Animation made by me In Blender taken from the soundtrack of "Patlabor 2" (1993) 機動警察パトレイバー2 the Movie PATLABOR 2 the Movie ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK "P2" （1993） 05：Unnatural City Ⅰ Composer：Kenji Kawai（川井 憲次） 柘植行人＝告げ行く人
When I hear this track it shoots me way back immediately. I feel like I'm still young living in my mom's basement and just discovering movies like Patlabor and Gits.
"Placid reflection" might be the feeling. At that moment, it's a scene giving you a moment to reflect and take in all that you've seen and heard up to that moment, and it serves as a bit of scenic exposition into the human side of a soldier, as in the scene, there are JSDF soldiers all waiting for their next marching orders and taking in the surroundings. I remember a moment in the scene where a few people pass by, and children wave and smile at them, and they return the greeting, like it's just a normal day in winter, although they know it can suddenly change on a moment's notice. Oshii-san has a way of reminding audiences just how normal we are as people, even in moments where the situation isn't so normal. His scenes are often populated by normal people doing normal things, but it's framed in such a way that it feels very important and real. That's something I've always liked about his methods.
One of my favorite tracks of all-time. I love the air of uncertainty it evokes. There's a latent tension that can be felt in this and it's so beautiful.
Such a powerful nostalgia. I loved the animes so much. Back in those days, this music instantly striked my soul so hard and I'm still often listening to it nowadays. I've often scanned myself to know exactly why it was striking me this much. 25 years later I think I'm finally able to put some words on this feeling. Chaos and order aren't two opposite concepts. But the 2 aspects of the universe itself. Fractal laws bring this antagonism in our very society. So despite our anecdotal efforts, absolutely nothing we build is meant to last. Any life forms gets birth from nothing, and returns to it after definitive death. Before being mixed again into the realm to create something else, elsewhere. I think it's the message I hear from this music. Nothing will last still, and despite us trying so hard, we never controlled anything and will never do.
This track is symbolic of the false peace this scene was talking about. The dirty peace earned through blood sacrifice. The music while peaceful is contrasted by the screeches whispering in the background that remind you of the war to come, sooner or later. A sandcastle that the sea shall wash away inevitably, for the seaside is the oceans domain, not man's.
It quickly reminded me of the film 1984, the soundtrack by Dominic Muldowney(one of my all time..) that is sadly usually called, the Eurythmics soundtrack...which is a mistake despite the quick presence of Annie Lennox by the way.
![Unnatural City 1&2 - Patlabor2 - Kenji Kawai [1 hour]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
