Hiroyuki Sawano

, stylized as Hiroyuki SAWANO, is a Japanese composer, arranger, lyricist, pianist, and music producer best known for his work on many anime series, video games, television dramas, and films. His works include the musical scores for Attack on Titan, Soul Link, Gigantic Formula, Zombie-Loan, Yoake Mae yori Ruriiro na, The Seven Deadly Sins, Sengoku Basara, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative, Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway, Blue Exorcist, Aldnoah.Zero, Seraph of the End, Guilty Crown, Kill la Kill, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Re:Creators, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, Fanfare of Adolescence, 86 and Solo Leveling. In Live Action Drama series, his work includes Ns' Blue, Iryu Team Medical Dragon, Prisoners, My Girl, Bombee Men, In addition to his role on the soundtrack, Sawano also composes many opening and ending theme songs. Overall, he has already provided the music for over 100 visual media works.

Sawano was nominated for the Newtype Anime Awards 11 times, winning four of the nominations. He has also won the Tokyo Anime Award three times, as well as two prizes at the Anime Trending Awards. Sawano has two additional music projects. In 2014, he started a vocal project under the name "SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]", with a focus on collaborating with other artists. In 2022, he formed a new group called "NAQT VANE" with Japanese singer Harukaze and design group Classic 6, focusing on creating music for overseas audiences.

Biography 1980–2004: Early life Sawano was born in Tokyo, Japan. He started playing piano in elementary school. By this time, he was influenced by the Japanese singer-songwriter Aska, from the duo Chage and Aska, whose songs led him to vaguely dream about working in music. In junior high school, he joined a band and began learning keyboard to take charge of it in the group.

From the age of 17, Sawano studied composition, arrangement, and orchestration under the music teacher Nobuchika Tsuboi. When he was in his final years of high school, he had a desire to work on soundtrack music, so he went to a vocational school focused in composition. Around this period, he used to listen to the soundtrack of Studio Ghibli's movies, which led him to be influenced by the film score composer Joe Hisaishi.

From 2006 to 2009, he composed music for several anime adaptations of manga, visual novels, and video game series including Iryu Team Medical Dragon, Soul Link , Yoake Mae yori Ruriino Na Crescent Love, and Sengoku Basara. During this time, he would also publish his first original album, Musica, in 2009.

In 2010, he was involved with his first major series, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, which he mentioned having worked on with the hope that this series would trigger an offer for many further projects.

In 2013, he gained wider fame with his role as the composer for the anime adaptation of Hajime Isayama's manga series Attack on Titan.

In 2014, he launched a vocal song project under the name "SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]", Since then his songs under this vocal song project have also been used as the opening and ending themes for various anime, including Aldnoah.Zero, Seraph of the End, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096, Re:Creators, and Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These. The project was moved to the Sacra Music record label under Sony Music Entertainment Japan in April 2017.

On July 2, 2017, Sawano's contract with Legendoor was terminated after approximately 12 years. He is now represented by VV-ALKLINE.

In 2020, Sawano started a soundtrack revival project called "Project【emU】", arranging suites for the soundtracks of anime series he has been involved with. The suites are recorded and filmed in a studio, with guest musicians and vocalists; he has so far released suits for Attack on Titan, Guilty Crown, The Seven Deadly Sins, and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.

In February 2021, he ran a "Project【emU】" concert event, "Sawano Hiroyuki LIVE【emU】2021", at the Tachikawa Stage Garden and streamed to overseas audiences, where he performed many of the main tracks from anime scores he worked on.

On March 13, 2022, he held the "Hiroyuki Sawano LIVE [nZk]007" concert, at Tokyo International Forum. The event featured guest vocalists Akihito Okano, Jean-Ken Johnny, ReoNa, mizuki, mpi, Benjamin, Laco, and SennaRin. Later, on April 23, the event was streamed to overseas audiences.

In April 2022, he produced the debut extended play of the singer SennaRin. The EP, Dignified, was released on April 13, followed by an announcement that he would continue as a producer for her works.

