Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

Third round and this time, it’s all about the music. You can have anime with voices, but once you cue the music at the right time, you get some pretty amazing results. Kudos to all the composers and arrangers, and the vocalists for all their hard work! Firstly, we’d like to get our Top 10 Opening Themes and Ending Themes outta the way.

Top 10 Opening Themes

1. Ash Like Snow by the brilliant green (Gundam 00)
2. PAPERMOON by Tommy heavenly6 (SOUL EATER)/SHUT AND EXPLODE by BOOM BOOM SATELLITES (Xam’d: Lost Memories)
3. Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi by UVERworld (Gundam 00)
4. motto☆Hade ni ne! by Tomatsu Haruka (Kannagi)
5. O2 by ORANGE RANGE (CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2)
6. resonance by T.M.Revolution (SOUL EATER)
7. Beautiful Fighter (Shikabane Hime: Aka)
8. PSI-missing by Kawada Mami (To Aru Majutsu no Index)
9. Lion by May’n & Megumi Nakajima (Macross FRONTIER)
10. CLOSER by Inoue Joe (NARUTO Shippuuden)/Pre-Parade by Kugimiya Rie, Horie Yui, and Kitamura Eri (Toradora!)

1. motto☆Hade ni ne! by Tomatsu Haruka (Kannagi)
2. PAPERMOON by Tommy heavenly6 (SOUL EATER)
3. Paradise Lost by Chihara Minori (Ga-rei -zero-)
4. F.D.D. by Itou Kanako (CHAOS;HEAD)
5. Aoi Kakera by Chara (Telepathy Shoujo Ran)
6. resonance by T.M.Revolution (SOUL EATER)
7. Pre-Parade by Kugimiya Rie, Horie Yui, and Kitamura Eri (Toradora!)
8. O2 by ORANGE RANGE (CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2)
9. SHUT UP AND EXPLODE by BOOM BOOM SATELLITES (Xam’d: Lost Memories)
10. Kuusou Rumba by Ootsuki Kenji & Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi (Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)

1. WORD OF THE VOICE by FLOW (Persona -trinity soul-)
2. Donten by DOES (Gintama)
3. Last Train ~Atarashi Asa~ by Knotlamp (Yu-Gi-Oh 5D’s)
4. Gekidou by UVERworld (D.Gray-man)
5. PAPERMOON by Tommy heavenly6 (SOUL EATER)
6. Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi by UVERworld (Gundam 00)
7. WORLD END by FLOW (CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2)
8. CLOSER by Inoue Joe (NARUTO)
9. CHU-BURA by KELUN (BLEACH)
10. kimi=hana by pigstar (Junjou Romantica)

1.) “Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi” by UVERworld (Gundam 00 S2)
2.) “Lion” by May’n & Nakajima Megumi (Macross Frontier)
3.) “motto☆Hade ni ne!” by Tomatsu Haruka (Kannagi)
4.) “PAPERMOON” by Tommy heavenly6 (Soul Eater)
5.) “Ash-like Snow” by the brilliant green (Gundam 00)
6.) “resonance” by T.M. Revolution (Soul Eater)
7.) “PSI-missing” by Kawada Mami (To Aru Majutsu no Index)
8.) “SHUT UP AND EXPLODE” by BOOM BOOM SATELLITES (Xam’d: Lost Memories)
9.) “O2″ by ORANGE RANGE (CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2)
10.) “Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi” by ON/OFF (Vampire Knight)

Top 10 Ending Themes

1. Friends by Stephanie (Gundam 00)/Prototype Ishikawa Chiaki (Gundam 00 S2)
2. Super Special by Kagami Seira (CHAOS;HEAD)
3. Bakusou Yumeuta by Diggy-MO’ (SOUL EATER)
4. Northen Cross by May’n (Macross Frontier)
5. My story by angela (Shikabane Hime: Aka)
6. Musuhi no Toki by Tomatsu Haruka (Kannagi)
7. Shiawase Neiro by ORANGE RANGE (CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2)
8. Katahiza no Yogore by Last Alliance (Real Drive)
9. Hitosashiyubi Quiet! by N’s (Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu)
10. changes by Base Ball Bear (Library War)

1. Style. by Kana Nishino (SOUL EATER)
2. Super Special by Kagami Seira (CHAOS;HEAD)
3. Bakusou Yumeuta by Diggy-MO’ (SOUL EATER)
4. Musuhi no Toki by Tomatsu Haruka (Kannagi)
5. Koiji Romanesque by Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi (Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)
6. Hitosashiyubi Quiet! by N’s (Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu)
7. Vanilla Salt by Horie Yui (Toradora!)
8. Shiawase Neiro by ORANGE RANGE (CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2)
9. Broken Youth by NICO TOUCHES THE WALL (Naruto Shippuuden)
10. Tokyo et Paris by Miyamoto Emiri x solita (Nodame Cantabile Paris-hen)

1. Broken Youth by NICO TOUCHES THE WALLS (Naruto Shippuuden)
2. Bakusou Yumeuta by Diggy-MO’ (SOUL EATER)
3. Style. by Kana Nishino (SOUL EATER)
4. Shiawase Neiro by ORANGE RANGE (CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2)
5. Orange by Lil’B (BLEACH)
6. Sunao na Niji by surface (BLEACH)
7. Koyoi, Tsuki ga, Miezu Tomo by Porno Graffiti (BLEACH)
8. ONE DAY by The Loose Dogs (Major)
9. I, Ai, Ai by ghostnote (Gintama)
10. Friends by Stephanie (Gundam 00)

