UlasanAnime.com – The Gundam franchise has consistently evolved to capture the interest of young audiences in Japan and across Asia. This evolution aims to resonate with the contemporary tastes of youth.
The article touches upon the return of the band The Brilliant Green, noting that while it’s still early to definitively judge, their recent Gundam 00 single has shown glimpses of their former brilliance, prompting an enthusiastic reception.
A point of contemplation arises regarding the choice of The Brilliant Green’s song for a Gundam anime. The author acknowledges the overlap in demographics between anime fans and fans of certain music genres. However, a comparison is drawn to the unlikely scenario of hearing Radiohead on Avatar: The Last Airbender, suggesting that while not entirely unheard of, such pairings can feel somewhat unexpected.
Even artists like L’arc en Ciel, who frequently collaborate with anime, had a song for Gundam 00 that felt a little odd and unfitting. While the music and animation were appreciated, there was a sense that something was not quite right in the combination.
This leads to the central question: what musical choices do feel right for anime? The title itself references a classic KOTOKO song, “Onegai Teacher OP,” as an example of a fitting theme. The author expresses a strong fondness for “Second Flight” (Onegai Twins) and praises the overall package of its opening animation, noting its rarity in more recent shows.
Historically, Gundam opening and ending themes have often set benchmarks, both positive and negative, influencing subsequent anime. The enduring popularity and financial success of See-Saw’s works for Gundam SEED are mentioned. Similarly, artists like Chihiro Yonekura gained significant recognition for their classic contributions to 8th MS Team.
Expanding the scope to Sunrise’s “real” mecha shows further highlights the impact of music, potentially doubling the list of artists with mainstream influence, including figures like KOKIA, alongside numerous other musical talents.
Focusing back on Gundam specifically, the author wonders if the feeling of oddness with “Ash Like Snow” stems from a preconceived notion of what Gundam themes should sound like. The grunge style of alternative rock might clash with this perception. It’s not that other Gundam theme songs haven’t been unconventional, but they have, for the most part, felt appropriate for their respective shows.
Older Gundam shows featured older songs, while more lighthearted anime like Turn-A Gundam were complemented by fittingly upbeat tracks like “Turn-A-Turn.” Nami Tamaki’s dance beats were also noted as being highly effective for Gundam SEED. The author questions why “Ash Like Snow” presents a more significant challenge, considering it’s neither the worst nor the most incongruous song-to-show pairing.
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The article concludes with a moment of reflection, questioning whether the author isn’t taking Gundam 00 seriously enough or if aggressive music marketing strategies are at play, leading to these perceived mismatches.
