Anime/Awesome Music

File:This Is Your Brain On Tank!.gif

This is your brain on the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack. Let's point out that's supposed to be John Williams. It's THAT GOOD.

Examples of awesome music in anime. It should be noted that a lot of songs in anime are regular J-Pop songs that just appear in anime and are not exclusive to it. Still awesome, though.

Composers and musicians with their own Awesome Music pages

• JAM Project
• Megumi Hayashibara
• Nana Mizuki
• Yoko Kanno
• Yuki Kajiura

Series with their own Awesome Music pages

• Berserk
• Bleach
• Clannad
• Code Geass
• Death Note
• Digimon
• Dragon Ball
• Fairy Tail
• Fist of the North Star
• Fullmetal Alchemist
• Gundam
• Haruhi Suzumiya
• Kinnikuman
• Lupin III
• Macross
• Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
• Monster
• Naruto
• Neon Genesis Evangelion
• One Piece
• Pokémon
• Pretty Cure
• Puella Magi Madoka Magica
• Sailor Moon
• Shakugan no Shana
• Shugo Chara
• Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
• The Idolmaster
• Time Bokan
• When They Cry (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and Umineko no Naku Koro ni, anime + VN)
• Yu-Gi-Oh!

Other examples

Masaaki Endoh

Not to be confused with Masaki Andoh, this member of JAM Project is good enough to stand on his own two feet.

• And to kick things off... "GA-GA-GA GA-GA-GA GaoGaiGar! GA-GA-GA GAGAGAGA GaoGaiGar!"
  • Also from the same series: "Power of Desire".
• From Muv Luv Alternative: "Carry On"
  • From the side story The Day After: "The Song of Heavenbound Lights"
• "Fellows" (Carnival Phantasm)
• Endoh is capable, on his own, of making songs ALREADY Crowning Music even more awesome. Case and point: "God Knows...".
  • "Ai wo Torimodose" (Fist of the North Star}
  • "Arashi no Nakade Kagayaute" (Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team)
  • "Butter-Fly" (Digimon Adventure)
  • "Cha-La Head Cha-La" (Dragonball Z)
  • "Eternal Blaze" (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's)
    • And for bonus points: a live duet of Eternal Blaze with Nana Mizuki herself!
  • "Go Go Power Rangers" (We shit you not!)
  • "Sorairo Days" (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
  • "Asu e no Brilliant Road" (Uchuu no Stellvia)
  • "Uninstall" (Bokurano)
  • "Muv-Luv" (OP of the eponymous Visual Novel)
  • Tori no Uta (AIR)
  • "Resolution" (Gundam X)
  • You know how we said the only time you'd ever hear a JAM Project member sing a Yoko Kanno composed song was Angel Voice? We lied.
    • He also sings "Live from Baghdad" from the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack, so there's another YK song for ya.
  • "Kimi ga Tame" (Utawarerumono)
  • "Ultraman Dyna"
• Endoh Masaaki also did a triple-turned-quadruple crown for Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Op4 "Believe in Nexus", "Op5 Road to Tomorrow Going my Way", and what may count as Yusei's true character song "Clear Mind", before adding a final jewel to the set at the end of the series with the soul-touchingly beautiful "Melody of Promises".

Kenji Kawai

• "Making of a Cyborg", the main theme of the classic Ghost in the Shell film.
  • Which is turned into a Leitmotif with the addition of "Ghost City" (which plays during the montage halfway through the film) and "Reincarnation" (during the ending credits).
  • Nightstalker"
  • "Floating Museum", played during the climax of the film for luscious Soundtrack Dissonance.
  • From the second film, Ghost in the Shell: Innocence, comes "The Ballade of Puppets: The Ghost Awaits in the World Beyond", a work of genius that contrasts the ass-kicking finale so perfectly it elevates the climax to what can only be described as a spiritual experience.
    • Kawai's interpretation of "Follow Me" is also exquisite.
    • Also from the second film are "The Ballade of Puppets: Flowers Grieve and Fall", "River of Crystals", "The Ballade of Puppets: In a New World, Gods Will Descend", and "The Doll House I" & "II".
• The soundtrack for the "live action manga" Avalon, also by Kenji Kawai deserves to be noted, and belongs, here.
• His score for the Fate/stay night anime brings us "Night of Fate", "Lonely Pilgrimage", "Magician", "Ever-Changing Fate", "Holy Grail", "Inheriting the Seal", "King of Heroes", "Winter Faeries", "Blood Knight", "Contract", "Bonds", "Roar of the Universe", "La Sola", and "Dashing Rivals".
  • There's also his absolutely Badass remixes of the two iconic staples from the Visual Novel: "Emiya" and "Sword of Promised Victory".
  • The two OPs, "disillusion" and "Kirameku Namida wa Hoshi ni", also qualify.
    • Sachi Tainaka may as well get a section just for these songs. This Symphonic Arrangement of the anime's two opening themes from her CD deserves some consideration, too. Another version called "disillusion -2010-" is arranged for the Fate/Stay Night TV Reproduction OVAs.
  • From the Unlimited Blade Works movie: "Imitation", which perfectly captures Shirou's defense of his ideals against Archer, his future self.
    • Also from Unlimited Blade Works, the thunderous "Binding Realms".
    • Thought Saber's theme "Night of Fate" couldn't get more epic? Think again.
    • More on the "D'awww..." side of things - "Eternity last episode", which plays when Archer finally bids goodbye.
  • Fate/Zero comes with a couple of tracks as well. "The Battle Is To The Strong" and "Rule the Battlefield" come to mind.
• Much music from Ranma 1/2, but relatively little of the good stuff is available on Youtube, so here's a highlight.
  • Special mention goes to "Ryoga's Theme".
• And of course, the Death Note live action movies. Hot damn.
• The OP of the Vampire Princess Miyu OAV series. As well as Now comes the conclusion, from the third OAV. Heartbreakingly beautiful.
• Seirei no Moribito and this song, "Nahji no Uta". A perfect match for the anime's Crowning Moment of Heartwarming.
  • Pretty much all of Moribito's soundtrack is so spectacular. "Omoi Haruka" makes you happy to be alive.
• Pretty much the entirety of the score from Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Notable tracks of awesomeness can be found here.
• Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: the anime OSTs were made by him, featuring some of the scariest tracks in anime.
  • And "Oshin". If there's a more terrifying theme that could be used in that scene...
  • Then for pure musical awesome: "Ran" and "Main Theme".
• The appropriately named "Adler Tag" from The Sky Crawlers is a highlight of his work from that movie, accompanying a gradual buildup of warplanes for a massive Battle of Britain-style raid.
  • To say nothing of the gorgeous main theme.
  • "Krakow", played during the team's visit to the eponymous city.

Joe Hisaishi

Hayao Miyazaki's main composer for his movies.

• Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. A movie about Kaiju-sized giant insects should not be lyrically beautiful. Largely because of the music, it is.
• My Neighbor Totoro You must admit that you have at least once walked around humming "The Path of Wind".
  • "Sampo", "Catbus", "Tonari no Totoro" (ending theme), The opening.
• In Princess Mononoke, most iterations of the Ashitaka motif and main theme share the proverbial cake. That Chinese glissando effect is delicious.
  • "The Demon God" is absolutely diabolical and heart-pounding. "Disgusting little creatures...".
  • "Adagio of Life and Death" and "The World of the Dead".
  • Also "Battle Drums" though you have to listen to it entirely.
• Spirited Away is already an amazing movie, but what also made it so breathtakingly beautiful is the soundtrack. "Dragon Boy" is just perfect in setting up the movie's setting, and the ending credits (though he actually didn't write it) "Always With Me" simply cannot be described in words of its beauty.
• Howl's Moving Castle: The Main Theme is incredible, and the rest of the score aptly follows suit.

English Fandubs

As with anything fan-produced, Sturgeon's Law applies to fandubs. However, on occasion you stumble upon that elusive 10% that's absolutely worth it. Here you may learn what your favorite anime songs sound like translated to English.

• GeekyFanDubs: In addition to having a good singing voice, she reimagines the lyrics of the song so that they flow as naturally as possible, while keeping the song's original meaning.
  • "Sorairo Days" (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
  • "Ash Like Snow" (Mobile Suit Gundam 00)
  • "My Soul, Your Beats" (Angel Beats!)
  • "World's End" (Code Geass)
  • And now, "Shangri La" from Fafner in the Azure.
• Cristina Vee: She works as an English voice actress, and she uses her talent to create some of the best fandubs you can find anywhere.
  • "Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni" (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni)
  • "Super Driver" (Haruhi Suzumiya)
  • "Bokutachi wa Kore Kara" (Ranma ½, as Shampoo)
  • "Motteke! Sailor Fuku" (Lucky Star)
  • "Sakura Kiss" (Ouran High School Host Club)
  • "Don't Say Lazy" (K-On!)
  • "High School Of The Dead" (Highschool of the Dead)
• A YouTuber called MidiGuyFDdp21 also does some really nice covers of anime openings.
  • "Crazy Rainbow" (One Piece)
  • "Share The World" (One Piece)
  • "Alones" (Bleach)
  • "Ore Wa Tokoton Tomaranai" (Dragonball Z Budokai 3)
  • "Dragon Soul" (Dragon Ball Kai)
  • "We Go" (One Piece)
• AppleO0o0o has also dubbed many anime songs, including many from Umineko no Naku Koro ni.
  • "Kanashimi no mukou e" from the ending scene in School Days
• Miku-Tan counts as well.
  • "Connect", the OP of Puella Magi Madoka Magica.
• Flairs from Hell sang a few good fandubs, including a few from Touhou.
  • "Naraku no Hana". Second season opening to Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
• Shadowlink4321. Fall in love. All over again.
  • "Uso", Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood's 1st Ending.
  • "Rain", same anime, 5th opening.
  • "Unbeatable", the English opening to Pokemon Advanced Battle.
  • "Blaze", the first opening of the Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle anime.
  • Not an anime example, but from Sonic Adventure 2, he gives us "Escape From The City".
  • Also, already referenced in Sonic the Hedgehog's section, "Golden Rings", a Generations Tribute.
  • "Butter Fly", TV Size.
  • "Sorairo Days", Gosick Style Fandub. (Sorairo Days belongs to a certain Gurren Lagann).
  • "Golden Time Lover", FMAB's 3rd Opening.
  • "Colors", Code Geass' first opening (now lacking in JIBUN WO~!)
  • "Light My Fire", the first opening to Shakugan no Shana III Final
  • "Snow fairy", the first opening to Fairy Tail
  • "Innocent sorrow", one of the D.Gray-man openings
  • "STRENGTH", the last ending for the first run of Soul Eater