1.) “Prototype” Ishikawa Chiaki (Gundam 00 S2)
2.) “Friends” by Stephanie (Gundam 00)
3.) “Northen Cross” by May’n (Macross Frontier)
4.) “Vacancy” by Kylee (Xam’d: Lost Memories)
5.) “Bakusou Yumeuta” by Diggy-MO’ (Soul Eater)
6.) “Namida” by 2BACKKA (Skip Beat!)
7.) “Shiawase Neiro” by ORANGE RANGE (CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion R2)
8.) “Suna no O-shiro” by Wakeshima Kanon (Vampire Knight: Guilty)
9.) “Let’s go together” by Afromania (Birdy the Mighty Decode)
10.) “Tokyo et Paris” by Miyamoto Emiri x solita (Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter)

Best Insert Song

Winner: Iteza – Gogo 9ji – Don’t be late (Sheryl On Stage), Diamond Crevasse by May’n (Macross Frontier)

I can go on and on about how awesome these songs are and about how much I’m in love with Sheryl Nome. So to cut all the fanboying ranting short, you should just go and listen to them. Better yet, go watch Macross Frontier and you’ll see why these two songs more than deserve the title of “Best Insert Song” of 2008 for sure. Better still, go watch AND listen to the songs.

Winner: The Song of Hello Soybeans by Dokkoi Foods, performed by Nagi (Tomatsu Haruka)

Clearly, this was the best song out of the whole karaoke room, with Takako’s putrid song coming in second. The lyrics are straightforward, but Haruka delivers her tone so perfectly horrid that it’s amazingly really funny. My favorite part is definitely when she says the line “a fierce sex appeal.” I wonder how she would’ve done with Shirigeya.

Winner: “Diamond Crevasse” by May’n (Macross Frontier)

Obviously I’m referring to the episode 20 insert. That was no doubt the highlight of the show. I’ll admit it was a bit weird when Sheryl stood up and started singing all of sudden; but then it cut to Michael and BAM, we got hit so hard that it left us breathless by the end. One of the most memorable scenes this year if not the most.

Best Soundtrack

Winner: Macross FRONTIER

Honorable mention: SOUL EATER

Well, well now. Had this been another year or a year without Macross, the winner would either be SOUL EATER. However, Kanno Youko, Sheryl Nome/May’n and a few other artists clinched this year without a doubt . It’s mighty hard to beat out awesome pieces such as Big Boys, Alto’s Theme, Iteza – Gogo 9ji – Don’t be late (Sheryl On Stage), and Diamond Crevasse. It’s the kind of stuff that makes you fall in love with music over and over and that which you hear even when you’re not listening to the actual songs. That’s not to take anything away from Iwasaki Taku’s work though. Some of my favorites from SOUL EATER’s OST are: PSYCHEDELIC SOULJAM, DEATHCITY, Overdrive, and Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Have a Nice Dream.

Winner: SOUL EATER
I was never a big fan of Iwasaki Taku’s work, though I did like some of the music he composed for Black Cat and TTGL. However, I believe that SOUL EATER showed just how amazing Taku is with a variety of tracks with different moods that clearly distinguishes a sad moment or an action-packed scene. It fits so perfectly with the scenes that I’d be crazy enough to call it a masterpiece. Furthermore, he even composed a great deal of vocal tracks. We have Soul’s track, which is indeed so scandalous, Black Star’s “never lose myself” song, which is, funnily enough, about him and also his hatred for Excalibur, and the last character track for Death the Kid. The other vocals are “harmoNIZE,” “Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Have a Nice Dream,” and “PSYCHEDELIC SOULJAM,” with the last two having some of the best arrangements and rhythms I’ve heard.

Winner: Soul Eater
From the person who brought you the Gurren Lagann soundtrack, we have an upbeat soundtrack for the year’s most exciting anime. Ironically enough, the most memorable track in the show for me is the bad flute instrumental whenever something idiotic happens. It’s one of those moments that are so bad, yet they are so good because they compliment the scene so well.

Winner: Macross Frontier

Honorable Mention: SOUL EATER

Macross Frontier and SOUL EATER both have a strong, an amazing OST. My choice could have gone to either one, but in the end I gave it to Macross Frontier because it had a much deeper impact. Anybody who’s seen the series knows how the music is an integral part of the story as well. Like when a concert is being held parallel to an intergalatic space fight, it’s a real treat to both the eyes and ears. Endo Aya and Nakajima Megumi lead the music for Frontier and both are just really amazing singers. I especially love Endo Aya’s “Diamond Crevasse.” That’s just a really powerful piece and she performs it so well.

I loved Gurren Lagann’s OST, so when I heard Iwasaki Taku was coming back for SOUL EATER, I was shitting bricks. SOUL EATER’s OST has so many great tracks and Iwasaki manages to keep the variety there as well. I really enjoy songs that really pump up your adrenaline like “Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Have a Nice Dream” and “never lose myself” which are my two favorite. I can still remember people going in a frenzy when the OST was first released. Iwasaki Taku has definitely made a name for himself.