Anime is more than just breathtaking animation and gripping narratives—it’s also a realm where music plays a vital role. The right soundtrack can elevate a scene from good to unforgettable, etching itself into the hearts of viewers long after the credits roll. From electrifying battle themes to tear-jerking piano pieces, anime music has the power to move, inspire, and haunt.
In this article, we’ve curated 17 anime series that feature truly legendary soundtracks—scores and songs that have become iconic in the world of entertainment. Whether you’re an audiophile, a seasoned anime fan, or someone looking to dive into music-rich anime experiences, this list is a must-read.
1. Cowboy Bebop
- Composer: Yoko Kanno
- Genre: Jazz, Blues, Rock
Cowboy Bebop is not just a classic anime—it’s a musical masterpiece. The soundtrack, led by the energetic jazz track “Tank!” is instantly recognizable even to those who haven’t watched the show. Yoko Kanno’s work with her band The Seatbelts blends genres effortlessly, turning every episode into a musical voyage.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Tank!”
- “Rain”
- “The Real Folk Blues”
Why It’s Legendary:
Few anime have a soundtrack as stylish and atmospheric as this one. It defines cool.
2. Attack on Titan
- Composer: Hiroyuki Sawano
- Genre: Orchestral, Rock, Epic Vocal Themes
If there’s a composer whose work can stir your soul instantly, it’s Hiroyuki Sawano. His thunderous compositions in Attack on Titan perfectly match the show’s intense and emotional themes. The fusion of choir vocals, electronic beats, and cinematic grandeur creates a soundtrack that feels larger than life.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Call Your Name”
- “YouSeeBIGGIRL/T:T”
- “Ashes on The Fire”
Why It’s Legendary:
The soundtrack gives goosebumps and enhances every emotional twist and battlefield moment.
3. Your Lie in April
- Composers: Masaru Yokoyama (classical performances by real musicians)
- Genre: Classical, Piano, Violin
Your Lie in April is an anime built around music—and it doesn’t disappoint. Its classical performances of Chopin, Beethoven, and Saint-Saëns, combined with original emotional piano pieces, make this anime a moving musical experience.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Watashi no Uso”
- “Kimi wa Wasurenai”
- Performances of “Love’s Sorrow,” “Étude Op. 10 No. 4”
Why It’s Legendary:
It blends storytelling and real classical performance with heartbreaking precision.
4. Samurai Champloo
- Composer: Nujabes (and others)
- Genre: Hip-Hop, Lo-Fi, Instrumental
What happens when you mix Edo-period samurais with modern hip-hop? You get Samurai Champloo. The late Nujabes crafted lo-fi hip-hop tracks that were ahead of their time. The soundtrack not only fits the tone but stands as a genre-defining album in itself.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Battlecry”
- “Shiki no Uta”
- “Aruarian Dance”
Why It’s Legendary:
The soundtrack created a cultural moment in anime and music history alike.
5. Made in Abyss
- Composer: Kevin Penkin
- Genre: Orchestral, Ambient, Ethereal
Made in Abyss’s soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful. Australian composer Kevin Penkin brings an otherworldly quality to the music, enhancing the feeling of mystery, dread, and awe that the Abyss instills in every explorer.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Underground River”
- “Hanezeve Caradhina”
- “Tomorrow”
Why It’s Legendary:
It elevates the storytelling with a sense of grand scale and tragic emotion.
6. Death Note
- Composers: Yoshihisa Hirano, Hideki Taniuchi
- Genre: Gothic, Rock, Orchestral
A psychological thriller like Death Note demands a fittingly intense soundtrack. The use of operatic chants and dark strings creates a heavy atmosphere that mirrors the show’s philosophical themes.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “L’s Theme”
- “Kyrie”
- “Low of Solipsism”
Why It’s Legendary:
It’s dramatic, gothic, and defines the series’ brooding tone.
7. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Composers: Yuki Kajiura & Go Shiina
- Genre: Traditional Japanese, Modern Orchestral
With a blend of taiko drums, shakuhachi flutes, and orchestral flair, Demon Slayer’s soundtrack captures the spirit of its Taisho-era setting. The theme song “Gurenge” by LiSA became a viral hit, and the background music is equally iconic.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Kamado Tanjiro no Uta”
- “Gurenge”
- “Akaza’s Theme”
Why It’s Legendary:
Each scene becomes cinematic thanks to the emotionally rich and culturally rooted score.
8. Violet Evergarden
- Composer: Evan Call
- Genre: Orchestral, Piano, Melancholic
Emotionally stirring and beautifully composed, Violet Evergarden’s music feels like poetry in sound. It perfectly supports the show’s themes of love, memory, and healing.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Theme of Violet Evergarden”
- “Across the Violet Sky”
- “The Voice in My Heart”
Why It’s Legendary:
It’s one of the most beautiful and emotive soundtracks ever created in anime.
