Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea Original Soundtrack – Annotated Review

Review: One of my earlier submissions to the Eminence website had been the soundtrack to Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea only that back then, I had written it without having had the benefit of watching the movie. With the context of the film now in my mind, I can say that my opinion doesn’t really change all too much; Joe Hisaishi’s work does inspire wonder along with a healthy dose of charm to help bring the movie to life.

One of the tracks that I highlighted was “Shinkai Bokujyou,” which plays right in the beginning of the movie. As you listen to this excerpt, close your eyes and try to imagine that you’re in an underwater environment, enveloped by hundreds of jellyfish floating along gracefully in formation as the light reflects upon their near-transparent bodies. What results is a dazzling display that absolutely takes your breath away and it could not have been done without the music to back it up. This seamless composition of Hayao Miyazaki’s art and Hisaishi’s music is what makes this scene stunningly beautiful and by the time this scene concludes, you know you’ll be in for quite a treat.

Shinkai Bokujyou
[audio:01 Ponyo.mp3]

After the introduction subsides, our titular heroine escapes the confines of her underwater home by sneaking out without her father noticing and in doing so, starts her grand adventure as she ventures into the surface world that offers a great deal of sights and sounds that she has not yet experienced. “Ura no Machi’s” introduction (excerpted here) does an excellent job of conveying Ponyo’s eagerness to embark upon this journey filled with action and excitement. The tempo here also carries with it some degree of impatience and the subsequent scenes in which her father confronts her demonstrates just how much she wants to explore this new environment through the dialogue between the two.

Ura no Machi
[audio:04 Ponyo.mp3]

One of the more important themes is that of love and family and I think that feeling carries itself excellently in both “Risa no Ie” and “Haha no Ai.” The melody is warm and comforting which fits in with the image most people have of home. Of course, while home is a wonderful place to be, it’s also a testament to the amount of effort that Sousuke’s mother Risa puts in to make sure that the home is running along smoothly on top of ensuring that the senior citizens living at the town’s senior center are well-cared for. Although Risa can get a bit frustrated at her husband’s absence at times, she definitely shows that she has a good heart and no matter what happens, she has the strength to make the best of things to deliver a loving experience unto Sousuke. “Haha no Ai’s” uplifting chorus part illustrates that latter point well and the warmth that it exhibits makes one feel welcome in her arms.

Risa no Ie
[audio:16 Ponyo.mp3]

Haha no Ai
[audio:30 Ponyo.mp3]

And, of course, the movie ends with a delightful song with a childish air to it; quite a change from Spirited Away’s “Itsu mo Nando demo” or Princess Mononoke’s theme song, both of which were operatic in their execution. I don’t think such an ending would have been quite as fitting for Ponyo since the story’s overall feel is closer to that of a fairy tale, making “Ponyo on a Cliff (Cinema ver.)’s” childish, whimsical nature much more appropriate of a selection. For that matter, it’s a fun way to conclude the movie.

Ponyo on a Cliff (Cinema ver.)
[audio:36 Ponyo.mp3]

So while the issue with the main themes repeating itself throughout the album still stands, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea’s soundtrack is every bit as charming as the movie was. The full review offers more in the way of detail, but if you need the sound clips to back it up (and see how my viewing of the movie changes things), this would be the place for that.

Rating: Very Good