"Hand in Hand" is a musical composition by Yoko Shimomura that is used throughout the Kingdom Hearts series. A second, shorter version of the track, entitled "Hand in Hand -Reprise-" is also used throughout the series. For the reprise, orchestrations were completed by Takahito Eguchi. The arrangement used in Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross] is entitled "Hand in Hand -Union χ version-".
"Hand in Hand" is used as the battle theme for Traverse Town, including the card tutorial fight with Leon. While the Kingdom Hearts version of "Hand in Hand -Reprise-" plays in the final cutscene of Reverse/Rebirth mode of Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, the music was removed in Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories.
Cutscenes
Ending: "Where the Road Leads"[KH CoM] ("Hand in Hand -Reprise-" only)
"Hand is Hand" is used as theme that plays when using Attractions.
Composition
"Hand in Hand"
"Hand in Hand" is approximately two minutes and twenty-six seconds in Kingdom Hearts and the first HD remake. In Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, the piece is two minutes and forty-one seconds long. In Kingdom Hearts II, the piece is drastically shorter: approximately forty seconds (thirty-nine in the second HD remake). The piano collections version is two minutes and forty-eight seconds.
Regardless of the game, each version has a time signature of 4/4. However, the tempos vary according to the game. In the original Kingdom Hearts, and Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, the piece plays at 148 beats per minute. Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep also plays at this tempo. There is a slight variation between Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories. The former plays at a tempo of 147 beats per minute, while the latter has a slight increase to 149 beats per minute. In Kingdom Hearts II, the beginning of the track starts out at 149 beats per minute. Halfway through the piece the track suddenly slows down to 91 beats per minute and continues to progressively slow down. This also happens for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMix and Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-. In 'Kingdom Hearts III, although the tone of the piece is slightly different, it still plays at a consistent tempo of 148 beats per minute. The most notable difference in tempo is heard in Kingdom Hearts Union χ: a comparatively slower tempo of 128 beats per minute. The piano collections version maintains a time signature of 4/4 and a tempo of 132 beats per minute.
For instrumentation, games not in the HD remakes often have some voices covered through electronic means- such as synthesizer. In general, the instrumentation includes: a complete strings section, oboe, trumpet, tuba, snare drum, bass drum, crash cymbals, suspended cymbal, harp, piano, and synthesizer. In Kingdom Hearts II, the following instruments are added: flute, bassoon, French horn, a complete low brass section- trombone, euphonium, and tuba, and timpani. In Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, an electric bass is added to the original instrumentation. In Kingdom Hearts III, a clap-track and ride cymbal.
For the composition, despite the slight variations between games, some aspects are constants: the underlying rhythmic drive consistently kept in the snare drum, sixteenth note runs generally in the harp and piano voices, and the fanfare multiple tonguing- in this case, double tonguing- in the trumpet. In Kingdom Hearts II, there is a very slight reference (around two measures worth) of "Dearly Beloved" heard towards the end of the piece in the piano. This fleeting reference takes the original rhythm of "Dearly Beloved" and slightly breaks it down into longer durations before resolving to the piece's final chord. Additionally, although the official Kingdom Hearts II soundtrack labels the track as "Hand in Hand," the version heard in this game more closely resembles the reprise version in both characteristics and playing time.
In Kingdom Hearts Union χ, the tone shifts entirely from previous games. The instrumentation features: a complete strings section, flute, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, French horn, orchestral bells, snare drum, harp, and piano. This version is more mellow in nature due to the focus on double reeds and French horn parts, and the decrease in percussion parts. Despite this, the mystical atmosphere and steady beat are still present.
In Kingdom Hearts III, "Hand in Hand" follows a slightly different interpretation. This rendition is much more livelier due to the increased tempo and added sixteenth fanfares heard throughout several different instruments. Unique to this version, a clap-like sound effect has been added to the instrumentation. This addition resembles the rhythms the player would clap along with in the Ice Cream Beat mini-game.
"Hand in Hand -Reprise-"
"Hand in Hand -Reprise-" is approximately fifty-five seconds long in the original Kingdom Hearts, and fifty-six seconds long in Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX. Regardless of the game, the piece has a time signature of 4/4 and a tempo of 148 beats per minute. For instrumentation, both original and HD remake versions include: a complete strings section- violin, viola, cello, and stringed bass, flute, trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, snare drum, crash cymbals, suspended cymbal, wind chimes, synthesizer, and piano.
Other appearances
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Sora's victory theme, as it appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, “Hand in Hand” is a track used in stages. It is also heard during the Mr. Sakurai Presents video presentation on Sora, where it is played while Masahiro Sakurai talks about the Kingdom Hearts series, Sora's up taunt and his side special Sonic Blade, Sora's victory theme, and Sora's Spirit Board. An orchestral rendition of the song's introduction, arranged by series composer Yoko Shimomura, also serves as Sora's victory theme.
