Best of Anime Soundtracks: Sword of the Stranger

Really? I didn't do this one yet? Okay, here is the great Sword of the Stranger movie and its amazing soundtrack composed by Naoki Saito. A lot of it is the same tune but...different. Yeah, that's it.

Ihojin no Yaiba: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTIwbusbN1g

Aganai no Yuki: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQtNwsKNBls

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva

The first movie of the best selling game, Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva is an animated film that takes place after Professor Layton and the Last Specter, but before Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box. For the first movie of the series, Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva received high praises for being faithful to the plot of the series, unlike many other movies that were based off of video games, the animation, and most importantly the music. Here are my personal favorites from the movie in no particular order.

Puzzle No. 001

Like the video games, the movie had well thought out puzzles. Also, Puzzle No. 001 is similar to the games due to its “musical box” tone.

Puzzle No. 003

As the movie progresses into a serious tone, so does the music. The later puzzles that Professor Layton has to solve are through life and death situation. I like how the music of the puzzle changed from a happy tone to a darker tone.

Overture to Destruction

As Professor Layton and company advance further into the mystery, the stakes are raised. I really like this piece because it seems to be comparable to the Professor Layton Vs Phoenix Wright game that is coming out.

Final Battle

What? It turns out that not only is Professor Layton is a gentleman, but he is excellent at sword play. Nearing to the end of the movie, Layton fights of Descole on a giant robot that is headed towards an ancient city to destroy it.

There are many other pieces that I enjoyed, but these are the pieces that stuck into my mind the most.

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Voices of a Distant Star

This soundtrack is beautiful in a plain and simple way. Because there's very little action and not much talking going on in the anime, the importance of the soundtrack is extremely significant in conveying the emotions of the characters. The pieces here are very soft piano pieces and are extremely relaxing to listen to. Also if you've seen the anime, you might shed a tear or two listening to these pieces, hahahaha. Here are a couple of my favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ1wL8y4THM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsCShSgUNhE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKzam3GhWhw

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Turn A Gundam

Turn A Gundam is composed by Yoko Kanno, so, of course, it has a decent soundtrack. What makes Turn A Gundam's music really special in the anime is its incorporation of tribal/native music of the people living in the Turn A world. Turn A Gundam has decent tracks for the fighting, most of them actually seem comical and not intense. Only Final Shore seems to have the intensity needed for a final battle. And thus, I will not be including any fighting music but, instead, the music that makes Turn A Gundam so different.

Moon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaAVuyp1yiM

Moon's Cocoon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFtl2MyfpGI

Spiral Re-born: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_VaRuRJu2E

World Edge Theory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF0mjUH73H8 

Edit: By the way, this is the last post of April, so I win for the moment.

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Street Fighter Victory

What is cooler than Street Fighter? Nothing, except for maybe its awesome music. The opening for this anime brings so much nostalgia in terms of anime, music, and video games altogether. Now what the hell kind of opening can do something like that? Only Street Fighter Victory can. Not to mention it has an excellent soundtrack to accompany its excellent opening as well. Enjoy.

Street Fighter Victory OP - It just screams badass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR4W7zD7fuk

Ryu & Ken no Theme - The hadouken theme that plays when Ryu's about to shoot a hadouken.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcuUx1No3pI

Ryu & Ken no Theme Flute Version - The flute version of the theme above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixAaSxI7QUA

Hadou vs Psycho Power - Plays when Ryu and Ken go up against Bison. Epic battle song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmKYIQWECWk

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Guin Saga

Composed by Nobuo Uematsu, of course Guin Saga's music would be good. The music has both softer, slower music as well as the powerful pieces that many of our Best of Soundtrack series contains. Here, I present some of the good pieces that stand alone. Because a lot of the music ties directly to the anime, they don't sound as good by themselves.

Grand Opening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYngk0vw8_A

Guin Theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZhsme8YQXE

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Shiki

This soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful. Most if not all of the soundtracks I've posted thus far were more towards the epic category, but this time it's something a little bit more subtle. First of all, this anime puts Hollywood-stricken vampires to shame, and second of all, the soundtrack was what led me to this anime in the first place. Listen and be memorized.

