Anime songs & albums releases - May 2024

Soon to be out of Spring, we hope these summer months are starting to bring you hot weather, feel good vibes, and maybe even a holiday or two!

Of course, every summer needs a soundtrack, and whilst we make our way out of Spring, why not look to the songs below to see if any take your fancy.

The big hitter of the season, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc, never fails to drop iconic songs we love. Following on from last season’s collaboration with MAN WITH A MISSION and milet, we are treated to yet another partnership between two huge names in Japan. MY FIRST STORY & HYDE help deliver both the opening and ending to the show, with "MUGEN" and "Tokoshie".

In addition to this, we have seen the releases of "Wakaranai Ai" by The Brow Beat for "An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride," and the opening "Running In My Head" by MIYAVI for "Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture."

Two more highlights in particular that we want to share are Kevin Penkin's soundtrack for "Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf" and the long-awaited "Mushishi" OST by Toshio Masuda.

For those on Apple Music, and fans of the classics, there are now "Yu Yu Hakusho" albums to enjoy, including the entire original soundtrack by Yusuke Honma.

With some sadness, we do have to share that the "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" OST has now gone to being locked to Japan.

We hope you enjoy just a handful of the songs out this month, if not most of them!

Read on below for the full list for May 2024.

🌸 Spring 2024 releases

• An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride Opening  (full size) "Wakaranai Ai" by The Brow Beat

• Bartender: Glass of God Insert ep 5 "Swallow" by Oreo Reona (Gacharic Spin)

• Blue Archive the Animation
  Opening (TV size) "Seishun no Archive" by Abydos High School Countermeasure Council
  Ending (TV size) "Mahiru no Sora no Tsuki" by Abydos High School Countermeasure Council

• Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture
  Opening 1 "Running In My Head" by MIYAVI
  Ending 1 "Rozé" by Hikari Mitsushima

• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
  Opening "MUGEN" by MY FIRST STORY & HYDE
  Ending "Tokoshie" by HYDE & MY FIRST STORY

• Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolf
  Opening "FIGHT & PRIDE" by AA=
  Ending "CRY BOY" by AA=

• Girls Band Cry
  Insert ep 5 "What to raise - Shin Kawasaki (Temporary)" by TOGENASHI TOGEARI
  Insert ep 6 "Mind playing Fractal - beni-shouga" by TOGENASHI TOGEARI
  Insert ep 7 "Nameless Name" by TOGENASHI TOGEARI
  Insert ep 5 & 8 "ETERNAL FLAME ~Sora no Hako~" by Diamond Dust

• Gods' Game We Play
  Insert ep 6 "Yuuki no Hana" by Pearl (CV: Hina Tachibana)
  Original Soundtrack by Gin (BUSTED ROSE)

• Hatsukoi no Nioi Music Video "Hatsukoi no Nioi" by Sakura Fujiwara

• Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night
  Insert ep 4 "lovely weather" by Sunflower Dolls
  Ending ep 5 "Shibuya Aquarium" by JELEE
  Insert ep 8 "Ao Isshoku" by JELEE

• Kaiju No. 8
  OST: Kaiju Rock by Yuta Bandoh & THE KAIJU BAND
  OST: Scream by Yuta Bandoh & (sic)boy
  OST: Sagamihara Neutralization Operation by Yuta Bandoh & Various Artists
  OST: Warcry by Yuta Bandoh

• My Hero Academia Season 7
  Opening "Tagatame" by TK from Ling tosite sigure
  Ending "Tsubomi" by Omoinotake

• Pokémon Horizons: The Series Ending 2 "Let me battle" by 9Lana, Giga & TeddyLoid

• Rinkai! Ending "Override!" by Izumi Ito (CV: Umino Kawamura), Nana Hiratsuka (CV: Azusa Aoi), Miko Yahiko (CV: Rena Hasegawa), Sachi Nagoya (CV: Saika Kitamori), Kinusa Takamatsu (CV: Riho Sugiyama) & Ai Kumamoto (CV: Minami Hinata)

• Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf Original Soundtrack Vol. 1 by Kevin Penkin

• Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included Ending "Sunny Canvas" by SoundOrion

• The iDOLM@STER Shiny Colors
  Opening "Tsubasa Gravity" by Shiny Colors
  Ending ep 2 "Babel City Grace" by L'Antica
  Ending ep 3 "Alstroemeria" by Alstroemeria
  Ending ep 4 "Yumesaki After school" by Houkago Climax Girls
  Ending ep 5 "Hikari no destination" by illumination STARS

• The Irregular at Magic High School Season 3
  Ending 2 "Snow Noir" by Sangatsu no Phantasia
  Ending 3 "Shion no Hanataba o" by ASCA

