Anime & Manga News

Music Composer Ai Kamachi Dies at 48

by Kingsman117
Jun 8, 2020 10:59 AM | 35 Comments
Various media outlets reported on Monday that pianist and music composer Ai Kamachi died on May 30. She was 48. A private wake and farewell ceremony was held by the bereaved family.

Kamachi followed in the footsteps of her jazz pianist father, studying composition under Toshi Ichiyanagi at the Kunitachi College of Music. She officially started her career alongside recording engineer Tatsuo Nagami (Nagie) under the alias "aikamachi+nagie" in 2002. They released the album "radiant garden" in the same year, and in 2008 began producing as the electro-acoustic unit ANANT-GARDE EYES.

She was well known for her work with ANANT-GARDE EYES. The duo composed and arranged the opening and ending themes, insert songs, and soundtracks for the TV animations Clannad: After Story, Angel Beats!, Mekakucity Actors, and Charlotte. They also worked with popular artists such as Lia, Aoi Tada, and Jin.

Source: Oricon News

20 of 35 Comments Recent Comments

i just saw Angel Beats that show was amazing but her music hit me really hard i didn't cry in a show like this in my whole life and i just learned her name but unfortunately it was too late
may her soul rest in peace and find happiness ❤️❤️❤️
thank you for everything 😥😥😥

Dec 27, 2021 6:39 AM by Kemoooo60

rip to another talented individual

Jun 10, 2020 8:46 PM by Fuwa_san

I love her 😢RIP

Jun 10, 2020 6:50 PM by kamitaichou

Such a talented individual gone too early. Thank you for your hard work, Kamachi-san. Rest in peace.

Jun 10, 2020 2:02 PM by Toarujisuru

I just recently saw Angel Beats too. R.I.P.

Jun 10, 2020 11:59 AM by malvarez1

She made some brilliant music. May she rest in peace....

Jun 10, 2020 11:44 AM by Trollicia

Goes to show the musical talent when she did Angel Beats!, Charlotte and Clannad.
Hope her family can find peace, knowing her creative talents.

Jun 9, 2020 10:27 PM by albertbrown

(As if some of those songs weren't emotion-inducing enough already.) To non-musicians like myself, the importance of arrangement can be difficult to grasp, and it's easy to focus instead on the composer and performers. In this case, the arrangement was particularly noticeable as a vital element. Did I write something about that when I was commenting on the Clannad After Story OP? Yeah, here it is:
nDroae said:
And this is one of the most magical-sounding songs, with its sparkly keys, atmospheric synths, and strings that soar over the chorus.

We are eternally grateful.

Kingsman117 said:
She was well known for her work with ANANT-GARDE EYES. The duo composed and arranged the opening and ending themes, insert songs, and soundtracks for the TV animations Clannad: After Story, Angel Beats!, Mekakucity Actors, and Charlotte. (...)

If I may be naive and altruistic for a few moments, I think any true artist would want to be remembered for what they actually did, and would not want to be mistakenly credited with others' work. With that in mind, it must be pointed out that ANANT-GARDE EYES is credited with arrangement on the songs, not composition.


Clannad

Clannad After Story OP: and ED https://vgmdb.net/album/10777
The OP was "written & composed by Jun Maeda, arranged by ANANT-GARDE EYES." They were not involved on the ED.

The Place Where Wishes Come True ~Vocal&Harmony version~ https://vgmdb.net/album/12400
"Music: Jun Maeda / Arrange: ANANT-GARDE EYES"

That seems to be the extent of ANANT-GARDE EYES' contributions on Clannad. The anime score (instrumental BGM) was a copy-paste of the VN soundtrack (2004), which members of ANANT-GARDE EYES were not involved in.
https://vgmdb.net/album/555
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Clannad


Angel Beats!

Angel Beats OP and ED: https://vgmdb.net/album/19731
"All Written & Compose: Jun Maeda, All Arrangement by ANANT GARDE EYES"

Angel Beats Soundtrack: https://vgmdb.net/album/19312
Most of the score was composed by ANANT GARDE EYES, with Jun Maeda collaborating on just a few tracks. My Most Precious Treasure (insert) was composed by Jun Maeda and arranged by ANANT-GARDE EYES.


Mekakucity Actors

https://vgmdb.net/album/50452
ANANT GARDE EYES composed much of the score (discs 3 and 4). They are credited with arrangement on three songs (disc 1 track 10; disc 2 tracks 9 and 10), both composed by Jin, AKA Shizen no Teki-P (自然の敵P).


Charlotte

OP and ED: https://vgmdb.net/album/53668
For both, "Lyrics & Composition: Jun Maeda, Arrangement: ANANT-GARDE EYES."

Charlotte Soundtrack: https://vgmdb.net/album/53674
Score composed collaboratively by ANANT-GARDE EYES and Jun Maeda, arranged by ANANT-GARDE EYES.


Here's how Anime News Network phrased it.

Jun 9, 2020 5:54 PM by nDroae

omg this is sad, clannad and angel beats are among my favorite animes and much of that is due to their amazing soundtrack, rest in peace and thank you

Jun 9, 2020 3:24 PM by RafaKiyoura

These were amazing soundtracks, rest in peace.

Jun 9, 2020 2:57 PM by lukethatgoodguy

Rest In Peace. Condolences to her loved ones.

Jun 9, 2020 10:57 AM by Weponic

May her soul rest in peace.

Jun 9, 2020 9:59 AM by Haneken2086

I don't know any of her music but damn that is young. My condolences to her family.

Jun 9, 2020 9:49 AM by huntress1013

R.I.P 1 of best music composer, you have made a lot of best ost of great animes.

Jun 9, 2020 5:27 AM by tungzan

Always sad to hear something like this..she died way to young..RIP..

Jun 9, 2020 3:26 AM by Vexing_Howdypeak

That is so sad to hear . 48 is way to young . I love Home Again its a great piece of music

Rest in peace





Jun 9, 2020 2:41 AM by Yuri-Crusader

48? She was so young. Rest in piece.

Jun 9, 2020 12:37 AM by Nikiforova

Thank you for Toki o Kizamu Uta.

Jun 9, 2020 12:28 AM by ZachM

RIP, We'll miss her and I wonder what's the cause of death.

Jun 9, 2020 12:14 AM by MegamiRem

R.IP., we will miss her..X'C

Jun 8, 2020 6:32 PM by Klefki_of_Awsome

It’s time to ditch the text file.
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