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Honestly i made a ritual of using Shazam whenever a song stars to play in a movie or show. Also poor Guy Moon, working for a a-hole like Butch Hartman must be a nightmare
The Amazing World if Gumball Songs are really underappreciated. There's so many songs, but I barely hear anybody talk about them when compared to the other big Cartoon Network shows.
Gary Come Home is a favorite on car rides. No joke we listened to that song on the car ride over to the vet to have our dog Lucy put down after 13 wonderful years.😭
@@CosplayingwithChad oh my gosh I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my pet last year and I’m about to lose another soon and it’s incredibly heartbreaking. god bless you and your family and all the furry friends out there that make people’s lives so much better just by existing ♥️
LS Mark didn’t mention Grass Skirt Chase but funny enough it is one of the few original pieces in the early seasons and it still plays a lot to this day.
You should have mentioned how Regular Show used some rock songs from the 80s and 70s and made their own rock melodies for moments of conflict in an episode
Sure, everyone aknowledges the 80's pop songs, but the actual score was composed Mark Mothersbaugh, frontman of New Wave band Devo, which makes everything go full circle.
I'll never forget Christmas Island by Lake playing at the ending of Adventure Time. Usually ending themes are just instrumental versions of the intro but Adventure Time chose something different. I knew the show was gonna be something else.
My absolute favorite that wasn't mentioned has to be Steven Universes score. Of course the actual musical performances are great, but the backing score is so perfectly woven to feel both unique to the series alone, and to fit everything it needs. and with small details like the main characters having their own instruments tied to them, to emphasize any important moments for them, as well as the factions themselves having unique sounds and feelings, the score feels like it has an immense attention of detail to it, and is literally irreplaceable. The whole thing feels so alive, and like it's really trying to speak to you, and I just think that's incredible.
Agreed. Using Smoky Quartz theme as an example, the music is really playful and videogame like, feeling like an afternoon playing games with friends as a kid, which fits Steven and Amethyst as well as their relationship with each other, also fitting their fusion's playful and even child-like nature. Additionaly, the theme becomes more sinister midway through, refleting the other thing that unites Steven and Amethyst: their fear and the feeling of being weak
So true. The idea of having every main character get their own instruments for their themes was genius. My favorite score has to be for Bismuth, personally.
I think peep and the big wide world is a perfect example of this, it's theme and outro are incredible but what's really impressive is that every episode is custom tailored with it's own soundtrack, it has no typical soundtrack with individual songs but it uses its musical soundfont like sound effects similar to chibi robo where it has music notes for walking/swimming/flying, such an amazing show
Wander Over Yonder has great high energy music usually integrating fast banjo riffs to complement the fast paced cat and mouse style chases. Every time i rush off somewhere, i think of sylvia running with that fast banjo music. Also My Fair Hatey is a musical episode and it's one of the best episodes of tv ever!
If there is one animated kids show that goes all out with its music variety is The Backyardigans. Especially with how every episode would always have a different “music genre of the day”, ranging from: tango, reggae, calypso, Irish folk (for LS Mark), R&B, different eras of jazz, and so much more. Besides, it was one show that was part of my childhood, and got me real invested in different styles of music.
Wonder Pets is a cartoon where every episode is like a mini-opera, with a lot of it being sung through. The score was provided by a live orchestra, and it won an Emmy for it.
I think no matter your thoughts on the show, Steven Universe has the best Soundtrack to date. I'm not just talking about the vocal singing songs, even the background tracks are amazing. Highly recommend taking a listen even if you haven't watched the show
Even the ambient sounds/tracks and sound design they use is amazing and still engaging enough to put you *in* the mood the scene has you in. Evangelion is one of the best examples of an anime taking a beautiful approach with music.
Avatar the Last Airbender, Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and Samurai Jack are probably my favorite cartoon OSTs. All of them create the perfect atmosphere that encapsulates me into the worlds of those shows. I'm glad people like Mark are shining a light of one of the most overlooked aspects of a cartoon.
Not a cartoon, but one of my favorite animated shorts, Opal by Jack Stauber, has such a good soundtrack. The actual musical numbers are fantastic, but the background score is really good as well. Jack is an absolute wizard with music and I feel like Opal really highlights his talent
Spider-Verse, ESPECIALLY Across the Spider-Verse has literally the best score I've ever heard in any movie ever. Daniel Pemberton was robbed of a nomination in 2023. The way he expertly blends genres, creates unconventional ways to create sounds like the prowler theme, and uses his music to actually tell the story, all while keeping egery sound feeling like the same score is nothing short of breathtaking
The fact that it does this all WHILE having a pop culture soundtrack, both originally crafted and having other pre-existing and well-known songs is nothing short of astounding
Something I always appreciate in cartoons is giving specific characters and locations theme songs/motifs that play whenever they're present Steven Universe's soundtrack needs no introduction but it really is my favorite example of that, even taking it a step further and having each character represented with a specific instrument/style of music
The Over the Garden Wall soundtrack is incredibly beautiful and really gives off the mysterious vibes the show gives off. Honestly my favorite cartoon soundtrack ever.
If I were to sum up my feelings towards Over The Garden Wall’s score, it would be through these words: nostalgic, eerie, haunting, classy, melancholy, merry, and, along with what you said, very beautiful. It really makes you feel like you’ve traveled back in time to the 19th- early 20th centuries, and that you’re following the boys on their sacred quest to get back home.
Honorable mention to Bluey~ The soundtrack is a mix of original compositions and orchestra numbers, made in a style like no other, to heighten up the emotional and the fun of cartoon dogs in a slice of life for pre-schoolers~
I’ve only watched one episode of Bluey: Flat Pack. The score for that episode is so good that I still listen to it on its own on walks and stuff. I should probably watch more.
