Best Anime Soundtracks: 10 OSTs Worth Listening To

Great soundtracks elevate anime from good to unforgettable. These composers created musical identities that define their series.

10. Demon Slayer – Yuki Kajiura

Kajiura’s distinctive style brought emotional weight to every battle. “Kamado Tanjiro no Uta” during Episode 19 became instantly iconic. The OST elevates already-stunning animation.

9. Jujutsu Kaisen – Hiroaki Tsutsumi

Hip-hop influences meet curse horror. The soundtrack pulses with energy during fights, then haunts during quiet moments. It sounds like curses given musical form.

8. Made in Abyss – Kevin Penkin

Beautiful and melancholic, matching the series’ contrast of wonder and horror. Penkin created something that works as standalone music while perfectly serving each scene.

7. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Akira Senju

Orchestral grandeur matching epic scope. The soundtrack carries emotional weight from tragedy to triumph. “Lapis Philosophorum” alone justifies the composer’s reputation.

6. Attack on Titan – Hiroyuki Sawano

Sawano’s bombastic style defined AOT’s sound. German-Latin lyrics over orchestral metal shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Every track sounds like civilization ending.

5. Your Name/Weathering With You – RADWIMPS

Pop songs integrated perfectly into narrative. Makoto Shinkai’s collaboration with RADWIMPS created soundtracks that enhance already-emotional films. Standalone hits that work better in context.

4. Cowboy Bebop – Yoko Kanno

Jazz, blues, rock, and everything else. The Seatbelts created the most eclectic anime OST ever. Each episode’s music matches its genre perfectly. “Tank!” alone is legendary.

3. Naruto – Toshio Masuda/Yasuharu Takanashi

“Sadness and Sorrow.” “The Raising Fighting Spirit.” Decades of iconic tracks. The OST carried emotional moments across 700+ episodes without ever feeling stale.

2. One Piece – Multiple Composers

Across 1000+ episodes, the OST maintained quality. “Binks’ Sake” became actual sea shanty. Emotional moments get perfect accompaniment. Consistency at this length is miraculous.

1. Studio Ghibli – Joe Hisaishi

Miyazaki’s partner in magic. Hisaishi’s scores for Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke transcend anime. This is film music at the highest level.