Bygone Days: The Music of Studio Ghibli Reimagined is a charming, though at times, unpolished performance. Fans of the Studio Ghibli cinematic universe will be delighted to hear music from classic favourites such as My Neighbour Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away, but also a handful of tunes from those less popular films in the catalogue. Despite this, Bygone Days lacks the cohesiveness and sense of sophistication that one may expect from a performance of such popular music. Hopefully, with time, this show can get into more of a rhythm during this FRINGE WORLD season.

The highlight was certainly the solos performed by individual musicians in this small ensemble, whereby showgoers should be encouraged to clap in appreciation after each solo (even mid-song) as is customary of jazz performances and in clubs such as the Ellington.

Another strength was the inclusion of a song from Porco Rosso, a beloved but underrated Miyazaki film. Rather than a jazz rendition, the performers of Bygone Days create the feeling of a full orchestra with only six musicians.

This performance might be elevated further with the inclusion of visuals, like many screen-to-orchestral performances that are now gaining popularity in the Perth music scene. This show brings fans of Studio Ghibli together from all age groups which creates a friendly fandom atmosphere outside the cinema context. Shows like this do well to take advantage of the passion of fans and truly engage with their audience.