In September 2022, he announced his new musical group NAQT VANE, for which he acted as total producer and collaborated with singer Harukaze and Classic 6 as design director. The debut single, "Break Free", was released on September 16, 2022.

Musical style and influences Sawano has cited Ryūichi Sakamoto, Joe Hisaishi, Yoko Kanno, Hans Zimmer, and Danny Elfman as major inspirations.

His pieces tend to have exceedingly strange titles, featuring numbers, symbols, and letters from various different alphabets. He stated that he decided this because he wants "people to be able to listen to the songs in their own way and have their own reaction. I don't ever want to fix the image of what's happening on-screen too much within the track title". He often uses choruses and breaks in his pieces, aiming to expand the song and make it more intense.

When composing for series, Sawano stated that he usually writes the music before any video materials or animation is available.

Released: December 22, 2021 Label: Sacra Music Formats: CD, CD + Blu-ray, digital download

"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were ineligible to chart.

Compilation albums Title Album details Peak positions JPN Best of Vocal Works [nZk] Released: February 4, 2015 Label: DefSTAR Format: CD 6 Best of Soundtrack [emU] Released: September 9, 2015 Label: SME Format: CD 13 Best of Vocal Works (nZk) 2 Released: April 8, 2020 Label: Sacra Music Format: CD 6 Pianouta / Project [emU] Released: October 1, 2025 Label: Sacra Music Format: CD 39

Singles Title Single details Peak positions Notes Album JPN "Yamanaiame" Released: November 28, 2014 Label: Pony Canyon Formats: CD, digital download 55 "Yamanaiame" was used as the ending theme song in the first Attack on Titan compilation film, Attack on Titan Part 1: Crimson Bow and Arrow. Attack on Titan Season 2 Original Soundtrack "theDOGS" Released: July 1, 2015 Label: Pony Canyon Formats: CD, digital download 55 "theDOGS" was used as the ending theme song in the second Attack on Titan compilation film, Attack on Titan Part 2: Wings of Freedom. "βiοç / Ω" Released: April 27, 2015 Label: Aniplex Format: 7" vinyl — "βiοç " and "Ω" are arrangements from the tracks "βίος" and "Ω" of the soundtrack of the anime Guilty Crown. Guilty Crown Complete Soundtrack "KABANERIOFTHEIRONFORTRESS / Warcry" Released: October 8, 2016 Label: Aniplex Formats: 7" vinyl — "KABANERIOFTHEIRONFORTRESS" and "Warcry" were used as tracks in the soundtrack of the anime Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Original Soundtrack "Never Stop"Released: November 14, 2021 Label: Kay Production Records Formats: Digital download — "Never Stop" was used as the 4th anniversary theme song in the mobile game Knives Out. "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were ineligible to chart.

Other involvements

As SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]

