Spirited Away

Usually a villain's theme is full of brass and loud sounds (though still within classical confines); usually it hits the listener with speed and loudness. "Yubaba" from the Miyazaki-directed film Spirited Away plays with these notions, resulting in a sinister piece that suggests instead of announces. The piano is jarring, making use of low-pitched keys, dissonant playing featuring dramatic rests, and the instrument's own reverberation pedals. The orchestral ensemble, though proud at points, is still understated, never quite exploding. An alien-sounding woodwind instrument breaks through the typical approach, injecting the atmosphere with darkness. Harp adds a soft but tense touch, as do glockenspiel and the other instruments that play during soft interludes. Taken together the instruments create an insidious persona, buffering Yubaba's malice. But instead of being some Kafka-esque authority figure, her evil is human.