9. Naruto / Naruto Shippuden
- Composer: Toshio Masuda (Naruto), Yasuharu Takanashi (Shippuden)
- Genre: Traditional Japanese, Rock, Emotional Orchestral
The Naruto series spans hundreds of episodes but never fails to deliver iconic music. From emotional moments to epic fights, the OSTs are burned into fans’ memories.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Sadness and Sorrow”
- “The Raising Fighting Spirit”
- “Heaven-Shaking Event”
Why It’s Legendary:
Over a decade of consistent musical excellence and emotional resonance.
10. One Piece
- Composer: Kohei Tanaka, Shiro Hamaguchi
- Genre: Adventure, Orchestral, Pirate-Inspired Themes
One Piece is the king of long-running anime, and its music contributes massively to its spirit. The adventurous, whimsical, and emotional tracks support Luffy’s journey masterfully.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Overtaken”
- “Luffy’s Fierce Attack”
- “Mother Sea”
Why It’s Legendary:
It’s nostalgic, epic, and matches the show’s adventurous heart.
11. Spirited Away
- Composer: Joe Hisaishi
- Genre: Classical, Ambient, Magical
Studio Ghibli’s musical identity wouldn’t exist without Joe Hisaishi. Spirited Away’s soundtrack is gentle and magical, capturing the film’s dreamlike atmosphere with subtle elegance.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “One Summer’s Day”
- “The Name of Life”
- “Reprise”
Why It’s Legendary:
It defines what magical realism sounds like in cinema.
12. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Composer: Akira Senju
- Genre: Orchestral, Rock, Tragic Themes
The music of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood amplifies every tragedy, revelation, and moment of hope. With sweeping orchestral movements and powerful piano-led pieces, the soundtrack is a narrative of its own.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Brothers”
- “Main Theme – Fullmetal Alchemist”
- “Trisha’s Lullaby”
Why It’s Legendary:
The emotional power of its music carries the weight of its heavy themes.
13. Bleach
- Composer: Shiro Sagisu
- Genre: Rock, Latin, Orchestral, Rap
Bleach has one of the most diverse and exciting soundtracks in anime. Flamenco guitars, choirs, rap verses—it’s a blend that somehow works spectacularly.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Number One”
- “Invasion”
- “Will of the Heart”
Why It’s Legendary:
It’s dynamic and daring—like the anime itself.
14. Fate/Zero
- Composer: Yuki Kajiura
- Genre: Orchestral, Dark Fantasy, Ethereal
Yuki Kajiura’s sweeping compositions lend an almost sacred weight to Fate/Zero. The tension, drama, and fatalism of the Holy Grail War are perfectly captured in the score.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Point Zero”
- “Let the Stars Fall Down”
- “You Are My King”
Why It’s Legendary:
A masterclass in fantasy scoring.
15. Sword Art Online
- Composer: Yuki Kajiura
- Genre: Fantasy, Techno-Orchestral
Sword Art Online’s music balances grand orchestral movements with futuristic elements, matching the virtual landscapes the series explores.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Swordland”
- “Luminous Sword”
- “We Have to Defeat It”
Why It’s Legendary:
Its score elevates virtual world-building to real emotional heights.
16. Clannad: After Story
- Composer: Jun Maeda
- Genre: Piano, Orchestral, Emotional
Ask anyone who’s cried during Clannad, and they’ll tell you—the music broke them. This soundtrack is sorrowful and gentle, evoking themes of family, life, and loss.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Dango Daikazoku”
- “Nagisa’s Theme”
- “Shining in the Sky”
Why It’s Legendary:
It’s emotionally devastating and heartwarming in equal measure.
17. Tokyo Ghoul
- Composer: Yutaka Yamada
- Genre: Dark Orchestral, Rock, Melancholy
The melancholic yet explosive score of Tokyo Ghoul matches Kaneki’s tragic journey. The anime’s theme “Unravel” by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure became an instant classic.
Key Tracks to Listen:
- “Glassy Sky”
- “Unravel”
- “White Silence”
Why It’s Legendary:
The music is as fractured, intense, and beautiful as the protagonist himself.
What Makes a Soundtrack Legendary in Anime?
A legendary anime soundtrack isn’t just background noise—it becomes part of the show’s DNA. Whether it’s a battle scene made unforgettable by its epic score, or a heartfelt goodbye accompanied by sorrowful piano, these soundtracks:
- Enhance emotional impact
- Stay memorable outside the show
- Reflect the themes and characters perfectly
- Offer timeless listening for fans even years later
Conclusion
Music is the soul of storytelling—and in anime, that soul often sings. These 17 anime series don’t just entertain with visuals and plot; they breathe through their soundtracks. Whether it’s jazz from Cowboy Bebop, orchestral sorrow in Violet Evergarden, or the haunting elegance of Tokyo Ghoul, these scores are unforgettable.
💬 Which anime soundtrack do you think is the most legendary?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below—or share this post with a fellow anime and music lover.