human and make mistakes. I do recommend it, escpecially for the song in the first chapter
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Mr.Roboto
 Posts: 105 Location: USA |
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I love the backround music in Yu Yu Hakusho. Chapter Black especially. Just really fits. The mysterious touch. Also definately Cowboy Bebop. I love the jazz style and all music of those animes.
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Belle Starlia
 Posts: 27 |
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Wow. Where do I start? I have always loved listening to instrumental music, and I've found that Animé happens to be one of my main sources. While I believe a bad soundtrack will likely never 'break' an anime if it's good, I believe a good soundtrack can and will make the Animé better than it is.
I have quite a few favorites that I absolutely enjoy, and would like to find more of in like quality. Fantastic Children : Sadly, this is a very undervalued soundtrack, with an even more underrated anime (which is very, very good). The soundtrack itself is quite enjoyable, with a few tracks that really stick out. (The Children of Bélfort tracks come to mind immediately). Though what really makes this soundtrack great are its opening and ending themes and their respective variations. Voyage and Mizu no Modoromi respectively have to be the most beautiful opening and ending songs I've ever heard. They flow beautifully, and even though you can't understand the lyrics, it's just a joy to listen to. I say go and listen to those OP and ED themes if nothing else. Now. Haibane Renmei: This is another beautiful soundtrack that deserves high praise. Each track is fluid with its own style, and there are only a few tracks that don't appeal to my taste. (They're very good, those tracks, I just don't care for their style). I especially love the tracks with the vocals, and what really, really made me love the series was "Ethereal Remains." Good heavens, when that scene came on that anime with that track, I was astounded and it made the moment hit you like nothing I had ever experienced. Good heavens, it made it magical to say the least, and I hope most would agree with me, but meh. Rurouni Kenshin OVA OSTs: Both OSTs composed by Taku Iwasaki, are awesome and really inspire the emotional impact in each scene. The Reflection (second OVA) soundtrack is still good, with pretty tracks, but it pales in comparison to Trust and Betrayal's. And its soundtrack blows me a way with such inspiring tracks like "War of the Last Wolves", "Shades of Revolution", and the "In Memories" tracks. Note to self: Find more of his works. Beyond the Clouds: The Place Promised in our Early Days: Here's another offer on beautiful music composition. Its violin pieces are particularly moving, and I enjoy the main themes in the tracks greatly. And what with the director loving scenery type scenes, the music helped set the tone in this one. Blood+ Believe it or not, this soundtrack is composed by Hans Zimmer and Mark Mancina. If that doesn't get you starin', nothing will. I was surprised myself that they managed to get these top-notch composers responsible for so many great soundtracks, and English ones no less -- and here they are in an animé. (I thought I'd never see the day). The tracks are very good, and set the tone for the series well. Also to be noted is another soundtrack full of classical compositions by Beethoven and such for you classic lovers that is played by the character "Hagi' throughout the series on his cello, I believe. Castle in the Sky : This is my favorite soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi (or Jo..whatever) because of the main Laputa themes that are so nice, but I like his Princess Mononoke OST is great as well, and I like it. The rest of the artists compositions for the Miyazaki films are good, but I feel these two are the best. Ergo Proxy : Man, those deep choral tracks never fail to send chills down my spine, (New Pulse, Fellow Citizens) and those two tracks make getting the soundtrack worth it in itself. The rest of the tracks, dark themed in nature, (Including the OP and ED themes) are great, too, and though I like some more than others, I hate none of them. Eureka SeveN: Never was I more surprised that this anime had a good soundtrack, as I never really paid attention to it while watching the animé, and got it merely on a whim to see how good it was, as I highly enjoyed the animé. I don't like the hip-hop tracks, but the rest of the compositions are very good, with the first OST being notably the very best. However, many