Brief Summary
Charles Cornell shares five anime songs that have changed his perception of anime music, highlighting their unique compositional approaches, harmonic complexity, and storytelling ability. He also touches on the incredible animation and orchestral arrangements found in anime. The songs discussed include "Tank!" from Cowboy Bebop, a jazz piece from Kids on the Slope, themes from Attack on Titan and Howl's Moving Castle, and a piece from Spirited Away.
- The music in anime often features complex harmonies and unique compositional approaches.
- Anime soundtracks can be incredibly immersive and transformative, enhancing the storytelling.
- The attention to detail in anime animation, especially in musical performances, is often astounding.
Intro
Charles Cornell expresses his initial disinterest in anime, viewing it as mere cartoons. However, after recommendations from his audience, he discovered the incredible music within many anime shows. This video will explore five songs that have significantly altered his perception of anime.
Tank! - Cowboy Bebop
The first song is "Tank!" from Cowboy Bebop, composed by Yoko Kanno. Cornell was amazed by the raw and imperfect yet captivating blues-inspired track. He highlights the song's unexpected shifts and insane musicality, noting it was one of the first anime tracks that made him realize the depth of anime music. The band that performed the song is called The Seatbelts.
Moanin' - Kids on the Slope
Cornell discusses a scene from Kids on the Slope featuring the song "Moanin'" by Bobby Timmons. He praises the unbelievable animation that precisely mirrors the music being played, especially the drum performance. He expresses his admiration for the B3 organ sound and the complexity of playing the organ compared to the piano.
Attack on Titan Theme
Cornell shifts focus to the intense and harmonically rich theme from Attack on Titan. He analyzes the song's harmonic movement, noting the shift from C minor to E minor and beyond. He expresses disbelief at the compositional complexity found within the anime soundtrack.
Howl's Moving Castle Theme
The theme song to Howl's Moving Castle, composed by Joe Hisaishi, is another example of incredible harmonic information and orchestral arrangement in anime. Cornell describes the theme as beautiful, with rich voicings and a storybook-like quality, differing from typical cinematic fanfare themes. He notes that Hisaishi's work is transformative, immersing the listener in the story.
Gundam Thunderbolt Jazz
As a bonus, Cornell shares a jazz piece from Gundam Thunderbolt, which sounds like a modern jazz record. He highlights the dual-line offset and overall unbelievable musicality, expressing surprise that such music exists within an anime.
Spirited Away Theme
The number one theme is from Spirited Away, another work by Joe Hisaishi. Cornell recalls his first exposure to anime through this film and the immersion provided by Hisaishi's score. He describes the melody as ambiguous, beautiful, and story-telling, with incredible voicings and orchestration.
Outro
Cornell concludes by reiterating his amazement at the incredible composers and soundtracks within the anime genre. He encourages viewers to share their favorite anime themes in the comments and expresses his love for breaking down and discussing this music.
