Line #79 Main/EstablishingCharacterMusic


1	When working in a visual medium (film, television, or video games), a creator must use every tool at their disposal, to tell their story. And when introducing a new character, there is often little time to establish who they are and what they are like, so music is often used to quickly flesh out their personality. Someone introduced with HeavyMetal is likely to seen as angry, even violent, while someone introduced with triumphant brass will be seen as heroic and mighty. If it's BadToTheBone, then the character's an all-out badass.
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3	This is all doubly so when the character is playing the music themselves.
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5	This is a sub-trope of EstablishingCharacterMoment. Compare to {{Leitmotif}} (when a character has a particular song associated with them) or AMFMCharacterization (when the audience learns about a character by their personal choice in music).
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7	Note: this trope ''only'' applies when music accompanies a character's introduction. However, introductory music can later be made into their LeitMotif by way of BootstrappedTheme.
8	----
9	!!Examples:
10	[[foldercontrol]]
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12	[[folder:Anime]]
13	* In ''Anime/OnePieceFilmGold'', Carina and Tesoro are introduced singing "Gold & Jive - Silver Ocean" in the opening.
14	[[/folder]]
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16	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
17	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie2TheSecondPart'', Rex Dangervest is introduced saving Emmet from a Glassteroid and helping him navigate through the Stairgate to Music/MotleyCrue's "Kickstart my Heart", establishing him as a hardcore dude that Emmet wishes to be like.
18	* In ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse'', Miles Morales is introduced listening and half-singing along to Music/PostMalone's "Sunflower", establishing him as your normal urban teenager.
19	* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', the tracks "Turning Red" and "Meilin Lee" serve as this for Mei establishing her dual nature as both a free spirit outside of her home and a dutiful daughter within it.
20	[[/folder]]
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22	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
23	* ''Film/CharliesAngels2000'': The Angels are shown in flashback to a different song - Natalie to "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Music/{{Wham}}, Alex to Music/TheFlyingLizards cover of "Money (That's What I Want)" and Dylan to "I Love Rock and Roll" by Music/JoanJett.
24	* ''Film/TenThingsIHateAboutYou'' establishes Kat quite well by having her pull up next to a bunch of peppy popular girls in a '60s beat-up Dodge Dart, ''glaring'', to the tune of Music/JoanJett's "Bad Reputation".
25	* The first time we see Marty [=McFly=] in ''Film/BackToTheFuture1'', he walks into Doc Brown's laboratory, plugs in his guitar, and begins shredding. This quickly establishes him as a laid back, average teenager.
26	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
27	** ''Film/ANewHope'':
28	*** Darth Vader is first seen on the ''Tantive IV'' accompanied by an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MftSEu4vgg0 ominous trumpet chord]] which, combined with his black, skull-like mask and helmet, marks him as the villain. Later when we first see Luke the main theme is heard briefly, marking him as TheHero.
29	*** When Luke Skywalker first appears on-screen (his deleted intro scene notwithstanding), a soft rendition of the ''Star Wars'' theme plays, since he's TheHero.
30	** ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'': The first time we see the Emperor in person we hear first a bombastic Imperial March as his forces are assembled in a grand spectacle as Vader kneels before his master, then as Palpatine descends his shuttle's ramp a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkp80PB4PkA low men's chorus]] takes over with a tune of quiet malice.
31	** ''Film/TheForceAwakens'': When Rey is first introduced we have about two minutes without dialogue of her just going through her routine while [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65As1V0vQDM her theme]] plays, a light feminine piece, but with an inner strength that gets more pronounced as it goes on.
32	* ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grq0rhtbtAw Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz]] is introduced with an electric guitar riff to cement his badassery.
33	* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': Judge [[DoomyDoomsOfDoom Doom]] is introduced accompanied by an [[ForDoomTheBellTolls ominous bell tone]] and a menacing [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm9t7b_lRHw&index=22&list=PL84DECB22100712A1 bassoon and bass violin]].
34	* In ''Film/AClockworkOrange'', Alex is introduced to a moog synthesiser version of ''Funeral Sentences and Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary''.
35	* In ''Film/TheGraduate'', Benjamin Braddock is introduced making his way to home to the strains of Music/SimonAndGarfunkel's "The Sounds of Silence".
36	* Film/JamesBond:
37	** In ''Film/DrNo'', 007's theme music goes hand-in-hand with his introduction and his catchphrase.
38	** In ''Film/{{Moonraker}}'', Hugo Drax is introduced playing Music/FredericChopin's Prelude No. 15 in D-flat major (op. 28), "Raindrop") on the piano.
39	** In ''Film/DieAnotherDay'', Gustav Graves is introduced parachuting out of a plane to receive his knighthood at Buckingham Palace to Music/TheClash's "London Calling".
40	* In ''Film/HardBoiled'', both main characters in introduced with jazz. Tequila plays a light song with a band on his clarinet, while Alan is introduced with a funkier song blaring as he drives a sports car.