A - D

• Most of the music for the AIR game was considered good enough to be used directly the anime release as well - and with very good reason. Especially noteworthy is the track "Aozora" (blue sky) sung by Lia, whose mournful vocals set the perfect mood for the already very sad ending. The instrumental version is used all through the series to maximum effect as well.
  • The anime and game opening "Tori no Uta" definitely deserves a mention.
  • "Farewell Song", which is a very epic piece of music.
  • "Natsukage", which is lovely in both its original instrumental version and in the vocal reinterpretation by Lia.
    • And in the other vocal reinterpretation. Done by Chata of |Dango Daikazoku fame, it's about as cute as you might expect.
• Aria the Scarlet Ammo gives us the opening, "Scarlet Ballet" which is a epic combination of dance music and music you'd hear in a ballet.
  • The ending, "Camellia no Hitomi" is a combination of pop and metal. It has a very classic 90's anime feel to it.
• The Borrower Arrietty contains some wonderful songs, composed and sang by Cécile Corbel, a French-Brettone singer and harper:
  • "The Neglected Garden", the first song heard during the movie, is a breath-taking invitation to reverie and remembrance.
  • "Arrietty's Song", which concludes the movie, is also wonderful. Cécile also sang it in French.
• The Air Gear theme, "Chain" by BACK-ON. The whole soundtrack is pretty sweet, in fact.
• The score of Akira may be even better than the film. Rasse-ra, rasse-ra, rasse-rasse-rasse-ra...
  • "Requiem", the final track made of 5 movements of pure win. (Part 1 Part 2)
  • The entire soundtrack is worth mentioning, but "Tetsuo" stands out - that's the eerie gamelan one with the chorals. Very powerful and scary.
  • "Battle With the Clowns", the music that plays during the famous motorcycle battle sequence near the beginning of the film.
• "Theme of Gemini" from Android Kikaider: The Animation.
• "My Soul, Your Beats!", the opening to Angel Beats!.
  • Note that there are two versions of the song used in the anime — the original, with Iwasawa singing is more rock oriented, while the revised version features Yui against a piano. The soundtrack CDs included not only both versions, but vocal-free versions of each, which has allowed fans to remix it to hell and back — Yui with rock guitars, Iwasawa with piano, and the most awesome of all, a remix incorporating vocals and music from all versions.
  • The ending, "Brave Song", and the insert/last ending "Ichiban no Takaramono" are Crowning Music of Heartwarming, especially "Ichiban no Takaramono" when it's in the context of it's associated CMoH(s).
  • "Worthy Rival", which plays whenever Noda does something awesome. Or "Critical Point", heck, even "Decisive Battle".
    • "Kanade". Just... listen, there's no sufficient way to describe it.
• How about some of the songs from Girls Dead Monster:
  • "Crow Song"
  • "Alchemy"
  • "Thousand Enemies"
• Aoi Hana has the same-titled opening theme by Kukikodan. Wow. Just WOW.
• The opening from Area 88, "Mission(Fuga)". Enough said.
• Aside from copious amounts of excellent Scenery Porn, Aria has an impressive soundtrack, consisting of slightly classically tinted, soft pieces that fit the mood of the series perfectly. Most of the tracks are produced by Choro Club, who also did excellent work on the second OVA release of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou.
  • "Tenki Ame" is probably one of the best instrumental songs in the series. Forgot where it played exactly though...
    • "Tenki Ame" just has that warm, fuzzy, Crowning Moment of Heartwarming feel to it. They played it when they found Maa.
  • "Lumis Eterne, Loomis Etlune" is a very nice song played in a very important/touching manner.
  • Still the most beautiful piece is probably the OP of the Arietta OVA, performed by SONOROUS, with its slow and immensely melancholic melody. It is a strong departure from the more lighthearted tunes of the other OPs and sets the mood for the rest of the episode extremely well.
    • And while we're at it Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou deserves its own, proper entry. When Nai takes Alpha up in his airplane in particular, but there are other moments that qualify too. Not to mention pretty much everything that applies to ARIA in this trope carries over to Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou as well.
• Avenger features "Gesshoku Grand Guignol" by ALI PROJECT. It also sports a similar outro, "Mirai no Eve".
• There are plenty from Axis Powers Hetalia. China's second song "Aiyaa Four Thousand Years" is this and a Tear Jerker, being about China's relationship with Japan and how Japan had betrayed him.
  • Pretty much every version of the first ending theme song "Marukaite Chikyuu" is awesome in their own way.
    • Russia's version even throws in his infamous "kolkolkolkol" in the middle of the full version of the song.
    • America's version has an amazing guitar rocking in the background.
    • And nothing else needs to be said about England's version, which in the full version has freaking bagpipes in the background.
    • The background for China's version is awesome all on its own.
    • Germany's voice is to die for.
  • It's a fanwork about a fanwork, but the music in this video definitely qualifies. It weaves together different Vocaloid pieces together in a way which is smooth and beautiful, and the "Veneziano" measures are amazing! Which isn't mentioning the video itself and how cute and yet sad that it is.
  • Russia's character song and the song that plays in the anime (episode 89) when Russia first encounters Lithuania.
  • It may not be official, but this fusion of "Osoreirimasu Sumimasen"/"Excuse Me, I'm Sorry" and "Ni Hao Chuugoku"/"Hello, China" titled "Sumimasen Chuugoku"/"I'm Sorry, China" needs to be mentioned.
• Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day has "secret base Kimi ga Kureta Mono (10 years after Ver.)", which always starts playing towards the end of an episode. Oftentimes to Tear Jerker effect.
  • At least we've got the opening song, "Aoi Shiori" ^{[dead link]} to perk us right?
• Azumanga Daioh has "Raspberry Heaven". "Soramimi Cake", while less "epic", is still awesome (and addicting).
  • Speaking of which, the Kuricorder Quartet, who did the background music for the series, has an epically cute rendition of the Imperial March. Yes, that Imperial March.
    • The Maya songs are just awesome for what they represent and when they're used.
  • Look, have you heard the soundtrack? It's pure cute, quirky, sometimes sad awesome - in short, it's Azumanga Daioh.
    • For example, Shingakki (sometimes referred as "Osaka's theme" or "Sakaki's theme") in its many variations. The perfect slice-of-life anime background music piece.
  • The six main characters' image songs are no slouch either!
    • Chiyo
    • Sakaki
    • Tomo
    • Yomi
    • Osaka
    • Kagura (this one gets extra points for being punkish)
• Okay, so it's actually a Real Song Theme Tune rather than one made for the anime itself but Guns & Roses, the OP for Baccano!, is still friggin' glorious.
  • As awesome as "Tank!" is, it might have to move over for this OP. The saxophone. My god, THE SAXOPHONE.
  • There's also a recurring track called "Baccano! no Theme" that, much like the above mentioned "Ayato kill theme," seems to pop up during moments of total pwnage.
  • "Utakata no Inori", which is more or less the theme of the Victorious Childhood Friend.
• Bakemonogatari's Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari ("The story you didn't know") is a great piece when you just hear it, but when you understand it it's heartbreaking...
  • We can't forget about the bitchin' character songs now can we?
    • Hitagi Senjogahara: "staple stable" and "Futakotome" ^{[dead link]}
    • Mayoi Hachikuji: "Kaerimichi"
    • Suruga Kanbaru: "ambivalent world"
    • Nadeko Sengoku: "Renai Circulation"
    • Tsubasa Hanekawa: "sugar sweet nightmare"
    • Karen Araragi: "marshmallow justice"
    • Tsukihi Araragi: "Platinum Disco"
• "Kouya Ruten", the rather excellent opening from Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto.
  • Same anime, awesome theme.
• "Hime Murasaki" from Basilisk deserves mention.
• The second opening to Basquash is one hell of a song. The first opening was dreadfully boring, which made the new opening even more exciting in comparison.
  • "nO limiT" was a badass song.
  • "Hoshiwatari" from ep. 24 and of course from the finale "After The Rain Heart".
  • "Running On" from episode 9. That music makes for the most epic game of basketball ever, even if Rouge does get hit by a ball halfway through the song. Especially because the length of the game is defined by the song.
• The theme song of The Big O: It kicks ass! And has two versions!
  • "Sure Promise" from The Big O is a great song from the series as well!
  • "Stoning"
  • "Stand A Chance"
  • And this is something right out of American Noir
  • Big O! Show Must Go On
• "Destiny -Taiyou no Hana-", the opening theme for Black Jack 21. Doctors, apparently, get really epic theme songs.
• The opening theme of Black Lagoon, called "Red Fraction", is primarily barely-comprehensible Engrish, but nonetheless is incredibly badass and sets the tone of the series perfectly.
  • Along with this is the ending theme of the last episode of the second season.
  • "The World of Midnight" as it was sung over the end credits of the Hansel and Gretel story was just beautiful. Especially considering how the end credits had gone over the previous 14 episodes.
  • And "Tear Drops To Earth:, the music of the cigarette scene.
• Blood Plus:
  • "Diva"
  • "Saya's Joy"
  • "Saya's Courage"
  • "Battle Theme"
  • "Grand Theme"
• The long, slow building intro of Bubblegum Crisis, "Say, Yes!", is brilliant.
  • One could argue that most all of the music from Bubblegum Crisis is a CMOA.
    • "Konya Wa Hurricane" from the first episode is quite possibly one of the best opening songs and opening sequences ever. BGC set the standard for anime music, and set it very high.
    • "Mad Machine" which is not used in the show but was a music video included in the VHS and later DVD releases should also be mentiond.
• Canaan's OP, "mind as Judgment" by faylan deserves a serious mention.
• The German opening of "Captain Future". No singing. No exposition. Just a really sweet instrumental peace.
• Cardcaptor Sakura... where to begin? "Sakura's Theme II" definitely belongs here, as not only is it an awesome song, it also plays during almost every action scene in the first two seasons. Then, during season 3, it gets replaced with the equally cool "Card wo Tsugumono" (yes, it deserves a spoiler). The third season opening theme, "Purachina", is also worthy of mention, along with the awesome orchestral arrangement in "Hontou no Ichiban".
  • Special recognition goes to the song "Suki tte nandarou", literally translating to "What is love?"
  • The dub Cardcaptors also had really nice music, with the crowning piece being "Guardian of the Cards".
  • "Ashita e no Melody".
  • "Mienai Chizu".
  • "Ki Ni Naru Aitsu".
• "Haritsuke no Missa" ("Crucifixion of Faith") from Chaos;Head.
• Okay, the Chrono Crusade anime royally screwed the characters over in pretty much every way imaginable, but the opening song, "Tsubasa wa Pleasure Line", never fails to give chills.
  • Chrono Crusade's ending theme "Sayonara Solitaire" also provides an amazing mood for the series.
• The ending theme of Claymore, "Danzai No Hana" is just all kinds of awesome. The singer has such a powerful voice and the music mixes classical and rock seamlessly.
  • What about the opening "Raison D'etre"? Beautiful lyrics, awesome riff, and that voice... so deep and melancholy it fits way too well.
• The Cutey Honey opening, in all its incarnations, is a damn good song . . . provided you can ignore what the lyrics actually mean.
  • You had to but ask...
• "Senshi Yo Tachiagare" from Cybaster/Cybuster. The lyrics are already awesome (seriously, hear it and read the translation). Now hearing it live, there are no words that can tell about it. Now hearing it in an acoustic version is simply death...
• You could buy Dai-Guard based on the opening theme alone.
• Darker than Black's opening theme song, "HOWLING," by abingdon boys school is rock-tastic. It makes one think of dark thoughts, and kicking some ass along the way.
  • NOW I'VE LOST IT, I KNOW I CAN KILL
  • The ending "Tsukiakari" by Rie fu is calm and very soothing.
  • The rest of the soundtrack is by Yoko Kanno, which pretty much clinches it. "GO Dark" and "Deadly Work" in particular tend to punctuate something insanely cool.
• For Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z - While "Rise of Him" seems to be a repetitive techno song like the rest of the soundtrack at first... Cue the organ and the strings. If it doesn't seem like CMOA at first, try listening to the rest of the soundtrack and coming back. Also, "Touch Me!", the instrumental of which plays either when the girls transform as a group or when the villains are going to get their butts kicked. When the version with lyrics starts playing, the villains really should take that as a cue to run for their lives.
• Devil May Cry's anime adaptation opening certainly belongs.
  • There's plenty of awesome music in DMCA, like:
    • "FUTURE IN MY HANDS" an insert song from Episode 6.
    • The opening has two remixes. The Full Band Version rocks, but the Gut Guitar Version gives any Dante moment undeniable awesome.
    • "faint" is a truly amazing display of Spanish Guitar skill.
• D.Gray-man's "Doubt & Trust" is just awesome. The full version is even better.
  • D Gray-Man has a lot of good music, including "SNOW KISS" and "INNOCENT SORROW".
  • Along with "INNOCENT SORROW", we've also got "Brightdown", "Gekidou" ^{[dead link]}, "Pride of Tomorrow", "Anata ga Koko ni Iru Riyuu", "Regret", "Wish", and "Changin'".
  • The 14th's song,"Tsunaida Te ni Kisu wo" From the moment Allen started playing the piano, you could tell this was going to be awesome.
  • Also, "Lala's Lullaby". Particularly awesome considering the lyrics are from the 18th verse of Dies Irae.
  • The song Jasdero and David sing was pretty cool.
  • Many tracks from the OST, such as Tyki Mikk's theme, Kyory/Elaide theme, Or either of Komui's themes!
  • "Antoinette Blue" is incredibly pretty.
• D.N.Angel's opening theme "Byakuya True Light" really deserves a mention.
  • The fanmade version picked up by Vic Mignogna might be a little more epic. As mentioned on the Ear Worm trope, he's a repeat offender of this as well (Towards The Light, Shissou, and two songs that are mentioned in FMA's section...).
  • The ending song of episode 24 "Caged Bird" is heartbreakingly beautiful as well.
• The entire Dragon Crisis soundtrack counts as this, but special mention must go to its kickass opening theme.
• Dragon's Heaven is an old and very obscure single episode OVA about ancient mechs that few people have ever seen. However, it has one of the most beautiful, touching, and badass pieces of music ever. It has just the right mix of Heroic Resolve epicness and seriousness that makes you want to never give up, no matter what.
• Fans were clamoring for the "episode preview" track from Durarara!!, "Ikebukuro West Exit Five-way Intersection", for its delicious sax licks long before the OST came out and the full version could be enjoyed in its glory.
  • "Ryokushoku No Kioku/Green Memories", which is first heard with beautiful scenery as our protagonist has a lovely dream of "being whole again." It plays again later on, when said protagonist is riding on her motorcycle thinking about the man who loves her. She tosses her arms into the air and says (paraphrased) : "If there is someone that can find redemption in me, then why can't I find redemption in them?" It is one most beautiful scenes in the series, and the lovely piece only amplifies it.
• Dennou Boukenki Webdiver is a lesser-known sci-fi series from 2001. Nonetheless, both the opening "Diver 2100" and the ending "Together" deserve a special mention.
• Detective Conan has had a lot of theme songs, many of them very good, or even great. For example, the very first one (the English translation).

