Hearing Film Music with an Environmental Tale

Analysing the Lowered‐Submediant Tonal Scheme and Ecological Theme of Princess Mononoke (1997)

Bibliographic Data

ID21496830
AuthorsGui Hwan Lee (0009-0006-2099-1798, corresponding author)
Year2026
Publication date2026-06-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMusic Analysis (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0262-5245 • E-ISSN: 1468-2249
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/musa.70017
OpenAlexW7163590818
LanguageEN
References cited15

This article offers a detailed audio‐visual analysis of Princess Mononoke (directed by Hayao Miyazaki, with music by Joe Hisaishi, and produced by Studio Ghibli; see Miyazaki [1997] 2017 and Hisaishi 1999). My analysis takes three approaches to the film: a historically established tonal scheme, a musico‐dramatic scheme in the film and interaction between the ecological narrative theme and the technical details of the film score. Each of these approaches is illustrated through a modified Schenkerian method, which sheds new light on Mononoke ’s potential to arouse environmental criticism and on the significance of Hisaishi's music in Miyazaki's animated films. I first specify the three approaches invited by the music and drama of Mononoke . I then illustrate Edward Latham's multi‐movement Ursatz (MMU) for opera and musical theatre, clarifying where I gained inspirations and how I modified Latham's method for my audio‐visual analysis of Mononoke . In the main discussion, I summarise Mononoke ’s plot development as a background for the ecological theme that emerges in the climax and conclusion. Proposing an original MMU for these sequences and the associated score by Hisaishi, I examine both the compositional details of the score and the interaction between them and Mononoke ’s ecological theme. I conclude with a post‐analysis commentary on two other relevant Japanese animated films, Pom Poko (1994) and Spirited Away (2001)

Drama · Musical · Narrative · Opera · Studio · Artistic and Creative Research · Diverse Musicological Studies · Music Technology and Sound Studies

Tools

Open DOI