History SoundtrackDissonance / Anime

* ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles'' provides an example in the various dubs. Where the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJhhVqaSPRk original opening]] and the soundtrack are appropriate to an anime telling the tragic story of Marie Antoinette, dub versions tend to have cheerful and happy songs, with the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJJwr8tGjIY French one]] being one of the perkiest[[note]]Sort of {{Justified}} with FridgeLogic: the anime switches the focus on Oscar, who is an officer who ultimately sided with the Revolution and gave her life to help the Storming of the Bastille. To a Frenchman who didn't watch the actual series or didn't read the original manga, this actually sounds happy (and the opening is actually centered on that).

** Really, this series is utterly in love with this trope. From the examples listed above, to the heavy use of jazz, soft rock, baroque classical and J-pop in the soundtrack, at least half the music in the series stands in direct contrast to the dark and twisted machinations of the plot. Just listen to Shiro Sagisu's Thanatos, either the original or the vocal version used in [=EoE=]. Nice, jazzy song, right? Well, "Thanatos" = "DEATH". There. That summarizes the mood of the soundtrack.

* In the fourth ''LightNovel/TheGardenOfSinners'' movie, Shiki is attacked in the hospital by a living corpse while Mikiya softly sings [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUgHR9X6qnA Singing in the Rain]]. Is also GratuitousEnglish.

* ''Anime/AkibaMaidWar'''s first episode where Ranko brutally guns down the army of maids from Wuv-Wuv Moonbeam, which is interspersed with Yumechi singing a poppy idol song for the customers at [[CosplayCafe Ton Tokoton]]. Like most of the anime's violence, this is [[BlackComedy played for very dark laughs]], as Ranko's gunshots are timed to the song's beat and her GunKata incorporates typical idol fan dance moves.

* ''Anime/AkibaMaidWar'' has a scene where Ranko brutally guns down the army of maids from Wuv-Wuv Moonbeam while a poppy idol song plays in the background. Like most of the anime's violence, this is [[BlackComedy played for very dark laughs]], as Ranko's gunshots are timed to the song's beat and her GunKata incorporates typical idol fan dance moves.

* In its original version, the first ''Anime/{{Digimon|Adventure}}'' movie set a fight scene between {{kaiju}} to the tune of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r30D3SW4OVw Bolero]], a ballet piece.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYrlSjQyrzY Hey Digimon]], if you watched the second part of the first season of Digimon, I don't need to go on. For those who haven't, this song plays at the ending, where it fit as a 'what good times we had', and when a hero's digimon get the upper hand, where it come off as jarring as it lack the bite for a fight song. It’s also a bit egregious as it plays during both times Myotismon is killed, where it doesn’t quite fit a major villain getting his commupance.

** In the 7th episode of ''[[Anime/DanganRonpa3 Danganronpa 3 Side:Despair]]''. Junko Enoshima forced Mukuro to sing it. She does so [[spoiler:signaling the start of the killing game in which members of the student council try to kill each other [[Literature/BattleRoyale Battle Royale]]-style.]]

* In ''Anime/CowboyBebop'', the seamless blending of Jazz and sci-fi action-drama elements was the entire premise of the anime.
** Special mention to the serene vocal ballad ([=ELM=]) played during the speedboat/spaceship chase at the end of Ganymede Elegy.
** Then there is the Ave Maria recording snug by opera singer Jerzy Knetig in "Ballad of Fallen Angels". Faye Valentine attends a live performance, being invited by a mysterious gentleman. Turns out the gentleman is Vicious and to add insult to injury, the guy who actually bought the tickets is in their same opera box, rigor mortis setting in.
* In ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'', the "Now I've lost it I know I can kill" intro generally fits the show, despite the intentional irony in the lyrics.. But after sitting through an episode of the usual [=DtB=] action, the calm, relaxing, romantic closing song that plays as the credits scroll over a picture of Yin sitting in a field of flowers make it seem more like a minefield.

* At the end of ''Creator/OsamuTezuka's Anime/{{Metropolis}}'', Rock blows up the Ziggurat as Kenichi struggles to save the power-dizzy Tima. Music/RayCharles's version of "I Can't Stop Loving You" plays instead of sound effects. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPRkU9gOKF4 This]] clip is from the Spanish dub, but it'll give you the picture.

