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1This is the musical equivalent of a TitleDrop; when the Title Screen theme for a game is played in a certain context within the game or show itself. This tends to lend significance to these scenes in a fashion similar to that of a TitleDrop.
2
3When the theme in question is a remix or re-used melody, this trope overlaps with {{Leitmotif}} or RecurringRiff.
4
5Also compare DiegeticSoundtrackUsage, where the tune makes an appearance in-universe. In fact, compare very carefully, because it is very easy to confuse these two tropes and they often have overlap.
6
7This is typically a video game trope, but it may also appear in other media. LastEpisodeThemeReprise is a SubTrope of this. This trope may be combined with ThemeMusicPowerUp.
8
9Please note that games will be listed first, followed by all other media.
10----
11!Examples:
12
13[[foldercontrol]]
14
15!!Video Games:
16
17[[folder:Action-Adventure]]
18* ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'': The main title song is remixed for the epilogue theme entitled "Someday".
19* In ''VideoGame/CaveStory'', the title music plays in an area toward the end of the game (the plantation), just before you ascend to fight the BigBad.
20* In ''VideoGame/ShounenKinindenTsumuji'', a remix of the title screen starts up when the final segment against the FinalBoss begins.
21[[/folder]]
22
23[[folder:Adventure Games]]
24* In ''VideoGame/SevenDaysASkeptic'', the title theme returns at the start of the final day, where you are [[spoiler:hiding in the maintenance shaft, the rest of the crew murdered save for the ship's doctor who on the previous day was all set to butcher you for body parts]]. It continues to play over [[spoiler:the ensuing conversation between you and William]], echoing the opening segment of the game.
25[[/folder]]
26
27[[folder:Beat'Em Up]]
28* All of the video games based on ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' are full of this, ranging from occasional quoting of the "heroes in a half-shell" riff to remixing the entire theme song.
29[[/folder]]
30
31[[folder:Fighting Games]]
32* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'':
33** ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' is particularly of note due to its theme (which contains Latin lyrics) being used for half of the game's original songs that weren't from other games. The ''Brawl'' theme also plays at the end of the game and also displays the translated lyrics as it does so. Additionally, the actual theme plays [[spoiler:during the cutscene where the Subspace Gunship is destroyed.]]
34** In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', the main theme is used during the FinalBattle when the player is making their ascent to the last area.
35* ''Franchise/{{Touhou|Project}}'' :
36** The fighting games use this even more often than the main shoot-em-ups. The new title melody is used in the final battle intro in ''Immaterial and Missing Power'' and in all battle intros in ''Scarlet Weather Rhapsody'' and in both in ''Hopeless Masquerade'', and all three in ''Unthinkable Natural Law'' are remixes of [[PlayingWithATrope different parts of its title theme]].
37** The [[PlayingWithATrope credits themes]] rather than the endings as in the main series are also remixes of the title themes, though in its [[PlayingWithATrope usual offbeat manner]], ''Unthinkable Natural Law'' uses a part of its title theme not used in any battle intro theme.
38* ''VideoGame/KirbyFightersDeluxe'' uses the title theme (a remix of ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'''s boss theme) during King Dedede's return to final boss glory on Easy, Normal or Hard difficulties.
39[[/folder]]
40
41[[folder:First-Person Shooter]]
42* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'':
43** In ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'', the final boss plays a fast remix of the title theme. These are also the only two places you ever get to hear the main Metroid theme in the game.
44** In ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'', the title theme appears fleetingly as the intro for the [[spoiler:Mutated Emperor Ing]]'s theme.
45[[/folder]]
46
47[[folder:Hack and Slash]]
48* An inverse example in ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'', in that every sequel between 3 and 7 uses a remix of resident MemeticBadass Lu Bu's theme over the opening movie, even if he never appears in it. Meanwhile, 7 only half breaks the combo; the opening them "Crush 'Em All" makes a cameo in the [=BGM=] of the ultimate stage.
49[[/folder]]
50
51[[folder:Miscellaneous Games]]
52* In David Crane's ''VideoGame/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}'', Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" theme song plays throughout the game. The title screen in most versions has a FollowTheBouncingBall sequence displaying the lyrics of the song while it plays.
