The Pinnacle of Piano Technique: A Deep Dive into Animenz’s Arrangement of "Unravel" (Tokyo Ghoul OP)
- Feb 14
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 20
Are you a piano enthusiast or aspiring professional pianist? If so, you’ve likely heard of the "Top 3 Most Difficult Piano Pieces in the World." Usually, works like Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit, Balakirev’s Islamey, and Liszt’s Transcendental Étude No. 4, Mazeppa, are cited as the ultimate peaks of technical difficulty. Even for those who aren't music majors, these are the infamous "dream pieces" that many piano lovers hope to conquer one day.
What these pieces have in common is that they push a pianist’s physical limits by integrating a lethal combination of techniques: frequent, wide leaps, rapid-fire octaves, high-speed tremolos, and constant rhythmic shifts. It is truly remarkable that despite such grueling difficulty, these pieces remain masterpieces of artistic expression.
The Artist Behind the Keys: Animenz
Would you believe that there is a modern pianist, arranger, and YouTuber who constantly explores and challenges the technical limits of the piano in the similar context as those classic masterpieces? That artist is Animenz, a musician who reinterprets anime music into solo piano arrangements based on a foundation of classical music language.
His arrangements are far more than simple covers. He is a gifted musician who:
Utilizes orchestral thinking in his compositions.
Displays a brilliance reminiscent of Liszt’s Études.
Employs a wide array of modern piano techniques.
Tenaciously captures and preserves the emotional essence of the original songs.
The Masterpiece: "Unravel"
The star of today’s analysis is the opening theme of Tokyo Ghoul, "Unravel," arranged for piano by Animenz. While the original track is known for its thick texture and power—driven by guitar, bass, drums, strings, and synths—Animenz has reinterpreted it by combining these elements with his signature extreme piano technique.
Even the arranger himself considers this one of his top 10 most difficult arrangements. He reportedly completed the arrangement for "Unravel" while studying classical piano in Germany, during a period when he was deeply immersed in technically demanding classical repertoire. Shall we take a close look at Animenz’s sheet music and video to see exactly which parts are technically challenging and how best to approach them?
Hitting "The Wall": Intro
While the intro (up to the 0:48 mark in the video) may seem to start quietly, it actually hides a wealth of demanding techniques. The primary challenge for the right hand is to simultaneously play inner-voice melodies while executing an octave melody with frequent, wide leaps. Meanwhile, the left hand must maintain steady 8th notes to provide a stable foundation for the right hand’s complex layers.
Around 0:33 (Measure 18), the difficulty spikes significantly:
Irregular Rhythms: Both hands play thick chords in a relatively low register with unpredictable rhythmic patterns.
Extreme Leaps: Immediately following this, the piece transitions into a fortissimo (ff) section featuring massive octave leaps.
Animenz himself describes this specific section as "The Wall". Looking at the sheet music, the density of notes creates a literal "wall of sound" on a massive scale.
Practice Tip: To conquer this section, the best approach is consistent, repetitive practice focused on muscle memory. By memorizing hand positions and distances, you can train your muscles to find the leap points automatically without having to overthink each jump.
The Ultimate Tremolo
Beyond the sections already mentioned, the arrangement is filled with rapid arpeggios and a continuous feast of 16th notes. Among these, the most standout technique is the tremolo. This technique involves alternating rapidly between two notes, typically an octave apart, using fingers 1 and 5.
Looking at Measure 77 (toward the end of Section F), a high-intensity tremolo appearing at a fortissimo (ff) dynamic immediately follows a sequence of rapid 16th-note arpeggios. In this specific passage:
Fingers 1 and 2 simultaneously press Bb and the D a third above.
Finger 5 rapidly alternates with these by hitting the Bb an octave higher.
Despite the awkward and difficult fingering, this section demands both high speed and powerful dynamics. Additionally, the subsequent 32nd-note arpeggios create a brilliant effect and remind one of a guitar strumming technique.
The Weight of Both Hands: Navigating the Full Range
Take a look at the sheet music below. Just looking at it might take your breath away as you wonder, "How on earth do I play this?" This section is exceptionally difficult because the right hand must execute block chords including octaves, while the left hand simultaneously navigates wide jumps between bass notes and alternating block chords.
It feels much like carrying a heavy load in both hands while trekking up and down a steep hill. Furthermore, maintaining the powerful accents on the melody puts your physical stamina to the ultimate test, evoking the intensity found in Rachmaninoff’s Piano Preludes.
Practice Tip: Instead of playing every block chord with equal force, identify exactly where the primary accents should fall. By focusing your strength on those specific points, you can manage your energy more effectively throughout the passage.
Conclusion: A Harmonious Blend of Anime and Classical
This arrangement represents Animenz’s creativity, finding the perfect intersection between anime music and classical tradition while maintaining a flawless musical flow. Every measure of the sheet music reveals the deep thought and effort he poured into the work. Would you like to explore the world of piano technique by practicing this arrangement's full version from the beginning to the end? If so, please go ahead and click this link to view the sheet music!
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