41	* In ''Film/HotFuzz'', Sgt. Nicholas Angel is introduced via a montage set to "Goody Two Shoes" by Music/AdamAnt.
42	* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
43	** In ''Film/IronMan1'', Tony Stark's first scene is set to Back in Black by Music/{{ACDC}}.
44	** In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'', Peter Quill is introduced listening to "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone on his walkman, merrily dancing away and kicking lizards about.
45	* In ''Film/JackieBrown'', Jackie is introduced to "Across 100th Street" by Bobby Womack. The song also plays the film out.
46	* ''Film/LockStockAndTwoSmokingBarrels'':
47	** Big Chris is introduced to Music/JamesBrown's "The Payback", establishing him as a badass.
48	** The dealers are introduced to "Police and Thieves" by Junior Marvin, the joke being that they grow weed and listen to reggae.
49	* In ''Film/TheMatrix'', we're introduced to Neo asleep at his computer listening to "Dissolved Girl" by Music/MassiveAttack when Trinity contacts him.
50	* ''Film/NotAnotherTeenMovie'': Every Amanda Becker's arrival scenes are always accompanied by the opening of "Can't Fight This Feeling" by Music/REOSpeedwagon.
51	* ''Film/OnceUponATimeInTheWest'':
52	** Subverted with Harmonica's theme - he plays it during his first scene at the train station.
53	** Frank's theme plays in full during his introduction, the electric guitar building up to a sweeping orchestra.
54	** When Cheyenne appears in the trading post, his theme is quite sinister, giving the impression that he's the villain. When the true nature of his character is revealed, his theme is more laid-back throught.
55	* ''Film/PulpFiction'':
56	** We're introduced to Vincent and Jules on their way to Brett's place engaging in chit-chat set to Music/KoolAndTheGang's "Jungle Boogie".
57	** Butch and Marsellus are introduced to "Let's Stay Together" by Music/AlGreen.
58	** When Vincent goes to pick up Mia, "Son of a Preacher Man" by Music/DustySpringfield is playing in the house.
59	* In ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'', Tony Manero is memorably introduced strutting down the streets of New York to "Stayin' Alive" by Music/TheBeeGees.
60	* In ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'', John Connor is introduced blaring Music/GunsNRoses on his radio as he ignores his foster parents.
61	* ''Film/{{Trainspotting}}'' memorably opens with Renton and Spud being chased down the street by security guards to Music/IggyPop's "Lust for Life".
62	** Renton spots Diane to Sleeper's cover of Music/{{Blondie\|band}}'s "Atomic".
63	[[/folder]]
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65	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
66	* ''Series/Gladiators2024'': Each Gladiator has their own song, which is played for entrances and profile screens, but not for the challenges themselves. The song is actually listed in their profile screen text.
67	* The opening scene of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'''s "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS1E1EncounterAtFarpoint Enounter at Farpoint]]" has a soft rendering of the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' fanfare followed by soft, peaceful music that leads to our first look at [[TheCaptain Captain Jean-Luc Picard]]. He's quickly established as a more low-key hero than [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Captain James T. Kirk]].
68	* In ''Series/OurFriendsInTheNorth'', Geordie is introduced idly watching the slums being demolished as "The House of the Rising Sun" by Music/TheAnimals plays on the soundtrack.
69	* The pilot episode of ''Series/GilmoreGirls'' introduces Lorelai Gilmore with Music/TheLas "There She Goes," which helps to immediately establish her personality as ManicPixieDreamgirl crossed with TheGadfly.
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72	[[folder:Video Games]]
73	* When you first meet META in "Episode 2: Memory" of ''VideoGame/Code7'', the background music switches to the soundtrack of the same name, which is just as cheerful and mischievous as the [[CheerfulAI AI]] herself.
74	* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'': Azura, the songstress, is introduced when the player character hears someone singing and a cutscene shows Azura singing by the lake ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=torno-FT2h8 Seen toward the end here]]). The song itself, in addition to being her theme, proves to be a key plot point and has [[MagicMusic strange powers]] which become more apparent as time goes on.
75	* ''VideoGame/HypnospaceOutlaw'': The first thing you hear when you go onto Zane Lofton's page is an extremely loud nu-metal song called "Nothing Left For Me" by FakeBand Seepage, very well establishing that Zane is a teenage boy, as well as giving you an idea of his interests.
76	* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
77	** ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' features an unknown soldier in full armor as an OptionalBoss, who murmurs about his friends before fighting. All there really is to establish his character is his theme, "Rage Awakened," which captures his sense of injustice and establishes a connection to BigBad Xehanort by reprising one of his {{Leitmotif}}s.