Albums Title Album details Performer(s) Peak positions JPN KOR O1 Released: September 9, 2015 Label: SME Records Formats: CD, CD + DVD, digital download SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 7 1 2V-ALK Released: September 20, 2017 Label: Sacra Music Formats: CD, CD + Blu-ray, digital download SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 3 — Remember Released: March 6, 2019 Label: Sacra Music Formats: CD, CD + Blu-ray, digital download SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 6 — IV Released: March 3, 2021 Label: Sacra Music Formats: CD, CD + Blu-ray, digital download SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 9 — V Released: January 18, 2023 "A/Z ǀ aLIEz" Released: September 10, 2014 Label: Defstar Records Formats: CD, CD + DVD, digital download SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:mizuki 9 "A/Z" was used as the first ending theme song, "aLIEz" was used as the second ending theme song in the anime Aldnoah.Zero. o1 "&Z" Released: February 4, 2015 Label: DefSTAR Records Formats: CD, CD + DVD, digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:mizuki 12 Used as the second opening theme song in the anime Aldnoah.Zero. "X.U. ǀ scaPEGoat" Released: May 20, 2015 Label: DefSTAR Records Formats: CD, CD + DVD, digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 10 "X.U." was used as the first opening theme song, "scaPEGoat" was used as the first ending theme song in the anime Seraph of the End. "Into the Sky EP" Released: June 29, 2016 Label: SME Records Formats: CD, CD + DVD, digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 6 "Into the Sky" was used as the first opening song, "Next 2 U -eUC-" was used as the first ending song, Label: SME Records Format: Digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: — "CRYst-Alise" was used as the main theme song, "Rise Above" as the battle theme in the mobile game VALHAITRISING. "e of s" Released: December 30, 2016 (JPN) Label: SME Records Format: Digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: — "e of s" was used as the opening theme song in the mobile game Soul Reverse Zero. "ninelie " was used as the ending theme in the first Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress compilation film. "gravityWall / shØut" Released: June 28, 2017 (JPN) Label: Sacra Music Formats: CD, CD + DVD, digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 11 "gravityWall" was used as the first opening theme song, "shØut" as the second opening theme song in the anime Re:Creators. "Binary Star / Cage" Released: April 25, 2018 (JPN) Label: Sacra Music Formats: CD, CD + DVD, digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 17 "Binary Star" was used as the opening theme song in the 2018 anime adaptation of Legend of the Galactic Heroes, titled Legend of the Galactic Heroes Die Neue These. "Cage" was used as the theme song for the life-sized Unicorn Gundam statue from Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. R∃/MEMBER "narrative / NOISEofRAIN" Released: November 28, 2018 (JPN) Label: Sacra Music Formats: CD, CD + DVD, digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 10 "narrative" was used as the theme song in the anime film Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative. "Cage " was also used as an insert song in the same film. "Tranquility / Trollz" Released: October 2, 2019 (JPN) Label: Sacra Music Formats: CD, CD + DVD, digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 17 "Chaos Drifters" was used as the second opening theme song in the anime No Guns Life. "CRY" was used as the opening theme song in the anime film series Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These NHK. "Avid / Hands Up to the Sky" Released: June 6, 2021 (JPN) Label: Sacra Music Formats: CD, CD + DVD, digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 19 "Avid" and "Hands Up to the Sky" were used as the ending theme songs in the anime 86. V"LilaS" Released: March 20, 2022 (JPN) Label: Sacra Music Formats: Digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Honoka Takahashi — "LilaS" was used as the ending theme song in the last episode of the anime 86."OUTSIDERS" Released: May 25, 2022 (JPN) Label: Sacra Music Formats: CD, CD + DVD, digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 25 "OUTSIDERS" was used as the ending theme song in the anime Fanfare of Adolescence."Lemonade" Released: December 21, 2022 Label: Sacra Music Formats: Digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:XAI — "Lemonade" was used as the theme song in the anime The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh Part 1. "FAKEit" Released: January 1, 2023 Label: Sacra Music Formats: Digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Laco — "FAKEit" was used as the theme song in the anime Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn."odd:i" Released: August 8, 2023 Label: Sacra Music Formats: Digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Akihito Okano (Pornograffiti) — "odd:I" was used as the theme song in the anime The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh Part 2. "LEveL" Released: January 24, 2024 Label: Sacra Music Formats: CD, CD + Blu-ray, digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]: 24 "LEveL" was used as the opening theme song in the anime Solo Leveling. "INERTIA" Released: April 6, 2025 Label: Sacra Music Formats: Digital downloadSawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Rei — "INERTIA" was used as the opening theme song in the anime To Be Hero X. "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were ineligible to chart.

