Kenshi Yonezu has become synonymous with anime's musical renaissance. From "Peace Sign" (My Hero Academia) to "KICK BACK" (Chainsaw Man), his tracks have defined some of the most memorable opening sequences in modern anime. We sat down with the elusive artist to discuss his creative process, his relationship with anime, and what comes next.
On composing for Chainsaw Man: "KICK BACK was the hardest I have ever worked on a single track. Chainsaw Man is not a normal shonen — it is dirty, violent, and emotionally raw. The music needed to feel like it could fall apart at any moment. The chainsaw sound in the chorus was recorded from an actual chainsaw at a construction site. We broke three microphones."
On the anime music industry in 2026: "The relationship between anime and music has fundamentally changed. Ten years ago, an anime tie-in was promotion for a single. Now, the anime IS the art, and the music is inseparable from the visual experience. Artists who do not understand this — who treat anime OP/ED as a commercial transaction — make bad anime music."
On his upcoming projects: "I am working on something that will surprise people. It is for a series I have loved since childhood. That is all I can say." (Industry speculation strongly points to a One Piece final saga theme.)
Yonezu's evolution from Vocaloid producer Hachi to Japan's most critically respected pop artist mirrors the broader elevation of anime music as an art form. His work has been instrumental in dissolving the barrier between "anime songs" and "serious music."
