Music of Ni no Kuni

The music for the role-playing video game series Ni no Kuni, developed by Level-5 and published in Western regions by Bandai Namco Entertainment, was composed by the team of Joe Hisaishi and Rei Kondoh, and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Hisaishi, known for his previous work on Studio Ghibli films, agreed to work on the games after witnessing the development team's passion for the project. He wrote 21 tracks for the games across seven days, and was continually encouraged by the complexity of his compositions. Hisaishi aimed to make the music reflect the fantasy genre, creating a compatibility between the soundtrack and the game world.

An album titled Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi Original Soundtrack was released in Japan on February 9, 2011, featuring music from Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn. A two-disc soundtrack was later released on March 28, 2013; the first disc is a re-release of the Japanese soundtrack, while the second disc contains additional tracks from Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. Critical reception to the soundtracks was positive, as reviewers felt that the music connected appropriately with the gameplay. In particular, critics felt that Hisaishi's approach to the composition matched the art style by Studio Ghibli. The music was nominated for numerous awards.

Production and composition

Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi, who previously worked on films with Studio Ghibli, co-composed the score for Ni no Kuni.

When Studio Ghibli agreed to produce the animated sequences of Ni no Kuni, they contacted Joe Hisaishi to work on the game music. Hisaishi, who previously worked with Studio Ghibli on films such as Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001), met with Level-5 producer and writer Akihiro Hino. After witnessing Hino's passion for the project, Hisaishi agreed to work on the soundtrack.[1] Rei Kondoh created the other half of the score,[2] and all in-game music was performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.[3] "Kokoro no Kakera", the games' theme song, was written by Hisaishi; his daughter Mai Fujisawa performed the song in Japanese, while chorister Archie Buchanan performed the English version. The team found great difficulty in selecting a performer for the English version, though ultimately settled upon Buchanan due to his ability to convey the "vulnerability and innocence" of the games characters in a "moving and powerful performance".[4] For the orchestral music to fit onto the Nintendo DS at a high quality, Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn was shipped on a 4-gigabit game card.[5]

Hisaishi wrote 21 songs as piano sketches, across seven days. He found that the rhythm of the score was more complex than expected, but felt that this is "usually a good sign", which encouraged him to continue.[1] The music was intended to reflect the fantasy genre, and contain an elegance based on traditional folk music of Ireland; Hisaishi described the music as "nostalgic, but still connected to the future".[1] Hisaishi also felt a compatibility between his music and the world that the development team was creating, stating that their ideas generally worked naturally in "perfect unison".[1]

For the soundtracks, the piano was performed by Febian Reza Pane, the lute by Hiroshi Kaneko, the sitar by Masahiro Itami, the whistle by Hideyo Takakuwa, and the tabla by Ikuo Kakehashi. All music was recorded at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall by Avaco Creative Studio, while Wonder Station mixed the soundtrack at Azabu-O Studio. Hiroyuki Akita oversaw the former, as recording engineer.[6] Hisaishi would also return to work on the score for Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom.[7]

Albums

Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi Original Soundtrack

Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi Original Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Joe Hisaishi
Released February 9, 2011
Studio Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
Genre Soundtrack
Length 54:37
Label FRAME

Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi Original Soundtrack comprises songs from the game Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn, composed by Joe Hisaishi and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.[6] The soundtrack spans twenty-one tracks, covering a duration of 55 minutes. FRAME published the album on February 9, 2011.[8]

In the context of the game, the soundtrack was well received. Michael Baker of RPGamer found the game's music to be "top-notch", noting its appropriation for gameplay.[9] Patrick Gann of RPGFan called the soundtrack "beautiful", comparing it favorably to Koichi Sugiyama's work on the Dragon Quest series.[8] RPGLand's Janelle Hindman lauded the music as "gorgeously crafted", appreciating the lack of electronic or synthesized songs,[10] and Gigazine named it "magnificent".[11] Nintendo Gamer's Matthew Castle lauded the music, favorably comparing it to film soundtracks.[12]

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch ‒ The Original Soundtrack

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch ‒ The Original Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Joe Hisaishi
Released March 28, 2013
Studio Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
Genre Soundtrack
Length 86:22
Label Up-Front Group

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch ‒ The Original Soundtrack comprises songs from the game Ni no Kuni, composed by Joe Hisaishi and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.[6] The soundtrack spans two discs; the first disc is a re-release of the Japanese soundtrack, with twenty-one tracks, while the second disc contains twelve additional tracks from Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. Both discs cover a duration of 87 minutes. Up-Front Group published the soundtrack on March 28, 2013.[13]
"Kokoro no Kakera"
A 30-second audio sample of the game's theme song.
"Kokoro no Kakera", the game's main theme, was composed by Joe Hisaishi and performed by his daughter Mai Fujisawa. Chorister Archie Buchanan performed the English version of the theme.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

