I’m sure I’ve played this album at least 20-30 times since I saw the movie, in itself a breathtaking visual masterpiece. (side note: why the heck does Apple Music not give me a simple way to see how many times an album is played. I don’t want to resort to scrobbling again to Last.fm just to get a simple number).

It is worth the listen just for the feelings that it pulls you through. This album alone has taken me down through more of Joe Hisaishi’s soundtracks for Miyazaki’s classics including Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle.

The movie really spoke to my inner child, lost in a sea of wonder, trying to find footing in this world, and finding ultimate contentment with the realities that be. I found the movie’s expression of pure clarity of life’s meaning mirroring my own faith-practice as a Muslim. It explored grief so beautifully, with such poise, and I was left awash in its melody.

It’s unfortunate you can’t stream it online nor can I see it again in theaters near me at this time. Maybe another city, another time. We are blessed to have Miyazaki come out of retirement to scratch his creative itch.