@Mr_Mimestamp I was literally going to mention Flat Pack as an example. It's the music that helps turn a great episode into a perfect one. Easily the best episode of the show
I think OK K.O. has an incredibly great soundtrack. The lead composer Jake Kaufman is actually an experienced music artist who’s done work for games like Shovel Knight and Shantae, and he really brings his style to the show. The show has this rich and funky sound, and wears it’s musical identity on it’s sleeve. It has lots of callbacks and establishments of various musical leitmotifs and the full theme song goes absolutely hard. I recommend a listen even if you’re not a fan of the show.
The moment when I really appreciated the score was in Crossover Nexus, with it incorporating tunes from CN history like the "New, new, new!" jingle, the CN City theme, and the Cartoon Cartoons theme.
Another score I’ve been admiring is Gravity Falls. It fits perfectly with the wonder and mystery of the town while still having lighthearted moments. It’d be interesting to take a look at that.
As someone who has started watching family guy since the day they added him to fortnite, i've grown very fond of it, its music especially. So here's some of my favorites in no particular order: - You've Got a Lot To See - Christmastime is Killing Us - All I Really Want for Christmas - Down's Syndrome Girl - Road to Rhode Island - Literally all of Sinatra's songs in Brian Sings and Swings and Tales of a Third Grade Nothing - You and I are So Awfully Different - It's a Wonderful Day for Pie - Mr. Booze
This video really made me appreciate just how great the music is in The Amazing Digital Circus, especially in Episode 2 where they made the music fit the tone of what was going on, from its serious and silly moments. But I think the most jaw-dropping thing that I learned is...MARK IS CREATING A CARTOON?!
as someone who just got a avatar the last airbender tattoo, this is coming from a biased opinion, but the music from that show is incredible. it really feels like every note has a reason to be played. it’s not only amazing music, just such a wonderful show in general
Batman The Animated Series has a score that people remember after they're done watching. They will remember Two Face's nightmarish theme, Joker's bombastic theme, and Mr Freeze's haunting theme because Shirley Walker and her team knew to make them feel big but memorable. Sure Danny Elfman helped compose the main theme and credits theme but most of the work came from Shirley Walker who was a big female composer on TV and Films and would be impact on how comic book shows would sound like if given the right staff and budgets. Also she has a sound stage named after her at Warner's so she's that big.
Invader Zim is a show I’d say had a great and consistent sounding score through its run, even though it was only 2 seasons. The original show had such an industrial sound to the music and it encapsulates the feeling and just overall style of the show with just the theme song alone. There was other themes created for Invader Zim but if you give those demos a listen and then compare those to the final choice, it’s evident that the chosen theme was absolutely perfect for the show.
I think Aivi and Surasshu's work on Steven Universe is the peak of cartoon soundtracks. Assigning each of the characters to an instrument/music genre is so effortlessly integrated into the show's concepts, themes, and emotions. You have fusions with differing genres of Music that could be considered an "evolution" of both characters' genres. Each season's soundtrack is on spotify. I highly recommend giving it a listen.
Gotta shout this out to It's Pony. That show has a lot of physical comedy and hard cuts between jokes, so the musical score really helps illustrate the character's movements in these scenes or even conveys how they feel. They even released the soundtrack on digital stores.
The first show I went out of my way to look for the ost was Ok K.O. specifically when they fight against a blue round robot. It was genuinely amazing, I find the whole show to be an underrated masterpiece
Funnily enough I have been listening to tv show soundtracks lately so seeing a video on it makes me happy. I think a great example of a composer that deserves love is ego plum, composing stuff for post sequel spongebob (episodes like spongebob in randomland come to mind), Harvey beaks, and even the cuphead show. It's got this natural feel to it I just love
Oh I didn't know that! I also looked at his youtube and saw he did jellystones too and I forgot that completely! Again ego plum is just a fun individual
Once again, I agree with your editor. You should watch Avatar the Last Airbender. You should also watch Dragon Ball. And do a video ranking every Dreamworks film.
Every golden age cartoon had some bangers. Tom and Jerry's "The Bodyguard" opening had some incredible sound. Woody Woodpecker, Looney Tunes, you name it!
I think the work Bruce Broughton and Richard Stone did for Animaniacs and Tiny Toons is some of the best ever composed for animation. All the music from the 90s animated WB shows was so good. I also loved how Alan Mencken blended song motifs into character themes. I know most musicals do that, but Beauty and the Beast was the first time I noticed. Of course you can’t forget the GOATs of cartoon music; Carl Stalling, Scott Bradley, and Milt Franklin. I also really love all of Hoyt Curtain’s music he did for Hanna-Barbera. I highly recommend listening to the Futurama score album released awhile back, though the content is sparse.
An interesting kinda case study for this is digimon. There were major changes in the audio between the original Japanese and American versions, and they change the tone pretty drastically in places. Not only do they swap classical music for ska (I do love ska, just a weird place to put it given the original) but there is also extra dialog put into the American version that take a lot of drama out of those scenes that originally had slower pacing and moments of quiet. This was probably by design to make it more 'kid friendly' but being able to go back and see both side by side is pretty striking
Music is an underappreciated aspect of any entertainment medium other than musicals (since you know music is in the name). It can heighten the experience of watching anything and help you get immersed in the world. The best cartoons are able to find that music that perfectly strikes the tone of the show, and that helps make it all the more memorable.
My biggest issue with prime is the opening theme. It's a good piece and all, but it feels kinda generic hero. It doesn't have the personality I like in an opening.
Down Syndrome Girl from Family Guy is really underrated. I love how strangely wholesome it is, it’s basically about Stewie telling Chris how to prepare for a date while also complimenting and making fun of the girl at the same time.