of the tracks seem like slightly redone versions of the other, though nevertheless enjoyable and pleasing to the ear. Noein: The best tracks that appeal to me, in my opinion, are the choral vocal tracks. Not really lyrics neccessarily, but just choral. The Noein soundtrack has just that, with its Sangri'la themes that really stick out as unique, with the rest of the tracks following just behind. As a honorable mention, the same author has done the Scrapped Princess soundtrack, which is also worth trying. Still... Noein's better. Choral tracks, all the way! Full Metal Alchemist: Yes, I know you've probably all heard this one before. But it's still worth mentioning for its variety of different tracks, and great OP and ED themes (Ready, Steady, Go! anyone). I especially like the tracks that follow the "Bratja" melody. Tales of Phantasia: Yes, it's good. Perhaps a bit more on the standard side of good, but worth listening to nonetheless. Last Exile: Very pretty orchestral soundtracks that often sound Celtic/Irish/Scottish...whatever in nature, which is something I really like in a soundtrack. Dolce Triad deserves a thumbs up for making this one. Inuyasha: Yes, yes... I like the soundtracks to Inuyasha, granted they get mighty, mighty repetitive over time, and after the first or second soundtrack really, you've heard them all. Still, the main orchestral themes of the soundtracks are excellent. Tsubasa Chronicles and Noir Yuki Kaijiura's name seems quite popular nowadays, with soundtracks that I have never found disappointing and hard to listen to; however, these two are those I consider to be the best. Noir's soundtrack is the only thing I like about the anime, with a blend of vocal tracks which Yuki seems very fond of using. (One of the reasons I love her music) while Tsubasa Chronicles (Especially the first soundscape) is just as amazing, with its crux of the soundtrack being "A Song of Storm and Fire". Best. Composition. By. Her. Ever. With other unique soundtracks, like .hack/sign, you can't go wrong with Yuki. Wolf's Rain: Yoko Kanno sure has a talent for lyrical pieces (And by that I mean real songs with lyrics that actually mean something, rather than being a choral based). Wolf's Rain has to be her best though, with many enjoyable tracks of this nature, like "Stray" and "Tell me What the Rain Knows." Final Fantasy: Advent Children: While it may not be animé in some people's eyes. The soundtrack is awesome, often taking directly from the game, not to mention it has the beloved "One Winged Angel" song. Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo: I will probably be one of the first people to say that I hate these soundtracks and can't really stand listening to them (save for a singular track or two). I.E Mystline. However, I know quality when I see it,..er hear it and even though I don't like it myself. (Jazz, BLues, n' Hiphop, ain't my taste) I know it's very good music that I, as a person, just don't care for, but many do. The sheer quality and uniqueness of each soundtrack is also worth mentioning. Try it for yourself and see. Whoo. That's it for now, I think. |
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pumirya
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I'm not nearly an expert on this subkect as others,but i do think that the bgm is a essintual part of anime.A quality bgm only adds to the depth and atmosphere of a series,thus enhancing the anime.
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mydog8u2
 Posts: 82 |
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Hans Zimmer did Blood+? No wonder! Parts of the song "Grand Theme" reminded me of the Gladiator Theme "Battle". IMO Blood+ has the best anime BGM, and that's not ignoring the brilliant OST of the Rurouni Kenshin OVAs and the Haibane Renmei OST (Belle Starlia, I think we have an almost identical taste for BGM
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I would also add Mai Otome OST. One thing I love about orchestral melodies is that they put so much power and emotion into a simple melody that would probably be bland if played on an electric keyboard. I think for Blood+, Rurouni Kenshin OVAs, and Mai Otome, you could almost hum the whole melody after hearing the first few notes. People may call it 'predictable', but I think that the more the central melody stands out, the more powerful the entire BGM is. |
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Samurai-with-glasses
Posts: 628 |
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Wow, I've learned a lot in quite a few posts. Zimmer does the music for Blood+!? That's news if there's one!
