The Process of Composing Original Music for Animated Movies

Coming up with an original music idea is a big deal and can be extremely hard to accomplish. While there might be ideas that just come to the composer’s mind straight away, there will be times when they need a lot of patience and dedication to figure out what works well and represents the piece.

Animations can be more difficult than other movies, as they don’t always follow the same formats. Some in the industry have described them as among the most challenging. They have mentioned that this type of project will essentially start off as a blank canvas, as so many different aspects need to be considered.

What do composers consider when creating music for animated movies?

When it comes to animated movies, it has been recommended to watch them without sound in the first place. This can allow a composer to try to come up with ideas that they believe would match the story being told without being influenced by ideas that may have already been used.

By examining the major points or moments of a movie, the animator can decide what type of scores need to be implemented, which can help them create a finished product. If they try to do everything in one go, they may find that it doesn’t work as well as it should, or it could come off as rushed and not be as professional as it needs to be.

What are some of the tips that composers provide?

If you’ve ever looked to try and create your own original piece of musical score for an animated movie, then you’ll know that it is an extremely hard task to accomplish. Therefore, looking for various tips and tricks of the trade can be the best way to try and achieve the best possible outcomes…

1. Looking at the bigger picture

Because of the way that animation-based films can be designed and produced, there can be a tendency to focus on the elements that can be seen and not much else. It is recommended to look at the bigger picture and think outside the box when trying to come up with musical ideas, as this can help to tell a better and more improved story.

2. Using tools and software to their advantage

Technology has allowed composers to be able to create unique and interesting sounds, with many of them possible to fit the narrative of an animated film. Those who are looking to create their own original music may want to use royalty free music to avoid music licensing laws and copyrights, as this music is available to use freely. Software can also allow you to play around and fine-tune certain sounds, thus helping to bring a level of uniqueness to the production.

3. Think about the character and direction of the story

It must be noted that in the case of an animated movie, one can easily be drawn to watch only what can be seen. To try and move away from the norm and add another level to the animation it is beneficial to consider character progression and the plot. Sometimes, while coming up with ideas of what the characters could be playing or how their arcs could play out, it is easier to write new music that can accompany them. The music used in a film can actually tell a story that can not be seen by the audience; this increases realism within the film.

4. Understanding the demographic of the target audience

It’s important to understand who the animated movie is intended for, as this can have a direct influence on the musical score. Many films being created nowadays are targeted for adults, while some are for a wider audience. By understanding what the story is and who it is for, the composer can flesh out ideas better suited to the intended audience, giving them a greater idea of what could work and what potentially wouldn’t.

Departments need to agree on the musical score

Another thing that makes creating original music a bit complicated and might take time and many attempts is the fact that the music has to fit into the perception of many other departments that are involved in the creation of the film.

For example, while the directors, the producers or the editors of a particular movie will have their own ideas regarding the nature of sounds that they would wish to use in the movie or scenes within the movie. Both will then give their comments to the composer, which means that the composer will have to abide by the comments.

Although a composer will still be able to develop a unique musical score to some extent, they have to consider these matters if they want to come up with something that will sell. Following the process that has been outlined, a greater chance of success will likely be had.