Music of The Boy and the Heron explained

The Boy and the Heron (Original Soundtrack)
Italic Title:no
Type:film
Longtype:and soundtrack album
Artist:Joe Hisaishi
Cover:Japanese cover for The Boy and The Heron original soundtrack.jpg
Released:August 9, 2023
Recorded:20222023
Genre:Film score
Length:64:37
Language:Japanese
Label:
Producer:Joe Hisaishi
Prev Title:Soul Snatcher
Prev Year:2021

The music of, a film directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli, features a 37-track musical score composed by Joe Hisaishi, a longtime collaborator of both the director and the producer. It also features the film's main theme "Spinning Globe", performed by Kenshi Yonezu. The soundtrack was released through Tokuma Japan Communications on August 9, 2023.

Main theme

See main article: Spinning Globe. In July 2018, Kenshi Yonezu visited the Studio Ghibli office for the first time and met Miyazaki on a potential collaboration.[1] [2] Miyazaki listened to the theme song "Paprika" which Yonezu had produced and composed for the 2020 Summer Olympics, and driven by his composition, he insisted him to write a theme song for the film. It was recorded with a small chamber orchestra and piano performed by Yonezu. The details of the song were not publicly revealed until the release of the film on July 14, 2023. Titled in Japan,[3] [4] and "Spinning Globe" internationally,[5] the song was first performed by Yonezu at the Yokohama Arena during Yonezu's tour, Kusou, though the song was not titled until its release. The advance distribution of the song began on July 17, 2023,[6] and the song was released on July 26, with an accompanying music video.[7] [8]

Release

Tokuma Japan Communications, the music distribution firm of Japanese publishing Tokuma Shoten, released the soundtrack to the film in Japan on August 9, 2023, through CDs and LPs, as well as to digital music and streaming platform.[9] The international release of the soundtrack is yet to be announced.

Reception

Joe Hisaishi's score received generally positive reviews from critics. Full Frontal author Matteo Watzky said that Hisaishi's score "seems to become increasingly minimal as time goes by".[10] Screen Rant based critic Joshua Fox wrote: "The Boy and the Heron's score is also plenty commendable. Joe Hisaishi has, naturally, returned to provide the music, and his score does an amazing job of capturing the mood of every scene, whether it be tense, melancholy, or a rare moment of happiness among the cast. Hisaishi’s score is as much of a treat in The Boy and the Heron as it is in other Studio Ghibli films, and when combined with the animation, it all comes together to give The Boy and the Heron a level of direction that stands out as one of Studio Ghibli’s best, if not the best."[11]

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter described Hisaishi's "loving score" renders the melodic emotionality of Miyazaki's visual language "even more beguiling".[12] Olivia Siu of Annenberg Media wrote that Hisaishi's score "sounds less like a lullaby and more like a long goodbye".[13] Tim Grierson of Screen International wrote "Hisaishi’s piano-centric score is a stark wonder".[14] Clint Worthington of Consequence wrote "Joe Hisaishi delivers another beautiful, plaintive score filled with lonely pianos that give way to sweeping strings".[15] Meg Shields of Film School Rejects described it as a "heartstring-tugging score".[16]

Allegra Frank, writing for The Daily Beast admitted that the film should earn Hisaishi his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score category, complimenting the simplistic nature of music as well as "evoking the voice of the unspoken" which she described as one of Hisaishi's greatest talent.[17] She also complimented the piano pieces underscoring the film, were "hopeful and sweet", but also evokes a sense of melancholy.

Accolades

AwardDateCategoryResult
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards21 December 2023Best Score[18]
Golden Globe Awards7 January 2024Best Original Score[19]
Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards13 February 2024Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film[20]

In December 2023, the score was shortlisted for Best Original Score at the 96th Academy Awards.[21]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[22] 27
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[23] 15

