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Which anime have amazing orchestral scores? Any ones out there with bombastic, epic sounding ballads for the action, and dramatic, heartbreaking melodys to bring the tears? What anime reeeaallly brings it in terms of a soundtrack? Are there any out there that use movie-esqe soundtrack orchestras? Im thinking like...Legends-of-the-fall-main-theme epic or the Dragonheart theme Very Happy

So, best anime score?

Well, I'll try my best to steer away from the listing theme here. I remember posting in the past asking for some anime titles with some moving orchestral scores including piano. I decided to check out a few of the results, which I got a lot of. That along with the many I've already seen because it's one of my favorite things to do: pick an anime and watch it just because of the music.

Evangelion certainly does have lots of the classy stuff by Bach. But for more originality in orchestra look to Haibane Renmei and Kokoro Library. Those two are the best I've heard and so far nothing has topped them. I have the soundtracks for both of them and they can definitely set a powerful mood for any occassion from gloomy and depressed to upbeat and in a rush. The orchestra music in these two series is more than just BGM. It flows and makes itself known as you watch.

I also agree with The Place Promised in Our Early Days, though it still doesn't compete with Haibane Renmei and Kokoro Library. Also, check out Windy Tales. The music isn't so background-ish in that series either.

Definitely Tsuiokuhen. By far, it's Iwasaki Taku's best work. His music really speaks out to the viewer and listener, and he really utilizes the strings and woodwinds to the fullest. He is able to take what is basically the same theme and incorporate it into a fast-moving overture, and then turn around and place it into an enchanting and lyrical sad melody. And it all works out perfectly in the end.

The thing that amazes me most though, is how his overtures sound so energetic and full of life with such minimal use of brass.

Now, if we move away from overtures and orchestral scores, I'd have to say Air. I've never heard synthetic instruments combined as well with acoustic piano and guitar as the Air Soundtrack.

By the way, shouldn't this be in the Music forum?

If I would have seen this thread before the second time I saw Big O on TV, I would have said that, as the opening theme music is a blatant rip-off of Queen"s Flash Gordon. But as it never went anywhere, nor did the other music go anywhere, it simply became dull and eventually annoying.

But other than that I agree with the other posters.

JoshuaStChristopher wrote:

Wolverine Princess wrote:

Evangelion episode 24 had a beautiful rendition of Ode to Joy. Call me an otaku, but it’s my favorite version of the song.

Yeah, but it wasn't done for the show. Gainax licensed its use.

As far as best orchestrated soundtrack--and best soundtrack, bar none--that is Giant Robo. Masamichi Amano is the man.

Agreed. No one can touch Giant Robo's score. It's instantly recognizable and memorable, like John William's themes for Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones.

I'm a huge fan of orchestrated scores in Anime - in fact, I'm listening to the Gankutsuou OST as I write this. That's a great example of excellent orchestrated scores, however, I'd recomend the Gankutsuou Classical Compilation (if you can find it) over the standard OST. It has none of the techno or ED/OP tracks, but what you do get is some beautifull strings and piano tracks.

Another sure fire winner is the first FullMetal Alchemist OST. The tracks there range from heroic military marches, to light-hearted and fun, and from tense and mysterious to slow and melancholy. This is one of my favorites, and the one that really got me into Anime scores.

I'd agree with the earlier posting of Beyond the Clouds, and also add Voices of a Distant Star. Shinkai's composer for those two works, Tenmon, is a master of piano compositions. The sheer ammount of emotion found in them is astounding. Take Voices for instance - the man can take the same theme, and at times make it bright and optimistic (Rainy Bus Stop), then introspective (Agarta's Rain), and finally turn it into a bittersweet longing (Sadness at Separating). I'm looking forward to hearing what he has in store for 5cm!

I agree with the posting of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex as well. Some of the tracks are hit or miss (Ode to Tachikomas? WTF?), but there are some cool orchestrated tracks there as well, like Piece by Ten, the 14th track from Be Human. I also really dig how Kanno has mixed some electronic elements in - it sounds great, and really fits well with the atmosphere of the show. Fish ~ Silent Cruise (track 12) from the OST, and Good by my Master and Spotter (13 & 9) from Be Human are perfect examples of this.

In general, Shoujo romance shows have a lot of good orchestrated and piano tracks. His and Her Circumstances Act 1.0, Honey and Clover OST, and the Suzuka OST are all good examples. I also find good tracks mixed in on OSTs to the more epic adventure shows like Eureka 7 and Wolf's Rain.

There are a lot more that I like, but I'm tired of typing. I ramble on more about them here, here, and here.

frentymon wrote:

Definitely Tsuiokuhen. By far, it's Iwasaki Taku's best work. His music really speaks out to the viewer and listener, and he really utilizes the strings and woodwinds to the fullest. He is able to take what is basically the same theme and incorporate it into a fast-moving overture, and then turn around and place it into an enchanting and lyrical sad melody. And it all works out perfectly in the end.

Unfortunately, most scores of Tsuioku-hen OST are short, just like most scores in any OST album. However, the 20-minutes long Standing in the Sunset Glow from Now and Then, Here and There is arguably the best orchestrated piece by Taku Iwasaki (I see you haven't watched it yet -- do it!). Complete with six movements, it's simply the most emotional background music in my animation history ever. The main theme of the first and the last movements are basically the same but the first used 4/4 but the last used 3/4, yet both were stunningly beautiful (and tear-jerking).

frentymon wrote:

By the way, shouldn't this be in the Music forum?

Agree.