53* The title screen theme song of ''VideoGame/{{Kuukiyomi}}'' reappears in a slower C Major version in the 99th situation of ''Kuukiyomi 3: Consider It More and More!! - Father To Son'', where the player protagonist "You" (who has become a wife), her husband and her son gather together watching the pictures about them from the picture book.
54[[/folder]]
55
56[[folder:Platform Games]]
57* ''VideoGame/CosmosCosmicAdventure'': The game's title screen theme is actually Tush by ZZ Top, and is also played on level 10 of the first episode.
58* ''VideoGame/LaMulana'' plays its title screen theme [[spoiler: in the hub village]] when the last Guardian has been defeated and the way to the final battle is open.
59* ''Franchise/MegaMan'':
60** The ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' [[GameMod ROM hack]] ''VideoGame/RockmanNoConstancy'' uses its title screen theme for the final stage.
61** In the actual ''VideoGame/MegaManII'' for the Platform/GameBoy, the title song plays during the final stage too.
62* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': Many of the games starting from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' have had either their title screen music or main vocal theme (or at least an arrangement of one of the two) play during the FinalBoss battle.
63** ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' plays "Open Your Heart" during the first phase of the Perfect Chaos fight.
64** ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' plays an instrumental version of "Live and Learn" when Sonic and Shadow use the seven Chaos Emeralds to transform into their {{Golden Super Mode}}s. The full song is played as the two fight The Finalhazard as it hurtles towards the Earth.
65** ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' has "I am...All of Me" play as Super Shadow fights the final boss, Devil Doom, in the Last Story mode.
66** In the Last Story mode of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', a OrchestralBombing/Rock remix of "His World," Sonic's theme song in the game, plays during the second phase of the Solaris fight.
67** ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' has two variants:
68*** Get an E-rank on a stage, and the title theme music is played...[[StylisticSuck very badly]]. It is hilarious.
69*** The final battle against Perfect Dark Gaia is set to another orchestral rock arrangement of the game's main theme, "Endless Possibilities".
70** ''VideoGame/SonicColors'':
71*** Both the home console and DS version are accompanied by an orchestral arrangement of "Reach for the Stars" during the second phase of the FinalBoss, the Nega Wisp Armor.
72*** The TrueFinalBoss in the DS version, after collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds, is set to a chiptune remix of "Reach for the Stars."
73** ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'':
74*** The final Titan in the game, [[spoiler:SUPREME]], is fought to the instrumental and later full version of the game's main theme, "I'm Here."
75*** In the Final Horizon update's ''Another Story'' campaign, [[spoiler:the same fight above occurs with SUPREME, only for THE END to take control of it. This begins another two phase final battle against SUPREME/THE END, with the first phase using an orchestral arrangement of "I'm Here," and the second phase being "I'm Here - Revisted", where Kellin Quinn sings the vocals and the instrumentation is a power rock remix that brings the original theme closer to the other Titan themes used for GIGANTO, WYVERN, and KNIGHT]].
76** In the final level of ''VideoGame/SonicDreamTeam'', [[spoiler:Nightmare Eggman attacks the heroes, preventing them from reaching the Dream Core. Sonic, undeterred, starts running one final time up the nightmarish doctor's form, all while ''Dream Team'''s opening theme plays in the background as he ascends]].
77** Most of the early games used their title screen themes as their invincibility themes.
78* ''VideoGame/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile'' has its world map theme dropped during the final cutscene. [[spoiler:It's the Song Of Rebirth.]]
79* In the first ''VideoGame/SpyroTheDragon1998'' game, the theme tune was remixed into several different songs that played throughout four or five different levels.
80* In ''VideoGame/SmurfRescueInGargamelsCastle'' for the Platform/{{Atari 2600}}, ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981'' theme tune plays when you first turn on the game and right when your game ends.
81* Infogrames' ''VideoGame/TheSmurfs1994'' uses the theme tune as part of its soundtrack in various levels of the game.
