From the first scene, music sets an anime movie’s tone. It can be gentle, powerful, hopeful, harmonious, or discordant. But no matter its style, a movie’s soundtrack is an indispensable part of the narrative that can bring viewers to tears or to the edge of their seats.

Most anime movies have soundtracks that work well to make their stories complete, but few make names for themselves, inspiring fans to revisit their grandeur time and again. Many well-received soundtracks from anime movies come from cinematic masterpieces that understand how to make animation, storytelling, and music come together seamlessly.

8 The Garden Of Sinners

Shiki from Garden of Sinners

The Garden of Sinners is an anime movie series with eight main entries. Adapted from light novels by the creator of Fate/stay night, Kinoko Nasu, the renowned supernatural mystery series follows a teenage girl named Shiki Ryouji who receives the ability to see death lines after surviving an accident.

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While the series’ themes and nonlinear storytelling can make it difficult to follow at first, the beauty of its soundtrack is evident to viewers even upon their first watch. Composed by Yuki Kajiura, the music for The Garden of Sinners movies can match the excitement and danger of Shiki’s battles or leave room to reflect on the world around her.

7 Promare

Lio and Galo from Promare

In this movie's world, people with fire powers, known as the Burnish, are antagonized for their abilities. Promare tells the story of the unlikely alliance between Lio Fotia, the leader of a Burnish organization, and Galos Thymos, an eager new member of the firefighting Burning Rescue group.

Fitting its action-packed story, Promare’s music, written by Hiroyuki Sawano, is dramatic, motivational, and fiery. However, its soundtrack is unparalleled when “Kakusei” by Superfly plays at the movie’s vibrant and captivating climax to highlight Lio’s power and determination to protect the other Burnish from oppression.

6 Akira

Mitsuru in Akira

Known as one of the best and most influential techno-horror movies of all time, Akira tells the story of a young biker gang leader named Kaneda on a mission to save his friend, Tetsuo, from government experimentation. Despite Kaneda’s efforts, Tetsuo begins developing painful and destructive psychic powers, changing the world around them in unprecedented ways.

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Composed by Dr. Shoji Yamashiro, Akira’s soundtrack perfectly captures the stakes of each scene with its chaotic, haunting melodies. Many of its songs make use of silence, chants, and unique instruments to contrast with the story’s futuristic world and symbolize each character’s motivations as they change and grow.

5 Ghost In The Shell (1995)

Major Motoko Kusanagi in the 1995 Ghost in the Shell movie

Adapted from a manga series by Masamune Shirow, the 1995 movie for Ghost in the Shell introduced many to one of the most beloved cyberpunk thriller franchises in the world. Following cybernetic soldier Major Motoko Kusanagi on her mission to track down a hacker known as Puppet Master, the movie garnered attention not only for its advanced world, but for its questions about humanity and the soul.

Given its mysterious, contemplative nature, Ghost in the Shell’s soundtrack by Kenji Kawai includes many ambient tracks with the occasional vocals that highlight how humanity interacts with technology. While there are many iterations of Motoko’s story, there’s something special about those that feature Kawai’s music.

4 Your Name

Taki and Mitsuha from Your Name

Directed by Makoto Shinkai, Your Name tells the story of two high schoolers, Mitsuha Miyamizu and Taki Tachibana, who inexplicably begin swapping bodies at random. As the two begin to change the course of each other’s lives, they leave notes to communicate, growing closer until they decide they want to meet in person.

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With music prepared by RADWIMPS, the soundtrack for Your Name is beautiful and relaxing. It stands out as much for its easygoing instrumental tracks as it does for its catchy lyrical tunes sung in both English and Japanese.

3 The End of Evangelion

Asuka and Shinji in Neon Genesis Evangelion - The End of Evangelion

As a retelling of Neon Genesis Evangelion’s philosophical last two episodes, The End of Evangelion better explains the physical events that lead to human instrumentality and end Shinji’s time as a pilot for Unit-01.

While The End of Evangelion’s soundtrack may be most well-known for the song “Komm, Süsser Tod,” its other tracks by Shiro Sagisu emphasize the loss, destruction, and devastation that Shinji faces throughout his story. Each note feels poignant, helping the movie strike a perfect balance between its actions and emotional reactions.

2 Paprika

The cover of Paprika

Directed by Satoshi Kon, Paprika is a mind-bending anime movie where dreams and reality begin to combine after an experimental dream therapy device called the DC Mini goes missing. Determined to recover the technology from dream terrorists, Dr. Chiba and her team work alongside the illusive dream detective Paprika, passing through captivating dreamscapes to untangle the worlds around them.

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Paprika’s soundtrack, composed by Susumu Hirasawa, is otherworldly. Whether a scene resembles more of a dream or nightmare, each track meets it with bravado and grandeur, immersing viewers in its surreal beauty and horror.

1 Princess Mononoke

San and Moro from Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke is one of Studio Ghibli’s most violent and epic adventures. Recounting the travels of a young prince named Ashitaka who was cursed while trying to protect his village from a rampant boar god, the film considers how industry and development disrupt the balance between humanity and nature.

While many other movies by Studio Ghibli also include incredible soundtracks by Joe Hisaishi, the music for Princess Mononoke is as elegant and unsuspecting as it is driven and intense, perfectly capturing the complexity of Prince Ashitaka’s journey. Filled with death, destruction, and uncertainty from all sides, the film sets itself apart from Studio Ghibli’s usual niche while maintaining its charm. It is only natural that the soundtrack follows suit.

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