The Promised Neverland: Takahiro Obata's comments for the OSTs (vol. 2)

The original note (in Japanese) can be found here. The comments for the first volume can be found here.

Translated by TrianaNero and Hiro. Please note that we are not professional translators, but we found the comments really interesting and really wanted to share it with you the best we can!

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I was really happy that so many fans of The Promised Neverland got to read my comments on the soundtracks from the first volume. I also left a comment in the booklet for the second volume, so I’d be glad if you read it along with this new explanation of mine on my note account.

● 1. The Promised Neverland Main Theme1
This composition encompasses the atmosphere of the entire world depicted in The Promised Neverland! If I were to name the themes that were used (and their timing), it’d go as follows:
・ the image of the introduction of Neverland, intro #1 (first 31 seconds);
・ the intro where the rhythm of the “animation world” steps in (0:31-1:08), melody A (1:08-1:42), interlude (2:57-3:28);
・ the image of getting beaten up and yet rising back up every day — melody B (1:43-2:18);
・ the image of the kids standing up against the demons’ society, the culmination part (2:19-2:54);
・ falling quiet on the “Isabella’s Lullaby” (3:30-4:27);
・ another big culmination for “Working for the escape” (4:28-5:20), and the outro (5:21~).

Isabella’s Lullaby is included in the main theme as well, but originally it wasn’t. After I’ve already composed the main theme, director Kobe asked me to use a song, so I put it in this main theme, and changed it up a bit to balance it out. (After that Isabella’s Lullaby became a separate track.)

● 2. GF House
When composing this piece, I was thinking about the Gracefield House full of happiness, but with Emma and her friends having just discovered the true nature of the House after the incident with Connie, and with Isabella’s internal turmoil, keeping her cool while being well aware of the situation. The electric piano has a soft, comfortable tone to it, but the sound is dissonant, so it seems a bit conflicting, somewhat spooky even.

● 3. 81194
This is the number on Ray’s neck, so it’s his theme. It played during Ray and Norman’s conversation in the fifth episode when the latter realized that Ray was Mama’s insider. I tried to load it with the feelings of suspicion, so I used the piercing sounds of cembalo and dulcimer to represent the thrill of the situation. Melody B was actually also used in the fifth episode when he fought with Norman, and at quite an exquisite timing. If you watch the episode on Amazon, then Norman’s theme around 3:34 becomes that melody B! (I think you might understand it better after hearing Norman’s theme in episode 9 around 5:17. It will be released in the third volume.)

● 4. Tension
This composition plays when Connie forgets her Little Bunny, Emma and Norman go to the gate to return it to her, and end up discovering her body in the first episode. It sustains the feeling of tension, so I tried to minimize the harmony and focus on the rhythm instead.

● 5. Corpse Found
It’s a piece close to SE (sound effects), representing the surprise of seeing the demons for the first time! Actually, it wasn’t used, so, to all sound directors out there, please use it in some horror programs as much as you’d like (laughs).

● 6. Krone’s Scheming
I imagined the music as I was watching Krone swinging a doll and making all kinds of strange movements! In order for it to feel like “scheming”, here and there I used the sound of coins jingling, knife being sharpened, and so on! It is actually the same melody as “Dancing Krone” from the first volume.

● 7. The Insider’s Presence
There are quite a few piano parts overlapping with each other, and some bright cello sounds in this piece. In the second half there’re saturated electric guitar and cello going out, bringing the feeling of brokenness. (I was able to use it in full size in the fifth episode in the scenes of “psychological war” around 8:39).

● 8. Emma’s Agony
Melody A from the main theme is played on a cello, and this melody is about polishing the strategies, being in distress and in doubts. (It was used in the beginning of the second episode, and in the fifth one around 14:45.)

● 9. Isabella’s Lullaby No Vocal Version
This is the version of the lullaby only with the original orchestra sound without any vocals. You can sing it, play it, and I hope you’ll enjoy it!

● 10. Krone on the GF Line
As you may have noticed, I named this piece as a tribute to “Aria on the G line”. It played in the eighth episode (6:20), when we got to witness half of Krone’s life, and in the scene where she gets murdered by a demon. It is done in a beautiful, classic-like style to suit such a painful, sad scene.

● 11. The Promised Neverland Pf solo Version
I used it quite a lot in the solo piano version of the main theme.

The third volume will go on sale in July. All the other compositions that were used in the anime (along with the ones that weren’t) will be released in that last volume. I hope you’ll be looking forward to it!

Composer Takahiro Obata

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