Have you ever jammed out to an amazing OST while watching a cartoon or anime? There’s no doubt that music has a strong effect on us and I love it when animated shows are centered around bands or feature entertaining musical acts. They always leave me with songs that I’ll listen to on repeat. Here are just some of the fictional music acts I’ve enjoyed in anime and cartoons and would love to see in a live concert.
Kids on The Slope
For fans of Jazz, Kids on The Slope is an anime you should check out for the music alone. With a score by Yoko Kanno, the series follows Kaoru Nishimi, an introverted high school student who discovers jazz music through his friendship with his delinquent classmate Sentarō Kawabuchi. There’s no specific band name for this talented musical duo, but their performances are enthralling to watch and they perform some solid jazz standards. If they held a performance at a jazz club, they would sell out tickets immediately.
Jem and The Holograms
This series about record company owner Jerrica Benton, her singer alter-ego Jem, and the adventures of Jem and her band The Holograms is full of 80s pop tunes with immensely catchy lyrics. The show contains a total of 187 music videos with 151 unique songs, so they have a large catalog of music to listen to. I love the fun fashion and upbeat pop tracks of the shows. How epic would it be to see a concert live where they face-off with rival band The Misfits?
Black Stones – Nana
In this anime series, one of the lead characters, Nana Ozaki, is the vocalist for a punk band called Black Stones. I love how the show navigates her friendship that blossoms with Nana Komatsu and how it shows their journey to pursue their respective dreams while living in the city. Nana has the vocal chops and commands the performance with each song the band plays. I love their beautiful ballads and overall rock sound that is displayed in the show.
Josie and The Pussycats
Josie and The Pussycats had a sound that got their listeners moving and grooving. The Pussycats featured a teenage all-girl pop music band that toured the world with their entourage, getting mixed up in strange adventures, spy capers, and mysteries. I love the 70s funk vibe in their songs and their songs instantly put me in a better mood. They have the sound and vocals that will get you dancing in your seat and feeling the beat. A retro band with a truly groovy sound!
Powerline – A Goofy Movie
Powerline is mainly a soloist, but still has a group of backup singers that add even more flavor to his live performances. Powerline from A Goofy Movie takes me back to the music that I love from the 90s and provides me with songs that I always dance to. Not only does he have powerful vocals, but he has a strong stage presence that keeps the audience entertained. He’s so full of charisma that I feel that his stadium tour would be full of special effects and surprises.
Carole & Tuesday
Carole & Tuesday is an anime where two girls decide to band together to create a musical duo that writes their own music and plays live instruments in a world where everything is becoming digitized. I love how light-hearted and motivational it can be at times and it shows hardships that they endure through entering the music scene. This OST is incredible and the music is so good! Carole & Tuesday has soothing vocals and songs that can resonate with a wide audience. I feel like they would make great waves in the indie music scene.
Do you have a favorite fictional band or music group that you love to listen to? Tell us about them!