82* In ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'', the final boss theme, "Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection", is a mash up of the title theme "Bright Spinning Planet" and the [[spoiler: [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Galactic Nova Nucleus theme]]]].
83[[/folder]]
84
85[[folder:Role-Playing Games]]
86* Every ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' game has a version of the main theme in the last stage.
87* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
88** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', the theme heard on the "load game" screen shows up the first time an Aeon is summoned.
89** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyMysticQuest'' plays the title screen music after you defeat the final boss and the mysterious old man shows up. Appropriate when you consider those are the only two scenes in the game to show [[spoiler:the crystal of light]].
90** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', the BootstrappedTheme Prelude plays during the title screen and while at crystal rooms. In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'', this overlaps with {{Leitmotif}}.
91** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' has a big scene near the end boss where the ''actual'' theme Prologue plays.
92** Happens properly in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' once you reach Oeilvert.
93* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'':
94** The title theme plays when the player visits Arvahn and discovers the origin of the King of Shadows.
95** If installed, ''Mask of The Betrayer'' changes the title theme to one eventually played in the lead-up to its final battle.
96* In ''VideoGame/LiveALive'', the title theme plays for every normal battle in the final chapter.
97* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
98** In ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondPearlAndPlatinum'', a remix of the title screen music plays in the Hall of Origin.
99** In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', the Pokémon main theme plays when facing a Gym Leader's final Pokémon. [[spoiler:It also plays when the Gym Leaders confront Team Plasma in the ending of the main storyline.]]
100* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
101** ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' plays the haunting menu music as Shepard encounters [[VirtualGhost Vigil]], and learns how the Prothean's HeroicSacrifice allows a chance to stop the Reapers.
102** Similarly in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. During the final stretch of gameplay before the final boss, [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic "Suicide Mission"]] blares.
103** And again in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', where the title theme "We Face Our Enemy Together" is the soundtrack for Shepard's final speech.
104* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' uses this device fairly often with its title theme, "Dearly Beloved", although it generally uses alternative arrangements such as "Friends in My Heart". The only cases where the title screen's arrangement is actually used is in ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Birth By Sleep]]''[='s=] ending, and in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance'' as the solution to a musical problem, which also makes it a DiegeticSoundtrackUsage.
105* The parody game ''VideoGame/BarkleyShutUpAndJamGaiden'' uses its title theme for the first phase of the final battle.
106* ''VideoGame/LastScenario'' uses its title theme as the BGM for [[spoiler:[[DiscOneFinalDungeon the Temple of Gaia]]]] (and some time before in the lecture room of the Geo-Science Station).
107* This is done during pivotal (usually uplifting) moments in ''VideoGame/TheReconstruction'', often as a ThemeMusicPowerup of sorts.
108* Interestingly, though ''VideoGame/{{MARDEK}}'' never does this directly, ''quoting'' the main theme in individual pieces is very common.
109* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'':
110** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter2004'': "Testament of a Hero" plays when the last stage of the [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Lao-Shan Lung]] battle is reached, which is coincidentally the only place where you [[PlotArmor can actually kill the thing]]. Same thing with the Ashen subspecies in ''Monster Hunter G'' and ''Freedom''.
111** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter2Dos'': When [[GiantEnemyCrab Shen Gaoren]] reaches the final area of the same place where Lao-Shan Lung is fought, the main theme of the game plays.
112** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri'': "Testament of a Hero" plays after you hit the Jhen Mohran with a Dragonator in the second phase. The same applies to Hallowed Jhen Mohran in ''3 Ultimate''.
113** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter4'': "Testament of a Hero" plays when the Dragonator hits Dah'ren Mohran for th first time in battle, and also plays in ''4 Ultimate'' when landing a successful Demolisher hit on Gogmazios in the second phase of the battle.
114** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterGenerations Ultimate'': In addition to playing when landing a hit with the Dragonator onto Lao-Shan Lung as usual, "Testament of a Hero" also plays during the final phase of the battle against Ahtal-Ka, after its HumongousMecha is dismantled for good.