A soundtrack I definitely would recommend is the one from Batman the Animated Series. It has a wonderful use of leitmotifs, with a tune representing almost every major character. It, as well as most cartoons made by Warner Bros in the 90’s, got to use a full orchestra. Shirley Walker composed for the series and had previously conducted for the scores of the Tim Burton Batman films.
My favorites are the scores for Hey Arnold, Animaniacs, Teen Titans 2003, Invader Zim, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Early Fairly Oddparents, Ed Edd n Eddy, Wander Over Yonder and a segment from Kablam! called "The Off Beats" which is kind of a jazzy version of "Peanuts."
imagine if "kingdom of predators" wasn't constantly playing in the background during the chimera ant arc in HxH. many of the scenes wouldn't be nearly as iconic or emotional. another example of great music from HxH is the phantom troupe's main theme: "requiem aranea". it really makes them appear all the more menacing when they are causing chaos or even when they're just sitting and talking. many anime have great scores and osts, but HxH's is definitely my favorite.
Shunsuke Kikuchi's score for the Dragon Ball series is one that often comes to my mind, I love the instruments and cues. Many tracks are reused, but I don't mind, as they always fit perfectly with what's happening on screen. Bruce Faulconer's replacement score is also great and I love the variety, but doesn't fit as well. I usually watch Dragon Ball Z with Kikuchi's score partly for that reason, but certain scenes don't have the same impact without Faulconer's score (such as Goku transforming into a Super Saiyan 3).
13:27 That musical technique is called leitmotif, they tend to be used whenever you need to associate a place, person or idea with a music. For example, the intro notes of the avatar theme is associated with Aang(and hope) so it tends to be used in epic moments when he uses his bending power. It’s fun hearing composers trying to incorporate them into different arrangements.
one of my favorite recent exampls is Hazbins score, using a clarinet to give scenes a more playfully vibe, and occasionally using motifs from character themes and songs
South Park had good music in Season 1-3, i remember these banjo strums and also also these instrumentals music by Mike Berry, now its mostly hell's kitchen danger stings. Like Mark Said lol.
One thing you neglected was mentioning any Cartoon Network show's music, (besides Ed Ed & Eddy) some notable examples are: Adventure Time which doesn't use any leitmotifs, meaning it doesn't have any recurring themes for specific characters or locations, leaving the music to sound very abstract, and not follow characters movement or actions as much as it does the general mood of the scene, while incorporating heavy use of 8-bit videogame sounds. The music numbers sung by the character are meant to sound like they were improvised on the spot, with subtle mistakes present in their performance. Steven Universe is another good example with it's smooth jazzy piano sound making use of uncommon/diminished jazz chords. Though the show does also use a lot of upbeat chiptune inspired tracks, like the ones in Adventure Time, just less abstract.
Some of my favorite examples of music in animation are Wander Over Yonder, The Amazing World of Gumball, and (a more indie example) Battle for Dream Island, specifically season 4 and 5 (and some of season 2 and 1). Specifically in the case of BFDI, it uses some stock music, especially in earlier seasons, but its original soundtrack is just as good as the liscened. The OST of BFB and TPOT are mostly sampled, and also use some melodies from other songs they've used in the past. Not to mention the fact that a small majority of the tracks were made WAY in advance of when they were actually used. Most of the tracks made for later BFB and some of TPOT were made almost all the way back in the early to mid 2010s (for refernce, BFB came out in 2017). I just think its so cool how a song can be made for an entirely different situation, or no situation at all, and can still be used for something later (for example, Hallway, which is the music for the EXIT, was most likely made in 2015 or '16 with its first use in the series being in 2018). Anyways, I spent WAY too long gushing about the soundtrack to an indie series, that I don't have the energy to talk about the orher examples I mentioned. Oh well, I'm sure someone has talked about them... Also, since we're on the topic of music, you guys should go listen to Snarky Puppy. They're a Jazz/Funk/Rock band that I just really love. I think you'll like it too, especially if you're a fan of Sonic music...
One of my favorite uses of music is, in a lot of magical girl anime, the transformation has it's own theme. Something that cuts into the villain's theme. Not a jingle like Power Rangers, or just the theme song, but a transformation-specific track. It really sells the idea of the heroes being in direct opposition to, and being the perfect counter of, the villain. Interrupting the villain's plans, and their evil deeds. The transformation really being that deciding factor.
It can't be understated how important some of the earlier TV animated soundtracks are, especially Hanna-Barbera. The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo for example, wouldn't be the same without the pieces you can hear in your head anytime you think of them!
i love the little musical ques in Fosters Home For Imaginary Friends, it's the reason why whenever i make or read comics i always imagine little crescendo violins whenever a character peeks out from behind something. Guy Moon might be one of my biggest musical inspirations now that you mention it, i never noticed the little musical ques for everything but i always picture them in my works!
I think Harvey Beaks has one of the most beautiful original scores for an animated series, with Ego Plum really capturing the show's sense of childlike wonder and expertly delivering on the emotional beats. The show's main motif will always live welcomely in my head.
I’d also like to point out that the lead man of nine inch nails Trent Reznor did a lot of obscure and weird movies and shows soundtracks including kids shows and movies
The Last Airbender has to be one of my favorites, every single song has such a specific feel and it always amplifies the scenes so well. I also love the little tunes and sound effects that play for certain scenes, like whenever Iroh does something stupid that little goofy version of the fire nation riff that plays, or the drum sound effect that plays after the more heavy hitting jokes. And the actual quality of the music is just insane. It holds up as just amazing music to listen to.
Steven Universe's score has always been inspiring to me, and was one of the things that got me to start thinking about music in animation to begin with. It has a very SPECIFIC vibe, that really communicates the air of mystery, nostalgia, and alien-ness that it wants to, with occasional scores even being played backwards to communicate an off-putting tone
The Ninjago TV show has such an amazing soundtrack. It is fantastic. When it comes to movies, the music for the How To Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda trilogies have beautiful soundtracks. I also love the Japanese music for Dragon Ball Z, and all the music for Dragon Ball Kai. I also can't forget Ben 10 Omniverse. Finally, Regular Show's theme is so simple it's perfect.
