There’s so much to love about Studio Ghibli movies, whether it’s the engaging and fantastical stories or the gorgeous and vibrant animation style. But let us not forget about the music, since Hayao Miyazaki’s movies are filled with iconic scores and songs. They transport you instantly to the time when you first heard them, taking you straight back to the bus stop in My Neighbor Totoro or Yubaba’s bathhouse in Spirited Away.
A couple months ago, the London-based radio station NTS Radio streamed a Radio Ghibli mix that included an hour of the music from films released between 1986 and 1992, and it was a beautiful thing (via ComicBook.com). This was the period that yielded classics like Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Grave of the Fireflies, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Only Yesterday, and Porco Rosso, so it was a packed hour of whimsical nostalgic fun.
The mix was apparently a hit, since NTS Radio decided to share a second installment in the series this week, which covers 1994 to 2001. That period gave us Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Pom Poko, Whisper of the Heart, and My Neighbors the Yamadas.
There’s also a third mix set to come out later this year, and assuming it goes from 2002 to present, some strong movies will be represented: The Cat Returns, Howl’s Moving Castle, Tales From Earthsea, Ponyo, Arietty, From Up on Poppy Hill, The Wind Rises, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, and When Marnie Was There.
Check out the two existing mixes above, and for a taste of what the third might include, listen to perhaps my personal favorite Ghibli song,  “Kaze ni Naru” from The Cat Returns, below.
Featured image: Studio Ghibli
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