Music of the Chocobo series

Lore & Background

The first album of the discography was the soundtrack to Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon, released by DigiCube in 1997 and reprinted by Square Enix in 2006. An arranged album of music from that game, Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon Con le ali gialle, was released by DigiCube in 1998. Soundtrack albums to Chocobo's Dungeon 2 and Chocobo Racing followed in 1999, also by DigiCube. After a gap, Square Enix produced a download-only soundtrack to Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales in 2006, and in 2008 released the soundtrack to Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon and a combined soundtrack for Chocobo Tales and The Witch, The Maiden, and the Five Heroes.

Masashi Hamauzu, composer for Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon, stated in liner notes that he was not expecting the assignment and that the 'Chocobo Theme' made a big impression on him. He arranged the opening and ending of the album for a fifty-piece orchestra, leading to the orchestral Con le ali gialle album. Hamauzu was not involved in any other Chocobo soundtracks; his role was filled by Kumi Tanioka for Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon, Kenji Ito for Chocobo Racing, and Yuzo Takahashi for Chocobo and the Magic Picture Book: The Witch, The Maiden, and the Five Heroes.

Reader's Guide

The music of the Chocobo series represents a distinct branch of Final Fantasy-related soundtracks, focusing on light-hearted and upbeat compositions. Unlike the numbered Final Fantasy games, no tracks from the Chocobo soundtracks have appeared in any Square Enix compilation albums or official Final Fantasy music concerts. However, a piece based on the 'Chocobo theme', 'Swing de Chocobo', has been played at concerts including the 2005 More Friends concert in Los Angeles, the 2006 Voices concert in Japan, and the Distant Worlds concert tour from 2007. In 2011, the Australian Eminence Symphony Orchestra performed 'Treasure Chest of the Heart' from Chocobo Racing in Tokyo as part of a tribute concert. The series' albums were well received by critics, with particular praise for Hamauzu's original and arranged works. The discography spans from 1997 to 2008, with releases primarily through DigiCube and later Square Enix.

Did You Know?

• Masashi Hamauzu's first solo album was 'Piano Pieces: Opus 1', not a game soundtrack.
• The subtitle 'Con le ali gialle' is Italian meaning 'With the Yellow Wings'.
• Chocobo's Dungeon 2 was not the last Chocobo game soundtrack with original compositions; later games like Chocobo Racing and Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon also feature original music.
• A piece based on the 'Chocobo theme', 'Swing de Chocobo', has been played at the Distant Worlds concert tour from 2007.