- Photo 1:
- Sunrise
- Photo 2:
- Nut
- Photo 3:
- MAPPA, Tezuka Productions
The 15 Best Anime With Jazz Music
Vote for the anime that makes your soul swing to its jazzy beat.
Jazz anime captures the soul of a genre steeped in improvisation and emotion, infusing its timeless rhythms into captivating storytelling. Among the finest anime with jazz music are Cowboy Bebop, a futuristic space odyssey brimming with thrilling escapades and poignant melodies, and Kids on the Slope, a heartfelt coming-of-age tale where jazz serves as the heartbeat of friendship and discovery. These masterpieces demonstrate how music becomes a character in its own right, elevating the narratives with its evocative presence.
This list explores the most exceptional anime with jazz music, each entry celebrating the genre’s transformative power. Whether you're a long-time fan of this dynamic fusion or discovering it for the first time, these rankings provide the perfect guide to uncovering some of the most unique gems in anime. Explore the full rankings and see which series hit all the right notes!
Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
Blue Giant charts the passionate journey of a young saxophonist chasing his dream of mastering jazz, a genre that becomes his life’s compass. The soundtrack is a harmonious blend of soulful melodies and energetic improvisations, embodying the raw power and emotion of live jazz performances.
What It's About:
When Dai Miyamoto hears a live jazz performance, he's touched on a deep level, and vows to become the world's best saxophone player. He begins to practice the tenor sax by himself, with no formal education and no ability to read sheet music.Recommend this?subscription
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Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
Cowboy Bebop transforms jazz into an interstellar soundtrack for bounty hunters, where every piece underscores the show’s dynamic action and melancholy undertones. Its legendary score by Yoko Kanno, blending bebop, blues, and experimental sounds, is as much a character as the crew of the Bebop themselves.
What It's About:
The adventures of a group of bounty hunters who travel around the solar system chasing criminals.Recommend this?featured
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Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
Although rooted in the art of rakugo storytelling, Descending Stories subtly uses jazz motifs in its score to underscore its themes of legacy, improvisation, and emotional depth. The fusion of traditional and modern elements reflects the evolving nature of both art forms.
What It's About:
Yotaro and Yakumo struggle with the passage of time and how it has come to affect their craft.Recommend this?Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
In Kids on the Slope, jazz serves as the emotional glue binding a trio of friends, its spontaneous rhythms mirroring their personal struggles and triumphs. The soundtrack brims with lively standards and heartfelt ballads, immersing viewers in a world where music speaks louder than words.
What It's About:
When Kaoru moves in with relatives, he discovers jazz music.Recommend this?Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
Blood Blockade Battlefront pulses with jazz energy as its chaotic cityscape comes alive through frenetic saxophones and intricate rhythms. The genre mirrors the series’ unpredictable nature, lending a vibrant, kinetic edge to its fantastical urban adventures.
What It's About:
The Libra organization battles to ensure peace and order in Hellsalem's Lot.Recommend this?featured
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ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept.
Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
The mellow jazz tones in ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. provide an understated elegance that complements its slow-burning political intrigue. The soundtrack’s smooth melodies enhance the series’ stylish aesthetic and nuanced narrative.
What It's About:
A cool-headed inspector navigates political intrigue and hidden conspiracies in a fractured kingdom of bureaucratic districts.
Recommend this? Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
The jazzy score of Baccano! fuels its fast-paced, non-linear narrative, infusing 1930s America with infectious energy. Its swinging brass and lively tempo capture the chaotic charm of a story filled with eccentric characters and intertwining fates.
What It's About:
A fantasy caper involving alchemists, gangsters and immortality is spread over several decades.Recommend this?- 1Bungo Stray Dogs161 Votes
- 2Durarara!!144 Votes
- 3Cowboy Bebop111 Votes
- 8
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt
Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
Jazz becomes a haunting counterpoint to war in Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, with its score juxtaposing intense battles against melancholic melodies. The improvisational spirit of jazz underscores the unpredictability and emotional toll of conflict.
What It's About:
A gritty clash of ideologies unfolds in space as two ace pilots fight amidst the haunting melodies of war.
Recommend this? Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
In Death Parade, the jazzy opening theme sets an oddly upbeat tone for its introspective exploration of life, death, and morality. The music’s intricate layers mirror the show’s psychological depth and its ability to surprise at every turn.
What It's About:
The Quindecim Bar hosts games between the recently deceased that determine the fate of their souls.Recommend this?featured
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Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
The moody jazz influences in Darker than Black add an atmospheric depth to its noir-inspired narrative, perfectly complementing the show’s enigmatic tone. The haunting melodies reflect the series’ themes of mystery and moral ambiguity.
What It's About:
Hei takes orders from the syndicate in Tokyo.Recommend this?Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
Durarara!! weaves jazzy tracks into its urban chaos, giving its bustling city a sense of enigmatic sophistication. The music’s syncopated rhythms echo the series’ layered storytelling and eclectic cast of characters.
What It's About:
In a chaotic urban sprawl, intertwining lives and mysterious events spiral into an electrifying tale of secrets and supernaturals.
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Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
Great Pretender uses jazz as a vibrant backdrop for its globe-trotting con artists, with an energetic score that matches the series’ flair and unpredictability. The music’s bold and daring spirit mirrors the high-stakes schemes and colorful personalities of its characters.
What It's About:
Makoto Edamura gets more than he bargained for when he tries to con noted crook Laurent Thierry.Recommend this?subscription
Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
In Kakegurui, jazz underscores the tense, unpredictable nature of high-stakes gambling, with sultry saxophones and complex rhythms adding to the series’ intoxicating allure. The soundtrack intensifies the drama and mirrors the psychological gambits at play.
What It's About:
A high-roller plans to clean house at a school where students are evaluated on gambling skills.Recommend this?- 14
Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
Though known for its western flair, Trigun incorporates jazzy undertones that bring a surprising layer of sophistication to its dusty, action-packed setting. These musical elements highlight the series’ blend of levity and introspection.
What It's About:
An outlaw named Vash the Stampede travels from town to town on a deserted planet.Recommend this?subscription
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Why Jazz Fans Will Love It:
In Outlaw Star, subtle jazz influences in its soundtrack lend a stylish, adventurous vibe to its intergalactic escapades. The genre’s versatility mirrors the series’ dynamic mix of humor, action, and heartfelt moments.
What It's About:
Gene Starwind fights his way across the galaxy to discover the secrets of the Outlaw Star.Recommend this?paid