Another score that I still remember even after all these years is Max and Ruby, mostly because they reused the same tracks over and over. I think the jazz score works for the old-fashioned setting. Little Bear uses classical music for the score. Come to think of it, a lot of these older preschool shows had great scores.
Fully agree on South Park. The movie’s entire soundtrack is incredible not even just the songs they sing I love the sound that plays when the boys arrive at starks pond but under the 6 day schedule of reusing sound it’s so annoying. Especially when they use the same dramatic music in a scene where Randy is complaining about his toilet and another where Stan is desperately trying to fix his relationship with Wendy clearly one is a lot more comedic then the other but the music makes it seem like they are the same level of seriousness.
Kevin Manthei A.K.A the composer of Invader Zim blows my mind knowing the fact that he almost made every music of my childhood. He's made the Ultimate Spider-Man show and cartoons, Shrek 2: The Video Game, Johnny Test, Kung Fu Panda the Video Game, and Robot Chicken out of all things. This flew over my head as a child and I haven't noticed.
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Oil upppppp😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫
THAT IS SOOOOOO SWEET YOUDIDTHATFORPRICETAGPILLOWOH MY GOSH ILOVEITSO SWEET BAHAHA I LOVE ITTTT AAAAAAAAAAA".
Honestly i made a ritual of using Shazam whenever a song stars to play in a movie or show. Also poor Guy Moon, working for a a-hole like Butch Hartman must be a nightmare
Guys the s in LS stands for Shill
The Amazing World if Gumball Songs are really underappreciated. There's so many songs, but I barely hear anybody talk about them when compared to the other big Cartoon Network shows.
Those are goated
Ben Locket is one of the GOATs of composing in cartoons and no one can't tell me otherwise
I still remember that song they recorded to get a refund from Larry lol
hey rocky we got some awful news
your dad is sick cause we made him blow a fuse yeah!
Am I the only one that finds quite a few of them to be not as good?
SpongeBob’s music is SO iconic. I think every UA-camr uses its music for memes and background music. SpongeBob’s music is timeless! 🍍
Gary Come Home is a favorite on car rides. No joke we listened to that song on the car ride over to the vet to have our dog Lucy put down after 13 wonderful years.😭
@@CosplayingwithChad oh my gosh I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my pet last year and I’m about to lose another soon and it’s incredibly heartbreaking. god bless you and your family and all the furry friends out there that make people’s lives so much better just by existing ♥️
dude i have the bear in ur pfp!!!!
@@GremlinJohnny omg is it the Costco or Walmart bear cause I’ve bought like two in my whole life, I love the jumbo bears they’re just iconic 😂
@@Badaboombadaboombaby haha i don't even know, i just recognized it immediately. jumbo bears are great!
The best part is that the SpongeBob chase music literally would fit in with anything, that’s how good it is.
I’m suprised it’s never been used as a boss theme for a SpongeBob game
LS Mark didn’t mention Grass Skirt Chase but funny enough it is one of the few original pieces in the early seasons and it still plays a lot to this day.
You should have mentioned how Regular Show used some rock songs from the 80s and 70s and made their own rock melodies for moments of conflict in an episode
Regular show has a amazing score 🔥🔥
I'm surprised he didn't mention Adventure Time or Steven Universe.. Especially Steven Universe, like one of its main draws is the music.
Party Tonight
Sure, everyone aknowledges the 80's pop songs, but the actual score was composed Mark Mothersbaugh, frontman of New Wave band Devo, which makes everything go full circle.
whenever it's hot, I always sing "sometimes I dream about that AC AC"
As a 2010’s kid, hearing adventure times come along with me still makes me tear up a bit, I don’t know why. Something so special about it
The fun will never end
I'll never forget Christmas Island by Lake playing at the ending of Adventure Time. Usually ending themes are just instrumental versions of the intro but Adventure Time chose something different. I knew the show was gonna be something else.
Same, I remember when Adventure Time ended
Yeah same!
theres a music theory video about adventure time's songs on UA-cam by cadence hira , its really nice
My absolute favorite that wasn't mentioned has to be Steven Universes score. Of course the actual musical performances are great, but the backing score is so perfectly woven to feel both unique to the series alone, and to fit everything it needs. and with small details like the main characters having their own instruments tied to them, to emphasize any important moments for them, as well as the factions themselves having unique sounds and feelings, the score feels like it has an immense attention of detail to it, and is literally irreplaceable. The whole thing feels so alive, and like it's really trying to speak to you, and I just think that's incredible.
Agreed. Using Smoky Quartz theme as an example, the music is really playful and videogame like, feeling like an afternoon playing games with friends as a kid, which fits Steven and Amethyst as well as their relationship with each other, also fitting their fusion's playful and even child-like nature. Additionaly, the theme becomes more sinister midway through, refleting the other thing that unites Steven and Amethyst: their fear and the feeling of being weak
So true. The idea of having every main character get their own instruments for their themes was genius. My favorite score has to be for Bismuth, personally.
AGREED.
Yeah, love Aivi and Surasshu's music ❤️
The action music in that show sucks.
I think peep and the big wide world is a perfect example of this, it's theme and outro are incredible but what's really impressive is that every episode is custom tailored with it's own soundtrack, it has no typical soundtrack with individual songs but it uses its musical soundfont like sound effects similar to chibi robo where it has music notes for walking/swimming/flying, such an amazing show
OH MY GOD YES... PEEP AND THE BIG WIDE WORLD IS SO GOOD
Such an underrated show
Soundfont isn't a correct term. Just say "instruments".
