When good jazz meets anime

Konichiwa Charlie!

So as you may know (I don't know if I already talked about that), but behind the long haired metalhead that I am, there is also a huge fan of Japanese anime. I could do a complete series of article talking about my favourite anime but I'm sure that will bored you like my last series on metal.

When you generally talk to people about anime, you're most likely going to have "oh yes, I loved Totoro!", "I watched Dragon Ball Z as a kid!" or "Anime? Isn't that something for kids" as answers. My goal here is not to show how the last one is wrong in so many ways (I could do a whole essay about it), but rather showing you an aspect that not many people know: music in anime. In fact music is an essential aspect of every movie or video, ans anime make no exception.

I know that in the seconds there is at least one fan of Japanese and Korean music (hello Dana!), but here the music comes from America, Yup! And no it's not rock, but jazz!

So I'm not an expert and I might have forgotten some awesome stuff, but here are some tracks that I think are quite worth to listen to.

Baccano's! opening: Guns and Roses

Now this one is probably my favorite opening ever, though it's not extremely complex jazz it does all the work it's asked, and I have to admit that the rhythm is quite catchy. Also, if one day you want to have some nice music playing in the background, you can listen to the full OST, it's full of awesome jazzy stuff. Also: the anime is a pure masterpiece, it's like Pulp Fiction but in the 30's in the US.

Hellsing opening: Logos naki World

Hellsing is one of these animes that have such a unique atmosphere and that is now one of the main classic that you have to watch... that I haven't watch already, sorry. But although I don't know the anime, the opening is perhaps not one of my favourite opening ever, but it surely is unique in its genre and the piano playing in the background really has something that I like.

And finally, certainly the most iconic jazz track in all Japanese animation:

Cowboy Bebop's opening: Tank!

What can I say... the intro is catchy, the bass does an awesome work and the sax solo in the middle is a pure masterpiece. Cowboy Bebop is one of the biggest classic of Japanese animation, and its OST and opening are certainly one of the main reasons why people love it so much: good jazz and rock that everyone loves. Definitely worth a try even though the animation might seems old to some persons.

Here is it Charlie, hope i could make you discover new things. If you like it tell me, I might do another one on another style of music. From now on, have a good time listening to good music, and I'll be seeing you when I get back from Canada!

Bye!

Kellian