Making Of a Cyborg

Kenji Kawai's 'Making Of a Cyborg' is a hauntingly beautiful piece that serves as the opening theme for the iconic anime film 'Ghost in the Shell.' The lyrics, sung in ancient Japanese, evoke a sense of mysticism and otherworldliness, perfectly setting the tone for the film's exploration of identity, consciousness, and the fusion of humanity with technology. The repeated lines 'あがまえば、くわしめよいにけり' and 'あがまえば、てるつきとよむなり' can be interpreted as a call to transcendence, suggesting a transformation or awakening that aligns with the film's themes of self-discovery and existential questioning.

The imagery of 'かみあまくだりて' (the descent of the gods) and 'ぬえどりなく' (the cry of the nue bird) further deepens the song's connection to traditional Japanese folklore and spirituality. The descent of the gods can be seen as a metaphor for the merging of the divine with the mortal, paralleling the film's depiction of cyborgs who blur the lines between human and machine. The nue bird, a mythical creature known for its eerie cry, symbolizes the unknown and the mysterious, adding to the song's ethereal and enigmatic atmosphere.

Kenji Kawai's composition, with its blend of traditional Japanese instruments and modern electronic elements, mirrors the film's futuristic yet deeply rooted narrative. The song's haunting melody and the choir's ethereal voices create a sense of timelessness, reflecting the film's exploration of what it means to be human in an age of advanced technology. 'Making Of a Cyborg' is not just a song; it's an auditory journey that encapsulates the essence of 'Ghost in the Shell,' inviting listeners to ponder the profound questions posed by the film.