115* ''VideoGame/StellaGlow'': An extended version of the game's anime opening theme is played during the TrueFinalBoss battle against [[spoiler:Cartesia, in the unlockable path to the GoldenEnding]].
116* ''VideoGame/TalesOf''
117** In ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' the title theme plays when [[spoiler:you heal the dying tree Yggdrasil in the past, preventing it from being dead in the present/future and allowing you to use magic in the rest of the game]].
118** It's common in the series for a remix of the game's main theme to be used during pivotal scenes or important fights. Example include the one-on-one rival fight in ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' and the final boss in ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2''.
119* "Nerevar Rising", the main theme of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'', is also one of the tracks that plays when you're exploring Vvardenfell.
120[[/folder]]
121
122[[folder:Shoot 'Em Up]]
123* The ''Franchise/{{Touhou|Project}}'' doujin game ''[=MegaMari=]'' uses its title screen theme for the final battle.
124** The main series itself has its title theme in the ending themes for ''Embodiment of Scarlet Devil'', ''Imperishable Night'', ''Undefined Fantastic Object'' and ''Ten Desires''.
125*** It's also used in the Bamboo Forest of the Lost in ''Imperishable Night'', based off the version from that game's title screen.
126*** When the player returns to the forest in ''Double Dealing Character'', an all-new version plays.
127*** That theme is ''not'', as many think, a remix of an unused track from ''Highly Responsive to Prayers''. It was not in the game, even unused, and was remixed from the ''Imperishable Night'' version as a bonus track for the remixed ''Akyu's Untouched Score''.
128*** However, there ''is'' an actual unused track in ''[=HRtP=]'' that didn't make it into Akyu's Untouched Score: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdCsWBMHqfU Shrine of the Wind]].
129** Some games have an additional unique melody added to their title themes, and the one in ''Mountain of Faith'' was used in its ending in place of the main theme, as was that in ''Double Dealing Character'' in the [[PlayingWithATrope credits]].
130** The pause jingle in all the Windows era danmaku games is also a very fast version of rendition of Theme of Eastern Story.
131* ''VideoGame/{{Recca}}''[='=]s Hard Mode Area 7 music is the title theme.
132* The unreleased arcade game ''VideoGame/ChimeraBeast'' had the title theme as the ''final boss'' theme. Justified, as the final boss is a larger, meaner version of your [[HordeOfAlienLocusts eater]] [[VillainProtagonist character]].
133* ''VideoGame/TwistedMetalBlack'' drops the first few notes of "Paint it Black" in the Prison level's ambient (non-battle) music track.
134* The title theme of ''VideoGame/ZombiesAteMyNeighbors'' can also be heard in a few stages.
135[[/folder]]
136
137[[folder:Simulation Games]]
138* The ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' games tend to play their intro theme right during the climactic battle.
139[[/folder]]
140
141[[folder:Stealth-Based Games]]
142* In a bizarre example, Snake Eater, the Title Theme for ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'', randomly starts playing when the player ascends a particularly long ladder. It's also played straight - a slightly rearranged version plays during the final boss fight. When it ends, it's game over.
143[[/folder]]
144
145[[folder:Survival Horror]]
146* ''VideoGame/SCPSecretLaboratory'' starts playing its title theme, "The Final Flash of Existence", 30 seconds before the Decontamination Process begins, killing everyone in the Light Containment Zone and rendering it inaccessible for the rest of the round.
147[[/folder]]
148
149[[folder:Turn-Based Strategy]]
150* In the final scenario of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsCompact'', Fight for Tomorrow, the music for the title screen, is the BGM.
151* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', the finale chapter [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig Zags]] this. The music is called Id ~Purpose~, meaning it's a variant of Robin's theme. The fact that it starts playing after [[spoiler:Naga heals and blesses the party]] means this counts as a ThemeMusicPowerUp. It counts as this trope because a variant of Id is what plays on the Main Menu, when selecting a new game and such (which can make any time Id or one of its variants appears a TitleThemeDrop, most notably with the variant exclusive to the bosses in the future past DLC). It sounds the furthest removed from Id (for reasons such as having latin lyrics), however, and you might need the name to tip you off that yes, this is Robin's theme, so it might be a [[SubvertedTrope Subversion.]] But if you let the song go on long enough, you'll begin to easily recognize the music, though not as Id, but rather the theme of the entire series that's always used on the title theme. This also counts it as DiegeticSoundtrackUsage, especially since there's no trace of it being based on Awakening's particular version of the title theme, but rather the more common version across the series. The lyrics are also the same ones that were made up for ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''.
