Summary
Joe Hisaishi’s soundtrack to Studio Ghibli’s films is iconic and perfectly complements Miyazaki’s storytelling and animation. Hisaishi’s scores have a unique appeal and can stand alone, but they shine even brighter when linked together in a film. Each film has standout pieces, such as “Bygone Days,” “One Summer Day,” and “Journey,” that capture the essence and themes of their respective films.
The The best Studio Ghibli soundtracks by Joe Hisaishi serves as the iconic foundation of Miyazaki Hayao’s cinematic masterpieces. Although Studio Ghibli was not run single-handedly by Miyazaki, the films he created were the face of the studio, and throughout his journey, Joe Hisaishi worked alongside him to write additional music. perfect for Miyazaki’s beautiful storytelling and animation.
In addition to Joe Hisaishi’s score, several Ghibli films not directed by Miyazaki have had soundtracks to a similar degree, such as Cécile Corbel’s work with Arrietty directed by Yonebayashi Hiromasa and Mamiya Michio’s work with Grave of the Fireflies was directed by Takahata Isao. However, Joe Hisaishi’s score has a unique appeal, as his compositions are elegant pieces capable of standing alone, but once they are linked with other songs in a particular movie, a complex effect will take place. Furthermore, within that dynamic, a central part always finds space to shine.
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10 “Days gone by” is the sound of nostalgia
Porco Rosso (1992)
Miyazaki’s Porco Rosso is a fantasy war film that blends fairy tale-like elements with harsh reality, and Joe Hisaishi’s song titled “Bygone Days” encapsulates those themes perfectly. perfect, and at the same time a little nostalgic. Use of polyrhythmic techniques frequently punctuates his works, Hisaishi adds a fun melody to “Bygone Days”. It both refers to the Western forces that Porco Rosso fights throughout the film, while also evoking a rustic and classic feel. The style does not completely adhere to Western influences but highlights memories of the past, just as the song title describes.
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9 “A Summer Day” shows that time is passing
Spirited Away (2001)
Miyazaki’s hit Spirited Away has held the crown as the highest-grossing Japanese film for nearly two decades, and much of its success is due to Joe Hisaishi’s superb score. Special, “One Summer’s Day” is one of the film’s standout songs, bringing a feeling of calm serenity to the vibrant spirit world that the main character, Chihiro, stumbles into. Despite the difficulties of the journey, the aftermath is portrayed as a fleeting moment of delusional childhood imagination, which is the central theme of “One Summer’s Day.”
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Spirit land
From Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, Spirited Away tells the story of Chihiro, a ten-year-old girl who discovers a hidden spirit world while traveling with her family. When her parents fall victim to the schemes of an evil witch, Chihiro is forced to work as a slave in a magical bathhouse to save their lives. With the help of her friend Haku, Chihiro sets out to find a way to save her parents and bring her family home.
8 “Journey” is both gentle and great
Rising Wind (2013)
The Wind Rises was intended to be Miyazaki’s final film (neither the first nor the last time he made such an announcement) and incorporated much of the legend that founded Studio Ghibli. It is no secret that Miyazaki loves airplanes, as the name “Ghibli” comes from the name of an Italian plane, but The Wind Rises delves deep into the foundations of the commercial industry, as Joe Hisaishi’s music only highlights Miyazaki’s touching story of perseverance. “A Journey” shows the main character Horikoshi Jirou’s dream of building an airplaneas its ups and downs sway precariously like both the wind and Hisaishi’s song.
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Rising Wind
This Japanese animated film is a fictionalized account of the life and work of engineer Jiro Horikoshi, who designed the planes used by Japan during World War II.
7 “Ask Me Why” Pairs Surprisingly Well With “Spinning Ball”
The Boy and the Heron (2023)
The Boy and the Heron is Miyazaki’s most recent award-winning film as the story’s meditation on life and death is perfectly matched by another great score by Joe Hisaishi and a song by superstar J -global pop Yonezu Kenshi authorized. Yonezu Kenshi’s “Spinning Ball” serves as a great statement for the entire film, while Joe Hisaishi’s quiet yet touching melodies touched the audience’s hearts with each song, starting with “Ask Me Why”. Although the styles of the two songs are very different, beneath the surface there is an inseparable harmony.
The Boy and the Heron is currently in theaters so there are currently no platforms to stream the film.
The boy and the heron
Considered the final work of famous animator Hayao Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron is a fantasy-drama film about a boy named Mahito who struggles with grief after the death of his father. mother during World War II. Forced to evacuate to the countryside in the midst of war, Mahito struggles to adapt to his new environment and compete with his new stepmother. However, Mahito’s life changes after meeting a strange talking Heron – sending him on a magical journey of self-discovery.