E - J

• ef- a tale of memories has the ending theme for episode 2, Euphoric Field, which turns out to be the opening for the rest of the series and also what comes out when you take the first letter of each episode's title. The song itself is mostly correct, if mispronounced, Engrish, and was performed by Tenmon, of 5 Centimeters Per Second fame. Tenmon also composed the rest of the series' incredibly touching soundtrack. The most awesome part is the opening to episode 12, which was exactly the same as the other openings, except the song was in Japanese and the visual symbolism was completely changed. When you think about how this must have affected the primary audience, who now understand the lyrics, it becomes doubly awesome. Tenmon makes a return in the sequel, Ef- A Tale of Melodies, with the opening Ebullient Future (yes, ebullient is a real word).
• Elfen Lied's opening theme "Lilium" is one of the most hauntingly beautiful themes you will ever hear.
  • The metal version of that song, while losing that 'haunting beauty', is still rather badass in its own right.
  • The ending theme "Be Your Girl". It's surprisingly upbeat for such a dark show, but it almost sounds like They Might Be Giants!
• Ergo Proxy's opening theme, "Kiri". It's even in surprisingly good English. Combine it with a visually striking opening and you'll be blown away.
  • The ending theme was done by Radiohead! RADIOHEAD!
  • Last Exit to Paradise.
• Escaflowne (yes, the movie) has Maaya Sakamoto's Yubiwa (Ring). The lyrics make it all the sweeter (see also Gravity under Wolf's Rain).
• Eureka Seven. Days and Sakura are euphoric.
  • And anyone who finds Days euphoric will positively slip into an awesome-induced coma upon hearing the Piano House Mix.
  • And speaking of euphoric, the beautiful and simultaneously happy-and-sad Himitsu Kichi (Secret Base). And the blood-pumping Taiyou no Mannaka e (To The Center of The Sun).
  • It's not just those songs; the soundtrack, composed by Naoki Sato, is a delicious mix of music that not only fits the different moods of the series, but can move the listener to tears with its pure awesomeness.
  • Dewey Novak's Theme should be the theme of every Magnificent Bastard.
  • This song is a highlight of the last episode.
  • Storywriter, IE the song that, when you start to hear it, you know something awesome is about to happen.
  • Sprinting Spirits is just epic.
  • Jump From Running was designed to get the blood pumping. You hear this playing, something's big's about to go down.
  • Nirvash TypeZERO is pretty damn epic too.
  • Get it by Your Hands pretty much defines epic.
  • Shounen Heart, the second opening.
    • The full version is even better. JPop Hip-Hop Jazz Fusion. HOME MADE Kazoku does not fail to disappoint. ~We wanna make the dream come true, tsumari... Sakasou! Sakasou! Sakasou! Jounetsu hana wo sakasou! Sakasou! Sakasou! Sakasouuooouu!~
  • Combat Zone. Particularly worth mentioning for the Big Damn Heroes moment it accompanies in the penultimate episode.
  • And for The Movie, there's Space Rock, a fitting track for the incredibly trippy end credits.
• Be Survivor from Eyeshield 21 is a classic opening theme.
• Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor's OP, "Shangri-La"
  • The soundtrack. They actually credit the orchestra that recorded it (the Warsaw Philharmonic). It has a certain rich sound to it, and is an enjoyable listen on its own. Try Blue Sky of Sorrow, the french horn duet at the beginning is just beatiful, and sets the mood for the piece. There are many other awesome pieces in the score including Opening of Nightmare's Gate, Fafner in the Azure, Battle (m9), False Paradise (which is simply beautiful), A Girl's Wish (an interesting theme and variations), and Epilougue:Prologue (which opens the show).
• Little Busters, the victory music from FLCL, as well as the opening hook from I Think I Can.
  • In fact the entire OST collection for FLCL can qualify. From Ride on Shooting Star, to Advice, to Hybrid Rainbow and Crazy Sunshine, the entire soundtrack was nothing short of amazing.
  • There's also Beautiful Morning with You, a brief track that's still great at conveying a sense of menace.
    • Blues Drive Monster.
    • Bran New Love Song. Sad and beautiful.
    • The part in Episode 6 where they play Last Dinosaur is perfection. Right as the final confrontation is about to start, Haruko yells "It's the climax!" and the song starts to play in all its glory. The fact that up until this point they have only played a portion of the song during the next episode preview really makes it feel like the final, climactic moment in the series.
    • FLCL's sometimes jokingly called a series-length Animated Music Video of The Pillows. That's definitely not a bad thing.
• "Tada Nakitakunaru no" from Fruits Basket is both adorable and heartwrenching at the same time.
• "Tokkou Yoraou" from Full Metal Panic!. Sound familiar?
  • "Arashi No Mae" is one of the very best from FMP's OST.
  • As is "Counterattack".
  • The entire soundtrack for the entire run (FMP!, Fumoffu, and TSR) is so made of awesome that's it's almost impossible to decide on a "best".
  • "Sore Ga Ai Deshou".
    • The 9 Que (Mikuni Shimokawa self cover album) is even better.
  • "Shouri" ("Victory"), which accompanies Sousuke's epic He's Back as he takes down Gate's Venom squad.
• "New Future" from Full Moon o Sagashite.
• The OP for Futari wa Pretty Cure. Pretty badass for a Magical Girl show. But then, this is Magical Girl as directed by the guy who did Dragonball Z.
  • For a peppy shoujo version of your average Hot-Blooded shounen theme, check out Full Throttle, the OP to Yes! Pretty Cure 5 Go Go.
  • Two Words: Shining Star.
  • From episode 25 of Heartcatch Pretty Cure, a gospel song! And lo, it was called Song of Tomorrow, and it was awesome! Hallelujah!
    • Heart Goes On, which is Heartcatch's version of Shining Star and just as awesome!
• Meaning of Truth from F-Zero Falcon Densetsu. It's especially awesome in the famous FALCON PUNCH! scene!
• Only one anime opening theme (besides Baccano's Guns & Roses) has even challenged Tank's position as the best jazz opening of all time- 'Boomerang Boogie' from Gad Guard. It's more swing than bebop, but when it swings, it SWINGS!
• Psychic Lover, who is better known for their Super Sentai and Kamen Rider music (see Crowning Music Of Awesome: Live Action TV), brings us several awesome tracks from Gaiking: Legend of Daiku-Maryu, proving that they have as much chops as JAM Project when it comes to kickass Super Robot music:
  • The OP: DAI DAI DAI DAIKU-MARYU GAIKING!
  • Sono Mei Ha Gaiking Gure To - Gaiking the Great Theme
• Gankutsuou ending theme.
  • Kaishou qualifies as well.
  • And the opening theme.
• Gantz, despite being absolutely gruesome and pointless, has the annoyingly catchy, Engrish-laden Super Shooter to add to the repotoire.
• The GaoGaiGar theme song, "Yuusha-Oh Tanjou" is one of the catchiest pieces of music ever, successfully emulating the classic Super Robot style without feeling dated for its time, or even ten years after its time. It also makes it easier to remember for those who call it a tongue-twister.
  • Also. Yuuki Aru Tatakai, the track reserved for battles such as the one with EI-01, the Primevals, and Mamoru.
  • And, of course, Dividing Driver, the prelude to many of the show's greatest Crowning Moments of Awesome.
  • The themes for Soldat J and King J-der are also pretty awesome. In fact, ANY music, used as the motif for ANY main character/ robot, 99.99% of the time, it's a Crowning Music of Awesome. However, the themes for the Goldion Hammer and the Goldion Crusher in the OVA are probably the most epic ones there are.
    • While not even remotely "hell yeah!" awesome, kudos have to be given to the track on the other end of the spectrum...Guy's Theme. It makes you want to cry, give him a hug, and salute him all at once.
      • the saddest song on the soundtrack, though, is the one for the other protagonist. Mamoru's Theme is such a beautiful, sad song, and the show knew just WHEN exactly to use it. Mamoru's Character Development after The Reveal, the exposition about the fate of Mamoru and his replicant at the beginning of Episode 8 of FINAL, it justs works so well with what's going on.
  • The epic remix of the Final Fusion music used for The Birth of Genesic GaoGaiGar. (Begins 1:00 in)
  • And if you though Yuusha-Oh Tanjou couldn't get any more awesome, the epic Grand Glorious Gathering theme used for GaoGaiGar Final blows it right the hell out of the water.
    • And then, the Perfect Yell Version goes and blows THAT out of the water.
• Most of the Brave and Eldoran series are studded with Crowning Music of Awesome moments, usually in the openings or Stock Footage.
  • Exkaiser had this one, which was never included on its soundtrack CDs. Thankfully, stuff like this was.
  • Fighbird's titular robot's initial and second transformations are inspiring. Even the support team gets good music.
  • Might Gaine: the theme song alone is awesome but other great songs include the first combining theme, Let's Might Gaine, the second, Great Dash , and and the second ending, Black Diamond.
  • Raijin-Oh's epic base transformation and launch sequence music (transformations/combinations/attacks included here) can't be overlooked.
  • Epic as they were, Ganbarugar managed to outdo them, from summoning (with variants) and combination to final attack.
  • Gosaurer tops both of them in theme song, Launch, finishing move music. And that's not even getting into King Gosaurer's theme
• Ga-Rei Zero, two words: Paradise Lost.
• Galaxy Express 999: Brave Love.
• Gasaraki. Tomoko Tane's OP 'Message #9' is absolutely haunting. The series' ending theme is EVEN BETTER: 'Love Theme'
• Geneshaft's metal score simply screams awesome. Have some Shaft Drive, the OP.
