Spirited Away

Spirited Away isn't the current #1 highest-grossing movie in Japan for no reason. It's exciting, gorgeous, and enchanting. It has beautiful animation, an imaginitive story... and a wonderful soundtrack. The intruige, danger, and love of the pieces breathes as much life into the film as the visuals do.

"One Summer's Day" starts it all, as Chihiro rides in the back of the car to her family's new home. It's a sweet melody, and it does sound like the theme for a lost child. It also introduces the beautiful theme of Spirited Away, with a soft piano and seldom string instruments. It ends with the fast-paced ride to the abandoned amusement park.

"Nighttime Coming" is very dramatic, and sympathetic as well. It's also awe-inspiring, as you feel the changes going on around Chihiro as the music plays and the scenery alters to that of the spirit world. This can't be told through the music, but similar themes seem woven into the piece.

"Dragon Boy" is simply...Read more

There is a common saying in Asia that goes like this: "The older the ginger, the spicier it gets." Basically it means that as people age, their output becomes more specialized.

That is the case with Hayao Miyazaki, and his longtime collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The movie "Spirited Away" has been considered Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece, an epic film that will be remembered as the centerpiece of Miyazaki's long and prosperous career. The same can be said about the film's score. It is too a masterpiece.

The purpose of a film score is to convey the mood of the particular sequence in the film. Nobody does this better than Hisaishi, and his score of "Spirited Away" is no exception. The music blends in so perfectly with the action that you hardly notice it, but you know that once it's gone, or replaced with punk rock, then the entire scene becomes completely different.

However, good scores don't just convey mood perfectly, but they must also be good enough...Read more

Joe Hisaishi has written the soundtracks to many of Miyazaki's films, but of them all, this is the best. It may have something to do with the fact that this movie is the best of them all, but something about it all makes this simply the best soundtrack and score I have ever encountered, not only of Miyazaki's film scores.

The movie starts out with "One Summer's Day", a soft, beautiful little opening, gentle and sweet. Afterwards comes "A Road to Somewhere", and it is with this piece that the slight creepiness of the movie sets in. "The Empty Restaurant" is even creepier and spookier. In it you can imagine everything that is going on in t he movie. It gives off a feeling of urgency and fear, which is fits the movie perfectly.

"Nighttime Coming" continues the creepy theme with the consistent beat at the beginning and then a tumble of notes that begin to show fear and panic. "The Dragon Boy" is a dramatic little piece that is quick and proud at the same time,...Read more