Anime theme songs: is the quality just a conicidence?

[TOM 002]

A very interesting observation I've made when comparing anime to American cartoons. For me, I watch them equally and I have no bias against either style of animation. But lately I've been wondering if the quality of theme songs are generally this apparent.

Take the Japanese theme songs. More often then not, anime theme songs tend to be of a higher calibur than American theme songs. They are performed by established bands or underground bands and are often the kind of songs that one could make a music video for or play on the radio station. Quite often one can find the theme songs on an artist's CD, and it's usually indishtinguisable from the other tracks.

Now take the American theme songs. These are short snippets explaining the plot of the show and setting the mood. More often than not they are either instrumental or overly corny. You won't be finding these songs on the radio anytime soon unless there's a special theme song station or something like that.

So I'm wondering why this is usually the case. When you think about it, the US is capable of making theme songs just as good as the songs that play on the radio, if not better. However, the closest thing we've done were to take old songs and shorten them for a TV show. Do the Japanese just tend to put more effort into anime intros and endings, and if so, why? And why can't the folks in America do the same? Is it because we don't like long intros, or is it something else entirely?

[Go-chin]

I'd say it's more like the Japanese are lazy, so they just get known-bands and use their music.

If anything, the US music makers for TV shows put more effort into it, as they actually come up with new stuff.

(Not saying the japanese don't come up with new stuff just for shows either. Take most intros to Super Robot shows for example.)

And the Japanese reuse music for OPs too.
Take the Gainax work from earlier this year. "This Ugly and Beautiful World."
It's OP "Metamorphose" was made around a year or two ago. Yeah, not quite as old as you're comparing, but it's still true.

[Tommy Lawson]

Now take the American theme songs. These are short snippets explaining the plot of the show and setting the mood. More often than not they are either instrumental or overly corny. You won't be finding these songs on the radio anytime soon unless there's a special theme song station or something like that.

So I'm wondering why this is usually the case. When you think about it, the US is capable of making theme songs just as good as the songs that play on the radio, if not better. However, the closest thing we've done were to take old songs and shorten them for a TV show. Do the Japanese just tend to put more effort into anime intros and endings, and if so, why? And why can't the folks in America do the same? Is it because we don't like long intros, or is it something else entirely?

Well, if American companies wanted to pay some massive royalties to big-name stars to perform our theme songs, they would go right ahead and do so. There's your big reason right there, why music gets re-done and is not something you'd hear on the radio. When it comes to music, the American entertainment companies want to be one charging royalties by using their original music, not paying them by using the Japanese ones when they dub here. And in general, music isn't really considered that vital to the development of an animated show unfortunately IMO, not only because it gets re-done, but also because in general it gets done last.

[lostrune]

So I'm wondering why this is usually the case. When you think about it, the US is capable of making theme songs just as good as the songs that play on the radio, if not better. However, the closest thing we've done were to take old songs and shorten them for a TV show. Do the Japanese just tend to put more effort into anime intros and endings, and if so, why? And why can't the folks in America do the same? Is it because we don't like long intros, or is it something else entirely?
Simple - the Japanese intend to sell the CDs of those songs.

Whether it's taken from an existing song or a new song, it will be sold, and there are enough people who buy it. Often, it's even the seiyuu who sing the songs because seiyuu don't get paid much salary, so it's their way to get extra cash.

That's basic economics. If there's money to be made, then more effort will be put into it.

[Duke]

IIRC, don't most bands get famous simply because of the anime using their song?

You'd think radio didn't exist in Japan...

[Mynd Hed]

I must be watching all the wrong anime series, at least where theme songs are concerned. Because nearly every anime theme song I've ever seen (with one or two exceptions-- Tank! comes to mind) has been horribly cheesy J-pop that doesn't get along well with the overall soundtrack of the show and whose lyrics have nothing to do with the show or with anything else for that matter.
Now, maybe these songs are popular or are considered high-quality music in Japan, but personally, I'd rather have a theme song tailor-made for a show by the same person doing the soundtrack rather than slap a random pop song over the OP just because the band that wrote it happens to be in vogue at the moment.

Just playing devil's advocate. (-:

[Arxane]

IIRC, don't most bands get famous simply because of the anime using their song?

Not really. I read on a webpage of someone who has actually been to Japan that anime songs are not as popular as one might think. Just because they're used as an opening or ending does not mean it will be played on the radio or be used in karaoke bars.

[Chad Bonin]

Just wondering... how many theme songs actually are descriptive/could only be used for that show?

Some of the best theme songs in America are just describing the show...

"GI Joe is the codename for America's daring, highly trained special mission force..."
"I come from the 'net. Through systems, networks, and sprites..."
"Protectors of the right, defenders sworn to fight! DinoRangers roar, Power Rangers score!"
"Transformers! More than meets the eye! Transformers! Robots in Disguise!"

[Go-chin]

Just wondering... how many theme songs actually are descriptive/could only be used for that show?

Some of the best theme songs in America are just describing the show...

"GI Joe is the codename for America's daring, highly trained special mission force..."
"I come from the 'net. Through systems, networks, and sprites..."
"Protectors of the right, defenders sworn to fight! DinoRangers roar, Power Rangers score!"
"Transformers! More than meets the eye! Transformers! Robots in Disguise!" One Piece's OP.
Nearly every SR OP. (Ga ga ga! Ga ga ga! GAOGAIGAR!)
Nearly every sentai/mahou shoujo show. (Though sentai moreso. Most mahou shoujo nowadays seems to be known jpop.)
And more...

[UberMonkey]

Just wondering... how many theme songs actually are descriptive/could only be used for that show?

Some of the best theme songs in America are just describing the show...

"GI Joe is the codename for America's daring, highly trained special mission force..."
"I come from the 'net. Through systems, networks, and sprites..."
"Protectors of the right, defenders sworn to fight! DinoRangers roar, Power Rangers score!"
"Transformers! More than meets the eye! Transformers! Robots in Disguise!"
Well, since you mentioned them - I think for Sentai and Transformers series, they're both usually descriptive, no? In fact, I think it's fairly common for series that aim younger...

[Chad Bonin]

Well, duh... how could I forgot...

"1! Emergency! 2! Dekaranger! 3! Action! 4! Perfect! 5! Get on! Ready to go..."

[Crash]

Budget.

I remember reading a comment by one of the producers of X-Men: Evolution saying they had a paltry budget for the shows music. So they took what they had and made something exclusively for the show. (Rather than commissioning a full song a band and then using a 60 second clip of it.)

That is one nice part of the anime system: extended cuts of the (good) theme songs. Even when a Western theme is good (Batman Beyond, Justice League, JLU, heck, most of Timm's shows) its almost never more than a 60 second clip. Bout the only exceptions I know of were some of the Disney shows from the early nineties. (Ducktails had a good extended cut.) But, that's because it was Disney, which has a history of doing business with themes...