* The opening song to ''[[LightNovel/BludgeoningAngelDokuroChan Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro Chan]]'' fits this to a T. A little girl singing gleefully with images of her torturing a young boy various ways playing throughout.

* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic : The Second Raid''. While Yui-Lan is going berserk on some rebels, Gates is singing Ave Maria. Ave Maria with screams and machine gun fire in the background.

* ''LightNovel/ScrappedPrincess'' keeps the same upbeat sound for the commercial break bumpers as the series itself becomes more and more serious/dramatic. For that matter, its opening theme is a cheery little song about hope. It plays over a montage of the main characters fleeing their home as it is [[DoomedHometown burned by the army trying to kill Pacifica]].

* Arguably, the second ''LightNovel/StrawberryPanic'' ED. Just as the series is taking a turn for the dramatic the original ED is replaced by a very happy go lucky song filled with LesYay overtones in which the singers are two dimensional paper dolls in several colourful settings. At one point the contrast is nothing short of appalling, after Nagisa breaks down crying in a very emotional moment the episode comes to an end with her sobbing and then [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKqYdEab234 Extreme Sugariness follows]].

* In ''LightNovel/{{Toradora}}'', what song is playing after [[spoiler:Taiga cries as she realizes she loves Ryuji, who she just sent to be with her friend, said friend seeing this and deciding she couldn't have him either and then rejecting Ryuji while Ami is left unable to express herself, leaving all four miserable and alone on ''Christmas'']]? A happy Christmas song about togetherness and not being lonely.

* Averted in ''Anime/FullMetalAlchemist''. Most of the songs attached to the ending credits are really cheery. When [[spoiler:Maes Hughes]] dies, his funeral and the appropriate dirge are played instead.
** Played straight after [[spoiler: Nina's]] death. The ending music is the same, the images however changed to show the dead character being cute and adorable.
*** The new animation, however, manages to make the upbeat music seem rather poignant.
** There is ''Bratja'' though. This beautiful quiet music, whose lyrics are partly sung by a choral of children, is almost always played during a scene of massive destruction. But the lyrics (in Russian) are completely in harmony with the events of the anime.
*** Better; the lyrics are about the anime. A rare occurrence for the media.

* The anime adaptation of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind'' has a notorious example at the end of almost every episode during the first half. ''Golden Wind'' tries to go for a more semi-serious approach whilst not ditching the absurdity of [=JoJo=], and while other Parts and the second half of ''Golden Wind'' have fitting songs to go with the tone of their stories, ''Golden Wind'''s first half uses... "Freek'n You" by Music/{{Jodeci}}. In a story about gangsters rising up to the top of their ranks to overthrow their corrupt boss. ...And usually after serious or heartbreaking scenes occur, too. Can you say, "juxtaposition much"?

** ''Manga/MobileSuitGundamThunderbolt'' takes this to absurd lengths with its OVAs as Io Fleming slaughters Zeon soldiers while listening to jazz music while the Zeon "Living Dead Division" listens to catchy J-Pop music while they snipe Federation suits.

* At the end of ''Creator/OsamuTezuka's Anime/{{Metropolis}}'', Rock blows up the Ziggurat as Kenichi struggles to save the power-dizzy Tima. Music/RayCharles's version of "I Can't Stop Lovingly You" plays instead of sound effects. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPRkU9gOKF4 This]] clip is from the Spanish dub, but it'll give you the picture.

* ''Anime/GargantiaOnTheVerdurousPlanet'' was written by [[Creator/GenUrobuchi the same guy]] as ''Anime/PsychoPass'' and ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' below (though in this case, he's just the script supervisor). At the end of Episode 6, the beautiful, calming EndingSong by ChoChou comes just after our hair-triggered former ChildSoldier is starting to settle into peaceful civilian life...[[spoiler:when it turns out that his lifelong enemies, which he thought were back in deep space, are in fact living on Earth]]. In subsequent episodes the OceanWorld barge fleet that took him on splits up over disagreements on how to deal with them and over treasure guarded by [[spoiler:the enemies]] on the ocean floor, and then comes the AwfulTruth at the end of Episode 9, and the dissonance of the ED is downright heartbreaking. It also doesn't help how the video shows our cheery leading lady windsurfing with an effervescent smile, while she spends much of the previous three episodes in tears.

* In its original version, the first ''Anime/{{Digimon|Adventure}}'' movie set a fight scene between {{kaiju}} to the tune of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89ryiqHfwu8 Bolero]], a ballet piece.

* ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena'' makes use of these fairly often, sometimes dramatic, sometimes...um, surreal. For instance, the soundtrack becomes beautiful opera--while in the foreground [[BalefulPolymorph cow-Nanami]] charges at a red sweater held by Utena. Yeah, it's [[BizarroEpisode that kind of episode]].

* ''Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam'' does this quite well, both the openings and ending are quite happy and upbeat but the show itself is very dark and bloody.
* As [[spoiler:Stella dies in Shinn's arms]] in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny,'' the typical happy, semi-romantic country music end theme starts up (it's called "I Wanna Go To A Place..."), growing more upbeat as Shinn begins sobbing, and cutting to the credits just as Shinn lets loose a rather convincing scream of pure, inarticulate rage and grief. The credits are shown over a pleasant, pastoral scene apparently depicting an {{Elseworld}} where everyone in the cast is alive and together with loved ones...
** [[http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/gundamseedd/wannagotoaplace.htm The lyrics to the song]] themselves qualify as LyricalDissonance; the climax goes "Is it really okay?/It's never going to be".
** Also the climactic arc of the series was prefaced by the mind-boggling new opening song: The Earth, Wind & Fire-inspired "Wings of Words."
** Any time Shinn attacks in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsK''. His BGM is ''Zips'', a light, energetic mecha opening that plays away while he goes all angsty-berserker on whatever poor sap you've sicced him on.
*** In multiple SD Gundam G Generation games (such as WARS and WORLD), when Shinn battles, his theme music is Zips. When he's in SEED-Mode (Max MP or higher), his theme music changes. This is the case for multiple characters, in fact. For Shinn, his Super-Critical BGM is "Anna ni Issho Datta no ni", a calm, beautiful love-song, which is juxtapositioned against Shinn's very angry screaming. It almost sounds agonizing. For SEED-Kira, the SEED-Mode BGM is the same as the Preview theme from SEED, while Kira talks about how he wants the war to end.
** During episode 7, the soothing "Fields of Hope" is played against footage of horrifying destruction, as [[ColonyDrop Junius Seven's fragments crash to Earth]], annihilating cities around the world. In an example of Administrivia/TropesAreNotBad, this actually proves to be one of the most powerful scenes in the series. It was purposefully done, Lacus Clyne singing it, a popular diva on the show, sings it to calm down the kids in her bombshelter.
** In Phase 41 of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'', while Lacus and Patrick Zala were engaged in a propaganda war on the [=PLANTs=], [[spoiler: Siegel, Lacus's father, was assassinated by Zala's soldiers]], with Lacus's image song, "Mizu no Akashi", playing in the background.
** Seed Destiny also has the track "Senka no Kizuato", a triumphant, Baroque piece that plays as fanatical Blue Cosmos soldiers fire nukes at the Zaft colonies.
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' is a dark, somber series that deals with [[WarIsHell the futility of war]] and the pointless loss of life that comes with it. The opening theme, meanwhile, is a catchy pop tune with lyrics like "Fire up your soul! Fire up your soul! Fire up your soul, Gundam!" and "[[BrokenAesop Shoot them up! Shoot them up! Shoot them uuuuuuuup!]]"
** ''Soldiers of Sorrow'', which is heard during the second movie, is an upbeat piece. Too upbeat for the lyrics that go with it.
** ''Encounters'' (in the third movie) is another battle scene number, this one has a sound that is eerily reminiscent of a Beatles song.
* The Remastered [=DVDs=] of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'' manages to pull this off with the menus for discs 6, 7 and 8. The animation leading up to the menu itself features various episode clips of characters getting shot at, from Heero to Lady Une, whilst the rather upbeat ending theme, "It's Just Love", plays in the background!
** Speaking of ''Gundam Wing'', in episode 41, [[DiegeticSoundtrackUsage "Rhythm Emotion", the show's second opening theme]], is playing during the Gundam Team and White Fang's assault on Barge, ending with [[spoiler:Zechs singlehandedly destroying the space station with Epyon]]. It also happened at the end of episode 36, after Relena surrendered to Romefeller and dissolved the Sanc Kingdom, and during Heero's ZERO System-induced rampage as he destroys several mobile dolls with Epyon.
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' has children's choir playing during the final battle between [[spoiler:Gundam Exia and 0 Gundam]].
** Then TheMovie has the final battle starting to go sour for the good guys as [[spoiler:they just lost their WaveMotionGun to ELS assimilation]]. Then an ELS craft breaks through their final defensive line... and [[spoiler:Andrei]] charges at it. The ELS starts to assimilate his mobile suit, to which he responds by [[HeroicSacrifice pushing his]] [[SuperMode Trans-Am]] [[ExplosiveOverclocking beyond the maximum safe level]]. All the while, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMLwkjslxK0 this]] plays. It's a really intense TearJerker.
* Most if not the soundtrack ''itself'' for ''Anime/TurnAGundam'' in a meta-sense, thanks in part to Music/YokoKanno's work. With its peculiar blend of techno, pastoral, tribal and period-piece tunes, not to mention some orchestral pieces and a Disney-esque AwardBaitSong, it's at best a departure from many ''Gundam'' shows. Yet it really does a pretty good job in setting the tone of the series.
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'': Mikazuki's fight against Carta in episode 23 is set to the usual heroic music that accompanies his fights, as he [[spoiler:systematically tears her mecha to pieces around her instead of going for his usual quick kill, leaving her injured, helpless, and delirious in her cockpit even as he continues to attack]], which comes off as less than heroic.
* ''Manga/MobileSuitGundamThunderbolt'' takes this to absurd lengths with its OVAs as Io Fleming slaughters Zeon soldiers while listening to jazz music while the Zeon "Living Dead Division" listens to catchy J-Pop music while they snipe Federation suits.