• Genesis of Aquarion's self-titled opening theme Sousei no Aquarion is pretty damn awesome.
  • Then you've also got the same song remixed in English Genesis of Aquarion by the same singer, which was nothing short of amazing.
  • Kouya no Heath too?
• Genshiken's first ending theme "Biidama". It isn't bombastic rock or an insanely catchy bubblegum J-pop hit — it simply captures the bittersweetness of going to university and making friends,then having to leave both of them behind. It's even more heartbreaking with the translated lyrics. Saori Atsumi, take a bow.
  • Genshiken's opening track My Pace Daiou it just works. It's also pretty awesome live.
• Ghost Hound has a fantastic OP called Poltergeist. It's an awesome jazzy piece. Such a shame the series is little known. The ending, Call my Name is sad and slow - quite a contrast to the OP, but very welcoming.
• The Ghost Hunt opening theme. It sounds very much like Danny Elfman.
• Giant Robo - the score was composed by Academy Award nominated composer Masamichi Amano, and played by a real orchestra and choir. Is it awesome? You bet.
  • History's Greatest Decisive Battle. The video is abridged (the full song is 13 minutes long), but it's one of the best segments.
  • Another classic CMOA track.
  • Even the "On the Next..." music is epic.
• Ginga Densetsu Weed: The opening theme is excellent for getting yourself pumped up, as well as a great excuse to go "YAH!" at the top of your lungs.
• "Shura", the fifth ending theme for Gintama, used to punctuate one of the more badass arcs of the series.
  • And later, the 5th OP Donten with probably the best Bait and Switch fight scenes for added awesomeness.
  • While not badass like the other examples, the Yorozuya Blues that played while Gintoki and Otae pass each other in the rain as he goes off to fight Benizakura against her orders is pretty awesome (this is a slightly different version than the one from the show). It's laid back and melancholy and perfect.
  • The 7th Opening, Stairway Generation is so damn catchy and trippy.
  • Gintama's back with a powerful 9th Opening Tougenkyou Alien.
  • 17th Ending, Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!). Used for the conflicting Four Devas of Kabukicho Arc.
• It's a shame that there are no full versions of the really awesome OP for the original Glass Mask series, Garasu no Kamen by Mariko Ashibe. Still, the TV version gives a glimpse of what a lovely song this is.
• The first opening theme for Great Teacher Onizuka, Driver's High, is a classic example of the greatness that is L'arc~En~Ciel.
• Fly High! from Gunbuster episode 5.
• Grenadier's "Senmetsu Senshi".
• Say what you may about Guilty Crown, but having Supercell compose both their OPs and EDs definitely leads to audio greatness. Observe: My Dearest and The Everlasting Guilty Crown.
• Gunslinger Girl, pretty much the entire first season.
  • Tema V, but the entire OST is amazing.
  • The Delgados' The Light Before We Land, used as the opening theme in season 1, is a mesmerizingly melancholy song that perfectly sets the mood of the show. From the same album, Woke From Dreaming, used as an insert song in episode 7, is also a beautiful keeper.
  • Other soundtrack highlights include the serene Ti Amo, the mournful Chiesa, and the furious Tema IV.
  • The second season doesn't get the love it deserves. The main theme of the season playing during the final fight against Pinocchio is particularly moving.
  • The image album has some really good character songs. And leads of with Ragazza Col Fucile.
• The OP from Gunsmith Cats
  • The English dub of the OVA had a new opening song produced by jazz performer Peter Erskine. It's quite good.
• Gun X Sword brings with it the single greatest Leitmotif for a giant robot ever, "Dann of Thursday". Here it is during Dann's first summoning.
  • He Reduces To Memories, one of the most epic fight scene songs ever.
• Hades Project Zeorymer and "Awake! Zeorymer". The slow build-up before the main track kicks in just lampshades how powerful the Zeorymer is.
• Haibane Renmei. Samples! Blue Flow, the ending theme. The unfortunately-named Free Bird, the OP. A Little Plate's Rondo, from the first episode. And Ailes Grises, which plays in the climactic Crowning Moment of Heartwarming. As a rule of thumb, if Kou Ootani does it, you can't go wrong. See Shadow of the Colossus
  • It's awesome having an excuse to yell "PLAY FREEBIRD!!" at cons.
• Inner Light, the 2nd opening to Hajime no Ippo. If any song were to represent all of Shonen, this would be it. An instrumental version has a tendency to appear during many fights throughout the first season, and during the Kimura vs. Mashiba match.
  • The entire soundtrack for the first season is really great, but the most notable are the Rocky-esque Stand Proud, the training montage theme Irradiation and the emotional Yuuzora no Kamihikouki
• Love Tropicana from Haré+Guu is a crazy upbeat dancing song.
  • Something must be said for the funktastic ending song of Haré+Guu Deluxe, Fun Fun and Shout by Sister Mayo.
• Hayate The Combat Butler/Hayate No Gotoku has "Cruel Angel Thesis"
• Hellsing has one of the best soundtracks for any anime ever!
  • Yasushi Ishii is absolutely brilliant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tuIdQwYU4s
  • "World Without Logos", one of the greatest opening themes in anime. Music to kill yourself to.
  • The much better second attempt at a Hellsing series has this to offer...
    • The epic closing of the first OST, Gradus Vita.
  • "Double Crossed Fool" is also of note as an awesome tune, as is the ending song, Shine.
  • Tthe first series had this.
  • And then you have this little gem.
  • Ultimate had great gems too. Target Insight anyone?
    • And this one too. And A Thousand Tangs And this one too. And of course, Magnolia, the second awesomest ending theme in Hellsing Ultimate
    • Letzte Batallion.
• Heroic Age has its opening: Gravitation.
  • The series itself had some absolutely stunning, orchestral music. Give Gekishin and Nodos no Tatakai a listen.
  • Ankoku no Nodosu... aptly described as the "Oh Crap" music, and the apocalyptic Kyouran from the second soundtrack.
• Heroman has demonstrated this, give "Roulette" a listen. The Skrugg's theme is also pretty good.
• The opening ("Falling Down" by Oasis) for Higashi no Eden certainly qualifies as Crowning Music of Awesome. Add it to the wicked-fun opening and you've got one of the best openings for the best new series of 2009.
  • The music that plays in the final episode when Akira intercepts the missiles also counts.
• "I wanna be the very best like no one ever was..."
• The theme tune from Digimon.
  • This from the English dub of Digimon Frontier.
• Technically from the game than from the anime, but "Dear You", the ending theme of the Meakishi-hen arc of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni is incredibly poignant and beautiful, espescially if you've seen Meakishi-hen. An epic version of it can be heard here. (Warning: Actual video contains Meakishi-hen spoilers)
  • The anime itself has both the OPs, which are not only awesome in and of themselves, but are perfectly indicitave of the changing tone of the series; First, the suspenseful and moody Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni and secondly the defiant and hopeful Naraku no Hana.
    • Also, Yurie of Code Speed's remix of Naraku no Hana.
    • Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Full Version
  • After the end of this universe, Dear you--bond is quite possibly the song that will be sung in the Heavenly Jerusalem.
• Honey and Clover. Submitted for your approval in the following clip: first, a poignant piano rendition of the opening theme, and then Suneohair shows us why God gave us ending themes. (Watch in high quality. It makes a difference.)
  • Bonbon Bereppa is so awesomely quirky and unique, not to mention oddly relaxing. Made even better by the fact that it usually is played whenever Morita is in Cloudcuckoolander mode, making it practically his Leitmotif.
• One does not go into a yaoi OVA expecting good music. That is why the main theme of Hyakujitsu no Bara may blow the minds of those unprepared...especially when it's playing over tank battles.
• IGPX, apart from the opening theme by GRANRODEO, has some excellent music provided by the British indie label NINJA TUNE. One of the coolest tracks in the entire series is "Everything Is Under Control (dj KENTARO Remix) by COLDCUT, played in a few of the Toonami-edition episodes, as well as the Season 1 recap music video. There are also some epic orchestrated tracks scattered throughout the uncut version that are, sadly unavailable on CD.
• Initial D's first season opening and ending.
  • EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF MUSIC in Initial D.
• Hanyou, Inuyasha can be liberally translated as "serious ass is about to be kicked, right now".
  • Also the Sesshomaru Theme and the Attack Theme.
  • Sango's Theme is another excellent piece from the series.
  • My Will. An absolutely gorgeous song.
  • The first season opening, CHANGE THE WORLD.
  • And the second opening! I am
  • The fourth opening, Grip! by Every Little Thing.
  • Opening song #6, Angelus.
  • The second ending theme, Fukai Mori.
  • The third ending theme, Dearest. Has several remixes in the series, the most memorable being the beautiful strings instrumental version, which made Kikyo's death even more heart-wrenching.
  • The fourth ending, Every Heart -Minna no Kimochi-.
  • The fifth ending song, Shinjitsu no Uta and the seventh ending song, Come are epic.
• From Hell Girl, we have Jigoku Rock, Jigoku Metal and Jigoku Death Metal. For something more relaxing, you might want to try Jigoku no Kawa Nagare and Ake ni Somaru.
  • And Jigoku Nagashi. Whenever you hear this song in the first few episodes, you know shit just got real for some Asshole Victim.

