I'm a little embarrassed to admit I'd never heard of this series until the anime, but first and foremost it's just so much fun that I completely forgot I was supposed to be writing this article and ended up binging right up to the latest episode. And no wonder, the original light novel was already a bestseller, having sold 3.5 million copies as of the anime's January 2025 premiere. The characters' look felt oddly familiar to me, and sure enough, it turns out the illustrations are by none other than Noizi Ito. And from April, Kanna Hashimoto is set to star in a live-action drama adaptation. No surprise it's getting so much attention.
This is a mystery series in which the protagonist, Takao Ameku, plays the role of detective, but it has a pretty unusual setup. For starters, she's a doctor in a fairly high-ranking position (she works at a hospital run by her relatives). She lives in a detached house on something like the rooftop of the medical department, and her assistant is one of her own subordinates, also a doctor. Rather than being a pathologist getting to the bottom of a case, she's part of the general diagnostics department. It's a setup you rarely see in detective stories, and it's a lot of fun. The way she uses her skills as a diagnostician to unravel mysteries is wonderfully satisfying, the recurring "bank" cut-in scene where the deduction begins looks super cool (and the music there is incredibly cool too!), and the track that plays the moment a deduction lands perfectly is pure pleasure. It's just a feel-good anime to watch.
The thrilling quality of the soundtrack is irresistible
Normally, most soundtracks are fairly unobtrusive. If anything, I think that's the orthodox approach. The story, the visuals, and the dialogue are the real stars. The main job of a soundtrack is to lie faintly beneath an emotional scene, sharpening that moment's clarity and drawing you deeper into the characters' feelings.
But in Ameku Takao's Medical Records, there are scenes where the music is used in such a wild way that you find yourself thinking, "Wait, why is this kind of music playing in this scene?" For example, in the opening of episode one, the track playing while a character fiddles with a PC is jazz. If you wanted to read into it, you could say the improvisational (i.e., free) nature of jazz is meant to express Takao Ameku's free-spirited personality. But honestly, it feels more fitting to say it's playing simply "because it's cool." It feels closer to how soundtracks are used in dramas built around strong, distinctive characters. And then, even after the scene shifts to her assistant Yuu Takanashi working inside the hospital, the music keeps going. Then, when Takao Ameku rises from her chair and starts walking, what kicks in is a mid-tempo hard rock number that starts with a gutsy bass drum and a pick scratch. Ooh, this person carries herself with such dignified presence, and somehow seems a bit high-handed, you find yourself imagining her character from the music alone. That's how cool the track is. Jazz and hard rock, right out of the gate. Something feels different from the anime soundtracks I'm used to! This music is really standing out!
Curious, I looked up the composer, and it all made sense.
It's handled by fox capture plan (hereafter fcp), an absurdly cool trio. They're a jazz-rock band that has provided music for all kinds of places, from dramas and commercials to games and anime, and they've got the chops to have performed at the Fuji Rock Festival and Summer Sonic. Once you know, those opening tracks are full-on fcp through and through (I didn't notice until I looked up the composer, though)! Their trademark coolness is on full display, and it just feels great to listen to. I really do think this kind of music fits this kind of story perfectly. Of course, there are also more orthodox tracks that slot neatly into their scenes, but Ameku Takao's Medical Records, where you can hear so many delightfully cheeky tunes, is an absolute must-watch.
Quoted from the official site https://x.com/Ameku_off
