Anime

Game Music

FANTASY COMES ALIVE! Sakimoto To Appear In Concert April 30th

March 24, 2010 | Audun Sorlie | 2 Comments Share this

“FANTASY COMES ALIVE!” is a new concert which will run its first show on April 30th at the University Cultural Centre Hall in Singapore, and promises to pack a mean punch. It will be directed by Adrian Tan, a talented honorary student of the hosting university who previously worked on Passion with Eminence in Australia and the concert will consist of works from both video game music and anime. Some of the works you can expect is My Neighbor Totoro, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Granado Espada, Final Fantasy and Super Mario Bros.

While those titles alone makes up for a great evening, they’ve also booked non other than Hitoshi Sakimoto to be in attendance and present some pieces. We spent loads of time with Sakimoto at GDC, so it’s a great joy to see him further highlighted and honored for his talents through these concerts.

Tickets range from $20 to $50 and can be purchased at SISTIC if you are in the area. 2 shows are so far scheduled, 30th April, and May 1st. For more info visit FANTASY COMES ALIVE!
Anime, Film, Reviews

Not Much Missing: Vanishment of Haruhi Suzumiya Movie Soundtrack (Review)

February 26, 2010 | Wes Chung | 8 Comments Share this

There is a curious tradition I’ve observed when lighter anime series are put on the big screen. I first noted this with Tenchi Muyo In Love, which discarded the whimsy of its roots to focus on a larger scale story involving (coincidentally) the disappearance of the main character and the world under threat. To match this jump in production values, Christopher Franke (of Tangerine Dream fame) composed a full orchestral score. Another, perhaps more relevant example, is the impressive Oh My Goddess! Movie, which featured a brilliant score by the one and only Nobou Uematsu and his long-time orchestrator Shiro Hamaguchi. Both are cases of a romantic-comedy with limited musical offering being used as a springboard for a soundtrack that more than eclipsed its small-screen counterpart.

Vanishment breaks that tradition slightly. Satoru Kousaki composed the incidental music for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and has retained the role of primary composer here, with some contributions by the likes of Ryuichi Takada (Soul Calibur II/III) and Keigo Hoashi, with whom Kousaki collaborated when adding to the Mushihimesama Double Arrange album.

The result of their work surprised me a little, and has made all three names well worth watching in the future. Click the jump to find out why. (more…)
Anime, Reviews

DUSTZ Single “Break & Peace” For Sengoku Basara Anime (Review)

November 8, 2009 | Patrick Gann | 2 Comments Share this

“Break” and “Peace” are two words that don’t go together well in my mind. But there they are, forming the title (and opening line of the oft-repeated chorus) of the song that serves as the ending theme for Production I.G’s new Sengoku Basara TV anime, based on the videogame series by Capcom.

Read our brief review of the single from Sony Music Entertainment Japan after the jump. (more…)
Anime

Otakon 2009: A Casual Sit-Down with Becca

July 21, 2009 | Don Kotowski | 1 Comment Share this

I recently went to Otakon to see a few concerts and interview a couple people. One of which is Portland, Oregon native, Becca. During the interview, I found out that she’s becoming a bigger fan of anime since doing some voice work in Ultraviolet: Code 044, loves the fashion sense in the Harajuki district of Tokyo, and wants to visit Mt. Fuji next time she goes.

Although she has yet to debut in the United States, she’s becoming more popular in Japan, set to release her second album there soon. Check the break for a bit of history and an in-depth look at some of her work and some advice she gives other artists looking to follow in her footsteps! (more…)
Anime

Takenobu Mitsuyoshi Commercial: It Doesn’t Get More 80s Than 1996

June 23, 2009 | Audun Sorlie | 3 Comments Share this

Hello everyone, “Akumu” Audun here. I am proud to be the newest team member here at OSV, and hope you will enjoy what I can bring to the table.

In preparation for Takenobu Mitsuyoshi’s new album, From Loud 2 Low Too, let’s look at a classic commercial that was made for his single, Ai Ga Tarinaize. It was the second opening theme for the Virtua Fighter anime series. It will be featured on Loud 2 Low Too.

He is just as smooth today as back then. and look at that Keytar! Man they might be holding onto those 80’s style rock ballads over there, but I’d be damned if i wasn’t shaking my hips like a pregnant woman to it.
Anime

The Greatest Minds of Japan and France on an Interstellar Adventure

June 29, 2008 | Patrick Gann | 4 Comments Share this

Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem was released five years ago on DVD. How is this news? Well, in the past year (since I personally discovered the thing) I have introduced hordes of anime fans and Daft Punk fans to this match made in heaven. So many people haven’t heard of this film that really deserve to know.

So here’s the setup: veteran anime creator/producer Leiji Matsumoto (Galaxy Express 999, Captain Harlock, Space Battleship Yamato) designs characters and a world under the direction of three French guys.

Who are these guys? Learn more after the jump along with a video. (more…)