In the context of the game, the soundtrack was well received. Colin Moriarty of IGN felt that it was appropriate in every situation, praising its ability to create emotion and involve players in the experience.[3] GameTrailers found the soundtrack "powerful", commenting on its appropriate use during gameplay,[14] and GamesRadar's Brittany Vincent named it "breathtaking".[15] Jen Bosier of Forbes approved of the soundtrack's usage within the game, particularly praising the piano pieces.[16] Jim Sterling of Destructoid favorably compared the soundtrack to Dragon Quest VIII, praising the orchestral qualities and "sense of fun".[17] Chris Scullion of Computer and Video Games wrote that the music ensures the game "sounds as good as it looks".[18] Robert Steinman of RPGFan felt that the music perfectly sets the tone of the game, stating that it is among "some of the best work" of video game music,[13] and Jasmine Rea of VentureBeat found that the music "enhances the overall Ghibli quality" to the game.[19] Eurogamer's Oli Welsh called the music "a lush and romantic treat", though criticized the repetitiveness of the battle music.[20] Kirk Hamilton of Kotaku echoed similar remarks, heavily criticizing the battle music, but otherwise calling the music "uncommonly gorgeous".[21]

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch won Best Sound from Cheat Code Central,[22] and the soundtrack received nominations at the 2011 International Film Music Critics Association,[23] 2014 SXSW Gaming Awards[24] and Spike VGX 2013,[25] and from Destructoid[26] and GameTrailers.[27] The game's main theme, "Kokoro no Kakera", also won the award for Original/Adapted Song at the 13th National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.[28]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Level-5 and Studio Ghibli (2013). The Music of Joe Hisaishi. Bandai Namco Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  2. ↑ McMillan, Emily (August 6, 2014). "Ni no Kuni -Wrath of the White Witch- Original Soundtrack". Video Game Music Online. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Moriarty, Colin (January 15, 2013). "Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  4. ↑ Amoros, Laetitia (January 29, 2013). "Re-imagining Ni no Kuni for the West". Develop. Intent Media. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  5. ↑ Epperson, Justin (August 24, 2009). "Ni no Kuni: The Another World First Look Preview". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 Level-5 (November 17, 2011). Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. PlayStation 3. Level-5. Level/area: Credits.
  7. ↑ Kietzmann, Ludwig (December 5, 2015). "Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom brings a fairytale RPG to PS4". GamesRadar. Future plc. Archived from the original on December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  8. 1 2 Gann, Patrick. "Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi OST". RPGFan. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  9. ↑ Baker, Michael. "Ninokuni – The Mage of Darkness – Staff Review". RPGamer. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  10. ↑ Hindman, Janelle (October 9, 2012). "Ni no Kuni". RPG Land. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Demo review on "Ninokuni: The Another World" with Animation by Studio Ghibli". Gigazine. September 29, 2009. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  12. ↑ Castle, Matthew (April 2011). "Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoshi". Nintendo Gamer (United Kingdom: Future plc) (60): 66–67.
  13. 1 2 Steinman, Robert. "Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch – The OST". RPGFan. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch – Review". GameTrailers. Defy Media. January 18, 2013. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  15. ↑ Vincent, Brittany (January 22, 2013). "Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch review". GamesRadar. Future plc. Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  16. ↑ Bosier, Jen (January 22, 2013). "Another World: 'Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch' Original Soundtrack Review". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  17. ↑ Sterling, Jim (January 21, 2013). "Review: Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch". Destructoid. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  18. ↑ Scullion, Chris (January 24, 2013). "PS3 Review: Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch review: Ghibli's godsend to gamers". Computer and Video Games. Future plc. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  19. ↑ Rea, Jasmine Maleficent (January 31, 2013). "Required listening: Ni no Kuni, Anarchy Reigns, and an interview with Aliens: Colonial Marines composer Kevin Riepl". GamesBeat. VentureBeat. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  20. ↑ Welsh, Oli (January 17, 2013). "Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch review". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 2, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  21. ↑ Hamilton, Kirk (February 4, 2013). "The Curious Case Of Ni no Kuni's Unpleasant Battle Music". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  22. ↑ "The Best Sound Nominees!". December 6, 2013. Archived from the original on July 30, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  23. ↑ Broxton, Jon (February 23, 2012). "IFMCA Winners 2011". Film Music Critics. International Film Music Critics Association. Archived from the original on July 30, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  24. ↑ North, Dale (February 13, 2014). "SXSW Gaming Awards finalists announced, fan vote open". Destructoid. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  25. ↑ Dane, Patrick (December 16, 2013). "'Grand Theft Auto V' Tops Spike VGX 2013 Award Winners List". Game Rant. Archived from the original on July 30, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  26. ↑ Nakamura, Darren (December 24, 2013). "The winner of Destructoid's best of 2013 soundtrack". Destructoid. Archived from the original on July 30, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Best Soundtrack". GameTrailers. Defy Media. December 23, 2013. Archived from the original on July 30, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  28. ↑ Allen, Thomas J. (February 17, 2014). "2013 NAVGTR Winners" (Press release). Las Vegas, Nevada: National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. Archived from the original on August 2, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.

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