Mononoke Hime Image Album TKCA-70496

front of CD

back of CD

actual CD

title: Mononoke Hime Image Album
catalog number: TKCA-70946
country of publication: Japan
publisher: Studio Ghibli Records
date of release: July 22, 1996
book: full color and green monotone, 8 pages
tracks: 10
total running time: 45 min 26 seconds
description: This CD's bonues are a bit thin, but it is still worth the money! All songs are instrumental except for track 4, which is the insert remix. (The only other vocal song in the movie, the bellows women's song, is not on this CD in any form. You know, in case you were wondering which insert I meant!) Pages 2 and 3 consist of one of the movie's gorgeous forest backgrounds with white text overlay. The text appears to be about the film's art on page 2 and the music's composer on page 3. The remaining pages are white with green text except for the last page of the book. Page 4 contains the lyrics for the insert song "Mononoke Hime". The green text on pages 5-7 appears to be about the song's lyricist. The back cover lists the cd credits and has another watercolor and ink illustration of Ashitaka, done in the same style as Sen on the CD's back. Now, the music! This CD is exactly what the title says: an image CD. Only unlike the usual anime image CD, this one does not have any singing seiyuu! Instead, the famous insert song and familair background music from Mononoke Hime have been remixed and deeped to portray the emotion and visuals of the movie. Remember, the point of a movie score is to enhance what you see on screen. If you notice the music, then something's wrong! These remixes were MADE to be enjoyed as pure music, and believe me when I say they succeed! I own the actual Mononoke Hime film soundtrack, but I would much rather listen to this image album. The songs are fuller, more emotional, and not so subdued. ^^ Not to mention that this image version of the famous insert song, "Mononoke Hime", is absolutely gorgeous. So if you find the actual soundtrack a bit blah, try this one. ^^ As an amusing anecdote, I bought this CD at an anime convention because I thought it was the legal version of the actual soundtrack. Imagine my suprise when I examined the CD in my hotel room and read the fine print under the title: "imeeji arubamu". Oops! I'm certain I would not have bought the CD if I had paused long enough to read some kana while I was at the dealer's booth. Heh. This was indeed a happy mistake! If I had passed on this CD, I would never have known what I was missing. ^^ And yes, I love this CD very much. *wink*
cd from Sailor Two Moons' collection

track list (romanization and tranlsation by Sailor Two Moons)

1. Ashitaka Senki (Legend of Ashitaka), op remix, 4:39
2. Tatarigami, img, 5:52
3. Ushinawareta Tami (The Lost People), img, 5:09
4. Mononoke Hime, ins remix, vocal, 4:14
5. Yakkuru, img, 4:07
6. Shishigami no Mori (Forest of the Shishigami), img, 4:47
7. Eboshi Gozen (Your Excellency Eboshi), img, 4:11
8. Kodama-tachi (Kodamas), img, 3:53
9. Inu Kami Moro no Kou (Moro the Dog God's Unbias), img, 4:00
10. Ashitaka to San (Ashitaka and San), img, 4:34

6-18-04