78	** ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' features a fully cloaked OptionalBoss who's theme combines nearly all of Xehanort's {{Leitmotif}}s with no other context to identify him. He reappears in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance'' with the same theme working for Xehanort. [[spoiler: Turns out he's a younger Xehanort who's time traveling to unite his many incarnations, hence the reuse of all their themes.]]
79	* Ganondorf in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' is first introduced for real when Link encounters him after returning to Hyrule Castle and witnesses Impa and Zelda fleeing on horseback. The ominous theme that plays when they have their first confrontation (which is later played on an imposing pipe organ much later in the game) is quite expressive of his villainy.
80	* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
81	** ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'':
82	*** On Virmire right after finding the Prothean beacon there, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEc1OTFaWnI menacing sounding music]] starts playing as the party goes and converses with [[BigBad Sovereign]] for the first time.
83	*** Prior to speaking with [[FlingALightIntoTheFuture Vigil]], one of the final remnants of the Prothean race, we hear [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV1pPgpcAVw Vigil's Theme]], slow and subdued but hopeful sounding. It's also the first thing we hear when the game starts up.
84	** ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' opens with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBLOvSb56Vc The Illusive Man's Theme]], technologically produced and intriguing-sounding but with multi-layered textures that make it tricky to hear everything in it, as he and Miranda discuss the state of the galaxy and what they need to do to achieve their goals.
85	* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'': Each of the central characters is accompanied by music when you first meet them.
86	** Flowey is first presented with [[https://tobyfox.bandcamp.com/track/your-best-friend-2 a silly tune]] to make you believe he's only a silly character and better hide how psychotic he really is. [[spoiler:When he takes control of the game, he gets a high-pitched DroneOfDread to show how dangerous he became.]]
87	** When she saves you from Flowey, Toriel is accompanied by [[https://tobyfox.bandcamp.com/track/fallen-down-2 a calm, soothing melody]], helping establish her motherly, caring nature.
88	** Sans plays a prank on you and is accompanied by [[https://tobyfox.bandcamp.com/track/sans a music that is smooth and chill]], establishing his fun, laid-back personality.
89	** Papyrus is first seen berating his brother for being so lazy while bemoaning his own inability to catch humans. His leitmotif "[[https://tobyfox.bandcamp.com/track/nyeh-heh-heh-2 Nyeh Heh Heh!]]" plays while he is on screen. It's an upbeat, yet outlandish melody that helps define Papyrus as an incompetent but well-meaning guy.
90	** Undyne is first introduced to the player with [[https://tobyfox.bandcamp.com/track/undyne a low, ominous theme]] to suit her reputation as the ruthlessly efficient captain of the Royal Guard, out to kill all humans. However, when you meet her properly, everything is dead silent as she starts giving her speech... only to immediately forget what she was going to say, causing the game to cut to an ''extremely'' [[https://tobyfox.bandcamp.com/track/ngahhh bombastic song named after her shouting when she wants to fight you]], showing off her intensely HotBlooded nature and her total inability to hide it.
91	** Alphys is first introduced with [[https://tobyfox.bandcamp.com/track/alphys a chill but awkward tune]] which which ends on UncommonTime to define her as a friendly but painfully shy character.
92	** Mettaton is first introduced [[https://tobyfox.bandcamp.com/track/its-showtime a game show music]] to define his AffablyEvil personality. Then, when you're stuck in a fight with him, [[https://tobyfox.bandcamp.com/track/metal-crusher a more sinister theme]] plays to show you he can conciliate a show and his job as a KillerRobot.
93	[[/folder]]
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95	[[folder:Webcomics]]
96	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': "The Man In The Cairo Overcoat" is the first physical reveal of the GreaterScopeVillain Lord English. Accompanying his reveal is "[[https://youtu.be/6zMnNCDaKuE?feature=shared English]]", a slow, ominous piano piece that gradually becomes more complex, overwhelming and menacing in instrumentation. The main melody of the song is palindromic in nature, tying into Lord English's time manipulation powers, his [[TheOmnipotent omnipotence]] and the StableTimeLoop nature of his existence.
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99	[[folder:Web Original]]
100	* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': The trailers which introduced each member of Team RWBY made excellent use of music to help establish their characters.
101	** Ruby's song "Red Like Roses" sounds like it's played by a mariachi band, portraying Ruby as a fun-loving character, but the triumphant orchestral music underneath it demonstrates her heroic nature.
102	** Weiss's song "Mirror, Mirror" is a haunting orchestral piece, accompanied by Weiss' singing. This shows her inner struggle, as she tries to [[DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife figure out who she is meant to be in life]].
103	** Blake's song "From Shadows" alternates between a somber piano piece and heavy electronic music, showing her double nature and her melancholy outlook on life.
104	** Yang's song "I Burn" starts as a dance remix of the other girls' songs, before transitioning to a pounding synth beat. This demonstrates her devotion to her teammates and her BloodKnight tendencies.
105	[[/folder]]

Context Main / EstablishingCharacterMusic