List 96: Top Ten Favorite Composers
Well after listening to all of the soundtracks for the 100 shows I have been using for these lists, I present the final 3 music lists based upon those. First are the composers. The men and women behind the music of the anime. These people create the soundtracks we so adore with their talent in the art. So, I now list the cream of the crop as Macho Man Randy Savage would say.
Notable Works: Clannad, Angel Beats!
The father of Key kicks off this list. This man is the creative mind behind pretty much anything and everything Key related. And his music is very good overall. He has great selection with silly, dramatic, and theme songs. His only weakness would be issue with variety per OST. Too many reprises of similar songs that dilute the overall quality with too much of the same song. It hurts a song more when you have 5 versions rather than 2.
Mushishi is certainly a gem of a series. Its take on the supernatural genre is without a doubt one of the most atmospheric out there. A lot of this boils down to it’s music collection. A dark, foreboding, and very natural yet spiritual sound comes off of this OST. If you have seen the series you would have to agree the music really matches the tone beat for beat. If he had more credits, I’m sure he could rank higher.
Shiki is a spooky soundtrack, Unsettling in the best of ways. Just like Grandma’s athletes foot. You get such a creepy feeling listening to it and it all comes from this man. 80′s hair or not, he created a masterpiece of horror themed music and for that alone I had to toss him on my list.
Notable Works: Barakamon, Eden of the East
Now this is quite a variety I would admit. The soundtracks for Barakamon and Eden are not similar. Aside from good quality that is. Barakamon’s OST has a mix of upbeat music to lift you off your feet and Eden of the East settles you in for the ride it is going to take you on. I suppose the best way to credit this creator is they match their series well.
Notable Works: Tari Tari, Shirobako, Hanasaku Iroha
P.A. Works should really thank this man. I suppose they do with all the work they have given him. His soundtracks are all worthy of being listened to. He really nails the SOL genre with his vision and for me that is a genre full of samey songs. So, having a bit of talent in that department is one thing I can totally commend.
Notable Works: Ouran High and Death Note
Well these two shows have almost zero in common. Aside from being in the same time period that is haha. Yet, if you hear both of them you will notice a large variety of songs that just ooze with personality. The charm and grace of Ouran and the intensity of Death Note. He really understands his material and gives it the best show with his musical craft.
Notable Works: Attack on Titan, Kill la Kill, Seven Deadly Sins
If you want vocal songs meant for high energy action scenes, this man is for you. All of his OST’s tend to have a chunk that is meh, but his strongest songs are all very very easy to jam out to. I would say his music is easily some of the most marketable in the anime world. He gets what people like the most and uses it to his full advantage.
Notable Works: Madoka Magica, SAO, Fate/Zero
Music that is meant to capture a dramatic presence is often hard to do. You want something memorable that causes an emotional response but you don’t want it to drown out the scene it accompanies. This happens in SAO a lot since the anime isn’t always strong enough to keep up with the powerful music, but the rest of her work makes it shine so much more. Madoka and Fate feel like some of the most serious shows out there due to the music there supporting them like fire to an inferno. She gets how to bring out the best of her story with strong, moving songs that will make you well up inside a little when you hear them after all is said and done.
Notable Works: Drrr!!,Baccano!, Natsume Yuujinchou, Hotarubi no Mori e
This man is a master of music. From his modern take on music with Drrr, to his jazzy topical selection in Baccano, to the light hearted nature to his music with Natsume. The man is Brain Base’s musical overlord. Most of his music even if it isn’t the best soundtrack is memorable. If I can listen to your OST and recognize most of your music on the first listen you did a good job making it accompany your show. I think he knows what fits his work pretty darn well.
Notable Works: Cowboy Bebop. Darker than Black, Kids on the Slope, Zankyou no Terror, Space Dandy
A musical goddess. All of her soundtracks are great, and even ones like Darker than Black and Space Dandy will surprise you with their depth. No one gets music better in the anime spectrum than the angel of music, Yoko Kanno. Just listen to the sweet melodies of Bebop’s OST alone and you will get her range. She of course excels at jazz the most, and this is why shows like Kids on the Slope pop so much, but she has hit so many genres with overwhelming success, I’m sorta astonished. I listened to all of her music with the assumption it might be nostalgia from the show speaking, but goodness no way, she really does own it. She is by far my top pick as the greatest anime composer of all time. Well aside from Joe Hisaishi but I didn’t include movies. I should do that in the future sometime. I’m sure those classics may have a person or two who could try to rival her.
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any of the above pictures. The credit goes to the original creators of each and thus will be considered theirs. Enjoy the pics!
Who composes your favorite anime music? Tell me somewhere on the net, until then......
