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Kow Otani is a highly acclaimed Japanese composer, arranger, and pianist best known for his sweeping, dramatic orchestral and electronic scores for major anime series, films, and video games. Born in Tokyo, Otani studied at Berklee College of Music. He gained prominence composing for anime studios like Sunrise (Gainax) and Bandai Visual, creating iconic scores for series such as 'The Vision of Escaflowne' and films like 'Gamera' trilogy. His video game work includes the monumental soundtrack for 'Shadow of the Colossus'. He has also composed for tokusatsu (live-action special effects) shows like 'Kamen Rider Agito' and numerous documentaries and commercials.

• Despite his fame within the anime and gaming communities, Otani maintains a relatively low public profile and rarely gives interviews or performs live concerts.
• He transitioned from being a staff composer at Sunrise to becoming a highly sought-after freelance composer, demonstrating significant artistic independence.
• His score for 'Shadow of the Colossus' (2005) is frequently cited as one of the greatest video game soundtracks of all time, praised for its epic scale, emotional depth, and perfect integration with the game's desolate, monumental atmosphere.
• Otani's work often blends traditional orchestral elements with electronic sounds and ethnic influences, creating unique and immersive soundscapes.
• He has collaborated repeatedly with director Yoshiyuki Tomino ('Brain Powerd') and anime studio Bones ('RahXephon', 'S-CRY-ed').