Pirates of the Carribean's main theme is one of those things where, yeah, it's really recognizable, but I also struggle to really think of the overall score of those films are memorable or captivating. Johnny Depp being an abusive asshole also makes going back to those films for a reassessment really difficult, too.L3anD3RStar wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 5:13 pm I do think Hans Zimmer is a good composer, his soundtrack for Pirates of the Carribean is what I think of when I think of what swashbuckling sounds like, but I agree that it’s strange for Iyoku to trot out a Hollywood talent like it’s a flex. Dragon Ball is one of the most recognizable brands on Earth. It doesn’t need Zimmer attached to be a big deal. Besides, somewhere out there is a wildly talented, probably mostly unknown composer who would trade a limb and maybe a couple organs for the chance to work on Dragon Ball. I think they should be trying to find that person.
I get the stakes are really high for Iyoku. Without Toriyama, the main thing his company exists to handle is kind of gone. If nothing else, the Zimmer thing does prove he has his eye set on bigger, more expensive hollywood style productions. Maybe he’s reaching out to the major studios behind the scenes. But as long as he’s settling for whoever the biggest name to call him back is, I don’t think he’s going to get very far.
But yeah, the decision to hire Zimmer just feels really "Trying to look legitimate" which just comes across as a major turn-off. Japanese film and television have gained their popularity around the world without trying silly nonsense like that. This is a big reason why I've also been turned off by the post-Kikuchi Shunsuke composers to work on Dragon Ball television and film, because the reach is obviously for something Hollywood-esque, which I think clashes with the charm of the otherwise Japanese film and television manner of doing the rest of said projects.
Like, yeah, obviously I'd jump at the chance for Sagisu Shirou or Takanashi Yasuharu or Kajiura Yuuki to have filled this position over Zimmer, but there's so many other options to go for that don't paint the entire video as a desperate plea from the nerd to be accepted by the popular kids.

