Five magical musical moments in Studio Ghibli movies
Over the years, Studio Ghibli has captured the hearts and souls of many with its whimsical characters and incredible illustrations. If the most recent feature-length incarnation of The Boy and the Heron is anything to go by, Studio Ghibli is as popular as ever, if not more so, with hoards of fans flocking to the cinema to get the full experience.
Founded in Tokyo in 1985 by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki, their first releases were 1984’s Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and the ever-popular Castle in the Sky in 1986. Some of their most famous titles include My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle, often exploring real-world worries and issues with a fantasy element.
Part of the allure is, of course, the musical moments in Studio Ghibli films, the rhapsodic music helping to create those gentle, thoughtful, and nostalgic worlds we’ve all come to love. The original songs constantly capture the exact mood of each film, and audiences laud their composition as much as the animation. With recurring themes of nature, technology, feminism, family and above all, humanity itself, the musical moments in Studio Ghibli films must reflect these seamlessly.
So here are five musical moments, mostly created by long-time Ghibli collaborator Joe Hisaishi, that’ll make you want to revisit your favourite Studio Ghibli films.
Five magical Studio Ghibli moments:
‘One Summer’s Day’ – Spirited Away (2001)
The much-loved Spirited Away has the most beautiful main theme, and as calm and un-flashy as ‘One Summer’s Day’ is, it still stands as the favourite of many Ghibli fans. The gorgeous piano piece sends tingles down the spine and reflects the magic of Chihiro’s adventures, navigating a whole new world full of spirits and mystical creatures.
Of course, Chihiro has a fight on her hands to get back to the real world, but ‘One Summer’s Day’ helps keep our feet off the ground, believing in magic and that everything will be OK.
‘Main Theme/Carrying You’ – Castle in the Sky (1986)
Another magical, beautiful theme, ‘Carrying You’ from Castle in the Sky, is completely perfect for a fantastical story that pulls at the heartstrings. When a young boy stumbles into a mysterious girl who floats down from the sky, they embark on an adventure, encountering all sorts of flying machines. Eventually, they search for Sheeta’s identity in a floating castle of a lost civilisation.
The song incorporates piano and strings beautifully, just like Pazu and Sheeta’s dynamic. It prepares us for the ups and downs to come while yanking those emotions out of us.
‘A Town with an Ocean View’ – Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
The Kiki’s Delivery Service song begins grand and lofty, like flying through the air, then turns into a series of cutesy notes on plucked strings, serving as the main musical motif. Sweeping the listener off their feet, the song crescendos into a rich, full orchestral version of the intro and the main theme before transitioning into a boisterous village-like theme with trumpets, tambourines, and celebration.
The melody is bright and airy, carried primarily by woodwind and string instruments, giving it a whimsical, carefree quality. It perfectly matches the visuals of the town’s picturesque streets and the seaside atmosphere, drawing listeners into Kiki’s world and making them feel a part of her journey. The orchestration gradually builds, creating a sense of hope and optimism, which aligns with Kiki’s excitement at embarking on her new life.
‘Country Roads’ – Whisper of the Heart (1995)
This cover of the John Denver classic is an alarming change for Ghibli but a welcome surprise for many. The song appears throughout Whisper of the Heart in both the original Olivia Newton-John cover at the beginning and – later – performed by the main characters with a violin accompaniment.
It’s a relatively small part of the film, but the passionate childlike lyrics (the protagonist writes her own Japanese version complete with original verse, dubbed ‘Concrete Road’) and appropriation of a folk classic works perfectly in the teen setting – Shizuku wants to find her ‘home’, her identity.
‘The Path of the Wind’ – My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Using an arsenal of synthesizers and exploiting his electro-pop background, Joe Hisaishi easily captures My Neighbor Totoro’s endearing childlike sense of discovery and mystery, something he would continue to capitalise on throughout his long-term collaboration with Miyazaki.
‘The Path of Wind’ takes the film’s recurring theme and sets it against a backdrop of electronic drums and percussive synthesizer sounds. Even with all this stripped-back, it’s a beautiful piece of music we couldn’t imagine the film without.
