Current Events > Is it a big deal in Japan for a band's song to be the intro for an anime?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I know pretty much nothing about Japanese rock or JPop. Does that springboard them into stardom or is it like just another gig?

That cymbal hit in the Madoka Magica intro should have got that band like millions of dollars alone that shit slaps.

I feel like it should, but I don't know much about the Japanese music industry

It's a parasitic relationship. All the major artists are making openings and endings for anime/dramas (even NHK drama openings become big hits here) which is a benefit for both the artist and the anime/drama. For instance One Piece Red was advertised here as both the new One Piece movie and also having a new hit song by Ado. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 had two new songs by King Gnu and man did they let you know that nonstop leading up to the release.

Symbiotic?

Is the band making good money or is the label basically reaping everything and the band has to sell merch for 5 years to pay off studio and tour fees like in the US? Lol

Alteres posted...

Symbiotic?

I would argue the primary people benefiting are the major companies that control the production of both the music and the shows. Actors, animators, etc. don't get paid terribly well for this stuff.

Smashingpmkns posted...

Is the band making good money or is the label basically reaping everything and the band has to sell merch for 5 years to pay off studio and tour fees like in the US? Lol

Definitely not good money compared to their American equivalents.

ssjevot posted...

Definitely not good money compared to their American equivalents.

I dont think America really has an equivalent. Maybe 15 years ago a band will do an intro for a cartoon. Dramas/sitcoms still have bands that make songs for them but the band usually fall off or don't have much success other than that song.

Anime songs seem like huge cultural moments for Japan. Mfs need to get paid.

Smashingpmkns posted...

I dont think America really has an equivalent. Maybe 15 years ago a band will do an intro for a cartoon. Dramas/sitcoms still have bands that make songs for them but the band usually fall off or don't have much success other than that song.

Anime songs seem like huge cultural moments for Japan. Mfs need to get paid.

A lot of people were shocked at how low the budget was for Godzilla Minus One. Once you realize the wages for creatives here aren't that high despite their relative ability, it makes more sense. So you see these amazing voice actors in Japanese anime, and yes they make more than the Western ones in this case, but once you factor in all the time and effort they spend practicing, doing promotional work, and so on, it's really not that great a job. I watch a lot of interviews with bands on NHK and man these guys often live some frugal lives. You never hear about the guy with a mansion and a private plane or whatever.

One of my favourite idol groups, Onepixcel, had one of their big hits as Dragon Ball supers ending, Lagrima.

When it was announced live on stage that they'd be doing it for Dragon Ball, the members literally broke down in tears. After that their MV got millions of views and they became even more popular, especially in Latin America where they decided to tour. They're now disbanded though, Covid situation hit them hard among other things.

(PS: <3 Den Ayaka).

https://youtu.be/zzh-bM8gGiY?si=FxTcH03S2Jh7j5YU

But I think the whole spotlight on a band doing an anime theme is extremely parasitic to an extent.

There are tons of artists in Japan that aren't well known on the outside simply because they're not involved with Anime which is such a shame. I always think of Anime as a double edged sword. No one really gives a shit unless it's for an opening or something. It's the whole reason why artists like Sayuri and Lisa are so big, but others like Nakamura Emi or Leo Leiri are slept on outside Japan. Even Wednesday Campanella is huge here in Japan, but no one knows of their songs anywhere else.

It's not like the Japanese care though. Their own industry is big enough to sustain itself without any outside influence.

Yeah, because otherwise, most of us mostly listen to foreign music like K Pop or American music.

Especially with younger kids, fewer are going out of their way to listen to native stuff unless, it is, like, One OK Rock or something.

It was like that when I was in school too, but foreign stuff just gets more people interested nowadays.

I mean, I feel like L'Arc~En~Ciel wouldn't have been as big over here as they were because of FMA. I mean, HYDE joined a supergroup of Jrockers that now tour the US pretty occasionally.

I was a huge Aimer fan before she did that Kimetsu opening. Almost everything she does now is really safe and mass appeal.

Ryokuoshoku Shakai was AMAZING but then they did the My Hero Academia openin and every song after that was in that style. Until they did that big band song. Was that for an anime? Whatever it was, they got famous and never sounded the same.

I would say its good for whoever makes money off of it, but its bad for their fans.

_____Cait posted...

I was a huge Aimer fan before she did that Kimetsu opening. Almost everything she does now is really safe and mass appeal.

Ryokuoshoku Shakai was AMAZING but then they did the My Hero Academia openin and every song after that was in that style. Until they did that big band song. Was that for an anime? Whatever it was, they got famous and never sounded the same.

I would say its good for whoever makes money off of it, but its bad for their fans.

People complain about Yoasobi as well regarding this ever since they made it big.

I hope Ano chan doesn't go down that route.

Smashingpmkns posted...

I dont think America really has an equivalent. Maybe 15 years ago a band will do an intro for a cartoon. Dramas/sitcoms still have bands that make songs for them but the band usually fall off or don't have much success other than that song.

Anime songs seem like huge cultural moments for Japan. Mfs need to get paid.

Queen did Highlander theme and Flash Gordon

It was for SiM.
They did the opening for the last season of Attack on Titan and it made them kinda famous and the song a worldwide hit.
I saw them recently and they acknowledged it and said how grateful they were for it

https://youtu.be/tl6u2NASUzU?

Franz Ferdinand has had singles as OP and ED, most notably with the Cyberpunk anime.