@@A2Adam even when it's a collection of midi instruments? I thought that was the whole point of the term as the collection of those particular sounds
PEEP AND THE BIG WIDE WORLD MENTION?????? I DIDNT KNOW ANYONE ELSE KNEW THAT SHIW😭 😭
Wander Over Yonder has great high energy music usually integrating fast banjo riffs to complement the fast paced cat and mouse style chases. Every time i rush off somewhere, i think of sylvia running with that fast banjo music. Also My Fair Hatey is a musical episode and it's one of the best episodes of tv ever!
Ren and Stimpy has one of the most amazing libraries of music in cartoons.
"I'LL TEACH YOUR GRANDMOTHER TO SUCK EGGS!"
Dam right
It was so good that SpongeBob just reused a lot of it
@@lolganrox_12katsu30nichi it’s all stock music, wym?
@@Ozzmanian_Devil bro it’s a joke
If there is one animated kids show that goes all out with its music variety is The Backyardigans. Especially with how every episode would always have a different “music genre of the day”, ranging from: tango, reggae, calypso, Irish folk (for LS Mark), R&B, different eras of jazz, and so much more. Besides, it was one show that was part of my childhood, and got me real invested in different styles of music.
FUCK YEAH!! Backyardigans had such an awesome variety of songs and music genres! Castaways still gets stuck in my head to this day ❤
@@Sqwivig not to mention the TikTok crazes from this show that happened about three years ago…
No cartoon in history had the amount of bangers that Phineas and Ferb did. Don't @ me
@AccursedHawk :)
Courage the cowardly dog goes harder
@@Teddersifyville you're objectively wrong
@@AccursedHawkSpongeBob has better music than Phineas and Ferb…ur on something, man!!!!
@AccursedHawk I agree.
These voice actors deserve all the props for being able to sing to this impressive degree.
A lot can be done with good vocal skills. They’ve all got excellent range with their voices
@@Jackattack359 so true
Yes
In a lot of cases there are other people who take over for the singing roles over the original voice actors
Wonder Pets is a cartoon where every episode is like a mini-opera, with a lot of it being sung through. The score was provided by a live orchestra, and it won an Emmy for it.
I think no matter your thoughts on the show, Steven Universe has the best Soundtrack to date. I'm not just talking about the vocal singing songs, even the background tracks are amazing. Highly recommend taking a listen even if you haven't watched the show
i saw the post and it said new video in an hour then I looked and it said "1 hour ago" and I was like OMG THATS NOW
BRO SAME WHAT ARE THE ODDS
SAME
While not an American cartoon, the music in evangelion (both instrumental and lyrical) is absolutely legendary
Even the ambient sounds/tracks and sound design they use is amazing and still engaging enough to put you *in* the mood the scene has you in. Evangelion is one of the best examples of an anime taking a beautiful approach with music.
The intro is such a banger but like for one of the darkest shows 😭
Avatar the Last Airbender, Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and Samurai Jack are probably my favorite cartoon OSTs. All of them create the perfect atmosphere that encapsulates me into the worlds of those shows. I'm glad people like Mark are shining a light of one of the most overlooked aspects of a cartoon.
I always loved Regular Shows use of classic songs from the 80s in a kids show. Mississippi Queen is a classic
Not a cartoon, but one of my favorite animated shorts, Opal by Jack Stauber, has such a good soundtrack. The actual musical numbers are fantastic, but the background score is really good as well. Jack is an absolute wizard with music and I feel like Opal really highlights his talent
Jack is phenomenal with music his popular music come his micropop albums like shop pop opera,HiLo,finite form,viator etc
Spider-Verse, ESPECIALLY Across the Spider-Verse has literally the best score I've ever heard in any movie ever. Daniel Pemberton was robbed of a nomination in 2023. The way he expertly blends genres, creates unconventional ways to create sounds like the prowler theme, and uses his music to actually tell the story, all while keeping egery sound feeling like the same score is nothing short of breathtaking
The fact that it does this all WHILE having a pop culture soundtrack, both originally crafted and having other pre-existing and well-known songs is nothing short of astounding
Something I always appreciate in cartoons is giving specific characters and locations theme songs/motifs that play whenever they're present
Steven Universe's soundtrack needs no introduction but it really is my favorite example of that, even taking it a step further and having each character represented with a specific instrument/style of music
Leitmotifs?
Joker in Batman the animated series has such a good soundtrack, have you heard it before ?
Or even Sideshow Bob in the Simpsons
The SpongeBob Musical was such a fantastic case considering how each song felt unique yet blend so well together
The Over the Garden Wall soundtrack is incredibly beautiful and really gives off the mysterious vibes the show gives off. Honestly my favorite cartoon soundtrack ever.
If I were to sum up my feelings towards Over The Garden Wall’s score, it would be through these words: nostalgic, eerie, haunting, classy, melancholy, merry, and, along with what you said, very beautiful. It really makes you feel like you’ve traveled back in time to the 19th- early 20th centuries, and that you’re following the boys on their sacred quest to get back home.
Before I even watch, I just wanna say that any show that uses a lot of jazz or classical will always get a win in my book. 😌
you should listen to Lupin the Third. Its incredible for jazz
Honorable mention to Bluey~
The soundtrack is a mix of original compositions and orchestra numbers, made in a style like no other, to heighten up the emotional and the fun of cartoon dogs in a slice of life for pre-schoolers~
Fax
Perfect music to make you tear up
I’ve only watched one episode of Bluey: Flat Pack. The score for that episode is so good that I still listen to it on its own on walks and stuff.
I should probably watch more.
@Mr_Mimestamp I was literally going to mention Flat Pack as an example. It's the music that helps turn a great episode into a perfect one. Easily the best episode of the show
Bluey Creators not being based challenge:
Impossible.
