Studio Ghibli isn't big on licensing out their work to videogames. That's part of why their deal with Level-5 to develop Ni No Kuni was such a big deal. It's also why my jaw hit the floor when I saw this video over on GoNintendo. The Totoro theme in a videogame? I never thought I'd see the day. That's just the start of the amazing collection of music that makes up Taiko no Tatsujin: The Little Dragon and the Mysterious Orbs.

We've also got Pon Pon Pon (a song made famous by this amazing video), Best Wishes from Pokemon Black/White, Gershwin's An American from Paris, a medley of music from Monster Hunter 3G, and the theme song from Muscle March. It's literally like Namco Bandai reached into my brain and took out all the music. 

The Taiko drum master series is huge in Japan. Last time I was in Tokyo, they were giving away little Taiko toys in the McDonald's Happy Meals. I can only hope that the series will make it that big here in the U.S. someday. In the meantime, I'll have to deal with the temptation to buy a Japanese 3DS and import this magical load of memorable music for myself. 

Taiko no Tatsujin: Chibi Dragon to Fushigi na Orb song  [Taiko Time]

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

Occams electric toothbrush

Holy shit, Gershwin? That's amazing. I'm a huge Gershwin fan thanks to my dad. This makes my Sunday morning heart swell with joy.

Jasper Kazai

PON PON WEI WEI WEI
love dat song.

AlexMorgaen

The theme song from Muscle March?

FUCKING SOLD

Fandango

This is the one thing that makes me really sad about the 3DS's region locking. The Taiko games play really well on the DS touch screen, none of that extreme beating and noise pollution made by the console version drums.

By the way Holmes, Taiko No Tatsujin DS: Dororon! Youkai Daikessen!! (the third one) on DS has Totoro, as well as the Ponyo theme. Check it out if you haven't already!

MegaManic

Japan's making me really sad with all these interesting looking games that probably won't be ported over here. Oh well, here's hoping.

Unit 076

Still need moar iM@S stuff

laika one

I love the arcade game, and those songs sound amazing! I know it's really unlikely, but I hope they do a euro/Aus release!

DV2FOX

Holmes...Y U NO PUT HEADER IMAGE?

Scuffles

Ahh Pon Pon Pon a song I will neither admit nor deny is on my MP3 rotation >.>

Also forgot how pleasantly batshit insane that video is <3

Spencer Hayes

I love Taiko. Sadly, the 3DS is region locked.

blaze30k

there was a US Taiko called Taiko Drum Master on PS2, which is actually how i got turned on to the series. sadly, it probably didn't sell well which is, i imagine, why there hasn't been another one over here.

i still got my drum around here, but it's beat to hell. i should get my hands on the Wii version.

Shippoyasha

Region locked.meh

Scissors

Damn I want this. This is just a series that won't work for the U.S. though. I played the PS2 game, and although it had some amazing gems like the Katamari Theme song a majority of it was crap like Good Charlotte & The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. What makes this so appetizing is all the weird stuff and awesome J-Pop, in order for the game to make it over they have to strip out a majority of the good stuff and replace it with whatever's popular here.

lewness

Holy shit, An American In Paris? I'm mighty curious where to put the Taiko there. If that works, then I'll want it on Rhapsody in Blue, Cuban Overture (I think it would work here!), Piano Concerto in F...

...fuck, I'd like it on the entire fucking Porgy and Bess. Then I'd get to here it on It Ain't Necessarily So.

PrinceHeir

awesome stuff :D

REWQ

Nice.

Johnel Lance

trueb7ue

Once again I am reminded that importing my 3DS was a great purchase.

errspergerjonh

pikaby

@lewness

Both Rhapsody in Blue and Concerto in F (3rd movement) are indeed on Taiko, on the 4th Wii version

http://taikotime.blogspot.com/2011/09/taiko-no-tatsujin-wii-kettei-ban-song.html