Top 5 Anime Series With Dope Music

It’s interesting to think about how much of a phenomenon anime has become with western audiences over the last couple of decades. These days, you could probably make the case that it’s just as, if not more popular than western animation in America.

While Americans have been interested in Japanese animation on some level since the 60s, when they had access to franchises like Astro Boy and Speed Racer, it wasn’t really until the Pokemon anime in the 1990s that this massive boom took place.

And even then, it took Americans a little while to realize that unlike modern American animation, Japan didn’t just cater to children with their cartoons and comics. A lot of anime is targeted towards kids of course, but there is also adult-oriented anime which is usually marked by complex stories and exploration of deep themes.

It’s not just the stories that draw people to anime though, there’s also more aesthetic aspects to it. Animation tends to be quite stylistic and experimental and music is also a huge part of the appeal.

There are many anime series’ which don’t utilize music of course, but some have incredible OSTs which are worth listening to even if you aren’t necessarily interested in the show. Here’s 5 anime series that have dope music.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

You may have heard about how this series can get a little crazy, but you are not prepared for just how insane of an experience NGE is until you actually sit down and watch it. And the music is a big part of that insanity.

This show is about a post-apocalyptic world where the remaining humans are waging war against a race of giant monstrous beings known as ‘angels’. Though hugely influential to the future of anime, the show is also massively divisive.

Some people think of it as a masterpiece, while others view it as a confusing, pretentious mess. What everyone is in agreement on however, is just how awesome the music is. And it all comes from the mind of the legendary Shiro Sagisu.

The OST has numerous different pieces of varying styles, all of which it nails. You’ve got some slow, quiet songs for some of the more emotional moments, and then absolutely insane orchestral tracks for the most suspenseful of battle scenes.

The show is an epic, winding journey but listening to the OST is basically an adventure in itself, and one that will take you to the most extreme reaches of your emotions.

Cowboy Bebop

Speaking of influential anime, this series from 1998 is one of the most well-known series to the American audience and also one of the most ripped-off. It’s another futuristic tale set in a world where humans have expanded beyond Earth and colonized other planets.

It follows a bounty hunter whose job it is to travel across space and hunt down criminals by whatever means necessary. This is a great starting point for western viewers that are unaccustomed to anime for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it’s similar in a lot of ways to popular sci-fi action films such as The Fifth Element, Blade Runner and The Matrix, but the soundtrack is also a massive part of the appeal. The soundtrack comes from Yoko Kanno, and it’s heavily influenced by jazz and blues.

There are also a lot of diverse tracks across the OST. No matter what kind of music lines up with your personality, it’s probably present on this OST which ranges in style from swing to heavy metal. But it’s ultimately the smooth jazz vibe that makes this feel like an atmospheric, noir experience.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Looking at this series from the outside, it appears to be a cute, lighthearted series, maybe in the vein of something like Sailor Moon. But don’t let yourself get fooled, because PMMM is not for the faint-hearted.

This is a series about two girls being granted wishes if they agree to fight dangerous creatures called ‘witches’, and the resulting chaos that ensues from this arrangement. The series is often referred to as a deconstruction of the popular ‘magical girl’ genre.

The OST by Yuki Kajiura reflects that in spectacular fashion, especially upon a rewatch of the show. In the beginning, the series does play out like a normal magical girl story before the unexplored, sinister aspect of that idea takes over.

The early tracks on the OST are quiet and reflective, but with an unquestionable ominousness to them. The dark, unexpected mood of the show is being set without you even realizing it. And then as the series gets progressively more tense and emotional, the music starts to reflect that.

It really is top-notch work that is befitting of a show as creative and ground-breaking as PMMM.

Terror in Resonance

Perhaps one of the most deeply unsettling things to ever come out of the genre, Terror in Resonance is a mystery thriller which focuses on the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Tokyo and the paranoia that begins to spread among the citizens.

While there are some who think this is a very effective show, it has its detractors too. And that’s understandable. When you attempt something that deals with topics as controversial as politics, terrorism and loneliness, it’s hard to please everyone.

The OST is another work from Yoko Kanno, but instead of the upbeat Jazz of Cowboy Bebop, the music for this series takes on a cold and somber tone. It’s heavily influenced by the band Sigur Ros, and the team actually travelled to Iceland to record it.

What’s so impressive about the music in this anime is that it is often the primary device used to drive the tone of the story forwards. There are many moments where there’s no dialogue and all we have is the audio and visual of the show, and it’s here that the music really shines.

It is also so intricately connected to the specific moment in such an affecting way, and through the music we get a deeper look into the mental state of our primary characters.

Samurai Champloo

We’ve just been through two rather dark and bleak series, so I think it’s appropriate that in the top spot we finished with something just a little more upbeat. I would describe Samurai Champloo as having the perfect anime soundtrack.

The story focuses on a waitress who enlists the help of two master swordsmen to track down the band of samurai who abused her. It’s a series full of action and adventure and its music has an incredible urban flare.

There are actually two different soundtracks, with distinct sounds and somehow they both work. The first is a Japanese rap styled OST from DJ Tutschie. This brand of upbeat hip-hop goes really well with the fast-paced action.

But then the second soundtrack by Nujabes, who is the innovator behind the increasingly popular lofi hip-hop sound, is more ambient and relaxed, and yet equally appropriate for the show.

So if you just want to hear some awesome, diverse music, you can check out all of these soundtracks and just listen to them as albums. That will still be enjoyable. But if you want to fully experience the music as intended, you should actually watch the anime series themselves. You won’t regret it.

Featured Photo by mali maeder from Pexels

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.