Haruhisa Tanaka
Himself
Series
Watch Diggin' in the Carts (2014) Online
Synopsis
Diggin' In The Carts shines a spotlight on the composers who created a style of music that has had an immense impact on modern pop culture. From the personal studios of these legendary composers, to the concert halls of Japan where symphony orchestras are performing their compositions to sold-out crowds today - the series will document how the music of video games was created, what inspired it, and how it evolved into its own cultural phenomenon. Peppered with commentary from some of modern music’s finest DJ’s, musicians and electronic producers from around the world, the documentary also shows the influence these Japanese composers had on the world - and the world of music.
Episodes
Season 1
PreviousNext
1. The Rise of VGMNow viewing2014-09-0415mIn this episode we look at the birth and rise of music in video games. From the earliest sounds and melodies to the first fully formed continuous music to be pioneered in the arcade games from Namco. We meet Junko Ozawa, one of Namco’s earliest sound team composers, and also the legendary Hirokazu ‘Hip’ Tanaka, who joined Nintendo in 1980 and was responsible for composing some of the giant’s most loved classics like Metroid and Tetris.
2. The Outer Reaches of 8-Bit2014-09-1116mIn the second episode of Diggin' in the Carts we take a look at the "bubble era", where inflated stock and real-estate prices in Japan meant that 8-bit technology was soaring: and so was the creativity it inspired. The Konami sound team leader Hidenori Maezawa, and 8-bit composer Masashi Kageyama trace back to the technolgy's roots, uncovering the birth and boom of 8-bit music.
3. The Dawn of a New Era2014-09-1816mAs the ’80s give way to the ’90s, 16-bit technology arrives and video games become more vivid and more dynamic than ever before. A generation of young composers who grew up inspired by the game music of the previous generation take video game music to new heights, with the new systems allowing for game music to sound more cinematic than ever before. At the same time, video games are experiencing a boom across the globe thanks to titles like Street Fighter 2 which ensured that the music of composer Yoko Shimomura was blaring out of news agents, fish and chips shops, and – of course – arcades the world over.
4. The Cool Kid2014-09-2518mBy the beginning of the ’90s, video game sales became colossal worldwide and a war erupted between the two biggest companies in the business: Nintendo and Sega. Although Sega had their flag firmly planted in the arcades in the ’80s, the home console market belonged to Nintendo. That started to change when Sega’s Megadrive developed a reputation for putting out games that were just that little bit “cooler.” In part down to the unique sound of the Megadrive’s inbuilt FM Synth, some of the most incredible game music heard to date was unleashed with J-Pop star Masato Nakamura assigned to compose the Sonic The Hedgehog soundtracks, and Yuzo Koshiro bringing the influence of the clubs he was going to in Tokyo to one of the most memorable soundtracks in video game history, Streets of Rage
5. The Role of Role Play2014-10-0217mAlmost a decade before names like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest started to make an appearance around the world, role playing games were already a big deal in Japan. In fact, they were so important that games companies were employing the likes of Koichi Sugiyama, one of Japan’s most respected classical composers to give the 8-bit and 16-bit sound a sophistication never heard before. In this episode, we follow the music of Final Fantasy as the compositions of Nobuo Uematsu come full circle. In their early incarnations, it was 8-bit music imitating the orchestral sound. Nowadays, some of the world’s leading orchestras perform the music that once strove to elevate itself to their level.
6. The End of an Era2014-10-2417mSince 32-bit and CD technology spelt the end of the chip era in the '90s, video game music has never been the same. These days, unlike the distinctive early soundtracks of Sega and Nintendo, games are more likely to feature “real” music; Flying Lotus-curated mixes, or compositions performed by full orchestras. So as we go Diggin’ In The Carts for the final session, it’s time to get to know the composers and producers who took the mantle of this next generation of video game music. This episode features Michiru Yamane, most well-known for her work on the Castlevania series, alongside director/writer Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid’s Teruta and Namco composer/engineer Yuu Miyake.
Cast
Top Billed Cast
No photo No photo Yuichi Uchizawa
Himself
No photo Peter Berkman
Himself
No photo Phillipa Margaret Brown
Herself
No photo Justin Smith
Himself
No photo Jason Jackson
Himself
Flying Lotus
Himself
Availability
Where To Watch Legally
No legal streaming, rental or purchase options for Diggin' in the Carts were reported for this region.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Diggin' in the Carts available to watch online?
Vidbox does not currently have a legal streaming, rental or purchase option on record for Diggin' in the Carts in this region.
How many seasons does Diggin' in the Carts have?
Diggin' in the Carts has 1 season and 6 episodes.
When did Diggin' in the Carts first air?
Diggin' in the Carts first aired in 2014.
Is Diggin' in the Carts still running?
Diggin' in the Carts's status on TMDB is: Ended.
What genre is Diggin' in the Carts?
Diggin' in the Carts is classified as Documentary.