Videography Music videos

Works Anime Year Title Role(s) 2006 Soul Link Composer Yoake Mae yori Ruriiro na: Crescent Love Project Blue Earth SOS Promotional video music creator 2007 Kishin Taisen Gigantic Formula Composer Zombie-Loan Composer 2009 Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings Composer 2010 Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings II Composer 2011 Blue Exorcist Composer Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings – The Last Party Composer Guilty Crown Composer 2012 Guilty Crown: Lost Christmas – An Episode of Port Town Composer Blue Exorcist: The Movie Composer 2013 Attack on Titan Composer Kill la Kill Composer Attack on Titan OVA Composer 2014 Aldnoah.Zero The Seven Deadly Sins Composer(other tracks by Takafumi Wada) Attack on Titan Movie Part 1: Crimson Bow and Arrow Attack on Titan: No Regrets Composer 2015 Aldnoah.Zero Part 2 Seraph of the End (other tracks by Takafumi Wada, Asami Tachibana & Megumi Shiraishi) The Seven Deadly Sins OVA Composer Attack on Titan Movie Part 2: Wings of Freedom Seraph of the End: Battle in Nagoya (other tracks by Takafumi Wada, Asami Tachibana & Megumi Shiraishi) 2016 Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress The Seven Deadly Sins: Signs of Holy War Composer (other tracks by Takafumi Wada) 2017 Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga Composer (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) Attack on Titan Season 2 Composer Re:Creators Juni Taisen: Zodiac War Ending theme song composer, arranger and producer 2018 Attack on Titan: The Roar of Awakening The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of The Commandments Composer (other tracks by Takafumi Wada & Kohta Yamamoto) The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These Kaikō Opening theme song producer, composer and arranger Attack on Titan Season 3 Composer The Seven Deadly Sins the Movie: Prisoners of the Sky Composer (other tracks by Takafumi Wada) Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative 2019 Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 2 Composer Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Unato Decisive Battle Composer Promare Composer Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These Seiran Opening and ending theme song producer, composer and arranger The Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath of the Gods Composer (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) Fate/strange Fake Promotional video music creator 2020 Kingdom Season 3 (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) No Guns Life Season 2 Opening theme song producer, composer and arranger Attack on Titan: Chronicle Composer Attack on Titan: The Final Season Composer (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) 2021 The Seven Deadly Sins: Dragon's Judgement (other tracks by Takafumi Wada & Kohta Yamamoto) 86 (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash Composer The Seven Deadly Sins: Cursed by Light (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) 86 Part 2 Composer (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) 2022 Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2 Composer (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These Gekitotsu / Sakubō Opening and ending theme song composer, arranger and producer Fanfare of Adolescence Kingdom Season 4 Composer (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) Amaim Warrior at the Borderline Part 2 Ending theme song composer, arranger and producer Bubble Composer One Piece Film: Red Insert song composer, arranger and producer Dragon Raja Opening theme song composer, arranger and producer Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Ending theme song composer, arranger and producer The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) 2023 Kaina of the Great Snow Sea Main theme composer Attack on Titan: The Final Season Final Chapters Composer (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn Protocol: Rain Opening theme song composer, arranger and producer Four Knights of the Apocalypse Main theme composer 2024 Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga / Beyond the Snow Saga / The Blue Night Saga Composer (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) Solo Leveling Mechanical Arms (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto and Daiki) 2025 The Rose of Versailles (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) Solo Leveling Season 2: Arise from the Shadow To Be Hero X (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto, Hidefumi Kenmochi, Daiki, Shuhei Mutsuki, Hideyuki Fukasawa, Misaki Umase and Ryuichi Takada) 2026 Fate/strange Fake Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe Composer

Video games Year Title Role(s) 2014 3594ε Composer 2015 Xenoblade Chronicles X Composer 2016 Valhait Rising Theme song composer and arranger Kōtetsujō no Kabaneri -Ran- Hajimaru Michiato (other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) 2019 Iron Saga Blue Exorcist: Damned Chord Theme song composer and arranger League of Legends Theme song composer and arranger (StarGuardian Skin 2019) 2021 Knives Out Theme song composer and arranger 2022 Goddess of Victory: Nikke Theme song composer and arranger 2023 Blue Protocol Main theme composer 2025 Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Composer (other tracks by Misaki Umase)

