LO1: Uses of Music

It’s clear to me that music can play many roles in film and animation. However, I need to research in to what those roles are and how I can replicate them. One of the most music-reliant animations that first comes to my mind is the kids cartoon Tom and Jerry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1O9Dj0GLos

In the video above (of which the uploader has unfortunately disallowed to be embedded on blogs and websites), most of the characters’ actions are represented by the music. For example, a lot of the running is represented by fast-playing string sections rather than the sound of footsteps. I looked online for more ways in which music can be used and examined the Tom and Jerry video to see if they were present in the video. I found one website with all sorts of examples (Robin Hoffman, 2015). I found that music can also be used to establish plot points in a narrative, represent time periods (which can be especially effective in flashback scenes), manipulate audience perceptions of characters and events, and create atmospheres. As well as representing movement, another key use of music that’s present in Tom and Jerry is to portray a character’s emotions and mental state. Whenever someone is feeling happy, scared, victorious or some form of pain the music is most often used to show it.

In my work, I hope that the music can be used to represent certain moods and actions during the chase scene. I want it to express tension when the cars are getting close to each other, further tension when the characters shoot at each other, and some form of release when the matter is resolved.

References

Robin Hoffman (2015) http://www.robin-hoffmann.com/tutorials/guide-to-working-with-a-film-composer/12-what-is-the-function-of-film-music/

Tom and Jerry (1945) [Primary observation] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1O9Dj0GLos