I love music; and by extension: film music. So for the past couple of years I’ve been listening with great pleasure to the top xx list of film and series music of the Dutch classic music radio station NPO Klassiek. Due to success they’ve stretched the list to 200 positions in 2024, but I believe it was 50 and 100 positions in earlier years.
As a lover of animation I’m always curious how my favorite medium is doing. And I’m not disappointed with 20* positions covered by animation.
Author’s Note: *The asterisk is there because of Thunderbirds and Nightmare before Christmas. Not sure if Thunderbirds puppetry is technically animation but it’s nice to think of it as a form of animation because it’s animating (moving) an otherwise motionless puppet.
Nightmare before Christmas is a stop motion film, so no counterarguments from my side here.
The entire list of animation in the top 200 of 2024:
- Lion King (1994)
- How to train your dragon (2010)
- Up (2009)
- Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- Toy Story (1995)
- Shrek (2004)
- Thunderbirds (1964-1966)
- The Little Mermaid (1989)
- The Prince of Egypt (1998)
- Pocahontas (1995)
- Spirited Away (2001)
- Jungle Book (1967)
- Frozen (2013)
- Nightmare before Christmas (1993)
- Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
- Ratatouille (2007)
- Aladdin (1992)
- Finding Nemo (2003)
- Kung Fu Panda (2008)
- Incredibles (2004)
This a fun and understandable list which highlights the important films of the voters as they grew up. I noticed a couple of things here:
- Top contender is (of course) The Lion King (1994) on position 16. It was a formative film for many people (like me) that grew up in the Nineties. One of the films that got me into animation. It’s opening is still a visual spectacle to behold.
- Many, many Disney/Pixar films. Access to non-western animation was limited for a long time in The Netherlands, so it’s no surprise that … (see point 3)
- The only anime films on the list are from director Hayao Miyazaki: Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. This is understandable but I received the impression that the DJ’s were surprised and not really familiar with Joe Hisaishi’s work for Miyazaki / Studio Ghibli.
- Thunderbirds is, in terms of age, the outlier. But there was a rerun in the Ninetees which probably made it popular with the voters. I’m not counting Jungle Book in terms of age since it’s a Disney Classic.
It’s an interesting list which shows the voters were (assumingly) born in the 1980’s or later. Otherwise the films from the Disney Renaissance era would not be so prominent on the list.
I grew up in this time period as well. But I’ve only stopped watching animation for a couple years during my late Teens and early Twenties. And after my return to the medium I watched so many fun films and series that I can confidently put out a list with good contenders for this list, the Film Music Top 200.
Animation is such a broad term and covers a lot. From traditional 2D hand drawn animation to 3D digital animation and even Stop Motion. Over the past 10 months I’ve been collecting titles from films and series with excellent soundtracks. My initial goal was to compose a list of 20 films and series which I like and have a great soundtrack. If I’d known which rabbit hole I went into I might have stopped. Because after finding all these titles the followup step is to actually listen to the OST and decide if it should go on the list. So I made a little change to my list. But first an introduction of a couple interesting composers who are, regardless of what you think of the medium, interesting to watch.
Composers to watch / listen to
To preface my list I would like to point out a couple individuals that appear on the list. As I’m doing this by ear (pun intended), I think these are the ones that (at least to me) should definitely be on the Top 200 list.
- Joe Hisaishi: Mostly known for his successful collaboration with Hayao Miyazaki. According to this video he sounds like an impressionist composer similar to Debussy; but in a Japanese way. Which makes it sound relaxing and like jazz. To most ears Hisaishi amplifies emotion to the visual craft of the Ghibli animators by adding coloring with music. It sounds like a classic and nostalgic music trip. For a good indication I recommend Hisaishi’s best of Playlist on Youtube. No matter which Miyazaki/Hisaishi work you choose to listen too. All come highly recommended.
- Hiroyuki Sawano: Sawano composes music which is (at times) probably the most Zimmer-esk. So if you’re looking for that I highly recommend one of his scores. Sawano is commonly known for his work on: Attack on Titan; multiple Gundam series & films; Seven Deadly Sins; Kill La Kill; Solo Leveling. Sawano understands epic and how to raise a scene with the power of music while simultaneously compose some touching ballads and catchy popsongs to support his scores. Watch his Project[emU] playlist on Youtube for a couple of live suites which give a nice breadth of his work.
