World's Leading Music Professionals Select the Top 100 Most Powerful Anime Songs
Japan's leading television channel TBS is preparing to announce the biggest list in anime music history with a two-hour special program to be broadcast on Saturday, June 22 at 20:55 (JST). As part of the 'Professional Ranking' program, the 'Japan's Most Powerful Anime Song BEST100' list, determined by the votes of 166 music professionals from around the world, will be announced live.
This special list was created with the votes of not only Japanese but globally recognized names in the music industry. The jury, consisting of composers, lyricists, arrangers, music producers, and critics, evaluated many criteria from the melodic structure of anime songs to their lyrics, cultural impact, and international popularity. According to information on the program's website, during the selection process, each professional ranked their favorite 10 songs, and the final list was formed by tallying these votes. Unlike previous similar surveys, this is significant because it fully reflects the perspective of industry experts.
Anime songs (anison) have become a global cultural phenomenon in recent years. Tracks like 'A Cruel Angel's Thesis' (Neon Genesis Evangelion), 'Guren no Yumiya' (Attack on Titan), and 'Unravel' (Tokyo Ghoul) have surpassed Japan's borders, reaching billions of streams on YouTube and Spotify. Especially in the 2020s, anime music appearing more frequently in Western charts proves that this genre is no longer just a 'cult niche'. TBS's special program serves as a tribute to the universal language of anime music at the peak of this global interest.
It is also stated that the program will feature the stories of composers, lyricists, and performing artists behind each song. As with previously broadcast episodes of 'Professional Ranking' in Japan, viewers will witness the excitement of the ranking and learn interesting details about how anime songs are made. The full list is expected to be shared on TBS's official website and social media accounts after the broadcast.
This list is much more than just a ranking for anime fans: It offers a musical journey from past to present, from cult classics to current hits. Especially these days as new seasons begin in summer 2024, viewers will have the opportunity to compare old and new generation anime songs, and may also be inspired to create their own 'best' lists after the program. The list of participating professionals and judges' comments will also be released by TBS in the coming days.