K - R

• Kaijis OST is one of those very simple ones that still manage to be incredibly awesome. No singing, just great instrumentals. Kaiji Theme, Predicament, Line Of Light and Beginning are the pinnacles.
  • "Wish". Holy shit, when that guitar starts...!
  • Also worth mentioning is the ending theme, Makeinu-tachi no Requiem sung by Hakuryuu. It gets even more awesome when you realise that it's Tonegawa's voice actor.
• Kamichama Karin has a catchy OP by ALI PROJECT called Ankoku Tengoku.
  • Although aparently that song scared some people.
• Most of the soundtrack to Kannazuki no Miko. Especially the OP, Re-Sublimity.
• "Last Regrets", the gorgeous, sweeping opening theme of the Kanon PC game (and the later anime series). All previous conceptions of Kanon being 'just some porn game' are blown away by the Full Chorus version of this song - how could it be with music THIS good.
  • Not to mention the great ending, Kaze no Tadori Tsuko Basho, or Where the Wind Reaches.
• The opening to His and Her Circumstances, a.k.a. Kareshi Kanojo no Jij Å?, a.k.a. Kare Kano. True love does have a theme song!
• Katekyo Hitman Reborn's third opening, despite the rather odd lyrics, manages to be a beautifully upbeat song.
  • There's also the second and seventh OPs, for the same reasons. Also, there's the fifth OP for a somewhat less upbeat example.
  • Then there's "Tsuna Awakens", which when it starts playing, you know Tsuna is about to kick some major ass.
  • The fourteenth ending Gr8 Story is awesome!
  • Not to mention Hibari's Theme, which sounds as awesome as the the Disciplinary Committee leader himself.
• Kaze no Yojimbo's OP, Tokyo by Escargot. The ED, Situation also by Escargot, is also highly listenable.
• The entire soundtrack to Kazemakase Tsukikage Ran. Try the ending theme.
• Sha la la Ayakashi night opening theme of Kekkaishi Nuff said.
  • Get Away From Here.
• Keroro Gunsou has many good openings and endings. Of course, it seems very hard for them to top their very first ending, "Afro Gunsou"!
• Kimagure Orange Road has an absolutely iconic OP - "Night of Summer Side". Besides, it has a really... special PV, with singer Masanori Ikeda even performing pirouettes onstage and playing Badass Driver!
• Ko Beast 2's OP, Yatsu wa BOMBER.
• Both K-On!!'s opening theme and especially its closing theme. There is a reason why the closer and the opener respectively once held the #1 and #2 spots on the Oricon charts on the same week.
  • 8-bit versions of each have been created.
  • Also, "Watashi no Koi wa Hotchikisu" (My Love is a Stapler), insert song in episode 8.
  • Fude Pen Boru Pen was a winner as well, particularly Hikasa's version. Mio is just better for this song.
  • The second ending in season 2, No, Thank You!
  • Light and Fluffy Time.
  • Singing!, the ending song for the movie.
• Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? has many epic themes, including the opening, the ending, and many of the OSTs, like This, 100%, 120%, this memorable gem Ore, Zombie Ssu!, and best of all, Play Seraphim!
  • On the more peaceful side, there's Kumori Nochi Hare. Many of the songs in the soundtrack are Crowning Music material actually.
• The 2nd opening theme to Kurokami: The Animation, tRANCE by GRANRODEO, is 100% pure awesome, with metal-esque riff, some awesome soloing, a hooky chorus, and liberal Engrish ("Death Through Trance" indeed). After the cheesy synth-pop 1st Opening Theme this is downright refreshing, just like "WHAT'S UP PEOPLE" was to Death Note.
  • Then there's the anime's first opening, Sympathizer.
• Kobato.. period put there on purpose, had a great combination of opening an closing, Magic Number gave a great sense of Kobato as a person and Jellyfish no Kokuhaku is something you can sing your kids to sleep to.
• Plenty of examples in Black Butler, including the opening, Monochrome no Kiss, and several of the background themes. Just listen to Si Deus Me Relinquit, Die Hasen!, Shitsuji Tarumono, Urashakai no Chitsujo, and Diabolic Waltz.
  • Lacrimosa, the series' second ending theme, by Kalafina. It's beautifully atmospheric and much more fitting for the series than the first ending.
  • The Slightly Chipped Moon, from the second season. It's Alois' Leitmotif, and it's more haunting than any other song in the soundtrack.
• "Systematic People", the OP for Kurozuka. A fast-paced, intense piece of electronica by Wagdug Futuristic Unity, with a Cameo by the lead singer of Maximum the Hormone. The lyrics are done in English, although between the loud music and the singer's Japanese accent, it's hard to tell. Love It or Hate It, you won't forget it.
• The opening theme to Last Exile. Beautiful cloud age symphony, indeed.
  • The ending theme, too. Aided by Alvis' moeness.
• Lucky Star has Gravity.
  • Here's the full version.
  • Gravity is done as a parody of the group M.O.V.E. M.O.V.E. then covered the parody and made it even -that- much more awesome!
  • Koi no Minoru Densetsu is pure awesome.
    • There's also the slower paced Kaorin's Theme and...yes, Ore no Wasuremono.
  • The Opening (Motekke! Sailor Fuku!) Especially the tear-jerking version used for background music in the end of episode 24 (About 2:35 in - if anyone just has the song itself - that would just be awesome)
    • And here it is on piano. It turns weird Japanese music into a peppy ragtime-type tune, and then at 0:54 it blows you away.
    • Wait, wait, wait! We're not done with covers yet! Do you prefer it Hot Blooded, Burly, Fabulous, or Snarky?
    • Try also the Dance remix version(s).
  • One of the best Image Songs from Lucky Star is "Kenka Yohou no Jikan dayo" by the local Tsundere Kagami Hiiragi. The first seconds will grab your attention because of it's fast-paced rock/techno beat.
    • For more in this vein, try Anime Tenchou!
  • The other Ascended Meme of the series, Kumikyoku Lucky Star Douga is a fitting musical sendoff for the series (as well as being a massive 15 minute Ear Worm). The live concert appropriately used it for the encore.
  • And then there's the epic trumpets-and-drums theme used whenever awesome is occuring (it's called Bun Guster). Also the restful BGM for the MMORPG Konata's always playing (called Filna Fatansy).
• The opening theme to Magic Knight Rayearth is the epitome of this trope. Gets an awesome reprise, lyrics and all, in the last episode when the girls were approaching the final showdown.
  • The duet between Kalafina and ELISA made this song even more epic!
  • Another great song from the MKR OST, though it was never played in the actual anime: Taiyou Yori Atsui Kimochi (Feelings Hotter than the Sun).
• Old-school (i.e. pre-Sailor Moon) Magical Girl show Magical Idol Pastel Yumi has its OP, Kinno Ribbon de Rock Shite
• Martian Successor Nadesico has the theme to Gekiganger 3, Let's Go! Gekiganger 3. "Let's go passion!"
  • Nadesico's own opening theme is pure Engrish win, as well. Title says it all, really.
  • I want to be your number one aka Ruri's song.
  • You get to burning: Ode to Gai mix, Manly Tears in musical form!
• The English version of the Medabots theme song. No, really.
• Although it's obvious by now that you'll skip this paragraph over when you see the title Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch, Kuro no Kyousoukyoku -concerto- is one awesome Villain Song. Especially during the Black Beauty Sisters' Crowning Moment of Awesome. Full version.
  • Also Lady Bat's Ankoku no Tsubasa. It has a catchy tune (in a good way) and a really cool guitar solo. And Lady Bat's voice is cool.
  • As for the heroes, Kizuna and Kodou are pretty impressive battle songs. As Lazy and or cheap the Italian dubbers were towards the production of their dub for this anime they did create one or 2 ear worms! Primarily the group songs Dolce Melodia and Battito D'amore and the solo Stella Preziosa.
• At the climax of Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis, Rock, of all people, ends up saving the day from revolting robots by hitting the ziggurat's self-destruct button. Cue Ray Charles' "I Can't Stop Loving You" playing over the ensuing images of destruction.
  • The soundtrack to metropolis, by Toshiyuki Honda, is just a pile of win. If you like some nice retro jazz, take a listen.
• The opening and ending themes of Minami-ke may be pretty ordinary, if catchy--but the soundtrack itself contains some marvelous pieces. A lot of it is fairly minimalistic, yet full of atmosphere. Yasuhiro Misawa, the composer, obviously listened a lot to Philip Glass. Not bad for a comedy show.
• The first opening and second ending themes of Mirai Nikki definitely qualify for Crowning Music of Awesome, not to mention the OST (although the rest of it has yet to be released).
  • The second opening, Dead END is also very good if you can get pass the fact that its purely Engrish (Not that you'd ever know by listening to it.)
  • And finally, the full second ending, filament is now out to be added to thi list!
  • All the songs in the OST are unnamed, but the songs that played when Yukiteru was fighting Sixth, when Deus told everyone the rules of the Survival Game in the first episode, and whenever all-around badassery is going down are some of the best.
  • Speaking of Deus, we also have his theme, Egoist.
• Mnemosyne has "Alsatia" as it's OP, written by Galneryus, really pumps you up for the all the blood, guts, lesbians and rape.
  • Galneryus also performed the ED, "Cause Disarray". Somehow it's very relaxing...possibly because it means the blood, guts and rape are almost over.
• The Seeds of Time from Monster. There's a reason it shows up so many times. Medium Shot too.