- Evan Call: American composer working in Japan since 2012. Evan Call is known for his work on shows like Violet Evergarden, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and My Happy Marriage. From small piano only pieces to big symphonic scores, Evan’s music layers in additional emotions to some beautiful animations. Since the rest will be coming below and there’s not a simple mix playlist available you can watch the My Happy Marriage interview and listen for a sample of his work which plays in the background.
- Kenji Kawai: Maybe the biggest name on the list who people don’t recognise. But I’m giving you a bunch of titles which you might recognise: Ring, Ghost in the Shell, IP Man, Patlabor, Ranma ½, Mob Psycho 100, Devilman & multiple Gundam series. What little I know of his work is that’s highly atmospheric. But that’s based on the few things I watched. On his Youtube channel you can watch a 2007 concert which gives an indication of his work. I’m under the impression his work is not commonly available on streaming due to music rights legal stuff, but I could also be wrong and it’s just region locked.
The List
Before I show you the list, it’s important that I make one final remark. In favor of visibility of films and shows, this list evolved to a 20 suggestions list. It contains 20 projects which have, in my opinion, great soundtracks and deserve to be on a best off list. This means that a couple titles which would be on my personal preferred list are removed. Simply because they already have a big enough audience to be on the list. These are Thunderbirds; Howl’s Moving Castle; Prince of Egypt; The Lion King.
So without further ado: Here are 20 films & series I think have some of the best & memorable soundtracks. In no particular order.
Author’s Note: If possible, the films & series are bundled if the composer is the same.
Thanks for reading; I hope you find some fun memories and/or recommendations to watch and listen.
| Number 1: Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) – Series Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) – Film Based on the comic created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger Director: Multiple Studio: WB animation studios Music by: Shirley Walker (initially based on the works of Danny Elfman) |
Batman: The Animated Series is a multiple award winning animated show which had a great impact on western animation. Well written scripts in a dark & gritty world. Portraying adult themes supported by an amazing voice cast and an OST played by a live Orchestra1.
The history and love behind the creation of this series is truly inspiring. Which is why it lead to perhaps the greatest Batman film ever created (Mask of the Phantasm).
Notes:
- One of the first in the west: Thank you Steven Spielberg (timestamp 1:19:22)
| Number 2: Your Name (2016) – Film Japanese title: Kimi no Na Wa Director: Makoto Shinkai Studio: Comix Wave Films Music by: Radwimps |
Your Name is a modern anime classic. It did what few films, bar the ones from Hayao Miyazaki, manage to do: reach an international audience so large that a lot of people were talking about it. Even now it scores really high on Rotten Tomatoes (98/95%). The story is about two teens who switch places /bodies. With all shenanigans that follow suit. One of my favorite films which I watch once every year. Beautifully animated and emotionally satisfying to watch; Your Name is also supported with a fun and memorable soundtrack. Plus: some of the songs are also available in English.
| Number 3: Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999) – Series Cowboy Bebop: Knocking on Heaven’s Door (2001) – Film Created by: Shinichiro Watanabe Director: Multiple Studio: Sunrise Music by: Yoko Kanno |
Arguably the biggest well-known classic on this list. Cowboy Bebop was one of the shows that “brought Anime to the west”. It follows a group of bounty hunters (in space) while they try to scrounge up enough money to keep doing what they’re doing. The legacy of Cowboy Bebop is not to be underestimated. The show has a great appeal because of its thematics and execution. Coupled with a sensational OST I cannot recommend this show enough if you like space, westerns, noir and good jazz. My favorite episode (5) “Ballad of Fallen Angels” is a masterclass in storytelling and in my opinion a must see. The film: Knocking on Heaven’s Door, can best be judged as an extended episode of the show. Both the English and Japanese cast are excellent, so pick what you like.
| Number 4: Violet Evergarden (2018) – Series Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll (2019) – Film Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020) – Film Adapted from the Light Novel of Kana Akatsuki and illustrated by Akiko Takase Director: Multiple Studio: Kyoto Animation Music by: Evan Call |
Author’s Note: Unfortunately I could not find a Japanese trailer with English subtitles.
