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Kenji Kawai

Kenji Kawai

Composer · Born April 23, 1957 (69) · Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan

Kenji Kawai is a Japanese music composer for video games, television and movies. He has contributed to the musical scores for numerous films from Japan and other Asian countries, working in film genres as diverse as anime, horror, sci-fi and historical epic.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 23, 1957 (69)
From
Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Composer
Titles
111 on MovieCove · 241 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 65% in 30 days

What are Kenji Kawai's films like?

Across their 101 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Genres

Action31 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Animation27 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Horror10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 85th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
21%
Self
20%
Morality
18%
Bonds
16%
Power
10%
Ideas
8%
Society
7%
Survival26 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity23 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice17 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds16 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose14 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship9 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty11 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 79 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 32 · Dark 39

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 31 · Heightened 36

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 29 · Intense 46

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 23 · Shifting 54 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 66 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 20 · Even-paced 46 · Relentless 13

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 52 · Full focus 17

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 19 · Affecting 41 · Heavy 19

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 41 · Open-ended 21 · Ambiguous 17

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
85
Thrilling
31
Melancholic
39
Dread
26
Contemplative
21
Other
60

How their films linger

Thought-provoking42 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet33 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 24 with a twist

  • Happy23
  • Bittersweet39
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous35
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Kenji Kawai's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 68 of their 111 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (29).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kenji Kawai's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

241 credits, 111 with a MovieCove page.

  • Patlabor EZY: File 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Composer

  • Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe - Part 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Composer

  • Patlabor EZY: File 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Composer

  • Hanzaisha: Criminal(2026)

    Show 7 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Ultraman Teo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · Composer

  • Patlabor EZY: File 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Composer

  • 科捜研の女 ファイナル (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Composer

  • うちの弁護士はまたしても手がかかる (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Composer

  • Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Composer

  • Candlestick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Composer

  • Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray(2025)

    Show 23 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26(2025)

    Show Composer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture(2024)

    Show 12 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture - Act 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Composer

  • Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture - Act 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Composer

  • Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In(2024)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Birth of Kitaro: Mystery of GeGeGe(2023)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Ôoku: The Inner Chambers(2023)

    Show 10 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Baian the Assassin, M.D.: Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Composer

  • My Home Hero(2023)

    Show 12 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Shikakenin Fujieda Baian(2023)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Fire Hunter(2023)

    Show 20 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Toku: Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru ~Setsugetsuka~ Yuki no Maki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Composer

  • Blood Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Composer

  • The Wind Blows from Longxi(2022)

    Show Composer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Limbo(2021)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Apocalypse: Hitler Takes on the East (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

  • Apocalypse: Hitler Takes on the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

  • Vlad Love(2020)

    Show 12 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity(2020)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Higurashi: When They Cry - GOU(2020)

    Show 39 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Remotely Killed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Composer

  • Ip Man 4: The Finale(2019)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Shishigari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Composer

  • No Guns Life(2019)

    Show 24 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Kamen Rider Build New World: Kamen Rider Grease(2019)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Kamen Rider Build New World: Kamen Rider Cross-Z(2019)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever(2018)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Kamen Rider Build: Be the One(2018)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings(2018)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Servamp Movie: Alice in the Garden(2018)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Ultraman Geed: Connect the Wishes!(2018)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms(2018)

    Composer · Mixing Engineer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Ryuo's Work Is Never Done!(2018)

    Show 12 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Kamen Rider Heisei Generations FINAL: Build & Ex-Aid with Legend Riders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Composer

  • BORDER Redemption (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Composer

  • BORDER The Urge Medical Examiner Mika HIGA (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

  • Brotherhood of Blades 2(2017)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Resident Evil: Vendetta(2017)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Sand Whale and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 5 episodes · Composer · Mixing Engineer

  • Dawn of the Nazis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Composer

  • 石川五右衛門 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 8 episodes · Composer

  • Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru(2016)

    Show 24 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Re:Born(2016)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Mob Psycho 100(2016)

    Show 37 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • SERVAMP(2016)

    Show 12 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • G2.5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Composer

  • Joker Game(2016)

    Show 12 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Ip Man 3(2015)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Ghost Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Composer

  • Apocalypse: Stalin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · Composer

  • The Perfect Insider(2015)

    Show 11 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Gamera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Composer

  • The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War(2015)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Composer

  • Burning Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 50 episodes · Composer

  • Gekijorei karano Syotaijo(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Tomcat's Big Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 6 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • Garm Wars: The Last Druid(2014)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Insider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 10 episodes · Composer