I think OK K.O. has an incredibly great soundtrack. The lead composer Jake Kaufman is actually an experienced music artist who’s done work for games like Shovel Knight and Shantae, and he really brings his style to the show.
The show has this rich and funky sound, and wears it’s musical identity on it’s sleeve. It has lots of callbacks and establishments of various musical leitmotifs and the full theme song goes absolutely hard. I recommend a listen even if you’re not a fan of the show.
The moment when I really appreciated the score was in Crossover Nexus, with it incorporating tunes from CN history like the "New, new, new!" jingle, the CN City theme, and the Cartoon Cartoons theme.
Another score I’ve been admiring is Gravity Falls. It fits perfectly with the wonder and mystery of the town while still having lighthearted moments. It’d be interesting to take a look at that.
17:31 This "incorporation of the main theme" is called a Leitmotif. It's a VERY common thing and is used in every single score ever.
Samurai Jack’s sountrack is peak, same with Powerpuff Girls.
Wait ppg had a soundtrack?
@@ipostrandomclipsI remember two songs from PPG. Colors of love and the end theme
YES
YES
YES,
YES that show's tracks are incredible!!!
@@ipostrandomclipseverything has a soundtrack!!!! the world is amazing (:
Class of 3000, Phineas and Ferb, and Fairly Oddparents are proof of how memorable and iconic cartoon music can be.
As someone who has started watching family guy since the day they added him to fortnite, i've grown very fond of it, its music especially. So here's some of my favorites in no particular order:
- You've Got a Lot To See
- Christmastime is Killing Us
- All I Really Want for Christmas
- Down's Syndrome Girl
- Road to Rhode Island
- Literally all of Sinatra's songs in Brian Sings and Swings and Tales of a Third Grade Nothing
- You and I are So Awfully Different
- It's a Wonderful Day for Pie
- Mr. Booze
This video really made me appreciate just how great the music is in The Amazing Digital Circus, especially in Episode 2 where they made the music fit the tone of what was going on, from its serious and silly moments.
But I think the most jaw-dropping thing that I learned is...MARK IS CREATING A CARTOON?!
as someone who just got a avatar the last airbender tattoo, this is coming from a biased opinion, but the music from that show is incredible. it really feels like every note has a reason to be played. it’s not only amazing music, just such a wonderful show in general
Icky Vicky is still stuck in my head to this day. Nothing beats Chip Skylark’s banger bars 🔥
My shiny teeth and me will occasionally resurface from the back of my mind while brushing my teeth.
I swear, with more modern media, they straight up use three songs, a comedic one, a sad but hopeful one, and an intense one, and I get SO SICK OF IT!
I totally agree. Having to listen to the same tracks repetitively in a cartoon can get quite annoying overtime.
The background music to the Avatar tv shows will always live rent free in my mind. The music is so beautiful it makes me want to cry sometimes.
Some cartoon music goes so goddamn hard, no wonder so many UA-camrs use cartoon music in the background
Batman The Animated Series has a score that people remember after they're done watching. They will remember Two Face's nightmarish theme, Joker's bombastic theme, and Mr Freeze's haunting theme because Shirley Walker and her team knew to make them feel big but memorable. Sure Danny Elfman helped compose the main theme and credits theme but most of the work came from Shirley Walker who was a big female composer on TV and Films and would be impact on how comic book shows would sound like if given the right staff and budgets. Also she has a sound stage named after her at Warner's so she's that big.
Shirley Walker's work on Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is my favorite Batman score of all time
Joker's theme in BTAS is so fun but still has a slighty darker undertone
Invader Zim is a show I’d say had a great and consistent sounding score through its run, even though it was only 2 seasons. The original show had such an industrial sound to the music and it encapsulates the feeling and just overall style of the show with just the theme song alone. There was other themes created for Invader Zim but if you give those demos a listen and then compare those to the final choice, it’s evident that the chosen theme was absolutely perfect for the show.
I think Aivi and Surasshu's work on Steven Universe is the peak of cartoon soundtracks. Assigning each of the characters to an instrument/music genre is so effortlessly integrated into the show's concepts, themes, and emotions. You have fusions with differing genres of Music that could be considered an "evolution" of both characters' genres. Each season's soundtrack is on spotify. I highly recommend giving it a listen.
Gotta shout this out to It's Pony. That show has a lot of physical comedy and hard cuts between jokes, so the musical score really helps illustrate the character's movements in these scenes or even conveys how they feel. They even released the soundtrack on digital stores.
Powerpuff girls got me into jungle music
The first show I went out of my way to look for the ost was Ok K.O. specifically when they fight against a blue round robot. It was genuinely amazing, I find the whole show to be an underrated masterpiece
i agree
i personally think Futurama's intro song is peak. Its catchy, upbeat and fits the tone of the show perfectly
There’s just something so incredibly charming about Ren and Stimpy’s stock music.
Definitely
Funnily enough I have been listening to tv show soundtracks lately so seeing a video on it makes me happy. I think a great example of a composer that deserves love is ego plum, composing stuff for post sequel spongebob (episodes like spongebob in randomland come to mind), Harvey beaks, and even the cuphead show. It's got this natural feel to it I just love
He also did Making Fiends
Oh I didn't know that! I also looked at his youtube and saw he did jellystones too and I forgot that completely! Again ego plum is just a fun individual
I appreciate how Ren and Stimpy uses some the most iconic classical music for simple background music.
No other song makes me feel so many emotions as much as Gary Come Home 🥺
Once again, I agree with your editor. You should watch Avatar the Last Airbender. You should also watch Dragon Ball. And do a video ranking every Dreamworks film.
Every golden age cartoon had some bangers. Tom and Jerry's "The Bodyguard" opening had some incredible sound. Woody Woodpecker, Looney Tunes, you name it!
