80s/90s anime music

[Akilae]

[New Intro] I'm sure all of us have favorite 80s/90s anime songs and music, so let's share our favorites with the rest of the forums! Hopefully this list will also help incoming younglings in understanding the history of anime and what kinds of music went with anime back then, for better or for worse.

-3x3 Eyes:

.

-801 TTS Airbats:

. (Dangard Ace)

-Ah! My Goddess OVA:

; ED.

-Angel Cop:

.

-Armor Hunter Mellowlink: OP. (lechuck)

-Area 88:

. (Vifam7)

-Aura Battler Dunbine:

. (F-ZeroOne)

-Bakuretsu Hunters: MASK.

-Berserk: OP;

.

-Bismarck: OP. (lechuck)

-Blue Gender: OP. (lechuck)

-Blue Seed:

; ED.

-Borgman: OP. (Dangard Ace)

-Brain PowerD: OP.

-Bubblegum Crisis: OP;

. (F-ZeroOne)

-Cat's Eye: OP (F-ZeroOne)

-City Hunter: ED.

-Da Garn:

.

-Dancouga:

; OP 2. (lechuck)

-Dancouga OVA: OP. (lechuck)

-Dangaio: OP; OVA ED.

-Detonator Orgun:

; ED 3.

-Dirty Pair:

. (Valk Hunter D)

-DNA^2: OP. (lechuck)

-Dominion Tank Police: OP & ED. (Bri)

-Dorvack: OP. (lechuck)

-Dragon Half: ED.

-Dragonar: OP. (Bri)

-Dragon Ball Z: OP. (Bri)

-Dougram:

. (lechuck)

-Escaflowne: OP (lechuck); Dance of Curse (F-ZeroOne).

-Eden's Bowy:

; OP 2.

-El Hazard OVA: ED.

-Evangelion: OP; ED; Movie OP.

-Fatal Fury:

. (Dangard Ace)

-Five Star Stories: ED.

-Fushigi Yuugi: OP.

-Galaxy Express 999:

. (Vifam7)

-Gall Force: Eternal Story: ED. (lechuck)

-Gall Force (Rhea): ED.

-GaoGaiGar: OP.

-Genmu Senki Leda: OP. (lechuck)

-Ghost in the Shell: OP.

-Gunbuster:

. (Keith)

-Gundam 0080: OP (Vifam7); ED (lechuck).

-Gundam 0083: OP 1; OP 2.

-Gundam 08th MS Team: OP; ED. (lechuck)

-Gundam Char's Counterattack: ED. (F-ZeroOne)

-Gundam F91: ED.

-Gundam G: OP 2.

-Gundam V: OP 1; OP 2; ED 1; ED 2. (lechuck)

-Gundam Wing: OP. (F-ZeroOne)

-Gundam X: OP 1;

. (lechuck)

-Gundam Z:

. (F-ZeroOne)

-Gundam ZZ: OP 2. (lechuck)

-Gunm: ED.

-Guyver: OP. (Dangard Ace)

-H2O: ED. (ly000001)

-Hajime no Ippo: OP 2.

-Himiko-den: OP;

.

-Hokuto no ken: OP 1; OP 2. (Gubaba)

-Iczer 1: OP. (Dangard Ace)

-Idol Defense Force: OP.

-Irresponsible Captain Tylor:

.

-Kimagure Orange Road: Night of the Summer Side. (Valk Hunter D.)

-KOR Movie:

.

-L-Gaim: OP 1. (lechuck)

-Layzner: OP 1. (lechuck)

-M. D. Geist: OP. (lechuck)

-Magic Knight Rayearth: OP. (Bri)

-Macross 2:

. (Gubaba)

-Macross 7:

. (Ghost Train)

-Macross Plus: Information High.

-Megazone 23: OP. (lechuck)

-Mermaid's Scar: ED. (Valk Hunter D)

-Mononoke-hime: Theme; ED. (lechuck)

-Mospeada: OP. (lechuck)

-Nadeisco: OP. (lechuck)

-Nadia: OP; ED (ly000001).

-Nausicaa: Legend of the Wind. (Vifam7)

-Ninku: ED.

-Now and Then Here and There:

.

-Orguss:

. (lechuck/F-ZeroOne)

-Orphen:

. (shiroikaze)

-Outlaw Star:

. (lechuck)

-Panzer World Galliant:

. (lechuck)

-Patlabor OVA: OP ?; OP ?. (Bri)

-Patlabor The Movie:

.

-Patlabor The Movie 2: Theme.

-Patlabor TV:

; ED. (Bri)

-Please Save My Earth:

. (Keith)

-Ranma 1/2: ED; ED 6. (ly000001)

-Record of Lodoss War:

; ED (danth).

-Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight: OP. (Shiroikaze)

-Saber Marionette J: OP.

-Sailor Moon: OP.

-Saint Seiya: OP 1; OP 2 (Gubaba).

-Sakura Taisen:

. (Bri)

-Shadow Skill:

.

-Shin Cutey Honey: OP. (Keith)

-Shurato: OP (Dangard Ace)

-Silent Mobius:

. (lechuck)

-Slam Dunk: OP.

-Slayers: OP.

-Slayers Movie: OP.

-Slayers Next: OP.

-Soul Hunter:

.

-Southern Cross: OP. (lechuck)

-Tatakae Otaking:

. (Keith)

-Tekkaman Blade:

; OP 2.

-Tekkaman Blade 2:

.

-Tenchi Muyo: OP. (Bri)

-Tenchi Muyo OVA: ED.

-Tobikage:

. (Gubaba)

-Transformers:

.

-Transformers: The Movie: Theme (lechuck);

.

-Urusei Yatsura:

. (Dangard Ace)

-Utena: OP. (F-ZeroOne)

-Trigun:

; ED.

-Vifam: OP. (lechuck)

-Vifam 13:

. (lechuck)

-Votoms: OP. (lechuck)

-Wataru: Step.

-Wings of Honneamise: Main Theme; ED.

-X/1999 Movie: X.

-Xabungle: OP. (F-ZeroOne)

-Yamato Takeru:

.

-Zillion: OP;

. (Valk Hunter D)

EDIT: Updated 2/19.

Edited February 20, 2010 by Akilae

[David Hingtgen]

Ah! My Goddess:

(And various other of Kikuko Inoue's songs with Goddess Family Club. Most soothing female seiyuu... ever...)

I always thought it interesting that they had her do Grace---she can sing, and portrayed a singer's manager---yet never sang herself.

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

There's some good stuff in that list. Hirasawa is one of the few Asian male vocalists I like. As for the retro vibe, I gotta throw in the numerous soundtracks from Kimagure Orange Road. KOR has plenty of good tracks that contain that 80's vibe thanks to Wada Kanako.

[Akilae]

I always thought it interesting that they had her do Grace---she can sing, and portrayed a singer's manager---yet never sang herself.

Probably her voice. She's got a pretty mature voice that's served well in some roles but not others. Just look who they stuck her with in Claymore

Wow, just looked her up again.. She was The Boss in MGS3... but also did Rosemary in MGS2...

Edited February 15, 2010 by Akilae

[Vifam7]

There's some good stuff in that list. Hirasawa is one of the few Asian male vocalists I like. As for the retro vibe, I gotta throw in the numerous soundtracks from Kimagure Orange Road. KOR has plenty of good tracks that contain that 80's vibe thanks to Wada Kanako.

New + retro =

[Ghost Train]

I feel that the general plot/content/literary value of anime has declined.

However, the music has improved in the 21st century.

100% subjective opinion.

[F-ZeroOne]

Bubblegum Crisis. That is all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irYBFDodda8

[F-ZeroOne]

A personal favourite, the Cats Eye opening theme:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V079fmpc5_4...feature=related

Kimagure Orange Road has an awesome soundtrack, generally.

Zeta Gundam opening:

Chars Counterattack ending, Beyond the Time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y6jn8GG0p0

Aura Battler Dunbine opening, another favourite:

Edited February 15, 2010 by F-ZeroOne

[Ghost Train]

Not an op-song per say, but Macross Plus Movie Edition is my pick for the best "intro" of the 1990's. The scene where Sharon Apple's arrival transitions to Guld testing the YF-21, and the sonic boom followed by the Macross Plus title is just awesome to watch even to this day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCEpsGlHl1I

[Gubaba]

Not an op-song per say, but Macross Plus Movie Edition is my pick for the best "intro" of the 1990's. The scene where Sharon Apple's arrival transitions to Guld testing the YF-21, and the sonic boom followed by the Macross Plus title is just awesome to watch even to this day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCEpsGlHl1I

Well, as long as we're bringing Macross into it, I saw this a couple of years ago, and I really love it. Mostly it's the outfit that does it for me, rather than the performance, but hey...THIS SONG HAS DANCE MOVES! WHO KNEW?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSMdGMz_Tg0

[Akilae]

Alright, somebody just had to bring in Macross. In that case...

Information High

[Ghost Train]

Alright, somebody just had to bring in Macross. In that case...

Information High

I love how this song plays when the YF-19 descends into Earth slipping past that sick defense grid .

[Vifam7]

Fantastic choices F-ZeroOne!

The 1980's were filled with fantastic anime songs. Especially for robot anime.

Anime theme songs have been more miss than hit for me lately. I must be getting old.

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

New + retro =

Heh, good editing in that vid. It reminded me of the best opening in KOR (Also a great song):

Orange Mystery

As for one of my faves from KOR:

Summer Mirage, Summer Mirage (Wada Kanako live)

While I'm at it, have some Maaya Sakamoto :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnv7cEA9hYM

[Akilae]

Fantastic choices F-ZeroOne!

The 1980's were filled with fantastic anime songs. Especially for robot anime.

Anime theme songs have been more miss than hit for me lately. I must be getting old.

A lot of the 80s and 90s stuff is disappearing fast too. Anime soundtracks tend to be very limited production runs, and when they're gone reruns are pretty much nonexistent. For the longest time all my anime music came from Son May CDs. Yes, they were bootlegs. However, they were one of the best sources of out-of-print niche anime music. Things are not made better by the advent of Bittorrent either. BT relies on popularity in order for the material to propagate. There were things on Napster back in the day that were put there by loving anime fans who knew somebody, somewhere would appreciate the material. Those days are also gone...

That reminds me, I better rip all of my Son May CDs with FLAC before they start to deteriorate...

[Vepariga]

Aside from the songs of macross and anime openings,I really loved this song

from Megazone 23

[taksraven]

The Winner (original Gundam 0083) opening is great but I always preferred opening 2, Men of Destiny....

[AcroRay]

Zeta Gundam opening:

I was so disappointed the US-release DVDs lacked this tune! (Although the instrumental they used wasn't bad.)

I used to have an extended version of it that came on a red flexi-disk in a Zeta Gundam back I got back around '88.

You can hear a bit of a rough edit at :47/:48 (youtube clip time) in the open where the extended version is cut down for "TV size."

[Temjin]

The Winner (original Gundam 0083) opening is great but I always preferred opening 2, Men of Destiny....

for 0083 I like True Shining

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEjbME7vJaI

[lechuck]

Here are a couple that I like...

- L-Gaim: Time for L-Gaim [MIO]

- Genmu Senki Leda: Yukue fumei no haato-tachi [Akimoto Rio]

- Patlabor: Sono Mama no Kimi de Ite [Nitoh Yuko]

- Sakura Wars: Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan

- SPT Layzner: Melos no You ni ~ Lonely Way [Air Mail from Nagasaki]

- Southern Cross: Hoshi no Deja Vu

- Dragonar: Yume Iro Chaser [Mami Ayukawa]

- Bismark (aka Saber Rider and the...): Call Me [MIO]

- Dunbine: Dunbine Tobu [MIO]

- Nadesico: You Get To Burning [satomi Arimori] (horrible engrish title but catchy nonetheless)

- Silent Möbius: Kindan no Panseé [saori Ishitsuka]

- Megazone 23: Senaka goshi ni Sentimental [Kumi Miyasato]

[F-ZeroOne]

Oops, double post.

Edited February 16, 2010 by F-ZeroOne

[F-ZeroOne]

Fantastic choices F-ZeroOne!

The 1980's were filled with fantastic anime songs. Especially for robot anime.

Thanks; I grew up during the 80s so I guess synthesisers just harmonise with my musical soul better...!

Another couple of favourites; first "Give a Reason" from Slayers Next, followed by the mighty Turn-A Gundam (do you ever wonder who the bloke is that says "Turn-A Gundam" at the beginning? ):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oayXglsMryQ

You, er, might know this one from Macross 7:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh25-V63IBk

Edited February 16, 2010 by F-ZeroOne

[F-ZeroOne]

I was so disappointed the US-release DVDs lacked this tune! (Although the instrumental they used wasn't bad.)

Yes, the OP is supposed to pump you up for the show and it was a bit disappointing. I'm not entirely sure if this was correct, but I understand Bandai didn't reveal the issue until (in at least some cases) people had already received their sets, which was a bit naughty though they were probably in a bit of a rock/hard place situation...

[Gubaba]

Yes, the OP is supposed to pump you up for the show and it was a bit disappointing. I'm not entirely sure if this was correct, but I understand Bandai didn't reveal the issue until (in at least some cases) people had already received their sets, which was a bit naughty though they were probably in a bit of a rock/hard place situation...

Well, *I* certainly didn't know until I got the big-ass box set and popped the first DVD in.

Speaking of which...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3mVc5GUkns

or this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFfey5kJP3o

Sound familiar, anyone?

Edited February 16, 2010 by Gubaba

[Bri]

A few others:

Magic knight Rayearth OP: Yuzurenai Negai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9LMACH1QB4...feature=related

Gundam Movie Trilogy Part II : Soldiers of Sorrow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Dvq5I-8y8

Dominion Tank Police: Hot Dance and Cherry Moon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPtQwjU7bM8

Dragonar Second OP: Starlight Serenade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zABrITb2nKQ...feature=related

Tenchi Muyo OP: Boku wa Motto PAIONIA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEcx35CUJEo...feature=related

Sakura Wars OP: Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0enTpFhFxgQ...feature=related

Patlabor OAV 1: Miraiha lovers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrVBGrsV1J4

Patlabor OAV2 Op: Condition Green

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV5DQcqGbuU...feature=related

Patlabor TV ED2: Midnight Blue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV-VPTKDMXM...feature=related

Something hauntingly beautiful about this one:

Megazone 23: Kaze no Lullaby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAZ0LAcDtzw

[Ghost Train]

Here is another favorite, the end song for Now and Then Here and There:

.

The anime started airing in 1999, so still within range. It recently aired on Sy-Fy channel, but instead of showing the end credits, they decided to do the very American approach of fast-forwarding through the credits, and playing previews for their crappy shows like Caprica, Sanctuary, etc, F-class movies like Pterodactyl vs Mega-Hamster and other fabulous programming.

[Gubaba]

The J9 Trilogy!

BRAIGAR!

BAXINGAR!

SASRAIGAR!

(Why no one has fansubbed these shows is beyond me.)

[Bri]

Here is another favorite, the end song for Now and Then Here and There:

The anime started airing in 1999, so still within range. It recently aired on Sy-Fy channel, but instead of showing the end credits, they decided to do the very American approach of fast-forwarding through the credits, and playing previews for their crappy shows like Caprica, Sanctuary, etc, F-class movies like Pterodactyl vs Mega-Hamster and other fabulous programming.

I've been meaning to watch this anime for ages. Just kept forgetting about it. Won't escape me now!

The J9 Trilogy!

(Why no one has fansubbed these shows is beyond me.)

Got to love obscure 80s mecha's. I had never heard of these. Clearly they are to epic for the faint hearts of current day fansubbers.

[F-ZeroOne]

I've been meaning to watch this anime for ages. Just kept forgetting about it. Won't escape me now!

Warning, this series can be brutal. I've only seen the first two volumes but it features possibly the most deranged anime psychopath of all time...

[F-ZeroOne]

Well, *I* certainly didn't know until I got the big-ass box set and popped the first DVD in.

Speaking of which...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3mVc5GUkns

Niceeeeee.

Currently working my way through Xabungle, which has this pretty awesome theme (incidentally, its worth pointing out that Yoshiyuki Tomino actually penned the lyrics for many of his shows opening themes)...

[Bri]

Warning, this series can be brutal. I've only seen the first two volumes but it features possibly the most deranged anime psychopath of all time...

Oh wow That's saying something, worse then Gates from FMP:TSR or Canaans' Liang Qi?

[Ghost Train]

Oh wow That's saying something, worse then Gates from FMP:TSR or Canaans' Liang Qi?

Liang Qi is like a cute twin-tailed moe tsundere compared to "that" person.

Judging by the character designs, and the setting, I wasn't expecting anything as violent and serious as Now Then Here and There. It's hard to describe, the violence is really not gratuitous either. I guess the themes it tries to explore are portrayed without sugar-coating.

[F-ZeroOne]

Oh wow That's saying something, worse then Gates from FMP:TSR or Canaans' Liang Qi?

I'm not really familiar with those two, but I saw Now and Then shortly after seeing Escaflowne, and lets just say that, in comparison to this guy, Dilandu is practically a saint. As Ghost Train points out, the show kind of catches you by surprise, given the world design.

Edited February 16, 2010 by F-ZeroOne

[Akilae]

I'm not really familiar with those two, but I saw Now and Then shortly after seeing Escaflowne, and lets just say that, in comparison to this guy, Dilandu is practically a saint. As Ghost Train points out, the show kind of catches you by surprise, given the world design.

That was really one of the most depressing anime I've ever seen... the ED certainly didn't help...

[CoryHolmes]

-Detonator Orgun:

; ED 3.

Ahh, my first all-time favourite anime. Guyver was the show that really got me into it, but Orgun, Dominion Tank Police, and Wind Named Amnesia are the true source of my mid-late 90s anime binge. I still think about writing a novella based on Orgun's premise to this day...

Also, I second that vote for Information High from Mac+. I vote Mac+ as one of the greatest animated movies of the Golden Age of Anime era.