The soundtrack to Wes Anderson’s new stop-motion film, built around Alexandre Desplat’s instrumental score, embodies the movie’s spirit of cherishing rather than fearing difference. While Isle of Dogs is about the rousing exploits of man’s best friend, it’s also about companionship, fraternity, and such old-fashioned virtues as working together to overcome adversity and practicing empathy in times of bitter strife. The music reflects these themes. Desplat’s score, in its synthesis of contrasting styles, embodies the film’s spirit of teamwork, of cherishing rather than fearing difference. The eastern instrumentation appropriate to the setting—the taiko drumming arrangements by Kaoru Watanabe that bookend the film in particular—is complemented by Desplat’s own sensibility, which is rooted in the Hollywood tradition. But what derives expressly from Japan has not been co-opted irresponsibly. Desplat pays homage with earnest fascination and respect.
| A1 | Alexandre Desplat - Shinto Shrine |
| A2 | Kaoru Watanabe (2) - Taiko Drumming |
| A3 | Alexandre Desplat - The Municipal Dome |
| A4 | Alexandre Desplat - Six Months Later + Dogfight |
| A5 | Alexandre Desplat - The Hero Pack |
| A6 | Alexandre Desplat - First Crash-Landing |
| A7 | The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra - Kanbei & Katsushiro - Kikuchiyo's Mambo |
| A8 | Alexandre Desplat - Second Crash-Landing + Bath House + Beach Attack |
| A9 | Alexandre Desplat - Nutmeg |
| A10 | David Mansfield - Kosame No Oka |
| A11 | The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - I Won't Hurt You |
| A12 | Alexandre Desplat - Toshiro |
| A13 | Alexandre Desplat - Jupiter And Oracle + Aboriginal Dogs |
| B1 | Alexandre Desplat - Sushi Scene |
| B2 | Sauter-Finegan Orchestra - Midnight Sleighride |
| B3 | Alexandre Desplat - Pagoda Slide |
| B4 | Alexandre Desplat - First Bath Of A Stray Dog |
| B5 | Kaoru Watanabe (2) - TV Drumming |
| B6 | Alexandre Desplat - Kobayashi Canine-Testing Laboratory |
| B7 | Teruko Akatsuki - Tokyo Shoe Shine Boy |
| B8 | Alexandre Desplat - Re-Election Night, Parts 1-3 |
| B9 | Alexandre Desplat - End Titles |
