How Magic is Made

Once in a while a strong urge to watch Spirited Away swells up in me. Yesterday, as I was browsing through Youtube, by chance or destiny (or maybe the two are the same), I stumbled upon a video called "The Making of Spirited Away." For a hour, I was once again captured by the movie's magic, but this time, the process of its completion captivated me.

The staff fights against time and quality every second. Miyazaki must communicate his visions across barriers of generation and experience gaps. The drawing and storyboard making process is tense. Each picture, each cut is given such attention. Every movement is real and has meaning. Every scene is a splash of powerful, flowing lines and color. Then, the sounds must be added. Before watching this video, I did not imagine how much time and effort it takes to add sound effects to the pictures. The soundtrack was created in a grand auditorium surrounded by over sixty microphones and a full orchestra. The voice actors must rely on their voices alone to give life to the characters. Each footstep, each door, each object must be given its own sound. The chaos of a busy kitchen, the festivity of a party, the clang-ings during the clean-up, the different splashes of water in each scene of the bath house. Magic didn't generate spontaneously. The thoughts of each member of the staff, the years of living, seeing, hearing each person had all contributed to the breath-taking film. I, along with viewers worldwide who were touched by this film, am forever grateful to everyone involved in the film for having shown me a miracle.

Ghibli Animation OST Part 2 - Spirited Away

Spirited Away is one of Hayao Miyazaki's most renowned works. First, I attached the opening theme, called One Summer's Day (あの夏へ Ano Natsu e). Then, I attached the ending theme, Always With Me (いつも何度でも Itsu mo Nando demo).

Japanese Lyrics (Kanji)

いつも何度でも
作詞／覚和歌子　
作曲・歌／木村　弓

呼んでいる　胸のどこか奥で
いつも心踊る　夢を見たい

悲しみは　数えきれないけれど
その向こうできっと　あなたに会える

繰り返すあやまちの　そのたびひとは
ただ青い空の　青さを知る
果てしなく　道は続いて見えるけれど
この両手は　光を抱ける

さよならのときの　静かな胸
ゼロになるからだが　耳をすませる

生きている不思議　死んでいく不思議
花も風も街も　みんなおなじ

ラララララララララ・・・・・・・・・
ホホホホルルルル・・・・・・・・

呼んでいる　胸のどこか奥で
いつも何度でも　夢を描こう

悲しみの数を　言い尽くすより
同じくちびるで　そっとうたおう

閉じていく思い出の　そのなかにいつも
忘れたくない　ささやきを聞く
こなごなに砕かれた　鏡の上にも
新しい景色が　映される

はじまりの朝の　静かな窓
ゼロになるからだ　充たされてゆけ

海の彼方には　もう探さない
輝くものは　いつもここに
わたしのなかに　見つけられたから

Japanese Lyrics (Romanji)

Yondeiru Mune no Dokoka Okude
Itsumo Kokoro Odoru Yume wo Mitai

Kanashimi wa Kazoekirenai kedo
Sono Mukou de Kitto Anata ni Aeru

Kurikaesu Ayamachi no Sonotabi Hito wa
Tada Aoi Sora no Aosa wo Shiru
Hateshinaku Michi wa Tsuzuite Mieru keredo
Kono Ryoute wa Hikari wo Dakeru

Sayonara no Toki no Shizukana Mune
Zero ni Naru Karada ga Mimi wo Sumaseru

Ikiteiru Fushigi Sinde Iku Fusigi
Hana mo Kaze mo Machi mo Minna Onaji

Yondeiru Mune no Dokoka Oku de
Itsumo Nando demo Yume wo Egakou

Kanashimi no Kazu wo Iitsukusu yori
Onaji Kuchibiru de Sotto Utaou

Tojiteiku Omoide no Sono Naka ni Itsumo
Wasure takunai Sasayaki wo Kiku
Konagona ni Kudakareta Kagami no Ue nimo
Atarashii Keshiki ga Utsusareru

Hajimari no Asa Shizuka na Mado
Zero ni Naru Karada Mitasarete Yuke

Umi no Kanata niwa Mou Sagasanai
Kagayaku Mono wa Itsumo Koko ni
Watashi no Naka ni Mitsukerareta Kara

Japanese Lyrics (English Translation)

Somewhere, a voice calls, in the depths of my heart
May I always be dreaming, the dreams that move my heart

So many tears of sadness, uncountable through and through
I know on the other side of them I'll find you

Everytime we fall down to the ground we look up to the blue sky above
We wake to it's blueness, as for the first time

Though the road is long and lonely and the end far away, out of sight
I can with these two arms embrace the light

As I bid farewell my heart stops, in tenderness I feel
My silent empty body begins to listen to what is real

The wonder of living, the wonder of dying
The wind, town, and flowers, we all dance one unity

Somewhere a voice calls in the depths of my heart
keep dreaming your dreams, don't ever let them part

Why speak of all your sadness or of life's painfull woes
Instead let the same lips sing a gentle song for you

The whispering voice, we never want to forget,
in each passing memory always there to guide you

When a miror has been broken, shattered pieces scattered on the ground
Glimpses of new life, reflected all around

Window of beginning, stillness, new light of the dawn
Let my silent, empty body be filled and reborn

No need to search outside, nor sail across the sea
Cause here shining inside me, it's right here inside me

I've found a brightness, it's always with me