  • And the music for a certain Crowning Moment of Awesome in episode 72.
    • "Those calculations don't add up in the computer inside my head."
  • We'll Be Waiting for the Night "You weren't wrong. What you did back then...and what you're going to do now." Cue Manly Tears.
  • For The Love Of Life is a distinctly haunting song in the context of the series.
  • Grain, the opening.
• The opening theme to Mahou Shoujo Tai Arusu (known as Tweeny Witches in America)
• The whole Mushi-Shi OST. Ame Ga Kuru Niji Ga Tatsu in particular is obscenely beautiful.
• Tears Infection by KAORI, OP to Myself Yourself. Complete with bonus scenes of the anime.
• The opening music to Murder Princess is pure awesomeness. Here is the video.
• "Your Gravitation" from My Bride is a Mermaid. Both the Japanese and the English dub. Oh hell yeah.
• Say whatever you want about Negima!?, but 1000% SPARKING! is perhaps the best thing ever.
  • Similarly, the OP to the original series, Happy Material, was probably the best thing to come out of that anime.
  • It has been remixed something like eight times... this thirty-one girl medley combines nearly all of them.
    • Pactio!! blew them all away.
• NEEDLESS with intros like Modern Strange Cowboy and Scarlet Bomb following up was pretty hard anyway.
  • The BGM sure wasn't lacking with rocking tracks like Chasing Truth, Assailant in the Night, and Slave of Your Ghost.
• Opening music, Ai No Fugue to the otherwise obscure anime Nazca.
• Nodame Cantabile takes places at a music college, so naturally has awesome music all over--if you're into classical, that is. Of special note is the rendition of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue", with many parts played on melodicas. It works very well and actually manages to surpass many other performances in the show in its originality.
  • Some mention must go to the openings and endings, too. Try Tokyo et Paris, a lovely mix of violin and female vocals sung in French, and Allegro Cantabile, which captures the utter joy of mastering and performing music.
• So, so much from Noein, but here's a couple of highlights: "Shangri-La", "Karasu's Theme", "Kakute, Tatakau", "Ryuukihei-tachi no Tatakai"...
• Now and Then, Here and There, a moody series with some very moody music. The music (and images for that matter) in the closing credits is hauntingly beautiful. However, if you base the series on those credits alone, you are in for a rough surprise. — This entry is based on the US dub, just in case there is a difference in music between Japan and the US..
• Ojamajo Doremi has several to choose from.
  • All five openings in particular.
• The OP for Oniisama e..., the magnificent and clasically-inspired Kin no Utsuwa, Gin no Utsuwa by Satomi Takada. Awesome.
• Origin: Spirits of the Past has a particularly awesome opening theme. It kicks off at the 0:50 second mark.
• Ouran High School Host Club's ending theme Shissou is surprisingly badass for a shoujo series, and made the final episode's Crowning Moment of Awesome/Heartwarming even better.
  • The strings version of "Sakura Kiss" is particularly lovely.
• The opening of Outlaw Star "Through the Night".
  • The serene ending themes to the show. Hiro no Tsuki and Tsuki no Ie (the latter being one of the best ending themes ever) adds a calming factor from all the action that happens in the show.
• The opening "King Gainer Over!" and the closing "Can You Feel My Soul" from Overman King Gainer.
  • How about the score written by Kouhei "G Gundam" Tanaka?
• Panty and Stocking With Garterbelt. Might as well put down the entire soundtrack, but particularly the transformation songs.
  • "Champion" is probably one of the best songs on the OST. It's just fun and makes you want to dance to the beat.
  • And "D City Rock".
• Paranoia Agent, scored by Susumu Hirasawa. May seem more like Crowning Music of Paranoia Fuel with the visuals, but awesome nonetheless.
• While on the subject of Satoshi Kon, Susumu Hirasawa's work in Paprika cannot be ignored. See:
  • Meditational Field, the semi-OP
  • The Girl in byakkoya/White Tiger Field, the alternate mix with vocals, or
  • Parade, the song about insanity. It fully conveys this.
• More Crowning Music of Creepy than Awesome really, though it manages to do both, but Perfect Blue Baachiya Mima. If this song does not make you want to crawl under the bed and hide, nothing will.
• Planetes has Dive in the Sky. Also, this beauty.
• Prétear White Destiny
• Princess Tutu deserves a mention for making classical ballet music sound badass especially scenes like this and very much this Careful the last one has spoilers.
  • Also the opening song for Princess Tutu.
• How the hell is Project A-ko not on this list?! Let's see...there's "Morning Light Type A", "Morning Light Type C", "Jealous Eyes", "Spaceship in the Dark", "Explosion", and the all-English songs "In Your Eyes", "Dance Away" (instrumental), and "Follow Your Dream" (instrumental).
• "Aoki Flamme," the first opening theme of Pumpkin Scissors. This was awesome enough to be used in a Touhou video.
• Being an anime with a musical theme, RahXephon's music is all pretty good. However, the crowning song of the series has to be what's generally called "Ayato's kill theme." The actual song is called The Chariot, and if this song starts playing, someone is going to die. Very. VERY. Painfully. Generally any time The Chariot starts up, Ayato has completely forgotten any kindness or compassion for anything at all, and is seriously just going to tear your mech in half with his bare hands now.
  • Solitudes perfectly captures the loneliness and melancholy of the series.
  • La, la Maladie Du Sommeil kicks ass, in a gentle, soothing way.
    • The distorted version of that, Way to the Tune however, is horrifying.
  • Likewise for A Egg of Dream
  • Although the movie may be hit or miss, the theme for the end credits kicks ass ( The Garden of Everything)
  • And then there's the opening...
  • Object Float is VERY much into Hell Is That Noise territory.
• Another Taku Iwasaki classic: the soundtrack to Read or Die. From the opening theme, which is a total homage to 60's spy film music, to the battle remix, to the British Library theme, it's all good. Special mention goes to "The I-Jin Suite" - creepy stalkerish percussion, butt-kicking electronica, and heartbreakingly sad piano and strings, all in one.
• The soundtrack from Read or Die (both the OVA and the TV series) shouldn't be overlooked. There's the opening theme, the glorious, imperialistically bombastic Bring All the Wisdom to Great Britain, and last but not least, the edge-of-your-seat action theme Wings of the Gale.
  • The opening of the TV series is reminiscent of old-school spy and adventure serials in a completely awesome way.
• Fantasia Of The Wind, the utterly beautiful ending credits song to Record of the Lodoss War. Here it is.
  • Both OP songs are just as awesome. Adesso e Fortuna, from the OAV, is a soothing and gentle love song, while Kiseki no Umi from the TV series is pure epic.* Revolutionary Girl Utena has a highly awesome soundtrack, mostly in the songs used during the duels but perhaps the most awesome tracks have to be both versions of Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku/Absolute Destiny: Apocalypse.
  • "Rinbu-revolution" is very awesome, as is the second ending, "Virtual Star Hasseigaku".
    • The first ending, truth is just as awesome.
  • The opening of the movie, "Rose is Rain", sounds both dark and awesome at once.
    • Also from the movie, Toki ni Ai wa from a certain dance scene.
• While the anime has limited appeal, Rosario + Vampire happens to have some of the most awesome opening and ending songs that it makes you feel that they're wasted on mediocre anime.
• Rozen Maiden features Kinjirareta Asobi by ALI PROJECT.
  • And Kanata Kara no Requiem.
  • Madoka. Simply amazing, whether in the original or the acoustic version.
  • Heck, try and find music from Rozen Maiden that does not qualify for this trope. (Hint: You can't.)
• Rurouni Kenshin is a series filled with Crowning Music of Awesome.
  • Trust and Betrayal gives us In Memories: KO-TO-WA-RI.
  • The 3rd Ending Song HEART OF SWORD Yoake Mae is hard-hitting and heart-pounding.
    • Just that theme!? Hell, ALL of the Openings and Endings were awesome! Here they are for your listening pleasure: Sobakasu (1st Opening), 1/2 (2nd Opening), Kimi ni Fureru Dake de (3rd Opening), TACTICS (1st Ending), Namida wa Shitteiru (2nd Ending), the Fourth Avenue Café (4th Ending), It's gonna rain! (5th Ending), 1/3 no Junjou na Kanjou (6th Ending), and Dame! (7th Ending).
  • Reflection's track "Eclipse" will move any listener to tears.
  • Two songs that deserve to be here: The Warrior's Suite, a staple of the Kyoto Arc's CMoAs, and Kimi wa Dare wo Mamotte Iru, which show in the series first CMoA, and sets up a tone for the rest of the story.
    • Also the acoustic guitar, electric guitar and strings versions of Kimi wa Dare wo Mamotte Iru. Brilliant.
  • The theme that plays during the Shinsengumi attack on the Ikedaya: The Wars of the Last Wolves.
  • Shades of Revolution is a pretty awesome track as well.
  • Also, Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu: Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki. Repetitive, but awesome.
  • And Departure (Master Mix), when Kenshin leaves for Kyoto.
  • Heart of the Sunrise, from Reflection
  • The Last Wolf Suite, which could really be said to be the Kyoto Arc theme. It's suitably menacing and builds up the tension into awesomeness. That it's used for some of the best battles is icing on the cake.