Eau de Vie - The best track in the anime in my opinion, others think so too it seems
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8pbSDqruMY

Day and Night - Very beautiful track
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmhZkLxGmTI

Pendulum - Very haunting track. You just gotta love the lyrics though, hahahahaha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yIVsLyUIoU

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Gedo Senki

Well, I've noticed that all the music that have been presented for the best of Anime Soundtracks and Best of Video Game Soundtracks have been very fast-paced, intense songs. But not all music has to be like that to be good. In Gedo Senki, that down-to-earth music, that music that resonates in the primal emotions of the human heart, that music is what the soundtrack of Gedo Senki possesses. I may not have been able to say what I meant by the music, but just by listening you may understand how I feel when I listen to the music. These tracks are sad, but I believe that there is a hint of hope in them and not just complete sadness.

No He: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJZCeD4Q0CA

Teru no Uta (acapella): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVz1qtFrxmU

Teru no Uta (Not from movie): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5w3qqviGjg

After all, where do you think that I got my name from?

Best of Anime Soundtrack: Pokemon (Part 2)

 

I have already picked the music from the first season of Pokemon that I believed was the best. But because the Johto region reused a lot of the Kanto region's soundtrack, there won't be as much music on this list. Now here is my take on season 2, Johto region.

Pokemon Season 2-Johto Wild Pokemon Battle:I think this is the best wild encounter song in the series. It can make a Level 4 Pigey fighting a Level 3 Weedle epic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hDHkfWLrNo

Pokemon 2000-Harmony Disturbed (Expanded):"Disturb not the harmony of Fire,Ice, or Lightning lest these three titans wreck destruction upon the world in which they clash. Though the water`s Great Guardian shall arise to quell the fighting alone its song will fail. Thus Earth will turn to Ash." This song opens with a beautiful ocarina, then changes to a darker tone. Played in the beginning of Pokemon 2000, this song greatly sets the mood for the movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8htRBF31Bc

Pokemon 2000-The Legend Comes to Life: From Pokemon 2000, this song brings images of Pokemons and humans coexisting without harm. The beginning is introduced with an ocarina, which makes the song sounds more mystical. As the song progresses into the orcstra, I am reminded of the girl playing the ocarina, and the river floating above her, as the Pokemons and people become amazed of the scene. Lastly, the song comes back to the ocarina as if Ash's adventures will become legends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAhna3Q9FjY

Best of Anime Soundtrack: Pokemon (Part 1)

Pokemon... probably one of the first "anime" to come into my life. Pokemon was everything. Pokemon games, Pokemon cards, and who can forget the Pokemon anime series. Here are my best picks of the Pokemon anime soundtrack, Kanto Region.



Pokemon The First Movie-Pokemon Theme by Billy Crawford: The first official remix of the Pokemon Theme song. Played when Ash was fighting a random trainer, I could not believe how more awesome the theme song could become.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPmEH3O2kK4&feature=related

Pokemon Kanto-Tears After the Cloudy Weather: "Pikachu go and get into the PokeBall. Hurry, its the only way." Turns to face the enemy Pokemon. "Spearows, do you know who I am? I'm Ash from the town of Pallet! I am destined to be the world's number one Pokemon Master! I can't be defeated by the likes you! I'm going to capture and deafeat you all!" Straight from episode 1, Pikachu is in need of medical attention, but Ash and Pikachu are being pursued by a flock of Spearows. This is one of the saddest scenes in Pokemon. In this scene, you can see the bond of Pikachu and Ash latch on at the instance Pikachu runs up Ash's arms and uses Thunderbolt. Tears After the Cloudy Weather deserves a spot on this list.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6TWUjtbb9E&feature=related

Pokemon Kanto-Kanto Gym(Intense Action):This song was Pokemon's "epic" song. When Pikachu dodges Dragonite's Hyper Beam by using his tail as a spring...BAM! This song plays. Everytime Ash's Pokemon does something beyond their limits, this song plays. This song is so epic, even I get goosebumps, partialy due to nostalgia overload.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDOtEeI8sOQ&feature=related

