Anime songs are my driving force.
～It would be a shame to look at it through prejudiced glasses!～

Hello. This is Kawaguchi from the Quality Control Department.

Do you usually listen to music?
Everyone has different favorite genres, but I often listen to anime songs. I like anime, but I like anime songs more than that.

There are many different situations in which I listen to anime songs, but for example, listening to them while working out at the gym can help me push myself, or when I'm tired or unmotivated at work, listening to them can help me get through it. For me, anime songs nourish the soul.

Previously, we had the band members introduce a little bit about anime songs, but we were only able to touch on the basics, so this time I'd like to share my own thoughts on the greatness of anime songs.

What are anime songs?

Anime songs, commonly known as "anisongs", refer to theme songs, insert songs, and image songs from anime works. First, to help you understand what anisong are, I'll briefly explain the different types of anisong.

Hero Song

This genre features military-sounding titles and passionate singing of heroes' special moves. In the 1960s and 1970s in particular, there were many anime songs that used boy choirs, and the most famous works would be Mazinger Z and Ultraman.

Tie-up song

The song was not originally created for the anime, but was decided on later as a tie-up due to the desire to use the song or the connection between the production company and the record company.

Radio Song

This genre often includes onomatopoeia such as "kyun kyun" (heart pounding) and "heart pounding" and has female voice actors chiming in to the main vocals, and is often used in moe (cute) anime and games.

Voice actor song

This refers to anime songs in which the main vocals are sung by the voice actors of the actual anime characters. Especially in recent years, as anime voice actors have become idols, voice actor songs have become extremely popular.

My thoughts on the three charms of anime songs

The evolution of anime songs

In the 1970s, certain artists such as Sasaki Isao and Mizuki Ichiro sang most anime songs, but in the 1980s, starting with Anri's "CAT'S EYE" and TM NETWORK's "Get Wild," more mainstream artists began to sing anime songs, and this trend has remained unchanged into the 1990s.

Since 1995, voice actress Megumi Hayashibara has been in charge of the anime songs for which she appears, and has produced a large number of hits. From this time until now, voice actresses have gradually evolved as artists, and have established a popularity and status that is comparable to that of Japanese artists who sing pop and rock songs.
Furthermore, because Japanese anime is recognized around the world, the market is also global, and there are now a growing number of voice actors and anime song artists holding events and live shows overseas.

A worldview conveyed in 90 seconds

The opening and ending of an anime is fixed at 90 seconds. This is said to be because the broadcasting units are "15 seconds" and "30 seconds". In fact, the main part is usually "22 minutes", and the opening and ending are "3 minutes", or 180 seconds, so the net time is 25 minutes. And 5 minutes are set aside for commercials.

In order to express the world of the anime through song within these 90 seconds, it is necessary to make the song easy to understand, with a clear beginning, development, twist and conclusion, and varying tempo.
In short, it is clear that anime songs inevitably end up with catchy melodies.

Catchy

When I was a teenager, I loved listening to music so much that I spent almost all my pocket money on CDs (anime songs, J-POP, whatever). When I look back at the music I used to listen to, there was one thing they all had in common: whether it was catchy or not.
For example, it means making sure the character has some easy-to-understand elements, such as "coolness like a hero" or "cuteness like an idol."

As someone who grew up listening to anime songs from the 90s, modern anime songs are just as catchy and easy to understand as they were back then, and they always feel pleasant to listen to.

My top 3 recommended voice actors and anime song artists

Next, we will introduce three artists who are recommended for listening to anime songs!

Mizuki Nana

Nana Mizuki "THE MUSEUM III" King Records (2018/1/10) ( Amazon )

Their songs are characterized by their fast tempos, frequent use of arrangements called symphonic rock (strings + rock), and a sense of speed. They are versatile and can sing a wide range of songs, from hard rock to cute pop. The change in tempo from A-melody to B-melody to chorus and the catchy melody line are perfect for the world of anime and games.
Her live performances are also highly acclaimed. In 2013, she was awarded the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's New Artist Award in the Popular Entertainment category of the Arts Encouragement Prize for her achievements. This is a national recognition of her great achievement of breaking down the barriers of the voice acting world and bringing it to the general public, despite the label of being a voice actress.
Her live shows always feature extravagant performances and vehicles, overwhelming the audience. In the opening of her summer tour in 2014, she appeared on a propeller plane, stunning the fans. (See the introduction about 30 seconds in.)

LiSA

LiSA “LiSA BEST -Way-” SACRA MUSIC (2018/5/9) ( Amazon )

He is a hugely popular anime song artist both in Japan and overseas.
Her songs are often rock-style and sharp, and her punchy singing voice and live performances are appealing, as they are not lost in the power and depth of the sound. She has not only appeared at anime festivals, but also at rock festivals such as ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL and COUNTDOWN JAPAN, and has many rock fans. Therefore, her live shows are a mix of anime fans and rock fans, and it is fun to watch them come together and get the venue excited.

Kalafina

Kalafina “THE BEST “Blue”” SME (2014/7/16) ( Amazon )

A vocal group of three women (one left in April 2018, and they are currently performing as a two-member group). Rather than having fixed positions for lead melody and harmony, their style is characterized by the three members rapidly taking turns to take the lead melody.
With her outstanding vocal ability and chorus work, she can sing anything from ballads to rock, and her unique worldview also incorporates elements of classical and operatic styles.
... Having said that, it's hard to explain it well in words, so I highly recommend you give it a listen.

Anime songs have always been my driving force.

Unfortunately, I think that anime songs are still viewed through biased glasses in Japan. They are seen as one level below J-POP, with comments like "Oh, it's a voice actor's song," or "Oh, it's an anime song," and so on.
However, I think that if you have the opportunity to experience their passion, you will be able to remove those prejudices. Moreover, Japanese anime is seen overseas as a part of Japanese culture. It is no exaggeration to say that "anime songs," which are essential to express the worldview of anime, are also a part of Japanese culture. As a Japanese person, it is definitely worth experiencing them at least once!
I hope that the day will come when anime songs will be recognized as purely good things, without any unnecessary filters.

I listen to anime songs in all sorts of situations. I also go to live performances of voice actors and anime song artists about once a month, pouring all my energy into the performance and absorbing the excitement I get from the performance to recharge myself.

Anime songs have always been, and will continue to be, a source of spiritual nourishment and energy for me.
In other words, it is the driving force!