S - W

• Even if the synth brings the piece down a bit, Kizuna & Sadame is still the best single to come out of all the Saint Beast OP/ED tracks, and the way the seiyuus voices blend together is downright hypnotic.
• Saki's first ending theme is a masterful blend of cute and awesome.
• The opening and ending themes from Samurai Champloo.
  • The song that plays while Mugen is drowning and flashing back to growing up with Kohza and Mukuro is a Crowning Moment of Heartbreak - doubly so when you understand the hopeful, wistful lyrics.
  • Every time this song is used, it is a Crowning Moment of Awesome, ESPECIALLY the first time it is used in Episode 14 when Kohza realizes that her plan has totally and utterly failed because Mugen is still alive.
  • This song from the end of Episode 11.
  • It even closes on a great piece. YEAH GOOD MORNING.
• Samurai 7 has the freakin' sweet opening "Unlimited".
• Zoku Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei 2 words: Kusou Rumba
  • Meh, Hito Toshite Jiku Ga Bureteiru is way better, especially this version (although Kuusou Rumba does fit the tone of the series better). Actually, pretty much any SZS opening or ending theme belongs here.
  • Ringo Mogire Beam!, Zan's opening.
  • Tthe real Ultimate Crowning Song Of Awesome for Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei is not one of the openings, it's not one of the endings, it's not the rap versions of the openings, it's not that weird song about fishing or something, it's this, the song that shares the series' title, and deserves it.
• The ending of School Days is an excelent example of how music can greatly enhance an entire scene. When Makoto recieves his "Goodbye" message on his cell phone, all sound and action stops for three seconds. Then Kanashimi no Mukou e sets in and almost drowns out the sound of the scene of his violent murder, and it keeps playing throughout the following scenes in which both his LoveInterests try to kill each other.
  • While extremely powerful, not exactly a Music of Awsome. But at this point he might really have deserved it.
    • It can also be considered Crowning Music of Awesome because it was played at that part. Listening to it, you remember what happened while it played, and you remember how Awesome or horrifying this scene is. Hmmm... Do we have a trope for songs being epic for when they are used in works?
• School Rumble. Umi no Otoko wa yo. Short but sweet.
  • The end theme, Onna no Ko Otoko no Ko and SCRAMBLE! are ridiculously catchy. Feel Like A Girl is just heart rending.
  • Girls Can Rock. Also, Sarah Adiemus's image song, Best Friend is a lovely piece.
  • Then there's Sentimental Generation.
• S-Cry-ed: If nothing else the intro is pure awesome.
• Seikon no Qwaser is borderline Hentai, so why watch it (other than the fanservice)? First, because sometimes utterly badass stuff happens, but also because of the music, especially the two opening themes, "Errand" and "Baptize"
• Sengoku Basara anime OP JAP by abingdon boys school. Featuring medieval Japanese infantry dancing in formation!
  • Let's face it, the whole OST is pretty damn awesome!!
• Shikabane Hime Aka's opening theme Beautiful fighter definitely qualifies.
• The anime of Shiki has Kuchizuke by a band called BUCK-TICK.
• The entire Shokojo Sera soundtrack qualifies, but the theme tune, Hana No Sasayaki, outstrips the rest of it by far. Listen and believe.
• In Slayers, the epic instrumental music that plays for the Lord of Nightmares at the end of NEXT (and is later used for Dark Star in TRY and Zanaffar in Revolution). It can be heard here.
  • Also the piece here, starting at 5:40.
  • That little BGM that usually played when Lina powers up her high-end spells, namely, the infamous Dragon Slave.
• So Ra No Wo To's soundtrack by Michiru Ooshima is formidable. Servant du Feu, a slow, melancholic song in French, is probably the theme that stands out, as it is used to score the mecha rampage on the last episode. Also, the OP theme Hikari no Senritsu by Kalafina and the bubbly mood-killer ED Girls, Be Ambitious., better known by fans of the series as AIJOU YUUJOU. And of course AmazingFreakingGrace.
  • Le pont de pierre from the PV. None of the BGM used in the actual anime are as amazing as this.
    • Relique abandonée, Au coin du feu, and Un lumière envoûtante would like to say Hello to you, since you might've forgotten how amazingly beautiful these pieces are.
• Live and Learn being played over the finale of the Sonic X episode Maria's Request Everyone's Request is just as awesome in the anime as it is in the videogame. Unless you're watching the dub 4Kids Macekre. Then it's gone.
• Considering it's done by the same guy who did the Gurren Lagann soundtrack (Iwasaki Taku), the Soul Eater original soundtrack rocks.
  • Both the opening resonance by T.M.Revolution and the first ending I Wanna Be by STANCE PUNKS are very energy-enducing and epic.
  • STRENGTH. Basically anything Abingdon Boys' School touches turns to gold. PAPERMOON is absolutely fantastic too. The lyrics sum up the series quite well.
  • Neither can you forget some of the background music, such as this hindi chanting which only plays during the fights between Shinigami and Asura.
  • The entire OST kicks serious ass, to say the least, inclusive of all of its background music. Here is a superb example.
  • Psychedelic Souljam is an extremely awesome song that plays during the first Soul Resonance, by Maka and Soul of course.
  • Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Have a Nice Dream, similar to Psychedelic Souljam, plays when someone (In this case, Kid) kicks ass.
  • Style by Kana Nishino is a sweet song.
  • The character songs, Mauve-iro no Sympathy (Maka and Soul's), My Star (Tsubaki and Black?Star's), and Sore ga Bokura no Michishirube (Kid, Liz, and Patti's) are also great.
  • Mifune, Masamune, Camelia, Never Lose Myself, Kindertotenlied, 42-42-564, ...this.
  • Konfrontation. It's so epic that they didn't have the vocal parts when it played in-series.
  • Like a Radio. This song is the musical personification of Fetish Fuel.
  • Peace Be With You, Crona's theme, is appropriately sorrowful, yet notably unhinged.
• The first thirty seconds of this song from Sister Princess deserves special mention for Nana Mizuki's singing voice.
• The opening theme for Space Adventure Cobra. Very James Bond-esque.
• The whole soundtrack of Speed Grapher may apply but there are some serious highlights:
  • The closing credits Break the Cocoon by Yorico definitely applies.
  • In the same vein of Samurai Champloo, the show features some convincing chill sounds such as Town Of Immorality.
  • Feast and Ceremony of Immorality stands out for its eerie Ear Worm qualities as well as being one of the rare tracks in anime to use horns instead of electric guitars or piano.
  • And to accompany the series' Crowning Moment of Heartwarming: Paradise.
  • The opening theme: Shutter Speed!
• "Pegasus Fantasy" from Saint Seiya.
• Steamboy has some pretty good music by Steve Jablonsky. Collapse and Rescue has some great buildup with an explosive payoff.
• Though the anime of The Sacred Blacksmith isn't all that great, it's ending theme accentuated by Aki Toyosaki (voice of K-On's Yui) fits it perfectly.
• Samurai Crew from Samurai Gun
• While maybe not fitting the "epic" criteria, Ringo Hiyori The Wolf Whistling Song from Spice and Wolf is certainly awesome, Engrish and all. Plus it's just...so happy.
  • The opening, Tabi no Tochuu, is just as awesome, because even though it sounds sad, the tune is good enough to make you want to play it on an instrument, or sing it yourself.
  • The soundtrack for the second season has several tracks that repeat the same melody with different instruments. "Matsuri wa Owari, Tabi wa Tsuzuki" is the most triumphant and weightiest of them.
  • Hashiru set the mood for a lot of intense chase scenes. Go figure, it means "run".
• "Monochrome", from Star Driver. The other Maiden songs might qualify as well.
  • The show doesn't slack off in the awesome theme department either
• Starship Operators tops off an already superb soundtrack when the full, 5-minute version of the ending theme is played over the end of the last episode, and fits perfectly.
• When Sky Clad no Kansokusha starts playing in the one-to-last episode of Steins;Gate, you already know that the ending is going to be awesome.
• Like the aforementioned Simoun and Kannazuki no Miko, pretty much the entire soundtrack of Strawberry Panic fits here. (Listen to this heartbreaker.) What is it with Yuri shows?
• Sword of the Stranger gives us the fantastic Ihojin no Yaiba.
• Tegami Bachi Reverse gives us the beautiful opening theme Yakusoku, by Suga Shikao.
• Pretty much all of Tenchi Muyo!'s music, but especially the 1st, 2nd and 3rd OVA's opening themes.
  • Tenchi Universe's opening theme already kicks major ass in Japanese, but the English version is just as awesome, if not better. Probably helps that the same artist sings both versions.
  • Tenchi Muyo and Tenchi Universe share quite a bit of the same awesome music composed by Seikou Nagaoka.
  • Of course, Universe also has some of its own, such as these two.
  • Other than its opening, the 3rd OVA also has Dark Shadow Mystery, Genealogy of Jurai, Ryoko vs Z, and probably the most epic song from the 3rd OVA, Planet of Puzzle.
  • Tenchi Muyo! GXP has this gem.
  • Also GXP's opening.
• Tenchi in Tokyo's opening is quite catchy.
• Tekkaman Blade 1st and second Openings.
  • "Reincarnation" from Tekkaman Blade 2
  • And the theme of Tekkaman Evil, Masquerade.
• The opening theme to The Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye is pretty kickass.
• Getsumei Fuuei, closing credits song from The Twelve Kingdoms (Juuni Kokki), though it gets part of its affect from the lyrics and the context of the show.
• The World God Only Knows has its 2 openings God Only Knows and A Whole New World God Only Knows, both of which are sung completely in English.
  • A good majority of the soundtrack also qualifies particularly the theme that plays whenever a conquest is made.
• It might be becoming almost as repetitive as the stop-watch theme 'Melodie' is in Noir, but in Tiger and Bunny the theme associated with the murder of Barnaby's parents is a very nice, very eerie piece. And then there's all of the OPs and EDs which are gloriously pop-y.
• From A Certain Magical Index, all four openings (PSI-missing, masterpiece, No buts! and See visionS) are great songs.
  • Also The Witch Hunting Pope & Index power up music Jellyfish, both are awesome.
  • Majo Kari no Ou, Overdrive, and Break Through all deserve mention.
    • For that matter, Gensou Goroshii/Imagine Breaker deserves just mention too, being the origin and base for Break Through.
  • The second season has some downright brutal battle theme songs: this, this and Accelerator's new theme song. Who says anime fights and trance music can't go well together?!
  • The second OST pact gives us this, this and this. Also, this supplies our daily dose of Soundtrack Dissonance when Accelerator awakens and punches Kihara so hard the man BURNS UP IN THE FUCKING ATMOSPHERE WHILE FLYING AWAY.
  • The Spin-Off, A Certain Scientific Railgun, has its own in its first OP, only my railgun.
    • How about LEVEL5 -judgelight- and late in autumn?
    • From the OVA, we got future gazer while from the game we got way to answer.
    • Electric Chase is the perfect theme song of Mikoto's Tsundere side, so much so that it was reused in the second season of Index!
• "Daisuki da yo", the opening theme of To Heart: Remember my Memories is very beautiful, the best thing about this Contested Sequel.
• Orange from Toradora! can become heartwarming just from the sheer atmosphere of the song. Even more if you juxtapose the show's grand finale with it
  • Orange citrus mix gets special mention for taking that song and giving it a slightly more rock-y and much more awesome feel.
  • The Holy Night song from Episode 19. Not only a really happy cute song but also a very heartwarming moment in the show.
  • Also, Lost My Pieces; is one of the purest musical definitions of bittersweet.
• Trigun opening, "H.T." and "Gunlock Overdrive", the theme of the Gungrave game series along with the anime OP, "Family", all composed by Tsuneo Imahori. Gotta love those trumpets.
  • Also, "B.G.", which is Grave's "theme", usually means "Ass is about to be kicked and stuff will blow up."
  • "Scattered Rain".
  • Trigun: "Big Bluff".
• Broken Wings, the ending to Trinity Blood. Done almost entirely in Surprisingly Good English, with lyrics that qualify as a Tear Jerker.
• Kaze no Machi He in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, will make any listener misty-eyed.
• Something pretending to be Tsukihime. The opening theme The sacred moon is awesome, and the soundtrack is filled with gems such as Justice or Destiny
• The opening theme of Umineko no Naku Koro ni manages amazing music that is incredibly grandiose without sounding kitschy.
  • The anime keeps up this standard, with another opening by Akiko Shikata, singer of the above, which uses most of the same elements to similar, yet somehow even more awesome effect. And then there's the anime ending, a dramatic male vocal on the JAM Project level backed by a dramatic chorus that sounds like an unused duel song from Utena. Even better than it sounds.
    • Anyone who has played the original visual novel (see Video Games) knows that pretty much the entire soundtrack is nothing but Crowning Music of Awesome. To bring up one that isn't covered here or there, Beato's Image Song, "Chain" is just sublime.
    • OH DESAIYAH
  • This could be extended to the entire When They Cry series, as both Higurashi no Naku Koro ni anime openings are made of pure win.
• The Vampire Knight soundtrack is even more gothic and melancholy as the series. If Forbidden Act and Uncertainty don't haunt you, what will?
  • Then there's the two closing tracks provided by Kanon Wakeshima, particularly the first, still doll. Her girlish voice makes them almost delightfully evil.
• There's 2 reasons Filipinos love Voltes V. The opening with its strong vocals and martial feel, and the closing which is melancholic yet oozes machismo.
• VS Knight Lamune & 40 Fire had a really kick-ass opening theme.
• Wandering Son's ending theme, "For You" by Rie Fu, is a mostly quiet song with Surprisingly Good English (not so surprising when you consider the singer was raised in Maryland and went to college in the UK). It's rather heart-warming, is quite relaxing and fits the Slice of Life feel of the series.
• If one ignores the bizarre lyrics, "Odoru Akachan Ningen", the ending theme for Welcome to The NHK, is a fine example of a Theme Music Power-Up. The song's power can be felt in the final episode.
  • Also after watching the entire series, one cannot help but feel EXTREMELY uplifted by the second ending song "Modokashii Sekai no Ue de"
  • The opening theme Puzzleis a very uplifting song almost as though it were trying to soften how messed up the characters are.
• Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise had music composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto who also composed music for films such as The Last Emperor and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (which he also starred in).
• Witch Hunter Robin: Taku Iwasaki again pulling out more awesome, with both the vocal and guitar versions of "Shell". Also, Kyrie and Flame, both extremely badass.

