Ocarina listens to the soundtrack

The New Year began with an extraordinary gift from master Hayao Miyazaki: “The Boy and the Heron”. A film inspired by the novel by Genzaburo Yoshino, it tackles the themes of humanity and freedom, and stands out for its anti-militarist perspective, in line with the director’s vision.

Produced by Studio Ghibli, the film shares its title with Yoshino’s novel, but offers an independent and autonomous story, the fruit of seven years’ work by Miyazaki and his team. Despite the high cost of the project, a number of licensing deals with streaming services for previous Ghibli films helped finance the making of the film, which won the hearts of audiences and critics in Japanese cinemas and set new records for the Studio.

The main character, Mahito, an 11-year-old who lost his mother in an air raid, finds a new dimension in the film thanks when he meets a gray heron. Through his new feathered friend, Mahito explores themes of loss, mourning and renewal, entering a world where the living and the dead coexist.

The soundtrack, composed by renowned composer Joe Hisaishi, is a distinctive element of the film, a combination of visual and aural suggestions, an enchanting gift for viewers of all ages.

Hisaishi, usually accustomed to collaborating actively with Miyazaki, experimented with a different approach this time. The main theme, “Ask Me Why“, was originally a birthday present from Hisaishi to Miyazaki, who then decided to include it in the film.
The thirty-seven-track soundtrack ends with the song “Spinning Globe“, written and sung by Kenshi Yonezu.

Kenshi Yonezu’s song contributes significantly to the emotional dimension of the film. His song “Spinning Globe” has been enthusiastically received, and the video clip, published on YouTube, gives a fascinating insight into the film’s sequences.

Below are the videos for both tracks:

“Ask Me Why”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjXz7aDS3Pg

“Spinning Globe”:_ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgy5CTJQtuo&t=50s