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Songs of Studio Ghibli: List of Theme Songs, Insert Songs, and BGM from Ghibli Music

DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Studio Ghibli films, enjoyed by both adults and children, are also famous for their wonderful music.

Every work features songs that perfectly fit the story and leave an unforgettable impression after just one listen.

We’ve gathered not only the popular theme songs and insert songs from Studio Ghibli works, but also image songs that bring back memories of famous scenes and evocative moments.

If you want to listen to Ghibli’s masterpieces or hear again the song that played in that one scene, be sure to check these out!

My Neighbor Totoro (1–10)

Dondoko FestivalInoue Azumi

A child secretly peeks at ghosts dancing in the twilight.

When the ghosts dance, strange things happen—something that, for a child, is far more captivating than frightening.

It will surely become an unforgettable memory for life.

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CatbusKitahara Taku

Karaoke JOYSOUND (Cover) 'Catbus' / Taku Kitahara (original key) Tried singing

CatbusKitahara Taku

Are you familiar with the Catbus, a cat-shaped bus whose character goods are also hugely popular? This piece plays during the scene in My Neighbor Totoro where the Catbus appears.

It’s a track that seems perfect for a drive, blending the Catbus’s uncanny atmosphere with a exhilarating sense of speed as it rushes by.

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Mysterious Shiritori SongMori Kumiko

Full of mysteries but not mysterious [Mystery Shiritori Song] Piano one chorus #My Neighbor Totoro #shorts

Mysterious Shiritori SongMori Kumiko

Fushigi Shiritori Uta, included on the image album for the animated film My Neighbor Totoro, is sung there by Kumiko Mori.

Unlike the gentle, heartwarming atmosphere of Totoro, it’s a fast-tempo track whose playful, humorous lyrics feel more like a word-association game than a traditional shiritori, drawing you into its world.

And of course, the composer is Joe Hisaishi.

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Murakami Shinpei

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strollHisaishi Joe

Sampo (My Neighbor Totoro) Sato no Uta Hey Let’s Go (Totoro)

strollHisaishi Joe

It’s also a classic song for kindergarten performances and the like.

It’s the song that plays in the opening of “My Neighbor Totoro.” The image of various creatures lining up and following behind Mei in the opening is especially memorable.

Imagining children singing it on a field trip and such makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

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Twilight BreezeHisaishi Joe

20161030 Satouchiki My Neighbor Totoro The Path of the Wind Erhu satochiki

Twilight BreezeHisaishi Joe

This melody might be the most memorable among the songs featured in My Neighbor Totoro.

True to its title, Evening Breeze, it’s a wonderfully beautiful piece with a sweeping, airy feel.

Its richly expressive melody further enhances the world of My Neighbor Totoro, adding color to some of the film’s most moving and iconic scenes.

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Murakami Shinpei

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lost childInoue Azumi

"Lost Child" My Neighbor Totoro cover

lost childInoue Azumi

In the story, Mei gets lost, right? This piece conveys Satsuki desperately searching for the lost Mei.

You can really feel how worried she is.

It carries the wish for Mei to return safely.

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Castle in the Sky (11–20)

Immerse yourself in a world of adventure and fantasy!

Another timeless Ghibli masterpiece loved for many years. This is music from Castle in the Sky, whose story kicks off with a striking opening in which a young girl falls from the sky. The soundtrack is filled with classics, and we’ve carefully selected our top recommendations from among them! Related article:Songs from Castle in the Sky (Laputa): the theme song and insert songs.

Castle in the Sky Laputa (1–10)

Playful quarrel (chase)Hisaishi Joe

“A Cheerful Fight (~Chase)” from “Castle in the Sky” performed by ocha

Playful quarrel (chase)Hisaishi Joe

This is the piece that plays in the background during the scenes where they’re fleeing from the men in black and the sky pirates.

Since it’s a panicked escape, just listening to the music makes your heart pound with suspense.

At the same time, you can picture the pirates getting into a silly scuffle, ignoring Pazu and Sheeta.

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