I think the work Bruce Broughton and Richard Stone did for Animaniacs and Tiny Toons is some of the best ever composed for animation. All the music from the 90s animated WB shows was so good. I also loved how Alan Mencken blended song motifs into character themes. I know most musicals do that, but Beauty and the Beast was the first time I noticed. Of course you can’t forget the GOATs of cartoon music; Carl Stalling, Scott Bradley, and Milt Franklin. I also really love all of Hoyt Curtain’s music he did for Hanna-Barbera. I highly recommend listening to the Futurama score album released awhile back, though the content is sparse.
Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, Batman, and Superman all had orchestras. In fact, Animaniacs used the same piano as Carl Stalling.
Low-key Family guys soundtrack is pretty good, I love "Mr bababooey" and "This bababooey is freaking sweet"!
An interesting kinda case study for this is digimon. There were major changes in the audio between the original Japanese and American versions, and they change the tone pretty drastically in places. Not only do they swap classical music for ska (I do love ska, just a weird place to put it given the original) but there is also extra dialog put into the American version that take a lot of drama out of those scenes that originally had slower pacing and moments of quiet. This was probably by design to make it more 'kid friendly' but being able to go back and see both side by side is pretty striking
Friendship is Magic’s music. End of story.
Daniel Ingram is a legend.
That entire show was full of bangers 😭🙌
Music is an underappreciated aspect of any entertainment medium other than musicals (since you know music is in the name). It can heighten the experience of watching anything and help you get immersed in the world. The best cartoons are able to find that music that perfectly strikes the tone of the show, and that helps make it all the more memorable.
Shout out to Transformers Prime for having a soundtrack that’s so GOATED that the same composer is doing the soundtrack for Transformers One
My biggest issue with prime is the opening theme. It's a good piece and all, but it feels kinda generic hero. It doesn't have the personality I like in an opening.
Brian Tyler also did the Mario movie.
Wait Brian Tyler’s Coming back?! WOOHOOO
Down Syndrome Girl from Family Guy is really underrated. I love how strangely wholesome it is, it’s basically about Stewie telling Chris how to prepare for a date while also complimenting and making fun of the girl at the same time.
A soundtrack I definitely would recommend is the one from Batman the Animated Series. It has a wonderful use of leitmotifs, with a tune representing almost every major character. It, as well as most cartoons made by Warner Bros in the 90’s, got to use a full orchestra. Shirley Walker composed for the series and had previously conducted for the scores of the Tim Burton Batman films.
I love Joker's theme song so much , it is so fun but still has a slightly darker undertone . I had it as a ring tone for a long time
Cartoon music were epic at its peak time.
Just wanted to come here to say the score for Ed Edd n Eddy was just perfect for the show
Lots of anime have really great soundtracks, cowboy bebop in particular really blows me away every time I watch it.
My favorites are the scores for Hey Arnold, Animaniacs, Teen Titans 2003, Invader Zim, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Early Fairly Oddparents, Ed Edd n Eddy, Wander Over Yonder and a segment from Kablam! called "The Off Beats" which is kind of a jazzy version of "Peanuts."
imagine if "kingdom of predators" wasn't constantly playing in the background during the chimera ant arc in HxH. many of the scenes wouldn't be nearly as iconic or emotional. another example of great music from HxH is the phantom troupe's main theme: "requiem aranea". it really makes them appear all the more menacing when they are causing chaos or even when they're just sitting and talking. many anime have great scores and osts, but HxH's is definitely my favorite.
Shunsuke Kikuchi's score for the Dragon Ball series is one that often comes to my mind, I love the instruments and cues. Many tracks are reused, but I don't mind, as they always fit perfectly with what's happening on screen. Bruce Faulconer's replacement score is also great and I love the variety, but doesn't fit as well.
I usually watch Dragon Ball Z with Kikuchi's score partly for that reason, but certain scenes don't have the same impact without Faulconer's score (such as Goku transforming into a Super Saiyan 3).
13:27 That musical technique is called leitmotif, they tend to be used whenever you need to associate a place, person or idea with a music. For example, the intro notes of the avatar theme is associated with Aang(and hope) so it tends to be used in epic moments when he uses his bending power. It’s fun hearing composers trying to incorporate them into different arrangements.
Shoutout to the LS Mark ending theme
one of my favorite recent exampls is Hazbins score, using a clarinet to give scenes a more playfully vibe, and occasionally using motifs from character themes and songs
South Park had good music in Season 1-3, i remember these banjo strums and also also these instrumentals music by Mike Berry, now its mostly hell's kitchen danger stings. Like Mark Said lol.
When I rewatched Teen Titans recently, the score stood out so much that over the years it has become one of my favourite aspects of it.
Shout out to Mike O’Donnell and Junior Campbell for making seven seasons of amazing music all for a show about talking trains.
Yes that was a masterpiece
One thing you neglected was mentioning any Cartoon Network show's music, (besides Ed Ed & Eddy) some notable examples are:
Adventure Time which doesn't use any leitmotifs, meaning it doesn't have any recurring themes for specific characters or locations, leaving the music to sound very abstract, and not follow characters movement or actions as much as it does the general mood of the scene, while incorporating heavy use of 8-bit videogame sounds. The music numbers sung by the character are meant to sound like they were improvised on the spot, with subtle mistakes present in their performance.
Steven Universe is another good example with it's smooth jazzy piano sound making use of uncommon/diminished jazz chords. Though the show does also use a lot of upbeat chiptune inspired tracks, like the ones in Adventure Time, just less abstract.
Some of my favorite examples of music in animation are Wander Over Yonder, The Amazing World of Gumball, and (a more indie example) Battle for Dream Island, specifically season 4 and 5 (and some of season 2 and 1).
