Collecting Anime/Video Game Soundtracks

Posted on 27th July 2024 by

Collecting Anime and Video Game Soundtracks

Collecting anime and video game soundtracks is a fantastic way of enjoying your favourite franchises in another format. Since the early days, both anime and video games have brought us some fantastic vocal tracks and instrumental pieces. From the power vocal collections of Bubblegum Crisis incredible orchestral tracks from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. There’s something for everyone.

Finding Soundtracks in the UK

There have been soundtrack releases available in the UK, but on a very limited scale. With more variety via digital downloads. For a few of the larger anime/game releases, the US have created their own soundtrack releases. Companies like Square Enix have made the soundtracks available through their own website. But for a large number of soundtracks, the releases have been limited to Japan in a physical form.

Despite Japan giving the impression of futuristic living, they still enjoy a lot of the older technology. They have only recently discontinued using floppy disks within the past year.

Some examples of Soundtracks which were released in the US/UK.

In this article, we’re going to go through the number of ways you can get your hands on anime/video game physical soundtracks. We’ll look at some of the best ways of getting a bargain.

But first, an important topic needs to be addressed:

Bootleg soundtracks

From very early on, collecting anime and video game soundtracks has been a minefield. There have been companies creating bootleg versions. These can be bought for much cheaper than the original version, but are of much lower quality and harm the industry by selling inferior products. This stops the original creators from receiving the profits for their work. The bootlegs sometimes go above and beyond, by duplicating a sleeve and additional inserts. This makes the product look more legitimate than they are.

There’s a couple of simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your wallet from falling foul of accidently purchasing one of these bootlegs.

What to look out for

An example of a bootleg copy of the Final Fantasy VII soundtrack

Look for the record company – All of the albums will have a record company listed on the box and the disc. Bootleg companies won’t put the original record company on their versions, but add their own company. A couple of the most notorious companies are Miya Records (Using a MICA code on their releases) and K-O Records. If you see their name or logo anywhere near the product you want, steer clear.

The top Final Fantasy boxset (Miya Records) is a bootleg. The bottom boxset (Square Enix) is a legitimate copy. Keep an eye out for signs like this.

Top (bootleg) has a lot less information. Bottom has the Square Enix logo and more details.

If you want to be absolutely certain if a CD is real or a bootleg, the VGMDB.net website is a fantastic resource to check codes and make sure what you are buying is real.

Where to buy your music:

Go to the source

A great way of building up your collection is to go to the source! Some soundtracks you may be able to find in stores like HMV or reliable independent music stores. That way you know you’ll be buying the real deal. Some independent stores like Vinyl Guru have understood the rise of anime/video game music collecting and even have their own section dedicated to the genre.

As a more extreme option for the releases which never saw a release in the West, there is the option to go soundtrack hunting in:

Japan!

There are many places you can go soundtrack hunting in Japan. If you’re looking the latest releases, Tower Records have stores across Tokyo and is a fantastic place to start. There are also many other music stores in Tokyo, including Ginza Records, Next Records and even their own HMV stores. It’s worth hunting down the independent music stores as well.

If you’re looking for older soundtracks that might be out of print, there are plenty of stores who can cater to your needs as well. In areas like Akihabara, there are a large amount of stores dedicated to selling used merchandise. Selling items like figures, plushies, limited edition trinkets and of course, music soundtracks. You can find them in big chain stores or the little independent shops. It’s worth going on a treasure hunt if you’re in the area.

The Joy of Jank

There’s one section of these stores you should really check out if they have one. The ‘Jank’ shelf. Jank shelves, boxes or sections are stock that the store sells for cheap, just to try and get rid of the stock. They might be trying to get rid of the stock because it isn’t popular, very old or perhaps the condition of the item may not be near mint.

You can easily pick up older soundtracks this way, sometimes for as cheap as 100 yen each. You can find absolute bargains this way, as sometimes you can find soundtracks which easily sell for over £30 in the UK in these sections. Most the time the discs are in new perfect condition and have everything included in the box, including the obi.

An Example of a ‘Jank’ shelf haul. All of these soundtracks were 100 Yen each and in almost perfect condition!

For the most part you shouldn’t come across bootlegs in Japan either, as the shops are super vigilant about making sure their stock is legitimate.

Convention Sellers

Sometimes you can find your favourite soundtracks from reliable traders at certain conventions. You might have to pay a little more from these sellers than direct. Considering the cost of importing the product and sometimes the rarity, it’s worth taking a look. Just make sure to cross check the information with how to identify bootlegs. A trusted trader will never sell bootlegs and will take care to make sure you are getting what you pay for.

Websites

If you’re unable to go to the source, websites can be a great alternative to getting a hold of your favourite soundtracks. Just be mindful of the same bootleg issues. Purchasing soundtracks off of places like ebay can be a great way of getting a good deal. But make sure the listing has photos of the actual item you are getting and check for the record labels. If a trader hides these, there’s a strong chance they might be selling a bootleg.

Two records purchased online. A Short Hike from Black Screen Records, Dust: An Elysian Tail from Ebay (Purchased from one of the team who worked on the game!)

Suragaya

A great example of a website selling soundtracks is Suragaya. A Japanese company with physical stores and international friendly website. They sell a wide variety of goods and often sell used soundtracks for very good prices and in great condition. What’s more, they often run free shipping offers, which also includes international shipping. There is a 500 yen handling fee on the order. But considering the exchange rate currently, this is barely noticeable on orders.

Example Suragaya haul, including some soundtracks from the 1990s.

Not only do they ship the products you order quickly, but they arrive incredibly fast. Frequently within a week of ordering, which puts the UK to shame when it comes to delivering goods. Just make sure to be aware of custom fees. Currently the UK will put a fee on goods over £135 entering the country. When ordering soundtracks, this means you should be able to order a large number of them before needing to even worry about this cap.

Other sites

Sometimes you can find new releases of soundtracks on CD or Vinyl through websites like Black Screen Records, Wayo Records, Limited Run Games or The Yetee, just to name a few.

Sometimes even Amazon sell some pretty special gems. But do your research first before risking the purchase.

Bonus Content

Sometimes you don’t need to look far and wide for a soundtrack. Collector’s edition of video games became popular in the early 2000s. Although most have focused on digital content for the past 5-10 years rather than physical items, you can still find a few with some interesting items.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Crystal Edition came with a 4 disc soundtrack.

One of the items some of these deluxe or collector’s editions was a copy of the soundtrack or sample discs with a few select tracks from the game. These can be a great way to get a hold of a few tracks or in some cases, the only way the soundtrack was officially released.

The World of Warcraft Collector’s editions used to come with Physical soundtracks with a good chunk of the music from each expansion.

Final Word

Collecting anime and video game soundtracks can be very rewarding. If you love listening to anime or video game music, there is a huge world of soundtracks out there to collect. So get out there and find your favourite tunes!

At Animangapop, we love sharing our interests in all aspects of Japanese culture. Our next event is in London on the 4th August 2024 at the Royal National Hotel. Make sure you secure your ticket here.

Make sure you check out all of our other events here as well.

Claire

According to Claire, she was introduced to anime in a forgotten golden age some 400 years ago (the 90s). A borderline unhealthy exposure to classics such as The Slayers and Urusei Yatsura has gone onto influence her embracing Japanese culture in a big way; from its food, hobbies and even the adorable melodies that play at every Tokyo station.