Opening and ending anime songs might move the most CDs, but it's a work's score that sets the mood for a scene. Background music can invoke tension, a feeling of calm or nostalgia, or add a bit of romance to the on-screen kiss. About 500 fans weighed in on which anime has the best background music.

Here's the top 10 results:

Neon Genesis Evangelion 8.9% Dragon Ball 6.0% Detective Conan 5.0% Ghost in the Shell 4.7% Attack on Titan 3.9% Laputa: Castle in the Sky 3.7% Kiki's Delivery Service 2.9% My Neighbor Totoro 2.6% Lupin III 2.1% Fist of the North Star 1.8%

Quite a few of the choices were Studio Ghibli films scored by Joe Hisaishi. Hisaishi composed the score for two Academy Award-winning films — Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away (Best Animated Film in 2003) and Yojiro Takita's live-action film Departures (Best Foreign Language Film in 2009).

Some other choices that didn't make the top 10 include: Madoka Magica, The Wind Rises, 5 Centimeters Per Second, His and Her Circumstances, Fate/Zero, Aldnoah.Zero, Eureka Seven, Macross F, Mobile Suit Gundam UC, Cowboy Bebop, Guilty Crown, Samurai Champloo, STEINS; GATE, Yu-Gi-Oh, CLANNAD, Blue Spring Ride, Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honnêamise, and Galaxy Express 999.

What anime soundtrack is your favorite? Would you change the list? Tell us in the forums!

Source: Nico Nico News via Otakomu