Violet Evergarden is a beautifully anime about a young ex-soldier who, after the war ends, becomes an Auto Memory Doll tasked with writing letters that can connect people. As the series progresses we see her develop from a person who never learned to express herself emotionally to one who is able to translate other people’s emotions on paper in a profound way.
It’s recommended to watch the series before watching the films.
| Number 5: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s end (2023-2024) Japanese title: Sousou no Frieren (Sōsō no Furīren) Season 2 is announced Adapted from the manga written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe Director: Multiple Studio: Madhouse Music by: Evan Call |
After the party of heroes defeated the Demon King, the elf mage Frieren lives on. This series is about life from the perspective of a long-lived elf after peace returns to the world. Or, as Youtuber Marco put it in this video: “it’s a conversation on loss and time and how time is spent.”
It is still the highest rated anime on My Anime List (with a big 0.21 point lead at time of writing); Frieren is beautifully complex in the execution of the simple premise as stated above. Which makes it no surprise that I’m still thinking about this show.
| Number 6: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) – Film Adapted from the Lupin 3rd manga by Monkey Punch. Director: Hayao Miyazaki Studio: TMS Entertainment Music by: Yuji Ohno |
The Castle of Cagliostro follows gentleman thief Lupin the Third (or Lupin III) as he tries to solve the mystery of Cagliostro after finding counterfeit bills from the casino he robbed.
This is Hayao Miyazaki’s debut as a feature film director and in many ways special. According to some it’s a perfect movie, but I see it as a very entertaining & satisfying watch. A film where you can see a lot of things in development which Miyazaki would use in later films.
| Number 7: Ghost in the Shell (1995) – Film Ghost in the Shell: Innocence (2004) – Fillm Based on the manga by Masamune Shirow Director: Mamoru Oshii Studio: Production I.G. Music by: Kenji Kawai |
If you like The Matrix and Blade Runner this is the film for you. I haven’t watched Innocence yet, but the 1995 film is a great contemplative film about what our world is real in a technologically advanced world. Cyberpunk but not in a way that is not very far away from the state of the world in 2025.
The film boasts a great, sometimes eerie atmosphere which is enhanced by the music.
| Number 8: Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003) – Film Directed by: Kazuhisa Takenouchi Creation supervised by Leji Matsumoto Studio: Toei Animation Music by: Daft Punk |
The entire film is just one big music video for the Daft Punk album Discovery, but it is great Sci-Fi nonetheless.
The film has no spoken words, only the music and a few sound effects. It follows a pop music band from another world which is abducted and taken to Earth where they are forced to perform, disguised as humans. Link to the alblum playlist
| Number 9: The Adventures of TinTin:The Secret Of The Unicorn (2011) – Film Adapted from the comics by Hergé Director: Steven Spielberg Studio: Multiple Music by: John Williams |
A fantastic adventure film blending motion capture and animation. If you’re not familiar with the TinTin comics or the 1991 animated show, you’re missing out on a young reporter (TinTin), who travels around the world to investigate real and/or fantastical cases. And sometimes punches evil men in the face. Supported by a diverse cast of characters, this TinTin film is an excellent introduction to the character.
With a fantastic creative team and voice cast, this is a highly entertaining film, reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
| Number 10: Blue Eye Samurai (2023) – Series Season 2 is announced Created by Amber Noizumi & Michael Green Studio: Netflix Animation & Blue Spirit Music by: Amie Doherty |
A young samurai named Mizu travels across Japan during the Edo period in search for one of the four white men who conceived them with a Japanese woman. Mizu’s mission is to find them, and kill them.
This original concept is a very satisfying watch with interesting characters. A grounded show with mature themes and great supporting soundtrack. You can watch the entire first episode for free on Youtube.
| Number 11: Samurai Champloo (2004) – Series Japanese title: Samurai Chanpurū Created by Shinichiro Watanabe Director: Multiple Studio: Manglobe Music by: Nujabes, Fat Jon, Tsuchie, Force of Nature |
Samurai Champloo follows the exploits of tea waitress Fuu, vagrant outlaw Mugen, and ronin Jin. Fuu saves Mugen and Jin from execution, then forces the pair to aid in her quest to find a samurai who smells of sunflowers. While being the second Watanabe series on this list of recommendations; it brings a different vibe due to the setting in Edo Japan, clean sword fights and the music. The Lo-Fi/hip-hop soundtrack brings something fresh to an anime in a (fictional) historic setting which is very compelling.
| Number 12: Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans (2015-2017) – Series Japanese Title: Kidō Senshi Gandamu: Tekketsu no Orufenzu. Directed by: Tatsuyuki Nagai Studio: Sunrise Music by: Masaru Yokoyama |
Author’s Note: Unfortunately I could not find a decent trailer.