Specifically in the case of BFDI, it uses some stock music, especially in earlier seasons, but its original soundtrack is just as good as the liscened. The OST of BFB and TPOT are mostly sampled, and also use some melodies from other songs they've used in the past. Not to mention the fact that a small majority of the tracks were made WAY in advance of when they were actually used. Most of the tracks made for later BFB and some of TPOT were made almost all the way back in the early to mid 2010s (for refernce, BFB came out in 2017). I just think its so cool how a song can be made for an entirely different situation, or no situation at all, and can still be used for something later (for example, Hallway, which is the music for the EXIT, was most likely made in 2015 or '16 with its first use in the series being in 2018).
Anyways, I spent WAY too long gushing about the soundtrack to an indie series, that I don't have the energy to talk about the orher examples I mentioned. Oh well, I'm sure someone has talked about them...
Also, since we're on the topic of music, you guys should go listen to Snarky Puppy. They're a Jazz/Funk/Rock band that I just really love. I think you'll like it too, especially if you're a fan of Sonic music...
One of my favorite uses of music is, in a lot of magical girl anime, the transformation has it's own theme. Something that cuts into the villain's theme. Not a jingle like Power Rangers, or just the theme song, but a transformation-specific track. It really sells the idea of the heroes being in direct opposition to, and being the perfect counter of, the villain. Interrupting the villain's plans, and their evil deeds. The transformation really being that deciding factor.
It can't be understated how important some of the earlier TV animated soundtracks are, especially Hanna-Barbera. The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo for example, wouldn't be the same without the pieces you can hear in your head anytime you think of them!
The old HB Scooby Doo series has some crazy iconic tracks.
@@kylegonewild I love the old Scooby-Doo music.
i love the little musical ques in Fosters Home For Imaginary Friends, it's the reason why whenever i make or read comics i always imagine little crescendo violins whenever a character peeks out from behind something. Guy Moon might be one of my biggest musical inspirations now that you mention it, i never noticed the little musical ques for everything but i always picture them in my works!
Steven universe’s first couple seasons have some INSANE backing tracks
first ones that come to mind are mirror match and flambe
I think Harvey Beaks has one of the most beautiful original scores for an animated series, with Ego Plum really capturing the show's sense of childlike wonder and expertly delivering on the emotional beats. The show's main motif will always live welcomely in my head.
I’d also like to point out that the lead man of nine inch nails Trent Reznor did a lot of obscure and weird movies and shows soundtracks including kids shows and movies
The Last Airbender has to be one of my favorites, every single song has such a specific feel and it always amplifies the scenes so well. I also love the little tunes and sound effects that play for certain scenes, like whenever Iroh does something stupid that little goofy version of the fire nation riff that plays, or the drum sound effect that plays after the more heavy hitting jokes.
And the actual quality of the music is just insane. It holds up as just amazing music to listen to.
8:21 Splendid idea Markypooo. Please rank every dreamworks movie!!
Road to El Dorado fucking SLAPS I would highly recommend. Soundtrack also bangs
I’d love an Ed, Edd, n’ Eddy retrospective sometime.
13:18 that track always come to mind when I think of The Fairly OddParents and I don't think I will ever get tired of it.
My personal favorite cartoon scores have to be the early peanuts specials. Anything Vince guaraldi touched turned into gold.
YES. Great use of jazz yet again, but on the smoother side
Honestly Tyler was a pretty good pick for The Grinch imo
He’s really good at playing annoyed he says like “yeaugh” and stuff
Phineas and Ferb made music important to me
Not even just the main songs
I always enjoy it when songs have motifs like splatoon my favourite is the onward motif used in bomb rush blush ft DJ octavio
I have almost every song from centaurworld in my playlist, I love the soundtrack so much
Steven Universe's score has always been inspiring to me, and was one of the things that got me to start thinking about music in animation to begin with. It has a very SPECIFIC vibe, that really communicates the air of mystery, nostalgia, and alien-ness that it wants to, with occasional scores even being played backwards to communicate an off-putting tone
The Ninjago TV show has such an amazing soundtrack. It is fantastic. When it comes to movies, the music for the How To Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda trilogies have beautiful soundtracks. I also love the Japanese music for Dragon Ball Z, and all the music for Dragon Ball Kai. I also can't forget Ben 10 Omniverse. Finally, Regular Show's theme is so simple it's perfect.
Another score that I still remember even after all these years is Max and Ruby, mostly because they reused the same tracks over and over. I think the jazz score works for the old-fashioned setting. Little Bear uses classical music for the score. Come to think of it, a lot of these older preschool shows had great scores.
i freaking love the fairly oddparents title card themes. i honestly wish they were full osts instead of being little jingles.
13:56 aww no mention of Crocker's iconic theme
Fully agree on South Park. The movie’s entire soundtrack is incredible not even just the songs they sing I love the sound that plays when the boys arrive at starks pond but under the 6 day schedule of reusing sound it’s so annoying. Especially when they use the same dramatic music in a scene where Randy is complaining about his toilet and another where Stan is desperately trying to fix his relationship with Wendy clearly one is a lot more comedic then the other but the music makes it seem like they are the same level of seriousness.
Kevin Manthei A.K.A the composer of Invader Zim blows my mind knowing the fact that he almost made every music of my childhood. He's made the Ultimate Spider-Man show and cartoons, Shrek 2: The Video Game, Johnny Test, Kung Fu Panda the Video Game, and Robot Chicken out of all things. This flew over my head as a child and I haven't noticed.
The amazing world of gumball music is definitely underrated
18:40 requiem of silence clears
i see those red credits and immediately tear up. suehiro kenichirou COOKED
I showed a friend The Bob's Burgers Movie maybe a week ago, and I've had Sunny Side Up Summer and Lucky Ducks stuck in my head since.
Idk if anime counts but I swear OST from Puella Magi Madoka Magica is truly top tier stuff. Absolutely amazing stuff!