Keep it coming, guys. By the way, to further the discussion: what style of background music do you like? Since the Openers/Endings are usually very diverse (though naturally dominated by J-pops), I think it would be easier to discuss the style of background music you like instead of the OP/ED songs. Synthesizers? Orchestral? Outright J-pop singing? Parodies of old-skool bgms? (School Rumble's Dojibiron, Yoiyasha! (sp?), The Slashed Three, and many others  ) Light, but appropriate? Jazzy? Hip? Some more exotic instrumentals I don't know about?
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Belle Starlia
Posts: 27 |
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What type of background music?
Well, nothing can beat the total and absolute power of a full orchestra. I love orchestral pieces - particularly those with a bit of vocals. (One Winged Angel, Bratja, A Song of Storm and Fire). But synthesizers are okay, as long as they don't sound *too* synthesized. o.o I believe Yuki Kajiura's music is synthesized, as with many others. Very few get a real orchestra to help them along, and I think they do a very nice job with the synthesizers most of the time. I like those with a darker theme rather than a lighter, as it's often too airy for me. Ergo Proxy is a great example of good, dark music. ^_^ The only type of BGM I hate really is Blues, Jazz, R&B, and Hip hop. Hence why I don't like Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop really. |
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TestamentSaki
Posts: 1012 |
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You knwo what's the funny thing of the "One Winged Angel" song in FFVII?
The lyrics come from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. No kidding! I realized it once I heard it ('coz I sang Carmina Burana last year O_o) |
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ShikamaChU
 Posts: 79 Location: Evergreen State, Olympia Washington |
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At least one of these have been mentioned already but, I'm a big fan of the background music for L/R and Last Exile, they're two of the few (along with Juuni Kokki and Hagaren)I'll listen to by themselves (I usually get frustrated with lots of music that has no lyrics. I feel the need to sing along.)
L/R was really bluesy, something I really enjoy, and Last Exile, as was already mentioned, really adds a lot to the anime. :3 If it counts, the Katamari Soundtrack is great (I suppose that should count as Background...kinda...) Anyway, I also think that Yuki Kajiura and Ali Project can do no wrong ambiance-wise. Very pretty and inspiring, They both add a mysterious eclectic element to any anime.~♥ |
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cerulean88
 Posts: 130 Location: Ramira. |
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i was really surprised myself when i found out that Hans Zimmer is to take the role of music producer for Blood+!!! There is indeed similar tunes that he's used for Gladiator and his other non-anime related works in this anime. Besides that i really recommend the ost for all those Hans Zimmer fans out there~
There is alot of bgm musics that i simply adore but i shall write a few that i can remember atm. FFVII:Advent Children: *laughs*what can i say...i'm a big fan of Nobuo Uematsu and though most of the songs are taken straight from the game, those are great bgm nonetheless. Wolf's Rain: Yoko Kanno's composition here is awesome, not to mention that it totally fits the mood of the anime and all. Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle: yet another great composition by Yuki Kajiura. The music fits the scenes and all of them sound really nice. Joe Hisaishi~ you can never leave him out. He's a great composer, having composed all the music for all of those Ghibli movies =D |
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Keonyn
 Subscriber Posts: 5567 Location: Coon Rapids, MN |
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Easily the best in my opinion is Haibane Renmei, not only was it such a beautiful soundtrack with some very authentic sounding music that matched the style of the setting but it fit in so well in every scene it was in and is strong enough to stand on its own as well.
Another great one I think is Steamboy, it had a very fast and powerful feel to it but wasn't overpowering and supported the scenes very effectively. Not to mention the music by itself without the movie is still just as great and doesn't lose anything without its visual counterpart which does tend to be rare with action oriented soundtracks. Two more worth mentioning are Chrono Crusade and Eureka Seven. Both due to their diversity in the music and the effectiveness of it, while not all the music in both stands so well on its own enough of it does to make the soundtracks worth a purchase and in the series themselves the music seems to fit and flow with the settings perfectly which is quite an accomplishment considering the huge range of moods and settings in those titles. |
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