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.

あらしのよるに Arashi no Yoru Ni

Arashi no Yoru ni, or One Stormy Night, is a story book by Yuichi Kimura and Yuichi Kimura (illustrations). Following its success, many sequels came out and the first book was also made into a movie.

I saw the movie adaptation of One Stormy Night. I would first like to ask you.

Can a wolf and a sheep become friends?

In this story, the wolf and sheep packs have traditionally been at odds with one another. One hunts the other, this is not uncommon. However, one sheep named Mei meets a mystery character named Gabu one stormy night. Gabu is a wolf. Mei, not knowing that Gabu is a wolf befriends him. The two decide to meet again and their own pass code that helps identify one another is, "one stormy night." Gabu, however, as smelled Mei and knowing that she is a sheep, befriends her with the intention of eating her later one when they meet.

Gabu does not eat Mei. Instead, the two of them become true friends. So when the wolf pack comes to chase Mei, Gabu and Mei run away together. However, Gabu gets very hungry and Mei is willing to sacrifice herself to Gabu so that he can survive. What will happen?

Arashi no Yoru ni is a very moving story about the beautiful friendship between two living animals whom nature has created as enemies.

Top photos from: http://movie.naver.com/movie/bi/mi/photo.nhn?code=57278#ps

Last photo from: http://cafe.naver.com/more3.cafe?iframe_url=/ArticleRead.nhn%3Farticleid=2331

Ghibli Animation OST Part 4 - Princess Mononoke

Princess Mononoke, or Mononoke Hime, is a 1997 Studio Ghibli animation film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. I remember watching it long ago, but I do not really remember what happened. Looking back on the film now, I think it is safe to say that Princess Mononoke is one of Hayao Miyazaki's best films. It is not as recent as Ponyo on a Cliff or as famous as Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle, but I think that Mononoke Hime definitely puts Ponyo on a Cliff behind. Whereas Ponyo on a Cliff is more appropriate for a younger audience, Mononoke Hime is definitely not a simple children's animation movie. It's master artwork (mostly done by hand) and clear and powerful theme touches people of all audiences. In fact, I think I would be able to appreciate the movie much more if I were to see it now. I plan to re-watch all of Hayao Miyazaki's films over the summer, starting with Princess Mononoke. Not only does the movie contain an incredible depth, it demonstrates a high standard of completion. This does not leave out the auditory aspects of the film.

The first video is the main theme from Princess Mononoke, The Legend of Ashitaka. The second video is the theme with lyrics (by Hayao Miyazaki) to Joe Hisaishi's music in Japanese. Yoshikazu Mera performed it. The last movie is the same theme, but in English, performed by Sasha Lazard.

Mononoke Hime

Lyrics by Hayao Miyazaki
Music by Joe Hisaishi

Japanese

Haritsumeta Yumi no Furueru Tsuru yo
Tsuki no Hikari ni Zawameku Omae no Kokoro

Togisumasareta Yaiba no Utsukushi
Sono Kissaki ni Yoku Nita Sonata no Yokogao

Kanashimi to Ikari ni Hisomu Makoto no Kokoro wo
Shiru wa Mori no Sei
Mononoke Tachi dake
Mononoke Tachi dake

English Translation (by Deborah Goldsmith and Ryoko Toyama)

The trembling string of a taut bow
Your Heart is unsettled by the Moonlight

The beauty of a sharp blade
Thy profile, very much like its edge

Thy true heart hides behind the sorrow and anger
The spirits of the forest know it
Only the Mononoke
Only the Mononoke

Thanks!! Lyrics from: http://www.nausicaa.net/wiki/Princess_Mononoke_(song)

In the moonlight I felt your heart
quiver like a bow string's pulse
in the moon's pale light
you looked at me
Nobody knows your heart
when the sun has gone I see you
beautiful and haunting but cold
like the blade of a knife so sharp so smooth
nobody knows your heart

All of your sorrow, grief and pain
locked away in the forest of the night
Your secret heart belongs to the world
of the things that sigh in the dark
of the things that cry in the dark.

Ghibli Animation OST Part 3 - Howl's Moving Castle

Howl's Moving Castle is another Hayao Miyazaki film based on the book of the same name. However, the book and the movie are a bit different. The theme song from the movie is also very famous. It is called The Merry-Go-Round of Life. I really like this song. It fits the movie well and it has a very calming effect. When put together with the pictures, the feeling that you get is indescribable. I must say, the chemistry between Miyazaki's film and Joe Hisaishi's music is indescribable.

I noticed that the ending themes of most of Hayao Miyazaki's films have a very unique style when looking at the voices of the singers. Some people say that they sound too "old granny-ish." However, I find the voices very soothing and homely. The ending theme for Howl's Moving Castle is called The Promise of the World, or Sekai no Yakusoku (世界の約束).

