For fans of Studio Ghibli films, the magic extends beyond their storytelling, characters and distinctive animation style – it is inseparable from their music.
Recently, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) brought the compositions of Japanese composer and longtime Studio Ghibli collaborator Joe Hisaishi to life in Symphonic Ghibli II at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS in Kuala Lumpur.
The response reflects the enduring popularity of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli’s films and music, with all nine concerts in the series selling out shortly after tickets were released online. An open rehearsal session was also fully booked, further highlighting strong public interest and demand.
It was not an isolated phenomenon, with the MPO having sold out all seven performances of the series’ first edition in late 2024.
When Symphonic Ghibli II was included in the MPO’s 2026 season, it was initially scheduled as a two-show series.
Strong public response led to the addition of seven more performances. Spread out over two weeks, the series – which concluded on Sunday (July 12) – was almost festival-like in scale within the MPO season, with the 900-seat Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS accommodating an estimated 8,100 attendees across the nine shows. These figures underscore the series’ success for the MPO and the strong enthusiasm of Malaysia’s anime and Studio Ghibli fanbase.
An enduring magic
While the concerts have been warmly embraced by fans, it is equally evident that the conductor and orchestra members share the same enthusiasm for the music and performances.
The two-hour Symphonic Ghibli II programme featured music from beloved Studio Ghibli films, including Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbour Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away.
"The films themselves are incredibly popular, and that's where the music got its exposure. However, this does not in any way diminish the beauty of the music," says MPO resident conductor Gerard Salonga, who led the Symphonic Ghibli II performances.
“The harmonic language is simple yet complex, and Hisaishi’s mastery of orchestration creates vivid images through sound, perfectly complementing the characters and circumstances in the films. Many notable Japanese composers share this ability to paint pictures through musical elements such as tone colour, rhythm, harmony and texture,” he adds.
Rather than presenting selected excerpts, the MPO performed all four suites from the acclaimed animations in their entirety.
“These are unedited symphonic suites, performed exactly as maestro Hisaishi originally intended them to be heard in concert,” says Salonga. “In their full length, these suites tell the stories better musically, with all the thematic development, character, drama, humour and ups and downs that are only possible when there is enough time for them to come together in a story,” he explains.
During the My Neighbour Totoro segment, actor Qahar Aqilah – who alternated with fellow actor Nadia Aqilah for the concert series – appeared as a guest narrator, recounting the film’s story alongside the orchestra in an intimate storytime-style presentation.
A cultural phenomenon
Before kicking off the concert, Salonga, who is a huge fan of the Studio Ghibli scores himself, asked for the lights to go on so he could have a good look at the audience members who had gone the extra mile to dress up as iconic characters from the movies.
There were several who donned big red bows on their heads like Kiki, a few wearing big hats in a nod to Sophie, as well as an entire group wearing Totoro onesies. And of course, there was at least one dressed as No Face.
The cosplaying wasn’t limited to the audience either, as a few members of the orchestra also joined in the fun. In the first half of the concert, one of the musicians even dressed up as Miyazaki from the 2019 documentary 10 Years With Hayao Miyazaki that spawned a number of internet memes.
“For me, it was the opposite,” he adds.
“The very fact that we have had successful concerts featuring only the music without the films is a testament to the ability of Hisaishi's music to stand up on their own."
Nine sold out shows, with many fans returning for multiple performances, speak volumes about the enduring appeal of this music.
“By listening to these scores, longtime fans will be transported back to the moments they first experienced the films. Music can do that to us, and that's why people love it so much. No words, no pictures, but all the emotions are there,” he says.
‘Every performance is a surprise’
Classical musician Wong Lu Ee, 33, who plays first violin in the MPO, dressed up as Kiki, wearing a red bow headband and a sparkly black dress.
“We’re playing nine shows, but it never gets boring because it’s never the same – we’re performing it slightly different each time.
“Even the energy of the crowd affects how we play, bringing out different colours and emotions, so every performance is a surprise,” she says.
During a recent trip to Kyoto, Japan, Wong made sure to drop by the Studio Ghibli Shop, a charming gift shop in Higashiyama that offers a wonderful collection of merchandise inspired by the movies.
“The MPO’s rendition of A Town With An Ocean View from Kiki’s Delivery Service moved me to tears, while it was a pleasure to recall how joyous the main theme of My Neighbour Totoro is.
“The stirring Spirited Away suite was also a reminder of how much a masterpiece that entire cinematic experience was, animation and soundtrack included,” she adds.
Another fan, Azi, 48, from Kajang, attended her first MPO concert wearing a stole inspired by Howl’s pink-and-blue diamond cloak. She had missed out on tickets for the first Symphonic Ghibli series, which sold out quickly.
“I’m glad I managed to get tickets this time,” says Azi.“I loved the concert ... I think I might have shed a few tears,” she admits with a laugh.
Anime-themed concerts have become among the MPO’s most popular and highly anticipated programmes.
In addition to Symphonic Ghibli, the MPO has the Symphonic Anime concert series, which began in 2022, and also featured a dedicated concert celebrating the music of Demon Slayer, which drew audiences across three performances last year.
The next big prize for any Malaysian promoter or orchestra would be a Joe Hisaishi concert stop in the country.
With the Joe Hisaishi World Dream Tour, featuring the Orchestre de Paris, already set for a sold-out three-night run at Singapore’s Esplanade in November, bringing the legendary 75-year-old composer to Malaysia would be a major undertaking – and potentially a landmark cultural event for the country’s anime and film music community.
For now, all that remains is to dream.