152[[/folder]]
153
154[[folder:Visual Novels]]
155* In ''VisualNovel/{{Ever17}}'', "Karma" (the menu music) plays during most tear-jerking moments and {{Downer Ending}}s.
156** Same for ''VisualNovel/{{Remember11}}''. A version of main theme/menu music "All or None" plays during most bad ends.
157* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', "Into the Night" starts playing during the boss battle in ''Fate'' route, and also during the [[IKnowYouAreInThereSomewhereFight final encounter]] with [[spoiler:Dark Sakura]] in ''Heaven's Feel''.
158* In ''VisualNovel/LifesignsSurgicalUnit'', the main theme plays over the ending of the first episode if the player manages to TakeAThirdOption during the episode's climax. It's also remixed into the ending themes.
159[[/folder]]
160
161!!Non-video game examples:
162
163[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
164* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' plays "Sorairo Days" on two key moments: first [[spoiler:during Simon and Nia's return after their battle against Lordgenome]], and second [[spoiler:during the final moments of the battle with the Anti-Spiral King]].
165* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' plays a couple of lines remixed from its opening theme near the end of the first season [[spoiler:When the major is captive during a body transfer, and the Laughing Man transfers his memories to her]].
166* ''Anime/FinalFantasyUnlimited'' did this with both its opening theme and its closing theme. In an interesting twist, "Vivid" the closing theme for Episodes 1-13 was featured in Episode 15. "Over the Fantasy," the opening theme was played during a montage, with additional lyrics not heard when it was played in the show's opening sequence.
167* [[AutobotsRockOut JOINT]], the first opening of season 2 of ''Literature/ShakuganNoShana'', makes a return in the battle against [[ImplacableMan Sabrac]] towards the end of the season.
168* ''Manga/TheWorldGodOnlyKnows'' used the opening theme heavily in episodes 11 and 12 as BackgroundMusic to drive home how similar [[spoiler:Shiori]] is to the main character (who the song appears to be about).
169* The final episode of ''Literature/{{Slayers}} Evolution-R'' uses "Give a Reason" (the OP song from earlier series ''Slayers NEXT'') as BackgroundMusic during the [[spoiler:battle against Shabranigdu]].
170* ''Anime/SailorMoon'':
171** During the final battle against Queen Beryl in the last episode of the Dark Kingdom arc, the main theme, "Moonlight Densetsu" plays.
172** Excerpts of the ending themes often turn up - for example, in the R series a slowed-down instrumental excerpt from "Otome No Policy" often appeared as BackgroundMusic (albeit in E major rather than Eb major).
173** In the very last episode, "Sailor Star Song", the theme for the season, plays during the final battle
174%% Needs Context * This occurs many times in ''Manga/FruitsBasket'', especially during sad moments.
175%% Needs Context * Happens in episode 13 of ''Manga/WeddingPeach''.
176* The opening theme of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', "Innocent Starter", receives a NostalgicMusicBox remix that appears in ''TheMovie First'' remake. It serves as BackgroundMusic for the quiet moment after Nanoha and Fate's second battle, where Nanoha finally resolves to reach out to Fate and find out why her eyes seem so lonely while Fate prepares to meet [[AbusiveParents her mother]]. A violin cover of the ending theme, "Little Wish", also plays when Nanoha and Fate exchange their hair ribbons and say goodbye at the end of the movie.
177%% Needs Context * Happens a lot in the ''Anime/PrettyCure'' series.
178* In ''Anime/SoundOfTheSky'', Rio gets absolutely plastered and sings an off-key rendition of the show's [[http://vimeo.com/40545218 theme song]].