Television dramas Year Title Role(s) 2006 Ns' Aoi Composer(other tracks by Yuko Fukushima) Garo (other tracks by BUDDY ZOO) Team Medical Dragon Composer(other tracks by Shin Kono) 2007 Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad Composer(other tracks by Shin Kono and Kentarou Kobuchi) Kodoku no Kake ~Itoshiki Hito yo~ Composer Team Medical Dragon 2 Composer(other tracks by Toshiaki Matsumoto & Steve Vai) 2008 Bomb Bee Men Composer NHK Special: Miracle Body Composer 81diver Composer Maō Composer The Sunday NEXT Main theme composer and arranger Prisoner Composer 2009 Triangle Composer(other tracks by Yuki Hayashi, Hiromi Uehara & Kazumasa Oda) Sunday Sports Opening and ending theme song composer BOSS Composer(other tracks by Takafumi Wada & Yuki Hayashi) My Girl Composer(other tracks by Takafumi Wada) 2010 Massugu na Otoko Composer(other tracks by Takafumi Wada) Team Medical Dragon 3 Composer(other tracks by Shin Kono & Ai) Marks no Yama Composer 2011 BOSS 2nd Season Composer(other tracks by Takafumi Wada & Yuki Hayashi) Marumo no Okite Composer(other tracks by Yutaka Yamada) 2012 Presumed Guilty Composer(other tracks by Takafumi Wada & Kengo Tokusashi) 2013 Someday at a Place in the Sun Composer(other tracks by Takafumi Wada & Kengo Tokusashi) Lady Joker Composer(other tracks by Shuichiro Fukuhiro) LINK Composer(other tracks by Asami Tachibana) 2015 Mare Composer 2016 Thunderbolt Fantasy Composer 2017 CRISIS Composer(other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) 2018 Thunderbolt Fantasy Season 2 (other tracks by Takafumi Wada) 2019 Sign: Houigakusha Yuzuki Takashi no Jiken Composer(other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto) 2021 Thunderbolt Fantasy Season 3 (other tracks by Takafumi Wada & Kohta Yamamoto) 2023 Watashi no Otto wa: Ano Musume no Koibito Opening theme song composer and arranger 2024Innai KeisatsuOpening and ending theme song composer and arranger Thunderbolt Fantasy Season 4 (Other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto & Takafumi Wada) 2026 Tokyo MPD PR Unit 2 Composer(other tracks by Kohta Yamamoto)

Movies Year Title Role(s) 2006 Catch a Wave (arranged in collaboration with DEPAPEPE and Taichi Nakamura) A Song to the Sun Composer 2007 Happily Ever After Composer 2008 Flowers in the Shadows Composer 2010 Higanjima: Escape from Vampire Island Composer Box! Composer 2012 Platina Data Composer 2019 Thunderbolt Fantasy: Seiyuu Genka

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work/nominee Result 2006 Television Drama Academy Awards Music Award Team Medical Dragon A Song to the Sun 2013 Newtype Anime Awards Soundtrack Attack on Titan 2014 Tokyo Anime Award Best Music Hiroyuki Sawano Newtype Anime Awards Soundtrack Kill la Kill Aldnoah.Zero 2015 Tokyo Anime Award Best Music Hiroyuki Sawano JASRAC Awards Domestic Works Attack on Titan Background Music Annual Game Music Awards Outstanding Artist – Newcomer Xenoblade Chronicles X Japan Gold Disc Awards Animation Album of the Year Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Complete Best Newtype Anime Awards Soundtrack Aldnoah.Zero Attack on Titan Movie Part 1: Crimson Bow and Arrow Theme Song "&Z" 2016 Newtype Anime Awards Soundtrack Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress 2017 Tokyo Anime Award Best Sound/Performance Hiroyuki Sawano Newtype Anime Awards Best Soundtrack Attack on Titan Season 2 Re:Creators 2018 2nd Crunchyroll Anime Awards Best Score 2019 Newtype Anime Awards Best Soundtrack Promare Attack on Titan Season 3 2020 4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards Best Score Attack on Titan Season 3 2022 6th Crunchyroll Anime Awards 86 8th Anime Trending Awards Best Soundtrack Attack on Titan: The Final Season Best Ending Theme "Avid" 2023 7th Crunchyroll Anime Awards Best Score Attack on Titan: The Final Season Part 2 2024 8th Crunchyroll Anime Awards Attack on Titan: The Final Season The Final Chapters Special 1 2025 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards Solo Leveling Best Opening Sequence "Level" Best Anime Song 2026 10th Crunchyroll Anime Awards Best Score Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadow