Let's get out of gaming for a moment, shall we? Cowboy Bebop once again cleared through its run on Adult Swim's late night action block, now known as Toonami. But next week the show will not be starting from the beginning-- in fact, it won't be airing at all. It's taking a hiatus for a little while. A shame as I could watch episodes of Cowboy Bebop over and over again (in moderation, of course) as they air on TV. It's a series that is atypical from your average anime; so much so that I have shown it to people who ordinarily don't care for Japanese animation shows and they absolutely adored it.
This list of five depicts my personal favorite episodes from the 26 session run of Cowboy Bebop. There will be spoilers, so be aware if you have yet to watch this show. This includes pictures, so for the first time on SPC, this story will follow the break.
Showing posts with label yoko kanno. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoko kanno. Show all posts
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Yoko Kanno's Newest Soundtrack - Kids on the Slope
Yoko Kanno, you may know by now, is my favorite composer. It's really something as most of the anime she writes music for doesn't interest me. Well, she's at it again, penning the music for a series directed by the man behind Cowboy Bebop-- an anime I actually do adore. The series is called Kids on the Slope, a coming of age tale of teenage jazz musicians. That's enough of a description of the plot. No doubt you realize that the soundtrack must be mostly jazz. Quite perceptive of you! I'd like to share some of my favorite tracks of the show. Some are actually covers of popular jazz tunes:
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Top Five Yoko Kanno Soundtracks
Last Thursday I listed Yoko Kanno as my personal favorite composer out of a list of five. Now we take her works and put those in a top five. There's many of her soundtracks to choose from, so which five will be the bee's knees? Pardon the old-timer expression, by the way. Anywho, let's find out.
5) Visions of Escaflowne
When you put on the track, Dance of Curse, you're in for a wild ride. The theme is a chorus-based affair that will have you getting goosebumps on all parts of your body. The anime itself is set in medieval times. Instead of fighting it out with swords and shields, humongous robots are used. Yoko Kanno shows her stuff yet again on this our first entry of the top five.
4) Brain Powerd
From one show about medieval mechanical fighting robots to another, Brain Powerd (note the missing "e" in Powerd) is a show about Gundam-like robots duking it out for supremacy. The soundtrack itself has a whimsical feel to it, mostly made up of orchestral and symphonic pieces. My favorite of which is Power of the Light as shown in the examples.
3) Wolf's Rain
Gravity is one of Yoko Kanno's most popular themes, and for good reason-- it's a wholly beautiful piece performed by Maaya Sakamoto. There's a slew of wonderful pieces to be mentioned, but I could only choose three to represent the soundtrack as a whole. From Run, Wolf Warrior, Run to Cloud 9, there's something for everybody in the Wolf's Rain score.
2) Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
In the all digital world of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, ghosts can switch in and out between bodies or shells with a simple link-up. The music is heavily computerized featuring excellent rock riffs, ballads, and jazz pieces. As you can hear from the three examples provided, there's plenty of variety in the GitS soundtrack.
1) Cowboy Bebop
My first run-in with Yoko Kanno's music was Cowboy Bebop, but that's not the reason this soundtrack is number one. It flawlessly mixes a multitude of genres and styles for one essential soundtrack. There's the token jazz, but there's also funk, heavy metal, country, blues, rock, pop, and much more.
5) Visions of Escaflowne
When you put on the track, Dance of Curse, you're in for a wild ride. The theme is a chorus-based affair that will have you getting goosebumps on all parts of your body. The anime itself is set in medieval times. Instead of fighting it out with swords and shields, humongous robots are used. Yoko Kanno shows her stuff yet again on this our first entry of the top five.
4) Brain Powerd
From one show about medieval mechanical fighting robots to another, Brain Powerd (note the missing "e" in Powerd) is a show about Gundam-like robots duking it out for supremacy. The soundtrack itself has a whimsical feel to it, mostly made up of orchestral and symphonic pieces. My favorite of which is Power of the Light as shown in the examples.
3) Wolf's Rain
Gravity is one of Yoko Kanno's most popular themes, and for good reason-- it's a wholly beautiful piece performed by Maaya Sakamoto. There's a slew of wonderful pieces to be mentioned, but I could only choose three to represent the soundtrack as a whole. From Run, Wolf Warrior, Run to Cloud 9, there's something for everybody in the Wolf's Rain score.
2) Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
In the all digital world of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, ghosts can switch in and out between bodies or shells with a simple link-up. The music is heavily computerized featuring excellent rock riffs, ballads, and jazz pieces. As you can hear from the three examples provided, there's plenty of variety in the GitS soundtrack.
1) Cowboy Bebop
My first run-in with Yoko Kanno's music was Cowboy Bebop, but that's not the reason this soundtrack is number one. It flawlessly mixes a multitude of genres and styles for one essential soundtrack. There's the token jazz, but there's also funk, heavy metal, country, blues, rock, pop, and much more.
Too Good Too Bad
The EGG and YOU
Slipper Sleaze
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The EGG and YOU
Slipper Sleaze
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And there you have it-- my top five favorite soundtracks from my favorite composer, Yoko Kanno. Have anything you'd like to share with me? Give me a ring in the comments section!
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