New version of the classic melody is making news with Ghibli fans around the country.

Characters, plot and dialogue are three of the main elements that make for a captivating anime film, but when it comes to creating an emotional response from the audience, it’s the soundtrack that takes centre stage.

Japan’s acclaimed animation house Studio Ghibli knows exactly how to use the power of music to enhance their magical storylines. One of their most beloved films, My Neighbour Totoro (known as Tonari no Totoro in Japanese), has a charming theme song, with a simple chorus – “Totoro, Totoro” – that stays in your head for days.

Check out the song “Tonari no Totoro“, performed by the original singer, Azumi Inoue:

The melody has a playful tone that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the film, conjuring up images of the giant Totoro and adventures that involve bounding across hills on a giant catbus. The song has inspired many over the years, and now there’s a new version making news with Ghibli fans in Japan.

Called “Totoro Requiem”, the song has been created by Serph, a Tokyo-based musician specialising in dance and electronic music. Despite the ominous-sounding title, the new track sounds more like something you’d hear in a Japanese video game like Final Fantasy, with a mysterious, fantastical quality to it.

Sit back, relax and get carried away on a journey through a mysterious forest with “Totoro Requiem”.

The track, which is a homage to Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro, retains the childlike quality of the original chorus and blends it with a more complex soundscape, bringing an eerie yet wondrous feel to the work. It’s more like Totoro and his four-year-old human friend Mei are now walking through a dense forest at night, searching for acorns and encountering other mysterious characters in the shadows along the way.

If you liked the track, you’re in luck as it’s free to download here. You’ll even get to receive an electronic album jacket to go with the song, featuring an image of Totoro drawn by illustrator Ai Kono.

For purists who prefer their Ghibli music unadulterated, Radio Ghibli has hours of songs from their catalogue of movies for fans, and it’s all absolutely free.

Source: Studio Ghibli Unofficial Fansite
Featured image: Twitter/@Serph_info