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • World Trigger(2014)

    Show 99 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • Barakamon(2014)

    Show 12 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • Monsterz(2014)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Border (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 9 episodes · Composer

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • Hakuouki: Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • The Next Generation: Patlabor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 13 episodes · Composer

  • Shitamachi Bobsleigh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 3 episodes · Composer

  • Genome Hazard(2013)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Nezumi-Kozo, Running Around Edo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 17 episodes · Composer

  • Girl Friend BETA(2014)

    Show Composer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon(2013)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Dark Part 2(2013)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Sadako 2 3D(2013)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Gekijouban Hakuouki: Daiisshou Kyouto ranbu(2013)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Higurashi: When They Cry - Outbreak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Composer

  • Tales from the Dark 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Composer

  • The Complex (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Composer

  • The Complex: Prologue(2013)

    Show 12 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Kingdom of Conquerors(2013)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Saving General Yang(2013)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • NEXT A-Class (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Composer

  • 009 Re: Cyborg(2012)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Sadako 3D(2012)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 26 episodes · Composer

  • Umechan Sensei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 156 episodes · Composer

  • Wild 7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Composer

  • Tsukahara Bokuden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 7 episodes · Composer

  • Apocalypse: The Rise of Hitler(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Towanoquon 6: Eternal Quon(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Towanoquon 5: The Return of the Invincible(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Towanoquon 4: The Roaring Anxiety(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Tormented(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Towanoquon 3: The Complicity of Dreams(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • NHK Special: Unsolved Cases (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · Composer

  • Towanoquon 2: Dancing Orchid in Chaos(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Towanoquon 1: The Ephemeral Petal(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Gantz: Perfect Answer(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Xi AVANT (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Composer

  • Another Gantz(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Gantz(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Inshite miru: 7-kakan no desu gêmu(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • 009: The Reopening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Composer

  • Mobile Suit Gundam 00: A Wakening of the Trailblazer(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Chatroom(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • 28½ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Composer

  • Steel Frame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 5 episodes · Composer

  • ランデブー！ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Composer

  • Ip Man 2(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Shoka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Composer

  • Eden of the East: Paradise Lost(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Assault Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Composer

  • Eden of the East: The King of Eden(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Hovering Blade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Composer

  • Eden of The East Compilation: Air Communication (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Composer

  • Apocalypse: The Second World War(2009)

    Show 6 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Shrill Cries: Reshuffle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Composer

  • Eden of the East(2009)

    Show 11 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Rain Fall(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Ip Man(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Cherry Orchard: Blossoming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Composer

  • Film director Mamoru Oshii: Turning fantasies into reality (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Nanase Once More (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 10 episodes · Composer

  • Orochi - Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Composer

  • The Sky Crawlers(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Ghost in the Shell 2.0(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • ＮＨＫスペシャル 沸騰都市 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 9 episodes · Musician

  • Shrill Cries of Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Composer

  • Kenji Kawai - Cinema Symphony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Composer · Writer · as Composer

  • Death Note: L Change the World(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Women of Fast Food (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Composer

  • Kaidan(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit(2007)

    Show 26 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Battle of the Warriors(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Death Note: The Last Name(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Trapped Ashes(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Dragon Tiger Gate(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Death Note(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Composer · as Hamburger Tetsu (voice)

  • When They Cry(2006)

    Show 26 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Prince of Tennis: The National Tournament (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 26 episodes · Art Direction

  • Running Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Composer

  • Fate/stay night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 24 episodes · Composer

  • Inferno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Composer

  • Reincarnation(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Seven Swords(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Open Your Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Composer · Writer

  • Antarctic Journal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Composer

  • Starship Operators (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 13 episodes · Composer

  • Premonition(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Ultraman Nexus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 37 episodes · Composer

  • Windy Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 13 episodes · Composer

  • Kibakichi 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Composer

  • Otogi Zoshi: The Legend of Magatama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 26 episodes · Composer

  • Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Kibakichi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Composer

  • Tokyo Vein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Composer

  • Bloody Mallory(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Samouraïs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Composer

  • MiniPato (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 3 episodes · Composer

  • WXIII: Patlabor(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Dark Water(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Princess Blade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Composer

  • Unloved (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Composer

  • G.R.M.: The Record Of Garm War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Composer

  • Sadistic and Masochistic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Composer

  • Avalon(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Zaion: I Wish You Were Here(2001)

    Show Composer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Chaos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Composer

