For me, it’s Gintama. It’s iconic, easily identifiable, and makes sense on a musical level. On the last point, I’m not knowledgeable on the theory, but the Gintama soundtrack, in general, is enjoyable to listen too. If I have to pick one favorite song there, it’s Katsura’s theme.

  • ReluctantlyZen@ani.socialEnglish
    3·
    7 hours ago

    Gonna keep it to 1 per composer, otherwise this list would be full of Kajiura Yuki and Kensuke Ushio.

    • Garden of Sinners: Kajiura Yuki’s magnum opus in my opinion. Great themes, awesome atmospherics. It wouldn’t be Garden of Sinners without her music.
    • Attack on Titan s1-3 : Sawano’s magnum opus imo. The definition of hype soundtracks for me. Never fails to get me fired up during the show. It’s a shame that he was replaced for the Final Seasons.
    • Liz and the Blue Bird: I dearly love this style of Kensuke Ushio combined with the amazing orchestral piece that the band plays. Kensuke brings such a fragile sound that works really well with the themes of the anime and then the orchestral piece ties the entire thing together. I can’t help but cry during the oboe solo.
    • NieR Automata ver 1.1a: cheating a bit because I love the game’s soundtrack so much and they pretty much straight up used it here.
    • Ghost in the Shell (1995): I don’t think it needs much explanation.
    • Violet Evergarden: Evan Call’s use of wind instruments is incredible in this soundtrack. It works so well.

    Honorable mentions:

    • Monogatari series: soooo many amazing themes
    • Chainsaw man Reze Arc soundtrack: Kensuke Ushio again. Mostly because of the pool scene. The rest is really good too though
    • A Silent Voice: another Kensuke Ushio one. That one scene… Fuck dude
    • Apothecary Diaries
    • Terror in Resonance: mainly for the tracks with Arnor Dan
    • Madoka Magica: Kajiura Yuki
    • Fate series (ufotable run): Heaven’s Feel in particular. Incredible work by Kajiura Yuki again. My main issue with Zero and UBW soundtracks is that the theming isn’t that strong.
    • Fate/Stay Night (Deen version): for all its faults, the soundtrack is actually quite good and is kinda why F/Z and F/UBW have gone down in my ranking for soundtracks due to the themes.
    • Frieren: Another good Evan Call one, but Violet edges this one out because it has stronger themes imo.
    • Land of the Lustrous: great arrangements. Using different arrangements for different groups isn’t necessarily new, but it’s executed brilliantly here.
    • Clannad: the dango theme never fails to make me cry
    • Cowboy Bepop
    • Your Name
    • Yuru Camp: I love the simple and relaxing guitar soundtrack
    • Crank@ani.socialEnglish
      2·
      5 hours ago

      Kensuke Ushio never misses. In addition to what you’ve already mentioned, OSTs from Agents of the Four Seasons, Devilman Crybaby, Journal with Witch, Dandadan were all great too. He’s so talented. His involvement with any anime project alone is enough for me to check out it out.

      As for the others, that I haven’t seen mentioned yet, I really like Jujutsu Kaisen S2 OST. It has an interesting mix of electric, rock, and classical themes. Stuff like No Hesitation is fantastic