179%% Needs Context * ''Manga/KimiNiTodoke'': In episodes 12 and 13.
180* ''Manga/DevilsAndRealist'': The theme song plays in the climax of episode 12.
181* In ''Manga/TheWorldIsStillBeautiful'', the opening theme plays in Episode 12 as the gang return to the Sun Kingdom... and it abruptly stops when they find out that the castle's overridden with women and Livius goes berserk at Bardouin.
182* ''Manga/OnePiece'' does this on several occasions:
183** The preview for every episode up to 508 uses the series' first opening, We Are. Every episode from then up until Wano uses an instrumental rendition of We Go, and the Wano arc uses a version of Over The Top.
184** In episode 152, when the Straw Hats ride the Knock Up stream into the sky, We Are plays.
185** After [[spoiler: Luffy finally gets Sanji back on the crew on Whole Cake Island]], the opening plays triumphantly as the episode comes to an end.
186** Luffy punches Kaido so hard at one point that We Are starts to play.
187* ''Manga/OnePunchMan'' has the title theme play towards the end of Saitama's fight with Boros.
188* Episode 11 of ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'' has a soft piano cover of the first season's ending theme playing when Kaguya starts going into depth about just how much of a StepfordSmiler she is in regards to her family life. The song proper is later played in full in the final episode of season 3 during the wrap up of the culture festival [[spoiler:as Kaguya and Shirogane share their FirstKiss]].
189* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' does this in several moments during the course of the series. For example:
190** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency Battle Tendency]]'': In the final episode, the first OP for ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood Phantom Blood]]'' ("Sono Chi No Sadame") is used when Joseph Joestar manages to successfully defeat Kars. Specifically, the song begins from the second verse onwards.
191** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'': The OP for the first half of the season ("Stand Proud") appears twice in the installment, during the recap of the 'Tarot Arc' once the group makes it to Egypt; and played once more during a recap of the motives behind each of the heroes after they arrive at DIO's mansion.
192** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'': The epilogue is played off with the entirety of the final OP of that season, "Great Days". However, this version of the OP is done by '''every''' previous OP singer in the series up until that point.
193* In ''Manga/DontToyWithMeMissNagatoro'', a soft piano version of the opening song begins playing in Episode 11 when [[spoiler:Senpai is reminiscing the tender moments that he and Nagatoro had throughout the series while he's chasing after her.]]
194[[/folder]]
195
196[[folder:Asian Animation]]
197* In ''Animation/{{Lamput}}'', the melody of what little there is of a theme song shows up as BackgroundMusic in a few episodes, usually at the end of the episode.
198[[/folder]]
199
200[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
201* The instrumental versions of the themes from ''Film/JamesBond'' movies ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzvbpcNtbD4 From Russia With Love]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzvbpcNtbD4 Goldfinger]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qi3Xy9KAgQ&feature=related Thunderball]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tz8Y0n1jAg You Only Live Twice]], Film/DiamondsAreForever, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiI-CTFBRKQ&feature=related Live and Let Die]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39i8dqlg7Mw&feature=related The Man with the Golden Gun]], The Spy Who Loved Me, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhrA3pmx6hk Moonraker]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAjJZRUnA74 For your eyes only]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kutZEuGZSlA Octopussy]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lawgufwcNRg A View To A Kill]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br0W1GVpS4Q The Living Daylights]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFZ-356jsC0&feature=related Tomorrow Never Dies]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bowNOuzJAWg The World Is Not Enough]],[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8BAUALunT8 Casino Royale]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4j3JYznRBI Quantum of Solace]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIOcVFnN358 Skyfall]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkRyn0JNTco Spectre]] can be listened during their films (just click on the movies' names to hear samples from the soundtrack).
202* In ''Film/StarTrekInsurrection'', Worf bats a pursuing robot drone out of the air with his out-of-charge phaser rifle. The music for that action is a phrase of the original Klingon theme from ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture''. It turns up in ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact'' as well, Jerry Goldsmith composed all three movies, and he used his Klingon theme as a leitmotif for Worf. He also composed ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'', though this theme may not have appeared in that film.
