SPARKLES by STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION: Review

by Damien Reid February 17, 2023

February 17, 2023

“SPARKLES” is an emotional melody by STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION (SDF), the magnum opus of Japanese musician R・O・N. A true veteran in the industry, his musical expertise spans crucial anime projects that are impressive and influential. Now, he brings forth “SPARKLES” a lovely pop ballad for the Isekai anime giant “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime”, in particular their film.

SDF’s musical aura is a layer of piano melodies and a poetic singer leading the charge. There’s a nice combination of solid drumming and vibrant choruses present in “SPARKLES”, something I believe shall resonate with any anime fanatic. It has all the intriguing elements that make the subject matter stand out, and with SDF’s fresh tale, diving into a fantasy realm through song seems almost natural. Speaking of the music, the track starts off with this light ambient piano with a vocal accompaniment that sounds pretty dreamy, and stunning in that regard. I admired how the musician transitions from verse to chorus through epic percussion segments. It amplifies your senses and excites you all at the same time.

I’ve been an avid follower of all things anime ever since I was a youngster. There’s something heartwarming about this media that differentiates from the usual tropes of entertainment. And the music that comes along enacts a similar appeal. With that being said, I was pleasantly moved by SDF’s pop ballad “SPARKLES” and I anticipate more from the artist.