Very little do numerous non-Japanese animated programs produce and sell their own soundtracks, but what makes anisongs different? As we shared before, a great number of them feature popular Japanese artists. One notable example is Red Swan, the opening theme to season 3 of Attack on Titan, which collaborates Yoshiki of X-Japan and HYDE from L’arc~en~ciel. To put that in a Western perspective, it’s as if Eddie Van Halen, Billy Gibbons and Jimmy Hendrix got together and jammed. While Red Swan takes a left turn from the intensity of the previous opening themes, many manga fans praise it for capturing and foreshadowing the emotional nature of the Uprising Arc. It is masterfully composed with powerful lyrics and amazing instrumentals. Not only was it a big deal in anime, but to the world of Japanese music as a whole.

Anisongs just go the extra mile in bringing the viewers into their world and makes the series more impacting to its audience. One notable example is Make My Story from My Hero Academia, it resonates with the anime’s themes of overcoming one’s adversities and taking control of one’s destiny. It perfectly reflects Izuku’s journey and the lyrics are relatable to audiences around the world.

As anime in its Japanese form finds an international audience, as will anisongs. In the last decade, big name cons such as Anime Expo have even done karaoke contests where fans sing anime songs in Japanese! Not only does the winner get bragging rights, they get a recording contract! Stephanie Yanez, the first ever winner of Anime Expo’s idol contest, has gone on to collaborate on Hatsune Miku tracks! Considering that cons now do such contests with actual celebrity guests, it is one indication to show how anisongs have become popular amongst the international fan base.

Not only do cons offer idol contests, they even get bands and singers from Japan to perform. JAM Project, which consists of many legendary anisong artists (most notably Hironobu Kageyama), have done concerts in US based conventions as have L’arc~en~ciel, Momoiro Clover Z, and Porno Graffiti. The fact that these bands who have contributed to anime come all the way out for international anime fans is a good indication that anisongs are growing in popularity.

Not only do fans sing songs for conventions, many anime fans in a small handful of countries have attempted to go on a nationally televised singing contest (akin to American Idol or The Voice) so they can share their passion for anime and its music. For the controversial American Idol show, an anime fan attempted to audition (by singing a non-anime song) but in her promo video, she shared she wanted to be a singer in Japan and even demonstrated a bit of the Lucky Star dance. In Spain, a Naruto fan auditioned for his nation’s singing show by singing Haruka Kanata in Japanese. In a similar show in France, a Saint Seiya fan auditioned by singing Pegasus Fantasy in Japanese. Due to those contestants not singing in their native languages, the judges felt by listening to a song they can’t understand, there’s no reason to bother with them. However, a Thai fan of Saint Seiya managed to get a better reception in his nation’s televised performance thanks to his superb talent.

Then there are instances of Peruvian fans singing anime theme songs in their native Spanish. In one Peruvian televised singing show, an anime fan performed the Spanish versions to Pegasus Fantasy and Cha-La Head Cha-La. Considering the history of anime in those nations have a different history compared to that of some other nations, it’s more natural for them to be receptive to such contestants and it helps to sing in the local language.