  • Ghiblies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Composer

  • Sleeping Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Composer

  • The Woman of S.R.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 41 episodes · Composer

  • Dai-Guard: Terrestrial Defense Corp. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 26 episodes · Composer

  • You're Under Arrest: The Movie(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Ring 2(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Ringu(1998)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Vampire Princess Miyu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 26 episodes · Composer

  • Hyper Police (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 25 episodes · Composer

  • Yat, The Space Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 75 episodes · Composer

  • Blue Seed Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · Composer

  • Hime-chan's Ribbon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 61 episodes · Composer

  • Ghost in the Shell(1995)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Sorcerer Hunters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 26 episodes · Composer

  • Wild Knights Gulkeeva (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 26 episodes · Composer

  • Mighty Space Miners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

  • Blue Seed(1994)

    Show 26 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Irresponsible Captain Tylor OVA (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 10 episodes · Composer · Songs

  • Patlabor 2: The Movie(1993)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Wolf Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 6 episodes · Composer

  • Talking Head (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Composer

  • Patlabor: One Day of Noa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Composer

  • Ranma ½: The Movie, Big Trouble in Nekonron, China(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Licca: Mysterious Magical Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Rumik World: Mermaid Forest(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Mikadroid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Stray Dog: Kerberos Panzer Cops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Kekko Kamen(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Burn Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • DRAGON FIST (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Luna Varga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 4 episodes · Composer

  • Go Nagai World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 3 episodes · Composer

  • Patlabor: The New Files (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 16 episodes · Composer

  • Mobile Suit SD Gundam Mk V (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • Project A-Ko Versus Battle 1: Grey Side (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • Hana no Asuka-gumi! 2: Lonely Cats Battle Royale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • Mobile Suit SD Gundam Mk III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • MAROKO (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • Devilman - Volume 2: Demon Bird (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • Samurai Pizza Cats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 54 episodes · Composer

  • Patlabor: The TV Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 47 episodes · Composer

  • Patlabor: The Movie(1989)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Mobile Suit SD Gundam Mk II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Composer

  • All That Gundam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Composer

  • One Pound Gospel(1988)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Vampire Princess Miyu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Music Editor

  • Vampire Princess Miyu(1988)

    Show 4 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Star Virgin(1988)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Patlabor: Early Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 7 episodes · Composer

  • Devilman - Volume 1: The Birth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Composer

  • Twilight Q (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Composer

  • Twilight Q (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

  • The Red Spectacles(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future: Bio-Dread Strike Mission(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Kamen Rider(1971)

    Show 49 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

Career shape

A full career of 233 titles, 231 of them dated from 1971 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019)

$176M worldwide

Highest rated

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

When They Cry (2006)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 233: 1 only acting, 2 with another roleWriting2 of 233: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleMusic229 of 233: 223 only music, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thOther crew6 of 233: 3 only other crew, 3 with another role

233 titles, 6 with more than one role — music and other crew overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1970s1 · crew1980s14 · crew1990s38 · crew2000s58 · 3 acting · 57 crew2010s92 · crew2020s28 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Kenji Kawai's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 65th percentile, the median of all 80; across their 79 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 68th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 79

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 79

Reach · how many have seen their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 79

Midcredits score across 111 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up33
  • 50th to 74th41
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th17

Shape of the crowd

47 of their 111 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser47
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed43

Most divisive · composer

Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future: Bio-Dread Strike Mission (1987)

93rd percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 65/100 in their films, across 51 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Kenji Kawai's work okay for kids?

Across up to 23 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore15 titles45–94 · median 75 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity23 titles6–64 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity16 titles13–60 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs15 titles10–46 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles58–93 · median 70 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Kenji Kawai work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kenji Kawai's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mamoru Oshii shares the most, 13.

Directors

  • Mamoru Oshii13 titles · 11 as director    See newest 12 of 13 shared titles with Mamoru Oshii
  • Hideo Nakata9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Hideo Nakata
  • Takeshi Mori6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Takeshi Mori
  • Umanosuke Iida6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Umanosuke Iida

Writers

  • Toshizô Nemoto8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Toshizô Nemoto
  • Kazunori Itô8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Kazunori Itô
  • Masashi Sogo7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Masashi Sogo
  • Edmond Wong6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Edmond Wong

Actors

  • Saori Hayami9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Saori Hayami
  • Shin'ichiro Miki8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Shin'ichiro Miki
  • Hiroshi Kamiya8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Hiroshi Kamiya
  • Jôji Nakata8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Jôji Nakata

Cinematographers and editors

Producers