Function of jazz in anime
Text: mmr｜Theme: About the affinity between jazz/fusion and anime
Jazz and fusion give anime an ``urban, adult-like atmosphere.’’ From fast-paced chase scenes to tranquil everyday scenes to humorous dialogues, his improvisation and sophistication synchronize a wide range of emotions with the images.
■ Representative success example: “Cowboy Bebop”
Director Shinichiro Watanabe’s Cowboy Bebop,'' which aired in 1998, is a monumental work that showed the world the affinity between anime and jazz.
The music was composed by The Seatbelts, a band led by Yoko Kanno.Using everything from big band jazz to scat and fusion-like guitar solos, he depicted the story world of the anime asmusic itself.’’
The opening song Tank!'' had a big band sound reminiscent of a spy movie, but it also had anadult coolness’’ that was unusual for an anime opening song at the time, captivating fans all over the world.
Since this success, jazz has often been referred to as a symbol of coolness and urbanity in anime.
■ Daily life anime and jazz
On the other hand, jazz is not just “urban”. Cafes, street corners on rainy days, calm afternoons - it is often used as background music to brighten up casual everyday life.
For example, “Apollo on the Slope” (2012).The original manga uses jazz itself as its theme, but the sounds of the sessions that echo in the city of Nagasaki, where the story is set, support the fluctuations of daily life and youth with the improvisational nature unique to jazz. In addition, although ``Nodame Cantabile’’ focuses on classical music, swing and light jazz-style arrangements are inserted into everyday scenes, highlighting the free-spirited nature of the characters.
■ Scenes where jazz/fusion suits you
Fast-paced battles and chases → Complex fusion drums and bass lines double the rhythm of the video.
Scenes of city nights and bars → The tones of the saxophone and piano create a ``adult atmosphere.’’
Comical dialogue → Emphasize the tempo with light swing jazz.
Quiet psychological depiction and lingering sound → The faint sounds of cool jazz and mode jazz are effective.
■ Correlation by age group
■ Jazz/fusion works recommended for anime fans
| Year | Artist/Album | Recommended Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | Miles Davis Bitches Brew | “Pharaoh’s Dance”: A chaotic space battle scene |
| 1980s | Miles Davis Tutu | “Tutu”: A character walking in the city at night |
| 1990s | Katsumi Watanabe Tokyo Ensemble Lab | “Manhattan Flu Dance”: Bebop-like speed |
| 2000s | Pat Metheny & Charlie Haden Beyond the Missouri Sky | “Our Spanish Love Song”: A tranquil psychological depiction |
| 2010s | Robert Glasper Experiment Black Radio | “Afro Blue”: Urban, contemporary daily life scene |
| 2020s | Kamasi Washington Heaven and Earth | “Street Fighter Mas”: Matches action and science fiction worldview |
■ Fantasy crossover table (specific anime scenes x jazz songs)
| Anime scene | Jazz/fusion song you want to play in your imagination | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Lupine the Third runs through the night city | Dave Brubeck “Take Five” | The lightness of the five-time signature emphasizes Lupine’s stylishness |
| Spike vs. Vicious (Cowboy Bebop final showdown) | John Coltrane “A Love Supreme” | Symbolizes sublime tension and a fateful battle |
| A scene from Makoto Shinkai’s work on a rainy day | Bill Evans “Waltz for Debby” | Transparent piano resonates with the beauty of the image |
| Session at Sakamichi no Apollon | Art Blakey “Moanin’” | The heat of the drums and horns amplifies the exhilaration of youth |
| Serious psychological warfare (Eva and Death Note) | Miles Davis “So What” | Cool mode jazz supports intellectual tension |
| LAZARUS: Final time limit battle scene | Kamasi Washington “Change of the Guard” | Grand, spiritual sound emphasizes the theme of human survival |
■ “LAZARUS” and the jazz spirit
“LAZARUS”, which was broadcast in the spring of 2025, is a science fiction anime created by director Shinichiro Watanabe, MAPPA, and Kamasi Washington. Themes such as “death and rebirth,” “time limits,” and “salvation of humanity” resonate with the “improvisational reconstruction of life” that is inherent in jazz. In particular, Kamasi Washington’s spiritual jazz echoes the motif of ``Lazarus = resurrection’’ in multiple layers throughout the story.
■ Summary
Jazz/fusion brings urbanity and improvisation to anime, and sometimes symbolizes the life and death'' anddestruction and rebirth’’ of the entire story.
The stylishness of Lupin the Third'', the stylishness ofCowboy Bebop’’, the youthful passion of Apollo on the Slope'', and the sci-fi scale ofLAZARUS’‘──
All of these are extensions of jazz’s ``free and regenerative spirit.’’
And as the name “Lazarus” suggests, jazz is constantly revived in new forms and continues to be closely linked to the world of anime.
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