* In ''VisualNovel/{{CLANNAD}}'', think of any episode that ends even somewhat dramatically or sad. Cue the {{Tastes Like Diabetes}} Dango Daikazoku. "Dango, Dango, Dango, Dango..."

** In ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion 2.0'', Shinji [[spoiler:setting off [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Third Impact]]]], set to this piece.

* StockSoundEffects: When the young boy runs to the village, sound effects akin to Creator/HannaBarbera are heard.

** Similar to the GX example above, most of the Japanese ending themes for ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'' are extremely upbeat and positive, usually featuring the protagonists have fun or relaxing with each other. The actual show is notoriously angsty and dark, even by this franchise's standards. Often, every few episodes will end with something tragic (like a character dying, someone revealing their tragic past, Yuya confronting the realities of war or losing a friend) will immediately be followed with a peppy theme tune about teamwork, never giving up, and having fun.

* The Japanese folk song "Tsubasa o Kudasai" ("Please Give Me Wings") started to gain this towards TheNewTens for anime and anime-inspired games.

** "Tell Me Why" by The Penpals is the intro theme of the [[Anime/Berserk1997 1997 anime adaptation]]. It's a catchy yet surreal, upbeat melody with broken GratuitousEnglish lyrics that sharply contrasts with the dark and violent mood of the whole series, especially in the final episodes.

* ''Anime/GargantiaOnTheVerdurousPlanet'' was written by [[Creator/GenUrobuchi the same guy]] as ''Anime/PsychoPass'' and ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' above (though in this case, he's just the script supervisor). At the end of Episode 6, the beautiful, calming EndingSong by ChoChou comes just after our hair-triggered former ChildSoldier is starting to settle into peaceful civilian life...[[spoiler:when it turns out that his lifelong enemies, which he thought were back in deep space, are in fact living on Earth]]. In subsequent episodes the OceanWorld barge fleet that took him on splits up over disagreements on how to deal with them and over treasure guarded by [[spoiler:the enemies]] on the ocean floor, and then comes the AwfulTruth at the end of Episode 9, and the dissonance of the ED is downright heartbreaking. It also doesn't help how the video shows our cheery leading lady windsurfing with an effervescent smile, while she spends much of the previous three episodes in tears.

* The anime adaptation of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo'' has a notorious example at the end of almost every episode during the first half. ''Vento Aureo'' tries to go for a more semi-serious approach whilst not ditching the absurdity of [=JoJo=], and while other Parts and the second half of ''Vento Aureo'' have fitting songs to go with the tone of their stories, ''Vento Aureo'''s first half uses... "Freek'n You" by Music/{{Jodeci}}. In a story about gangsters rising up to the top of their ranks to overthrow their corrupt boss. ...And usually after serious or heartbreaking scenes occur, too. Can you say, "juxtaposition much"?