6 “My Neighbor Totoro” serves as the basis for the entire movie
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
My Neighbor Totoro is perhaps Miyazaki’s most iconic film, as the Studio Ghibli logo features an adorable fur ball. Furthermore, the film’s main theme, which has the same title as the film, not only opens the film but also intervenes among other soundtracks. Songs like “Path of the Wind” are incredibly popular, but one of its main themes is just that an improved and expanded version of the main theme of “My Neighbor Totoro.” Joe Hisaishi does this to tie together an overall soundtrack that begins with “My Neighbor Totoro”.
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My neighbor is Totoro
From Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, My Neighbor Totoro follows the adventures of sisters Satsuki and Mei and their encounters with forest spirits living near their new home in rural Japan. The film has two English dubs, the first starring Lisa Michelson and Cheryl Chase, the latter starring Dakota and Elle Fanning.
5 “Princess Mononoke” is a character theme like no other
Princess Mononoke (1997)
One of Miyazaki’s greatest films of all time, Princess Mononoke, is a story ahead of its time as it highlights the dangers of industrialization’s encroachment on the environment. Paired with one of Joe Hisaishi’s most diverse yet cohesive scores, the metaphors Princess Mononoke’s story draws will remain relevant for decades. Special, The main theme of Princess San is an operatic masterpiece that encapsulates the depth of San’s character and background as a child of nature. It presents a painfully fragmented identity, crying with the sadness of a dying forest.
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Princess Mononoke
From Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, Princess Mononoke is set in ancient Japan and follows Prince Ashitaka, who, after being injured by a corrupted boar spirit, ventures on a quest to lift the curse. due to the injury placed on him. Originally written and performed in Japanese, the English-dubbed version of the film stars Billy Crudup, Claire Danes and Minnie Driver.
4 “The Legend of the Wind” is part of a larger whole
Naussicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
Naussicaä of the Valley of the Wind is another of Miyazaki’s films that focuses heavily on environmental awareness, and its music is similarly written in an extremely serious style. Furthermore, Joe Hisaishi’s work on this film is perhaps some of his most comprehensive, as each song is deeply connected to the others, creating a web of occasional sayings. loud and sometimes subtle. Hisaishi’s “The Legend of the Wind” is based on the theme of Naussicaäbut other works like “Requiem,” “The Distant Days” and “The Bird Man” could be said to be doing just as much..
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3 “The Circle of Life” is a meditation on youth
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Joe Hisaishi’s “The Merry-Go-Round of Life” is a lasting nod to Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle, as the song is an optimistic expression of life’s unpredictability. The story is about a young woman named Sophie, who is turned into an old person by a jealous witch. Her magical story of trying to regain her youth while gradually accepting her position is perfectly captured by Hisaishi’s song, which touches on many of the same themes just through music, even more so when combined with Miyazaki’s stunning visuals and storytelling.
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Howl’s Moving Castle
From Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, Howl’s Moving Castle is based on the novel by Diana Wynne Jones. The story follows Sophie, a shy hatter who lives in a fictional magical kingdom cursed by a witch that makes her look like an old woman. Leaving home to find a cure, Sophie meets Howl, a powerful magician, and becomes the housekeeper of his magical medic castle. The English dub stars Emily Mortimer and Christian Bale as Sophie and Howl.
2 “Oceanfront Town” has the most serene soundscape
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
In Miyazaki’s Kiki’s Delivery Service, Joe Hisaishi’s score is a feast for the eyes, including songs like “A Town with an Ocean View,” a song that still holds up in the modern world despite its was formed in 1989. “A Town With an Ocean View” is a work of orchestral genius that paints a wonderful scene with just soundUse vibrant and optimistic colors.
The story follows a young witch in training named Kiki, who makes her way to a beautiful seaside town. Kiki’s delivery service covers themes of adulthood and facing exhaustion, as adventures unfold and Kiki finds time to admire unforgettable views during a tumultuous time of personal growth.
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1 “The Pigeon and the Boy” is about beauty in simplicity
Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986)
Miyazaki’s Laputa: Castle in the Sky has deep themes of technology, war, and destruction, but what Miyazaki Hayao and Joe Hisaishi do so well is finding peace in chaos. The main character, Pazu, blows his lone trumpet, playing “Doves and the Boy” to mark the awakening of a small mining town. The melody of “Doves and the Boy” is so catchy that it doesn’t need musical accompanimentas a moment of peace and flying pigeons prepares the story for impending unrest.
Although Laputa has songs like “The Girl Who Fell From the Sky,” “Doves and the Boy” is a much better representation of beauty as well as the series as a whole. The song is even referenced in modern anime like Your Lie in April when Kaori plays her own iconic version on the melodica in episode one. Although all of Hisaishi’s music is beautiful “Doves and the Boy” is considered Hisaishi’s best work for Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki.
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