Songs from 'When Marnie Was There': theme song and insert songs
A special feature on the theme song and insert songs from the film “When Marnie Was There,” directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who also helmed “The Secret World of Arrietty.”
It tells the story of the protagonist, Anna Sasaki, and the mysterious girl Marnie, who come to cherish each other after their fateful meeting.
Their delicate relationship—at times fragile, at times colliding—shows how they grow stronger at heart, resonating with both adults and children.
Enjoy both the film and the music to your heart’s content!
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Songs from When Marnie Was There: Theme and Insert Songs (1–10)
I Am Not AlonePurishira Aan
Until now, it had been customary for Studio Ghibli film theme songs to be performed by Japanese artists with Japanese lyrics.
However, this time it drew attention because it was created by American singer-songwriter Priscilla Ahn.
Her delicate vocals and simple guitar, which fit perfectly with the world of When Marnie Was There, suit the story beautifully and add greater depth to the ending theme.
Shimecchi ManorMuramatsu Takatsugu
In the story, there’s a Western-style mansion that people stopped living in after it came to be called the “Damp House.” This Damp House is the most striking setting in the work, and this is its theme song—a piece for that eerie and mysterious building.
The soaring strings, the high piano, and the low marimba harmonies evoke the house’s ethereal presence, making it a quintessentially “Marnie” track.
MarnieMuramatsu Takatsugu
Titled “Marnie,” this piece serves as the main theme of the work and is reused in various scenes.
Within the story, the aspects of Marnie that remain largely unexplained are part of what makes this piece so beautiful, and the music has an aura that makes it a perfect theme song for her.
Even the flute’s breaths seem to narrate the world of the story.
Songs from When Marnie Was There: Theme and Insert Songs (11–20)
Party venueMuramatsu Takatsugu
This is the piece used in the scene of the party held at the Marsh House at night.
You can almost hear the elegant, glamorous buzz of a traditional European-style party.
It’s the party where Anna first meets Marnie and, drawn in by Marnie’s lively personality, decides to join in—a delightfully exhilarating and memorable scene in the film.
AnnaMuramatsu Takatsugu
The protagonist of “When Marnie Was There,” Anna, is afraid of talking to people; she can’t put on a natural expression and struggles to converse.
This is her theme song.
Given that she’s so introverted, you might expect a different kind of piece, but it turns out to be a sparkling track brimming with hope—one that seems to symbolize the down-to-earth, beautiful aspects of this story.
Confession of Two PeopleMuramatsu Takatsugu
This piece, with a sorrowful string melody riding over an orchestral accompaniment, also has a dark tone that fits the world of When Marnie Was There.
As the title “Two Confessions” suggests, it was used in the scene where Anna and Marnie open their hearts to each other and confess.
Although the music is very dark, it serves as the theme song for a scene that proves how much the two trusted one another.
I am as I amMuramatsu Takatsugu
Among the music featured in When Marnie Was There, this piece stands out as particularly dark.
The title phrase, “I Am as I Am,” comes from a painful scene where Anna, on her way home after saying something cruel to a friend, falls into despair over her inability to change.
Despite being in an unfamiliar place, she keeps trying; the song conveys her struggle and suffering.