That opening hit of "Ashitaka Sekki" will physically stop you in your tracks. Joe Hisaishi composed the Princess Mononoke soundtrack in 1997 and it remains one of his most raw, primal scores for any Miyazaki film. "Tatari Gami" erupts with this furious percussion and dissonant strings that capture the cursed boar god better than any visual could alone.
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"Kodamatachi" goes the complete opposite direction, delicate and ghostly, like the forest spirits themselves made it. The vocal version of "Mononoke Hime" sung by Yoshikazu Mera brings a countertenor performance that is just...
haunting beyond words. Three separate "Requiem" tracks trace the score's emotional arc from grief to something approaching acceptance. The way Hisaishi weaves between rage and tenderness mirrors the film's refusal to pick simple heroes or villains.
If you love Ghibli but haven't sat with this score on its own, you're missing half the movie.