Iron Blooded Orphans is not a typical Gundam show. It shows clearly how people are a product of their environment. How they are only able to move forward on a set path due to the limited options they see. Which ultimately spirals out of control.
Probably this is why S1 is more highly regarded than S2. The show has an unexpected narrative. Which makes it, in my opinion, even more memorable. The OST somehow feels very light with all the intensity on screen. Especially the flamenco guitar adds to this feeling.
| Number 13: Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010-2014) – series Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 (2016) – series Japanese title: Kidō Senshi Gandamu Yunikōn Based on the novel series by Harutoshi Fukui Directed by: Kazuhiro Furuhashi Studio: Sunrise Music by: Hiroyuki Sawano |
Author’s Note: Unfortunately I could not find a decent trailer.
Gundam Unicorn was my re-entry into the Gundam franchise. And what a step up it was after Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny. Superb animation and a proper epic OST to support it. And some stellar supportive pop songs.
You can watch 2 versions of Unicorn: The “original” OVA of 7 episodes and a complete series of 22 episodes. The 22 episode long series has a slightly different name and is a bit reworked. But either one is a good watch.
| Number 14: Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008) – Series Created by: Michael Dante DiMartino & Bryan Konietzko Director: Multiple Studio: Nickelodeon Animation Studio Music by: The Track Team (Jeremy Zuckerman & Benjamin Wynn) |
Author’s Note: Unfortunately I could not find a decent trailer. So here is a pretty good fan made trailer.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is a show set in a fictional world where each of the nations have adopted a style of living and fighting based on one of the four elements. To bring balance to the world an avatar is chosen. A person capable of mastering all four elements to solve worldly issues and deal with issues of the spiritual kind. The story follows Aang, a young airbender who ran away from his home just before it got destroyed by the Fire Nation. The Fire Nation, aiming for world domination, aimed to take out the avatar before he would mature and would be able to stop them. Aang, while still being a young boy, needs to go on a grand adventure to master the elements and stop the Fire Nation.
The Last Airbender is a grand adventure for kids. On the surface it might look like a funny kids cartoon; but the show packs a lot of worldbuilding and mature themes into its episodes. Often called “the western anime”, this show made quite the impact during its runtime and is still regarded as a staple of the animated medium.
| Number 15: Wolfwalkers (2020 ) – Film Directed by: Tomm Moore & Ross Steward Studio: Cartoon Saloon Music by: Bruno Coulais, Kíla |
The studio that brought us The Secret of Kells (2009) and The Song of The Sea (2014) delivered the third creative and visually stunning piece in the “Irish Folklore Trilogy”.
The story follows Robyn, a young English girl who traveled to Ireland with her father where he is employed to hunt the local wolf pack.
Robyn is a curious girl who upon wandering in the forbidden forest, befriends the free-spirited girl Mebh. Mebh is searching for her lost mother. By helping Mebh and the tribe of Wolfwalkers Mebh is part of, Robyn risks everything she knows.
Visually stunning and with great voice actors. Spoiler: Sean Bean doesn’t die. And he can’t. He has to run with the wolves.
| Number 16: The Legend of Galactic Heroes (1988 -1997) – Series Japanese title: Ginga Eiyū Densetsu Also depicted as Heldensagen vom Kosmosinsel Based on the graphic novel by Yoshiki Tanaka Chief director: Ishigoru Noboru Studio: Multiple Music: Classical music The Legend of Galactic Heroes: The Neue These (2018 – onwards) – Series 5th season is in production Directed by: Tada Shunsuke Studio: Production I.G. Music by: Hashimoto Shin (Sin), Inoue Yasuhisa |
Originally a ten-part graphical novel by Yoshiki Tanaka. The Legend of Galactic Heroes is a true space opera. It has been adapted multiple times in animation, video games and a musical stage production.
