Yuki Kajiura's Soundtracks [pre 2008]

from what all of you implied, tsubasa anime sucks? so I won't bother to watch it and un-bond with the music (which is very difficult but still)

ok I'll give a shot at KOR.
 
I havent read the manga, but i remember that, when i first watched it (was my 3rd anime in japanese back then) , i liked it, to the point that i watch some episodes twice, but when i rewatched again after some years it seemed childish to me, especially the Mokona - Fay - Kurogane combination >_>

For proof i had made some Tsubasa AMVs with Yuki music back then haha
1, 2 ,3 ,4, 5

And no, the music is probably the only thing thats REALLY good, so if you watch it, it wont destroy your impression i believe. Kajiura composing for shows that werent that good (or popular) was the usual thing pre-knk
 
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So far I think you can watch Shin Kimagure as a stand alone. It does seem to spoil stuff assuming the TV series is still canon but the spoilers aren't exactly surprising, lol. The only thing you might want to know is that the MC and his family are all espers.

PS. I prefer the art/chara designs from the TV series. More 80s, I guess? Also, I think you should at least check out the OP/ED sequences from the TV series because they are that good.
 
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Okay. Link to the show please (i'm so lazy)

@wat11 TRC anime is a mess because while it didn't necessarily change the storyline all that much (from what i could remember), the anime added some contexts that weren't present in the manga and by itself messed the characterization and the relationship between the characters (to make the anime more children friendly, i guess? I mean CLAMP is famous for their somewhat queerbaiting characters...their male characters are almost 100% in homoromantic relationship with each other)

Back to topic:
Btw since im too lazy to check, kajiura only did the music for KOR movie? What is the KOR story about anyway?

Apparently i am not allowed to write the word g*y.

Edit again: omg george your 'hear our prayer' amv is what i used to listen to back then when i didn't know how to pirate!
 
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Btw since im too lazy to check, kajiura only did the music for KOR movie? What is the KOR story about anyway?
Yes, Kajiura only did the last movie. The TV series (as far as I watched) was essentialy about a sort of love triangle involving Kyosuke (an esper), Madoka and Hikaru (two childhood friends and quasi deliquents). Hikaru asks Kyosuke out (after she sees him score an impossible shot in basketball thanks to his powers), he agrees and keeps tagging along with her even though he clearly has feelings for Madoka (whch he hides from Hikaru and is most of the time acting like a douche because of that). And as far as I watched, it really was just that, lol. It's very enjoyable (if frustrating because of Kyosuke being an ass).

OP1 https://youtu.be/LTOZhZSr6RY
ED2 https://youtu.be/mqWHEN-puOA
 
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Lmao looking at the characters name i immediately think about Madomagi and Kalafina

The premise is kinda cheap and from your description Kyosuke sounded like an asshole but maybe i'll check it out. Is Rumiko Takahashi (ranma, inuyasha) involved in this anime because the art style and narrative is so her. Right now i'm nostalgiaing with eyeshield21 so i won't bother looking until tonight (it's 6.20am where i live)

The opening 1 sequence is interesting..static picture tied up together with the staffs' names inbetween.
I'm digging the ending 2 omg the song is really enjoyable and the ending sequence is also good.

Take me to summer side stuck in my head lol
 
The last third or quarter of Shin movie totally killed any enjoyment I may have had earlier. Fuck the writer of this movie. OST time~ (and I'll probably make a guide for it while we're at it.)
 
@aki Time-travel. (Seems to be a theme for theatrical adaptations of franchises, lol.) 1991Kyosuke and 1994Kyosuke both have an accident and 1991Kyosuke ends up being sent to 1994 where 1994Kyosuke is missing. Sounds convoluted in writing.
Anyways, 1991Kyosuke is trying to figure out wat2do, tries visiting Madoka (he chose her over Hikaru prior to the movie, duh) but can't get to her. Instead he ends up with Hikaru in her hotel room where he has the chance of sleeping with her (but doesn't). Fast forward 15 minutes and 1991Kyosuke magically brings 1994Kyosuke back to life thanks to the power of love and Madoka's composition which she composed for him ("Kyosuke no.1").

And here starts the IMHO bad part.
Both Kyosukes meet and have a chat. 1994Kyosuke says he would've taken advantage of the situation with Hikaru (srs? joke? who cares really?). He also mentions that his first sexual encounter with Madoka was awesome and then sends 1991Kyosuke (who is still a virgin) back to his time where he has a fancy dinner with 1991Madoka (who plays "Kyosuke no.1" as a present). They end up in some hotel and have unprotected sex because Madoka says she's "not that stupid. It's safe without it tonight." (?!?!?!?!?!??)
tldr: Kyosuke is an ass. Madoka is dumb.
 
