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The Boy and the Heron (Original Soundtrack)
Film score and soundtrack album by Joe Hisaishi
Released	August 9, 2023
Recorded	2022–2023
Genre	Film score
Length	64:37
Language	Japanese
Label	Studio Ghibli Tokuma Japan
Producer	Joe Hisaishi
Joe Hisaishi chronology
Soul Snatcher (2021) ''The Boy and the Heron (Original Soundtrack)'' (2023)
Singles from The Boy and the Heron
"Spinning Globe" Released: July 26, 2023

The music of The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか サウンドトラック, Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka Saundotorakku), 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

In July 2018, Kenshi Yonezu visited the Studio Ghibli office for the first time and met Miyazaki on a potential collaboration. 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 "Chikyūgi" (地球儀, lit. "Globe") in Japan, and "Spinning Globe" internationally, 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, and the song was released on July 26, with an accompanying music video.

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. 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". 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."

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

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. She also complimented the piano pieces underscoring the film, were "hopeful and sweet", but also evokes a sense of melancholy.

Accolades

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

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joe Hisaishi, except where noted.

Charts

References

1. "Singer-Songwriter Kenshi Yonezu Talks About Working With Boy and The Heron Director Hayao Miyazaki". Anime News Network. September 12, 2023. Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
2. ^ 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)]. Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved September 17, 2023.
3. 「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?"]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 14, 2023. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
4. 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]. Eiga.com. July 4, 2023. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
5. Hussey, Allison (July 17, 2023). "Listen to the Theme Song for Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
6. 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]. Real Sound (in Japanese). July 17, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
7. 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)]. Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved September 17, 2023.
8. 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)]. Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved September 17, 2023.
9. "「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". Tokuma Japan Communications. Tokuma Shoten. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
10. Watzky, Matteo (July 14, 2023). "Hayao Miyazaki's How Do You Live?". Full Frontal. Archived from the original on July 30, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
11. Fox, Joshua (October 22, 2023). "The Boy and the Heron Review: Ghibli's Best Movie in Years is Finally Here". ScreenRant. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
12. Rooney, David (September 8, 2023). "'The Boy and the Heron' Review: Hayao Miyazaki Emerges From Retirement With a Profoundly Personal Swan Song". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
13. "'The Boy and the Heron' review: Miyazaki's movie about a long goodbye". Annenberg Media. October 17, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
14. Grierson, Tim (September 8, 2023). "'The Boy And The Heron': Toronto Review". Screen. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
15. Worthington, Clint (September 27, 2023). "The Boy and The Heron Review: Hayao Miyazaki's Masterful End". Consequence. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
16. Shields, Meg (September 16, 2023). "'The Boy and the Heron' is Hayao Miyazaki at his Dreamiest". Film School Rejects. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
17. ^ Frank, Allegra (October 2, 2023). "'The Boy and the Heron' Should Win This Composer an Oscar". The Daily Beast. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
18. Neglia, Matt (December 21, 2023). "The 2023 Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
19. Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (January 8, 2024). "Golden Globes: 'Oppenheimer' Leads With Five Wins, 'Succession' Tops TV With Four (Complete Winners List)". Variety. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
20. Grein, Paul (December 21, 2023). "Jon Batiste, Nicholas Britell and more are nominated for 2024 SCL Awards: full list". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
21. Bergeson, Samantha (December 21, 2023). "2024 Oscar Shortlists Unveiled: 'Barbie,' 'Poor Things,' 'Maestro,' and 'The Zone of Interest' Make the Cut". IndieWire. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
22. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-08-21/p/2" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
23. "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-08-21" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
24. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of August 16, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 21, 2023.
25. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-08" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.

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