X-Z

• X 1999 (the anime version) has some wonderful music. Try listening to Sadame/Destiny without getting a lump in your throat. Managed it? Take a look at the manga/anime series/movie, then listen again.
  • The earlier anime movie, while sucky, still managed some awesome in the arguably emo X-Japan song Forever Love.
  • Ex Dream, the OP fo the TV series, is no slouch either.
• Xam'd: Lost Memories gives us the original opening, SHUT UP AND EXPLODE and the TV opening, BACK ON MY FEET, both performed by the wonderfully named BOOM BOOM SATELLITES.
• Yami No Matsuei/Descendants of Darkness' first opening here.
• Ashita from Yasashii Jikan.
• Yu Yu Hakusho has a few awesome tracks: Tatakai no Toki, Sensui's' Lair, Tough, Daichi, Subete ga Owatta, and Time Limit
  • Taiyo ga Mata Kagayaku Toki
  • And Yuusuke Powering Up.
  • As well as that nameless but still heartbreaking little melody.
  • Unbalance na Kiss wo Shite is one of the most known songs from the series, besides the OP.
    • Speaking of which, here it is.
    • And here's the unspeakably awesome Megumi Ogata cover.
• Mystic Eyes may be about the only song in Vision of Escaflowne that Yoko Kanno didn't have a part in, but that doesn't mean it still isn't cool.
• The Voltron theme.
• Witchblade — %2BOST pick any. Especially the main battle theme (Witchblade OST). "XTC" is at its best with video part of the opening, but is good even on its own.
• Wedding Peach has the second opening, Wedding Wars. The full version was played in the final episode.
• Fly, Fly, Fly! Quer a paz que o inimigo destrói! Fly, Fly, Fly. Um pouco de mago e muito de herói! (Dragon Quest: Dai No Daibouken/Fly, o Pequeno Guerreiro)
• --Side Birdy--, and its derivative work wonder woman, both deserve a mention, as the theme song for whenever Birdy is about to perform a Crowning Moment of Awesome, such as punching her way into a spaceship's bridge. From outside the hull.
• From xxxHolic, we have the catchy while still somewhat creepy 19sai, a song whose sound fits perfectly with the show it starts off.
• Space Battleship Yamato — so awesome the Japanese Naval Self Defense Force band regularly plays it at concerts to this day!
• Yumekui Merry opened to the incredibly badass "Daydream Syndrome".
• On the surface Zoids Chaotic Century doesn't look like the kind of anime that would have a good soundtrack, but it does. In fact, it's got a great soundtrack. Just listen to the main theme, this, and this. You can thank Robert Etoll for such awesome music.
  • It also contains some excellent villain music.
• Zero no Tsukaima 's Gandaaruvu is ridiculously awesome. It's quite saddening that throughout the whole first season it's only used twice, and once during a totally irrelevant moment.
  • Also, there's 'I Say Yes', which appears as (Season 2's opening. And then there's the accoustic version,) which play just before and during quite possibly the greatest combination of One-Man Army, Last Stand, You Shall Not Pass, Self-Destructive Charge and Dying Moment of Awesome outside of Fate Stay Night's Archer v Berserker.
• Zoids: New Century Zero has some pretty good tracks too, such as "Strike Lazer Claw" and "Zero Jager", as well as the opening/ending theme ("NO FUTURE") in instrumental and TV versions.

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