Japanese Lyrics (Romanji)

Namida no oku ni yuragu hohoemi wa
Toki no hajime kara no sekai no yakusoku

Ima wa hitori demo futari no kinou kara
Kyou wa umarekirameku
Hajimete atta hi no youni

Omoide no uchi ni anata wa inai
Soyokaze to natte hoho ni furetekuru

Komorebi no gogo no wakare no ato mo
Keshite owaranai sekai no yakusoku

Ima wa hitori demo ashita wa kagirinai
Anata ga oshiete kureta
Yoru ni hisomu yasashisa

Omoide no uchi ni anata wa inai
Seseragi no uta ni kono sora no iro ni
Hana no kaori ni itsumademo ikite

Translated English Lyrics

Beyond these tears, my flickering smile

holds the promise of love from the beginning of time.

Even though I'm along now, with our yesterdays this day is born aglow

like the first time we spoke.

Somehow I lost you among all my memories.

You brush past my face softly as the breeze.

Though we slipped apart like sunlight through the leaves,

the promise of love will live on eternally.

Even though I'm alone now, my tomorrows are boundless

like the kindness you showed me hidden in the night.

Somehow I lost you among all my memories.

In a brook's gentle song, in the depth of the sky,

in a scent of a flower, you will live on eternally.

This is the actual ending scene of Howl's Moving Castle.

Ghibli Animation OST Part 1 - Laputa: Castle in the Sky

Studio Ghibli has released many of my favorite movies. The soundtrack incorporated into these movies is also phenomenal. I have yet to hear a melody that does not dazzle me, lyrics that do not make me smile. This week, I would like to upload some famous songs that play a big part in Ghibli's movies.

Part One -- The Castle in the Sky

Today I'll post the ending song of Laputa: The Castle in the Sky

Song: 君をのせて Kimi wo Nosete (Carrying You)

Composed by Joe Hisaishi (<-- incredible composer)

Performed by Inoue Azumi

Japanese Lyrics (Kanji)

あの地平線 輝くのは
どこかに君をかくしているから
たくさんの灯がなつかしいのは
あのどれかひとつに 君がいるから
さあ でかけよう ひときれのパン
ナイフ ランプ かばんにつめこんで
父さんが残した 熱い想い
母さんがくれた あのまなざし
地球はまわる 君をかくして
輝く瞳 きらめく灯
地球はまわる 君をのせて
いつかきっと出会う ぼくらをのせて

父さんが残した 熱い想い
母さんがくれた あのまなざし
地球はまわる 君をかくして
輝く瞳 きらめく灯
地球はまわる 君をのせて
いつかきっと出会う ぼくらをのせて

Japanese Lyrics (Romanji)

ano chiheisen kagayaku no wa
doko ka ni kimi o kakushite iru kara
taku-san no hi ga
natsukashii no wa
ano dore ka hitotsu ni
kimi ga iru kara

saa dekake you
hitokire no PAN
NAIFU, RANPU kaban ni tsume konde
do-san ga nokoshita atsui omoi
ka-san ga kureta ano manazashi

chikyuu wa mawaru kimi o kakushite
kagayaku hitomi kirameku tomoshibi
chikyuu wa mawaru kimi o nosete
itsuka kitto deau
bokura o nosete

do-san ga nokoshita atsui omoi
ka-san ga kureta ano manazashi
chikyuu wa mawaru kimi o kakushite
kagayaku hitomi kirameku tomoshibi
chikyuu wa mawaru kimi o nosete
itsuka kitto deau
bokura o nosete

English Translation (Warning: The translation may contain some inconsistencies with the original Japanese lyrics.)

The horizon shines because it is hiding you somewhere.

I long for the many lights because you are there in one of them.

So, let's leave.

A piece of bread, knife, and lamp stuffed in a bag.

My father gave me his passionate heart, my mother gave me her eyes.

The earth turns, hiding you.

Shining eyes, twinkling lights.

The earth turns, carrying you.

Carrying the both of us, who will meet someday.

My father gave me his passionate heart, my mother gave me her eyes.

The earth turns, hiding you.

Shining eyes, twinkling lights.

The earth turns, carrying you.

Carrying the both of us, who will meet someday.

Ponyo on a Cliff - Ghibli v.s. Disney

Ponyo on a Cliff is a Japanese animation film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, one of my favorite directors. It was released by Studio Ghibli, one of the most renowned animation studios. In North America, it was distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Overall, the movie was received well from audiences all around the world.

Music is crucial to Hayao Miyazaki's films. Joe Hisaishi is a very famous composer and he has worked with Hayao Miyazaki before. For this film, he wrote the score for the theme song which was then performed by Fujioka Fujimaki and Nozomi Ohashi. The English pop version was recorded by Frankie Jonas and Noah Cyrus. Since Japanese is difficult to translate without destroying the appropriate connotation, creating the newly translated and remixed version is in itself an accomplishment. However, I didn't feel that the English version was even remotely up to par. The Japanese original, though childish, was very cute and catchy. It also seemed very appropriate for the film. The English version, on the other hand, was filled with Auto-tune (or maybe the singer's voice was extremely nasally, or both) and the initial feeling of the song was destroyed. The lyrics sounded foolish too. Simply put, I wasn't satisfied in the least. I hope next time, the original receives a bit more respect. Actually, I can't say that the Japanese version is perfect, but my dislike for the English version and its choice of performers heavily outweighs any negative feelings I had for the Japanese version.

This is the original Japanese version of the theme song.

This is the rather disappointing English version.