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With the exception of KnK, Cosette, and Madomagi, almost all shows kajiura worked on sucked. (Madlax is debatable, haven't watched Hanako to Anne)

Based on the plot @grunty has graciously provide, I think I'm gonna pass on watching KOR and listen to the OST only.
 
With the exception of KnK, Cosette, and Madomagi, almost all shows kajiura worked on sucked. (Madlax is debatable, haven't watched Hanako to Anne)

I would agree with those choices, but I really, really loved Noir. It was the anime that first started my love for Yuki. Melody, specifically always stands out in my mind and the flashback that it accompanied in the show.

I am all about Petite Cosette, though. That is probably my number one favorite soundtrack that she ever did. I still listen to it whenever I want some instrumental music. :)
 
The main problem with Noir and Madlax (less with Elcazador) was that it had very slow pace, they could spend half minute showing Kirika looking at the sea, or something, but i think that this apparently benefitted Kajiura because her music standed out even more than the other times, where it standed out thanks to the direction. Also in all 3 shows there's no real plot before ep 15.
 
listening to the kimagure ost now. according to iTunes the last time I did was in 2015
 
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Haven't read so many positive comments of praise and awe since the release of HtA. LMFAO!

Unfortunately I have nothing much to add, as I don't listen to the OSTs in great depth. My best friend on the other hand knows her OST tracks by heart. Wonder how she feels about these selection .
 
So okay, my couple of thoughts on Shin KOR soundtrack CD:

I think KYOSUKE No.1 is one of Kajiura's more successful piano themes - we know she ain't a pianist so they are always super basic. It flows naturally without getting repetitive while still having those by now "classic" Kajiura cadences. It kind of works in all the variations that are presented here (some more cheesy than others) but I wanted to add that I really love the extended outro on the OPENING THEME version - soooo soothing.
LOVEI. Sax on a cheerful Kajiura track? I'm here for it. I love the short fanfare parts with 2 sax lines, they always get me smiling. Thankfully the track is of very nice length, too (it's cut short in the movie).
Touhou no Kurete is easily my favorite track on here. I love synths sounding like synths and the whole track has this sense of urgency with a bit of desperation that just gets my heart racing (as it should considering its placement in the movie). I wish it was a tiny bit longer (and without beeing a loop).
Isekai no tobira lacks the urgency of the previous track and instead goes for an epic climax (sort-of, lol, they only used a very short portion of this lengthy track in the movie). It's deliciously synthy with extra GITARZ and speaking/singing from Aki Kudo (maybe the singing was synth?) which I quite enjoyed. Speaking of her - LOVE IS POWER always makes me giggle because of the lyrics but I still really like the tune.
I also love how the first half of Doko ni iru no sounds but then the synth imitation game starts and the last part sounds downright irritating to my ears. It's also overly melodramatic.
Both LOUNGE tracks are very pleasant chill music so I enjoy them. I kind of wish Kajiura featured more stuff like this in her projects. It's also really nice that they included them since you honestly can't hear much of them in the movie (they are quite heavily filtered since they are literally background music in a restaurant).
Kyosuke no THEMEII should be fun except I can't stop thinking about how I hate Kyosuke so that makes it not so fun to me? (Then again this is played when Hikaru is trying to joke around with Kyosuke since he passed out the night before. so it Don't think it quite works in the movie.)
LOVEII is waaaay too much saccharine for this grumpy cat.

One of my issues with this CD is how many of the tracks end with a fade-out. Fade-outs are one of my pet peeves.

tl/dr: Touhou no Kurete and LOVEI are must listens from Kajiura discography IMHO.

PS. I decided to do Double Cast next week, instead of EAT-MAN. It will give anyone who wants to watch that an extra week since I don't think anyone is going to play a game that is Japanese only.
 
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KOR movie, pervy grandpa while talking to Madoka about Kyosuke, and watching hot american women with binoculars:
" Oh they are obviously more beautiful than the Japanese, no wonder Japan lost the war" <LMAOOO

Why doesnt Kajiura compose more for this kind of shows ? Love/comedy - centric ones, she's always going for action packed anime series ever since Noir.

Haha so "love is power" is used in that audition. Even thought the lyrics arent by Kajiura I loves these lyrics, they are so fun with all these metaphors for sex haha

What is this tendency of counting shrine strair steps ? I see on many anime and never understoof why they repeat the theme.
 
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honestly, I remember going to KOR OST just for Kyosuke No.1 because it was so good. I have to listen to the whole ost again because it's been a while.
 
Btw you probably didnt notice but this movie has one of the view movie themes for male MCs (if not the only one), in Kajiura's ost discography. Which means that she can be inspired by male MC its just rare
 
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