The story is about The Galactic Empire and The Free Planets Alliance competing for galactic dominance. We see this grand scale conflict evolve when two strategic geniuses gain command over their respective forces. With one on each side of the conflict, the show becomes a complex mix of large scale space battles; intricate political maneuvering and personal relationships told over a series of decades.
The “original” 110 episode OVA ranks on place 11 of Top Anime on My Anime List. So still highly regarded. A lot of the music used in the series is by Classical composers. The prequel film My Conquest Is the Sea of Stars uses Ravel’s Bolero as support for a great space battle. The remake of episode 1 & 2 into the film Overture to a New War also uses classical music to give it a truly classical feeling. See this video of a complete list of music used in which episode. Unfortunately I could not find it in writing. But this makes it nonetheless a fun addition to a list hosted by a classical music radio station.
The show has some original music. Below is a sample.
Die Neue These
I’m currently watching Die Neue These. It has an original soundtrack which is quite hard to find online.
The original 1980’s OVA is quite hard to find on streaming, so Die Neue These will probably be the definitive animated version going forward. But it is a really good watch nonetheless.
Below are recommendations I haven’t watched; from my “stuff to watch in the future list”. So most entries have a shorter description on what sold me for the OST. I’m just going to let you watch and/or listen to a few videos.
| Number 17: Lupin III series (1967 – onwards) – Multimedia property Created by: Monkey Punch Music by: Yuji Ohno |
This is a special case. Lupin III was already on the list but I decided to split Castle of Cagliostro of from the series for two reasons
- I’ve only watched Castle of Cagliostro.
- I want to create a little monument for composer Yuji Ohno.
As a whole, Lupin III is a property spanning decades. Starting in 1967, when IP right’s weren’t a thing in Japan, Lupin III appeared first in manga form. Then we have:
- 8 anime series
- 3 live action films
- 11 animated films
- Several OVA’s
- 2 ONA’s (Original Net Animations)
- 27 television specials
- multiple (musical) stage adaptations
- 1 Live action television spin-off series
- 24 video games
Author’s Note: information based on Wikipedia entries.
While the many iterations have different takes on the character, a few things stayed the same:
- The character as formulated by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata during Lupin the 3rd Part 1 (a.k.a the first season).
- Yuji Ohno’s music since Lupin the 3rd Part 2 (a.k.a the second season)
Ohno stepped in on Lupin III Part 2 in 1977. Since 1977 he worked on many (if not all) of the Lupin III projects. Which is almost 50 years and more than 75 Lupin iterations (based on Wikipedia entries). On this link you can find a playlist of Lupin Live music.
| Number 18: Inu-Oh (2021) – Film Based upon the novel Tales of the Heike: Inu-Oh by Hideo Furukawa Directed by: Masaaki Yuasa Studio: Science Saru Music by: Otomo Yoshihide |
Masaaki Yuasa’s Devilman Crybaby didn’t do it for me. But this film, Inu-Oh really looks and sounds amazing.
| Number 19: Kids on the Slope (2012) – series Japanese title: Sakamichi no Aporon Based on the manga created by: Yuki Kodama Directed by: Shinichiro Watanabe Studio: Mappa Music by: Yoko Kanno |
If the above trailer and below scene do not sell you, perhaps the names of creator Shinichiro Watabe and composer Yoko Kanno will. An S tier combination that also worked on Cowboy Bebop, which happens to also be on this list.
| Number 20: The vision of Escaflowne (1996) – Series Japanese title: Tenkū no Esukafurōne Based on the manga created by Shōji Kawamori Directed by: Kazuki Akane Studio: Sunrise Music by: Yoko Kanno & Hajime Mizoguchi & Inon Zur (US version only) Escaflowne (2000) – Film Japanese title: Esukafurōne Directed by: Kazuki Akane Studio: Bones Music by: Yoko Kanno & Hajime Mizoguchi & Inon Zur (US version only) Author’s Note: The film from is a retelling of the original story with a different emphasis. |
This soundtrack is totally not what I expected. The diversity and creativity in the execution of the styles (contemporary, classical and Gergorian chant) actually puts my expectations of the show so ridiculously high that I will be cautious where I put my expectations. Because it is simply amazing.
Here is two sample tracks from the 1996 album Escaflowne: Over the Sky played by the Warsaw Philharmonic.
