Kohei Tanaka (composer)

is a Japanese composer who has created numerous musical scores for famous anime series. Tanaka was born in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture in February 14 1954.

He has created sweeping orchestral works for a range of formats, from anime audio CDs to Japanese game soundtracks.

Career

He entered into Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music (Music faculty-Composition department) and studied under Tomojirô Ikenouchi and other professors. Tanaka worked for three years at Victor Music Industries after he had graduated. He went to study to Berklee College of Music for two years after he had left Victor. After had returned to Japan, Tanaka started the activity as composer.

Though he had playing at the hotel at first, he was requested to compose an inserted song of "", a 1982 TV anime , and it became his first work as a composer. Afterwards, he handled some compositions of the inserted songs for the Super Sentai series and did the compositions of the background music for the first time for a TV anime nihongo|"Konpora Kid"|コンポラキッド|Konpora Kiddo in 1985.

Notably, the "Gunbuster"'s BGM made his name and talent very famous among anime fans and is recognized one of the his most important works. [ [http://tanakakouhei.com/profile.html Profile of Tanaka Kohei] from approved website] He also handled the composition of "Diebuster", a sequel series of "Gunbuster", and showed a peculiar arrangement to his own work 17 years ago.

His composition is especially known by the "Hot" strings of that. Another his most important work is often enumerated "The King of Braves GaoGaiGar", a 1997 TV anime, and GaoGaiGar Final, 2000 OVA.

In 2002, he won the first Tokyo Anime Award for Best Music by the music of Overman King Gainer

Voice

Tanaka seems to respect Ennio Morricone, occasionally introduces himself as Ennio Morricone Jr. and sings. He is not only a composer but also very good at the song and his voice seems to have four octaves in high and low. He is occasionally participating in own composed tune as a chorus.

The voices of the eyecatchs of "Gunbuster" and "Diebuster" are him. [A interview with Kohei Tanaka from the "Diebuster Soundtrack" (2006). Because it was an off-the-beaten-path fact and nobody had asked him in 18 years, he spoke voluntarily.]

Anime Music

Kohei Tanaka has worked on the following anime series:

; 1985
*"Konpora Kid" - TV series
*"Yume no Hoshi no Button Nose" - TV series

; 1986
*"Doteraman" - TV series

; 1987
*"Anime Sanjushi" - TV series
*"Esper Mami" - TV series and Movie
*"Dead Heat" - OVA
*"Dirty Pair" - OVA
*"Lady Lady!!" - TV series and Movie

; 1988
*"Gunbuster" - OVA and 2006 Movie
*"Vampire Princess Miyu" - OVA and 1997 TV series
*"Hello! Lady Lin" - TV series

; 1989
*"Hiatari Ryōkō!" - Movie
*"Mado King Granzort" - TV series
*"Chimpui" - TV series and Movie

; 1990
*""
*"Assemble Insert"
*"Brave Exkaiser" - TV series
*"Kennosuke-sama" - Movie
*"Sengoku Busho Retsuden Bakufu Doji Hissatsuman" - OVA

; 1991
*"Otaku no Video" - OVA
*"Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh" - TV series

; 1992
*"Bastard!!"
*"Kouryu Densetsu Villgust" the animation - OVA
*"" - OVA
*"Licca-chan no Nichiyoubi" - OVA songs

; 1993
*"Dragon Half" - OVA
*"Kenyuu Densetsu Yaiba" - TV series

; 1994
*"Mobile Fighter G Gundam - TV series

; 1996
*"Violinist of Hameln" - TV series
*"" - OVA series

; 1997
*"The King of Braves GaoGaiGar"
*"Sakura Wars" - OVA, 2000 TV series and 2001 Movie

; 1998
*"Galaxy Express 999 ~Eternal Fantasy~" - Movie

; 1999
*"Betterman" - TV series
*"Dai-Guard" - TV series
*"One Piece" - TV series

; 2000
*"The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final" - OVA
*"Gate Keepers" - TV series

; 2001
*"Angelic Layer" - TV series
*"Gundam Evolve" - OVA

; 2002
*"Asobotto Senki Goku" - TV series
*"Overman King Gainer" - TV series
*"Tenchi Muyo! GXP" - TV series

; 2003
*"Gad Guard" - TV series

; 2004
*"Desert Punk" - TV series
*"Diebuster" - OVA
*"Kaiketsu Zorori" - TV series

; 2005
*"Ah! My Goddess" - TV songs
*"Animal Yokochō" - TV songs

; 2006
*"Buso Renkin" - TV series

Games

*"Alundra" 1 and 2
*"Just Breed"
*"Legend of Legaia"
*"Paladin's Quest" ("Enix")
*"Sakura Wars"
*"Tengai Makyou Zero Zettai"

References

External links

* [http://tanakakouhei.com/ Kohei Tanaka approved website]
* [http://www.ocremix.org/composer/id/409/kohei-tanaka/ Composer profile] at OverClocked ReMix
* [http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,85239/ Rap sheet] at MobyGames