A review from
Sputnikmusic rated the album 4.5 out of 5, opining that it is "nearly as perfect as the film it accompanies".
Filmtracks.com wrote "Hisaishi's output for the animated genre has created a unique voice in the realm of children's music that is difficult to compare to any other film music composer. His airy and whimsical tone and almost Golden Age-style of melodic grace make his music instantly recognizable, and
Spirited Away is no exception. One of the primary reasons Spirited Away remains a popular score among Hisaishi collectors is precisely because of its embodiment of the composer's trademark animation sound." Karen Han of
Polygon considered the title theme "One Summer's Day" to be "wistful, with intentionally discordant notes scattered throughout and a melody that ventures in and out of minor-key territory". She also observed the song's "eerie synthesizer sounds and strings" and "warm and shimmering" chords and concluded that it was "crucial to setting the tone for
Spirited Away, which captures the bittersweetness in growing up and growing out of things, as well as establishing the thoughts of Chihiro herself." In
Dazed, Thomas Hobbs considered "One Summer's Day" his personal favorite Hisaishi composition, stating that "a meandering piano melody makes it feel like you're flipping through a book of historic family photos on a reflective and sunny Sunday afternoon in a garden awash with purple tulips." He considered the opening theme to precisely match the film's ideas regarding freedom, hope, and death. In a ranking of the ten best compositions by Hisaishi,
Classic FM ranked "One Summer's Day" in seventh place: "A simple, melancholy piano melody on a bed of soft string chords reflects Chihiro's reluctance to leave her home and friends behind. The music builds to a richer texture with full, jazz-inflected piano chords, more orchestration, and a more optimistic mood as Chihiro's mother encourages her to view the move as an adventure." == Track listings ==