203* ''Film/StarTrek2009'' ends with a remix of the original series' theme.
204* The ''Film/SpeedRacer'' movie uses parts of the old show's theme tune throughout the movie. His ThemeMusicPowerUp was to the part that went "Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer, Go Speed Racer, Go!"
205* In the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' films ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'' and ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'' briefly feature the ominous Ark of the Covenant leitmotif from the first film, when the Ark is depicted in a crypt in ''Last Crusade'' and when we glimpse the Ark itself is shown briefly at the warehouse in ''Crystal Skull''.
206* In ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', when Elliot and ET go out on Halloween, ET(under a ghost sheet) is drawn to a child dressed as Yoda and says "Home! Home!" as a bit of Yoda's theme from ''Film/StarWarsTheEmpireStrikesBack'' plays. Both films were scored by John Williams.
207* In ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing'', the refrain of the credits song "Into the West" has the melody of the Grey Havens theme (which also plays as Gandalf and Pippin talk about what's after death, and as Sam carries Frodo.) In a similar vein, the credits song for ''Film/TheHobbitAnUnexpectedJourney'' is based on the Misty Mountains song sung by the Dwarves, which is also used as a leitmotif.
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211* ''Series/BreakingBad'' does this near the end of its penultimate episode, "Granite State", with the track "Dimple Pinch Neat" which starts out as something unrelated, but eventually transitions in the series' intro theme, becoming a ThemeMusicPowerUp for Walter. Notably, this is the only time said theme is actually heard inside an episode.
212* The main theme from ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' is used at the end of the Season 1 finale "Prophecy Girl", when Buffy, Angel and Xander are on their way to fight the villain. Probably doesn't qualify as a a {{Leitmotif}} because the theme isn't generally used in the show to signify any particular character or anything else.
213* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
214** The memorable incidental music over [[Creator/TomBaker the Fourth Doctor's]] [[Recap/DoctorWhoS18E7Logopolis death and regeneration]]. It started out descending and began gently rising before sliding into the iconic three-note signature of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' theme tune just as [[Creator/PeterDavison the Fifth Doctor]] sat up, leading into the sting and the theme proper over the closing credits. When the scene was reprised as the cold open to Davison's [[Recap/DoctorWhoS19E1Castrovalva first story]] at the start of the next series, this time the title theme drop led directly into the opening titles.
215** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS37E1TheWomanWhoFellToEarth "The Woman Who Fell to Earth"]], as a stylistic choice, doesn't use the title sequence, becoming only the second ever episode to do so. When the Thirteenth Doctor finally makes her entrance roughly 15 minutes in, falling through a train roof, a very brief snippet of the most recent version of the series' theme song is heard.
216* ''Series/HereComeTheBrides''' theme song, "Seattle," is occasionally worked into the soundtrack.
217%%* The finale of season four of ''Series/{{House}}'' played a cover of "Teardrop" by José González.
218* The incidental music during SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome near the end of most ''Series/InspectorRex'' episodes (at least in the first series) incorporates the piano motive from the theme song (this is separate from the end credits, which also use the title theme).
219* ''Series/KamenRider'' tend to pull this sort of thing from time to time. The most memorable would be ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'', which played the main theme ''four'' times. One when Double and Accel take on the Weather Dopant, another when [[spoiler:Shotaro faces the Utopia Dopant all by himself]], another in the finale [[spoiler:when Shotaro and Phillip fight together once again]], and finally in TheMovie, when [[spoiler:Double becomes Cyclone Joker Gold Xtreme and defeats Kamen Rider Eternal]].
220* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' does this quite often when the MonsterOfTheWeek is defeated, especially the [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers original Power Ranger series]].
221* ''Series/PrettyGuardianSailorMoon'' played an instrumental version of the theme tune during certain important battles, and the full version with vocals for ''really'' important ones (and notable transformations).
222* Used to great effect in ''Series/{{Rome}}'', when [[HeteroSexualLifePartners Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo]] [[spoiler: rescue Lucius' children from slavery]]. While it's a great moment in itself, the music launches it into SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome territory.
