The Otaku Lifestyle: Examining Soundtracks in the Anime Canon
Abstract
Japanese animation, or anime, has been popular around the globe for the last sixty years.
Anime has its own fan culture in the United States known as otaku, or the obsessive lifestyle
surrounding manga and anime, which has resulted in American production companies creating
their own “anime.” Japanese filmmakers do not regard anime simply as a cartoon, but instead
realize it as genre of film, such as action or comedy. However, Japanese anime is not only
dynamic and influential because of its storylines, characters, and themes, but also for its
purposeful choices in music. Since the first anime Astro Boy and through films such as Akira,
Japanese animation companies combine their history from the past century with modern or
“westernized” music. Unlike cartoon films produced by Disney or Pixar, Japanese anime do not
use music to mimic the actions on-screen; instead, music heightens and deepens the plot and
emotions. This concept is practiced in live-action feature films, and although anime consists of
hand-drawn and computer-generated cartoons, Japanese directors and animators create a “film”
experience with their dramatic choice of music.
This thesis examines three anime—Death Note, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Cowboy
Bebop—for their respective choices in music. Each of these series uses a different genre of music,
such as sacred classical music, Western classical music, jazz, hip-hop, and J-pop, to evoke
emotion and enhance the drama. Westernization and the U.S. Occupation of Japan influenced
each of the genres, with each composer in their respective anime combining Western and
Japanese musical characteristics. Only by exploring the music of anime can we really understand
its role in anime’s artistic power and the reasons for the lasting impact of the otaku lifestyle in
the Western world.
Table of Contents
Introduction -- Music and culture -- Anime -- Death note -- Neon Genesis Evangelion -- Cowboy Bebop -- Conclusion viii, 127 pages
Degree
M.M. (Master of Music)