Pokemon Kanto-A Meeting and Parting: To get something, one must lose something. It is the law of alchemy, the equivilant exchange. What I got from this anime was a wonderful expierence, but I lost was joy and excitement Pokemon gave to me. This song is played everytime Ash departs his beloved Pokemon. I recall a scene, where Ash releases his Butterfrie to go live with the others. Because one must live with their own kind, like grow up with all the other kids and discard Pokemon.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YEpQ8j3404&feature=related

Pokemon Kanto-Reunion: I go to my attic to find an item. As I move a box aside, I hear something plastic drop to the ground. I look around, fearing it was the item I was looking was dropped. As I peer over the box, I see my old Pokemon Red game. BAM! This song plays. As stated above, something must be given to obtain something. But even things beyond our reasoning can defy laws. My amazment of Pokemon is still the same. My expierence with Pokemon is still the same. After listening to this song, I believe that the creators of Pokemon also created life long lessons for us to come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG3XGYz3GIY&feature=related

Excuse me while I go train my level 11 Charmander.

Best of Anime Soundtracks: X TV

Wow... this anime's soundtrack is freaking deadly. It matches perfect with X's story and atmosphere. Whenever the track "Sadame" plays in the anime, you know some heavy shit is going to go down. Be sure to watch out for my review of this anime soon.

Sadame - This track is too freaking epic. You must listen to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI3uU-Cu_NQ

Sadame Piano Version - A much calmer version of that epic track up there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4rQOdRT9O0

Last Battle - Very fitting of a fight between two dragon manifestos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhtwP-cl-3E

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Karas

Karas soundtrack directly reflects how freaking epic how Karas is himself. The ending song is also quite nice. With orchestral and choir at its helm, Karas is to Japan as Batman is to America. Dark Knights of their own countries.

Karas Kenzai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVr_gNaqEZ0

Karas Kenzai Meiou Tanjou Hen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxpBV48zIyY

Karas Ending Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-DDu5dMzwI

Bonus: Kara's Theme from Tatsunoko vs Capcom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G_xlMsxF8Y

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Death Note

To not put Death Note on here would be an absolute disgrace. Death Note has a very gothic yet epic soundtrack that will even make a simple action such as writing someone's name in a death diary look freaking Godlike.

Death Note Theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpb73JgRmzU

L's Theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gGDt4MSeJg

Low of Solipsim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sstM6IyTN3M

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Bakumatsu

So yeah, now that FluffyBunnyPwn has put up a new category, I will be putting my stuff there, too. Earlier I did a review on the Bakumatsu anime (name is too long to put in full). I said that the soundtrack was amazing, but now I can show you guys.

Shinnen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq43XDvnVM4

Jidai-Douran no Kiza: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br3em74LwN4

Pretty damn good huh?

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Claymore

With a dark storyline in a dark atmospherical setting, a dark and gothic soundtrack is needed, and that's exactly what this anime provided. See for yourself and get drawn into the darkness. Also check out my review of the anime here.

Ginme no Majo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9iQtqPqdcM

Kirisaku Monotachi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx_8n7C_3a0

Special Bonus: The Way I Am (Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLyklOV0RlE

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Planetes

Planetes not only has an exceptional storyline, but also an epic soundtrack to boot. Its soundtrack consists of jazzy, ethnical, and epic compositions all rolled into an awesome anime series. Also be sure to look out for my review of the Planetes anime.

Jupiter Highway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUIyPRh-72Y

Urgent Mission
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri9xcdW07-s

Angel Feather Voice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Ey_tYkuko

Best of Anime Soundtracks: Fate/Stay Night

This is going to be the first of my many more to come "Best of" series. This anime seriously has one of the best soundtracks in anime history. Here are a few tracks to give you an idea of how freaking awesome it is...

Unmei no Yoru
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iALZQHzKbdY

Emiya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSm6nnwesV4