Eclectic Anime-Inspire Soundtrack
Part of what makes anime so unique as a medium is a way it uses sound and music, completely changing its tone or style. Just take a look at something like Cowboy Bebop, which uses its soundtrack in brilliant ways to set a western them mixed with elements of pop. Cowboy Bebop wouldn’t be what it is without its soundtrack.
Sadly, this is something that Hollywood adaptions of anime just haven’t really gotten, option for either big-budget orchestral soundtracks like Alita, or some kind of futuristic synth, like Ghost in the Shell. However, this is something that Gundam can change, heavily leaning into its eclectic music roots.
Gundam has always used a varied selection of musical styles; just look at the slow romantic song that’s the first ending of Gundam 0083, or the intense pop opening of Gundam Wing; two series that came out only four years apart. Even past that, Gundam Thunderbolt fantastically characterizes its two main characters by mixing jazz and pop music into its action.
Looking at all of this, the Gundam film absolutely needs to do something interesting with its soundtrack, and not just have an epic orchestral score. Use different genres of music, use songs with lyrics, really go for it. It’s frustrating that anime adaptions haven’t gotten the music aspect down pat, and that’s something that Gundam would be perfectly situated to fix.