223* ''Series/RosieAndJim'': When John visits Tewkesbury Abbey and hears the organ being played, the Rosie and Jim theme tune is played as he leaves.
224* In every ''Franchise/StarTrek'' spin-off finale, a version of the show's theme plays at the end of the last episode over a shot of the show's ship (or station in the case of Deep Space Nine). The kind-of exception to this rule is Enterprise, which uses the show's ending credits theme instead of its opening, and also features Next Generation's theme. Voyager and Next Generation both feature a variation on their theme in their pilot episodes.
225* ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' reverses this trope with a twist of DiegeticSwitch. The theme music for the series is based on a melody that was played diegetically (albeit only in Picard's mind) 28 years previously in the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E25TheInnerLight The Inner Light]]." Although the episode's plot isn't linked directly to ''Star Trek: Picard'', it was one of Captain Picard's most unforgettable episodes.
226* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' is more fond of this. Some memorable examples include:
227** ''Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'' pulled this in the very first episode. The song plays and instead of the usual opening, it's Shinkenred fighting the Nanashi as the theme music plays. Go-Busters also pulls this off.
228** ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' does a variation. During a tribute episode, whenever they transform into the focused team, said teams theme music played. There are only three times when this wasn't done, and the reasons are to avert MoodWhiplash and because of popularity over the actual opening, respectively.
229** ''Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger'' had this be a plot point. Throughout the series, there is something called "Earth's Melody" that the hero and his father hear. In the end, the cast sans said hero sing it. No points for guessing what the melody is.
230* In the pilot for ''Series/TwinPeaks'', the theme song is played by a band performing at the Road House.
231* ''Series/TheWubbulousWorldOfDrSeuss'': Both of the show's theme songs have one.
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235* The AttractMode theme for ''Pinball/{{Monopoly}}'' also plays during multiball.
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238[[folder:Theatre]]
239* In ''Theatre/PorgyAndBess'', the opening bars of the prelude reappear as Porgy's entrance music in the first and last scenes.
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242[[folder:Western Animation]]
243* In the ''WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatiansTheSeries'' episode, "Mall Pups", the main theme plays (without the singing) when the pups are running away from Lt. Pug in the mall.
244* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
245** The title theme from gets dropped during the show when something epic happens -- usually Aang going into the Avatar state.
246** As for Aang, so for the Avatar period. It is used for e.g when Roku bends all four elements during The Avatar and the Fire Lord, when it looks impressive ''anyway'' but in context is even more effective. The whole episode covers his history with Sozin, and so all that led to the opening monologue to which the theme belongs (which also has Roku bending all four elements).
247* ''WesternAnimation/{{Babar}}'' regularly used both its opening and closing themes as BackgroundMusic.
248* The closing lyrics of ''WesternAnimation/ElenaOfAvalor'''s final song, "My Guiding Light", uses the ''"Elena, Elena"'' chant from the theme song.
249* Happens... fairly regularly in some variation on ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends''. Its soundtrack on ''VideoGame/CartoonNetworkPunchTimeExplosion'' meanwhile, '''is''' this.
250%%* ''WesternAnimation/GarfieldAndFriends'' does this in every episode.
251* ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'' does this '''all the time''', with the main riff being remixed and played in various ways to fit the goings on of the show. At one point, Rex learns that he played the accordion [[spoiler:pre-Nanite Event]]. Cue the theme song--on an accordion!
252* ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'' occasionally uses its theme song in chase scenes.
253* In the first episode (and pilot) of ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'', the theme song plays as the kids are working together to break T.J. out of detention.
254* In ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', the theme song can often be heard in the BackgroundMusic, sometimes in clever ways (such as just using the basic chords).
255* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': In "King's Tide", the main theme of the series can be heard twice in the episode; once at the start of [[spoiler:Luz and Belos' fight]], and again when [[spoiler:the kids are escaping through the portal]] (the latter song is even appropriately titled "If We're Gonna Play Owl House..." in the soundtrack).
256* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987'', the main action theme that played while the Turtles kicked butt is actually a countermelody to the title theme and is actually present in that song as a harmony line.
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