• Trapezium
  Ending "Houi Jishin" by Yuu Azuma (CV: Asaki Yuikawa), Kurumi Taiga (CV: Hina Youmiya), Ranko Katori (CV: Reina Ueda) & Mika Kamei (CV: Haruka Aikawa)
  Insert "Naritai Jibun" by Yuu Azuma (CV: Asaki Yuikawa), Kurumi Taiga (CV: Hina Youmiya), Ranko Katori (CV: Reina Ueda) & Mika Kamei (CV: Haruka Aikawa)
  Theme song "Nanmonai" by MAISONdes, Suisei Hoshimachi & sakuma.
  Original Soundtrack

• Wind Breaker Insert ep 9 "Stronger" by Ryo Takahashi, Zachary Fitzgerald & Foggy-D

🌏 Off-season releases

• A Sign of Affection ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK by Yukari Hashimoto

• Blue Lock CHARACTER SONG SINGLE Vol. 1 by Seishiro Nagi (CV: Nobunaga Shimazaki), Reo Mikage (CV: Yuma Uchida) & Zantetsu Tsurugi (CV: Kazuyuki Okitsu)

• Chibi Maruko-chan: Watashi no Suki na Uta Insert "1969-nen no Drag Race" by Eiichi Ohtaki

• Initial D Battle Stage Insert "Doctor Love" by Dr. Love (available in more countries)

• Mahou Sensei Negima!
  Opening 1 "Happy☆Material"
  Opening 2 "Happy☆Material (More Rock ver.)"
  Opening 3 "Happy☆Material (More Happy ver.)"
  Opening 4 "Happy☆Material (Beloved ver.)"
  Opening 5 "Happy☆Material (Electric ver.)"
  Opening 6 "Happy☆Material (The Early Summer ver.)"
  Opening ep 26 (TV size) "Happy☆Material (31-nin ver.)" by Mahora Gakuen Chuutoubu 2-A 
  Ending 1 "Kagayaku Kimi e" by Mahora Gakuen Chuutoubu 2-A Kanakana-gumi
  Ending ep 26 "Kagayaku Kimi e ~Peace" by Mahora Gakuen Chuutoubu 2-A
  DVD Magic1 Bonus CD "Happy☆Material" by Meldiana Gasshoudan

• Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden
  Ending "Mahoro DE Mambo" by Triomatic (CV: Yumi Kikuchi, Manabi Mizuno, Asami Sanada)
  Vocal Album: Trio de Ikou♪ by Triomatic (CV: Yumi Kikuchi, Manabi Mizuno, Asami Sanada)

• Mahoromatic: Motto Utsukushii Mono
  Opening "Soleil" by Ayako Kawasumi
  Ending "Triomatic Ran Ran Ran♪" by Triomatic (CV: Yumi Kikuchi, Manabi Mizuno, Asami Sanada), Minawa (CV: Ai Shimizu) & Toshio Masuda
  OST: Ongaku-hen by Toshio Masuda

• Mahou Shoujo Pretty Sammy (1996) Ending 2 "Choushi ni Notte Orimashita" by THE RHYTHM KINGS

• Mushishi OST: Mushinone Zen by Toshio Masuda (including all ending songs)

• My Oni Girl
  Ending "Uso ja Nai" by ZUTOMAYO
  Original Soundtrack by Mina Kubota

• Odekake Kozame Original Soundtrack by Yoshiaki Fujisawa

• One Piece (now available on Spotify)
  Opening 15 "We go!" by Hiroshi Kitadani
  Arrange Collection (EUROBEAT)
  Arrange Collection (ROCK)

• Slam Dunk Opening 2 "Zettai ni Dare mo" by ZYYG

• Synduality: Noir Original Soundtrack by Masato Nakayama

• UQ Holder! Mahou Sensei Negima! 2
  Opening "Happy☆Material"
  Ending "Steady→Go!!"

• Yu☆Gi☆Oh!: Go Rush!! OST: SOUND RUSH THREE!! by Ryo Kawasaki, Tomoyuki Kono & 175R

• Yu Yu Hakusho (now available on Apple Music)
  Original Soundtrack by Yusuke Honma
  OST: Makai no Tobira-hen by Yusuke Honma
  Character Song: Music Battle-hen
  Character Song: Music Battle-hen 2
  Character Song: Music Battle-hen 3 ~Makai Densetsu~
  Vocal Album: Super Covers
  Vocal Album: Best Selection
  Vocal Album: Nesshou-hen 2 ~Duet & Karaoke Special~
  Vocal Album: Nesshou-hen ~Karaoke Battle Royal~
  Vocal Album: Theme Song & Character Song Collection
  Vocal Album: collective rare trax
  Vocal Album: Collective Songs