Monthly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[24] 42

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-09-12 . Singer-Songwriter Kenshi Yonezu Talks About Working With Boy and The Heron Director Hayao Miyazaki . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230822132453/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2023-08-16/singer-songwriter-kenshi-yonezu-talks-about-working-with-boy-and-the-heron-director-hayao-miyazaki/.201269 . August 22, 2023 . 2023-09-12 . Anime News Network . en.
  2. Web site: ja:米津玄師が宮崎駿監督「君たちはどう生きるか」の主題歌担当、4年間の制作経て「地球儀」書き下ろし（米津玄師コメントあり） . Kenshi Yonezu sings the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki's How Do You Live? After 4 years of production, Kenshi Yonezu writes a new song "Spinning Globe" (with comments from Kenshi Yonezu) . 2023-09-17 . . ja.
  3. Web site: July 14, 2023 . ja:「君たちはどう生きるか」ストーリー、声優、主題歌が明らかに . Story, voice actors, and theme song revealed for "How Do You Live?" . https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/532717 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714052605/https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/532717 . July 14, 2023 . July 14, 2023 . . Natasha, Inc. . ja.
  4. Web site: July 4, 2023 . ja:宮崎駿監督「君たちはどう生きるか」久石譲が音楽担当 主題歌の存在も明らかに . Hayao Miyazaki's "How Do You Live?" with music by Joe Hisaishi, theme song also revealed . https://eiga.com/news/20230704/10/ . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714062724/https://eiga.com/news/20230704/10/ . July 14, 2023 . July 14, 2023 . Eiga.com.
  5. Web site: Hussey . Allison . 2023-07-17 . Listen to the Theme Song for Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230718205038/https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-the-theme-song-for-hayao-miyazakis-the-boy-and-the-heron/ . July 18, 2023 . 2023-07-19 . . en-US.
  6. Web site: 2023-07-17 . ja:米津玄師、新曲「地球儀」ジャケットは映画『君たちはどう生きるか』の原画に CDには鈴木敏夫プロデューサーとの対談も収録 . Kenshi Yonezu's new song "Spinning Globe" jacket is the original illustration for the movie How Do You Live? CD also includes a conversation with producer Toshio Suzuki . 2023-09-17 . Real Sound . ja.
  7. Web site: ja:米津玄師「君たちはどう生きるか」主題歌ミュージックビデオで奥山大史と初タッグ、撮影舞台は屋久島（動画あり） . Kenshi Yonezu collaborates with Hiroshi Okuyama for the first time in the theme song music video for How Do You Live? The filming location is Yakushima (video included) . 2023-09-17 . . ja.
  8. Web site: ja:米津玄師「君たちはどう生きるか」主題歌ライブ映像公開、「エヴァ」でも知られる本田雄がアニメ制作（動画あり） . Kenshi Yonezu's How Do You Live? theme song live video released, Takeshi Honda, also known for Eva, producing animation (video included) . 2023-09-17 . . ja.
  9. Web site: 「君たちはどう生きるか」 サウンドトラック / 「君たちはどう生きるか」 サウンドトラック - 徳間ジャパン . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230725164316/https://www.tkma.co.jp/new_release_detail/id=15858 . July 25, 2023 . 2023-09-13 . Tokuma Japan Communications . Tokuma Shoten.
  10. Web site: Watzky . Matteo . 2023-07-14 . Hayao Miyazaki's How Do You Live? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230730002354/https://fullfrontal.moe/how-do-you-live-review/ . July 30, 2023 . 2023-09-11 . Full Frontal . en-US.
  11. Web site: Fox . Joshua . 2023-10-22 . The Boy and the Heron Review: Ghibli's Best Movie in Years is Finally Here . 2023-11-05 . ScreenRant . en.
  12. Web site: Rooney . David . 2023-09-08 . 'The Boy and the Heron' Review: Hayao Miyazaki Emerges From Retirement With a Profoundly Personal Swan Song . 2023-11-05 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2023-10-17 . 'The Boy and the Heron' review: Miyazaki's movie about a long goodbye . 2023-11-05 . Annenberg Media . en.
  14. Web site: Grierson . Tim . 2023-09-08 . 'The Boy And The Heron': Toronto Review . 2023-11-05 . Screen . en.
  15. Web site: Worthington . Clint . 2023-09-27 . The Boy and The Heron Review: Hayao Miyazaki's Masterful End . 2023-11-05 . Consequence . en-US.
  16. Web site: Shields . Meg . 2023-09-16 . 'The Boy and the Heron' is Hayao Miyazaki at his Dreamiest . 2023-11-05 . Film School Rejects . en-US.
  17. News: Frank . Allegra . 2023-10-02 . 'The Boy and the Heron' Should Win This Composer an Oscar . en . The Daily Beast . 2023-11-05.
  18. Web site: Neglia . Matt . The 2023 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners . Next Best Picture . 22 December 2023 . 21 December 2023.
  19. Web site: Lang . Brent . Moreau . Jordan . Golden Globes: 'Oppenheimer' Leads With Five Wins, 'Succession' Tops TV With Four (Complete Winners List) . Variety . 8 January 2024 . 8 January 2024.
  20. News: Jon Batiste, Nicholas Britell and more are nominated for 2024 SCL Awards: full list . Grein . Paul . 2023-12-21 . 2024-03-23 . Billboard.
  21. Web site: Bergeson . Samantha . 2024 Oscar Shortlists Unveiled: 'Barbie,' 'Poor Things,' 'Maestro,' and 'The Zone of Interest' Make the Cut . IndieWire . 21 December 2023 . 21 December 2023.
  22. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-08-21 . . December 21, 2023 . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20230818055123/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2023-08-21/p/3/ . August 18, 2023.
  23. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of August 16, 2023. Billboard Japan. ja. December 21, 2023.
  24. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-08 . . December 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230913062132/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2023-08/p/5/ . September 13, 2023 . ja.

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