Lantis label released more songs & soundtracks:

• Konohana Kitan
  Ending ep 12 "Shiji: Kusa no Yukari" by Yuzu (CV: Yuko Ono)
  Ending 1 "Haru Urara, Kimi to Saki Hokoru" by Konohana-tei Nakai no Kai
  Ending 2 "Natsu Saki Koi Hanabi" by Natsume (CV: Ayaka Suwa) & Ren (CV: Risa Kubota)
  Ending 3 "Akanezora, Kimi Mau Kouyou no Sanpomichi" by Sakura (CV: Ai Kakuma) & Kiri (CV: Manami Numakura)
  Ending 4 "Yukihana Kirameku Ieji nite" by Yuzu (CV: Yuko Ono) & Satsuki (CV: Sawako Hata)
  Original Soundtrack by Hajime Kikuchi
  Vocal Album: Konohana-tei no Shiki by Konohana-tei Nakai no Kai

• Saint Beast: Ikusen no Hiru to Yoru-hen
  Opening "Kizuna & Sadame" by Shiseiju
  Ending ep 2 "Kokoro no Kaeru Basho" by Seiryuu no Gou (CV: Toshiyuki Morikawa), Genbu no Shin (CV: Takahiro Sakurai) & Kirin no Judas (CV: Akira Ishida)
  Ending ep 1 "Ikusen no Hiru to Yoru" by Houou no Luka (CV: Hikaru Midorikawa), Suzaku no Rei (CV: Kouki Miyata) & Byakko no Gai (CV: Hiroyuki Yoshino)
  OST: Trembled Memories

• Saint Beast: Kouin Jojishi Tenshi Tan
  Ending 1 "Kouin Jojishi Tenshi Tan ~Angel Chronicles~" by Pearl (CV: Tatsuhisa Suzuki), Tenshi Saki (CV: Takuma Terashima) & Tenshi Yuri (CV: Wataru Hatano)
  Ending 2 "Tsubasa Aru Mono" by Houou no Luka (CV: Hikaru Midorikawa) & Suzaku no Rei (CV: Kouki Miyata)
  Ending 3 "Retsu GO! GUY!" by Seiryuu no Gou (CV: Toshiyuki Morikawa) & Byakko no Gai (CV: Hiroyuki Yoshino)
  OST: Fatal Melodies by Hijiri Anze

• Saint Beast: Seijuu Kourin-hen
  Ending ep 6 "Kitty" by Fuuga no Maya (CV: Kenichi Suzumura)
  Ending ep 5 "birdcage" by Ryuusei no Kira (CV: Tomokazu Sugita)
  Ending ep 4 "Bus Stop" by Byakko no Gai (CV: Hiroyuki Yoshino)
  Ending ep 3 "Four Seasons" by Suzaku no Rei (CV: Kouki Miyata)
  Ending ep 2 "SWEET ANGEL" by Genbu no Shin (CV: Takahiro Sakurai)
  Ending ep 1 "Owaranai Yume no Hitotoki" by Seiryuu no Gou (CV: Toshiyuki Morikawa)
  OST: Sounds of the BEAST by Yoshinobu Hiraiwa
  Vocal Album: Legend of the BEAST

• True Tears
  Original Soundtrack by Hajime Kikuchi
  Image Album: Tears...for truth
  Image Album: Nostalgic Arietta by eufonius, Noe Isurugi (CV: Ayahi Takagaki), Hiromi Yuasa (CV: Kaori Nazuka), Aiko Ando (CV: Yuka Iguchi) & Various Artists

👩‍🎤 Artist related

Seiyuu unit Yamato Nadeshiko (Yukari Tamura & Yui Horie) songs are now available on streaming platforms, including:

• Love Hina Christmas Special: Silent Eve Insert "Koi no Tenshi Maiorite" by Yamato Nadeshiko

🇯🇵 Japan only

• A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics Original Soundtrack by Misaki Umase, Tsugumi Tanaka & Hanae Nakamura

• Tadaima, Okaeri Original Soundtrack by Megumi Ohashi

• Uma Musume: Pretty Derby - Beginning of a New Era
  Theme song "Ready!! Steady!! Derby!!" by Jungle Pocket (CV: Yuri Fujimoto), Agnes Tachyon (CV: Sumire Uesaka), Manhattan Cafe (CV: Yui Ogura) & Dantsu Flame (CV: Haruna Fukushima)
  Original Soundtrack

👋 They left us...

• Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Original Soundtrack by Kenji Kawai is now only available in Japan 🇯🇵