History Main / BootstrappedLeitmotif

* [[RobotMe Metal Sonic]] from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' has had a number of leitmotifs over the years, but more often than not he's associated with the Stardust Speedway BadFuture track from the Japanese and European soundtracks of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'', which wasn't even a boss-exclusive track[[note]][[BackgroundMusicOverride However, the Bad Future track plays in lieu of the boss music even if you achieved the Good Future.]][[/note]]. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4 Episode 2'', and ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' all use variants of it in their Metal Sonic fights, while ''VideoGame/SonicForces'' uses a variant of the American track.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' has a song called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3RiF2r3vTY "Theme of Samus Aran: Galactic Warrior"]] on the official soundtrack CD for ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid''... except that tune is better known as the music for Upper Crateria. Instead, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMvKDRCBQBM opening]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHQKEopBfN4 closing]] variants of that game's main theme have since [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo5JOpXnk5M combined and mutated]] into protagonist Samus Aran's leitmotif. Although this Bootstrapped Leitmotif has its roots in the 1994 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08LjZZTQELg Orchestral Game Music Concerts]], it was further cemented by the soundtracks of ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', which refer to the opening/closing theme as the Theme of Samus, stealing the name of her intended one in the process.

* A slowed down version of the Pollyanna theme was used as Ness' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcoFILRmugQ house music]] in ''VideoGame/EarthBound''. Not entirely recognizable at first, though. While not his official leitmotif, it's frequently associated with him.

** Original version: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7bkURxX15s Majin Buu's theme.]] It's actually the Super Saiyan theme variation for the Majin Buu saga (both the Frieza and Cell sagas have each its own variation of the theme), but it appears so many times during the Majin Buu saga as a BattleThemeMusic that it ended up associated with him instead of with the good guys. It's difficult to find anyone who doesn't think of Majin Buu when hearing it.
*** To a lesser extent, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OYC4ScZeic Frieza]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-gUfx5QEmA Cell's]] themes also apply. These are better in the sense that, at least, they're exclusive to that saga, but still fit here because they're not exclusive to Frieza and Cell respectively as they both originate from movies. The former being a battle rendition of Garlic Jr.'s leitmotif from Movie 01 and the latter originating as a battle cue from Movie 06.
*** The Saiyans' theme ended up being [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZMQObv7VEw Vegeta's theme,]] because he's by far the most important of the (evil) Saiyans, and the only one who survives. Although it appears whenever one of the evil Saiyans is on screen (it first appears with Raditz), after Raditz and Nappa die it can only appear with Vegeta on screen. It doesn't help that it's used much after than even the Namek saga.
*** Pretty much all the ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' characters' leitmotifs (except [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMPvHtWTdYM Gohan]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONyGzRnJyHI Piccolo,]] who have an official leitmotif) fall into this trope.
** English dub: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_S8KQwRveg Gohan's Super Saiyan theme.]] It's actually the Hyperbolic Time Chamber theme, as the first comment says, but everyone knows it either as "Gohan's Super Saiyan theme" or "Gohan's Super Saiyan 2 theme", because of the 5 seconds or so that can be heard when Gohan transforms to [=SSJ2=] for the first time. It doesn't help the fact that Gohan doesn't have an official Super Saiyan theme.
** English dub again: Inverted with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es9Fk6v5n-0 Ginyu Transformation]]. Introduced for Captain Ginyu's body-switching ability, it ended up being used for generally "epic" moments (Super Perfect Cell's death, Kid Buu blowing up Earth) long after Ginyu's death - all without changing its name.

** It's commonly thought that "Gourmet Race" from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' is Kirby's leitmotif due to its use on Kirby's stage in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros64''. However, his theme song is actually [[Level1MusicRepresents Green Greens]] from the first game as of ''Super Star Ultra'', as it plays when Kirby is on screen in most cutscenes, and [[BootstrappedTheme is more or less the theme to the entire series]] as well.

** His WWE theme in 2012 bootstrapped off Wrestling/DeanMalenko's theme from when he joined WWF in 2000. Which itself is a SerialNumbersFiledOff instrumental based on Music/GladysKnight's ''Film/LicenseToKill'' theme.

** His WWE theme in 2012 bootstrapped off Wrestling/DeanMalenko's theme from when he joined WWF in 2000.

** In ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'', a remix of the "Lower Brinstar" theme from ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' plays during Quiet Robe's exposition scene, as well as when Quiet Robe's [[spoiler:X Parasite copy sacrifices itself to Samus]]. This theme predates Quiet Robe by over two decades and is otherwise unassociated with the Chozo, making it a somewhat unexpected choice of leitmotif for this character.

** The second boss theme, played during the Kraid, Crocomire, and Phantoon fights, has essentially become Kraid's theme, though this is more an unintentional example, since Kraid was the only one of the three to ever show up in another game [[spoiler:until Phantoon's BonusBoss appearance in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' - and even then, he just reuses the Metroid Queen's boss music]].

*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA29a5UoqAY Blackbosom's theme song]] is based off of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv4sq8Ri-A4 'My Soul to Keep']], which was originally for Lady Amandine in Haukke Manor. It was reused for Tam-Tara (Hard) in which Blackbosom makes an appearance and has been associated with her since.

*** “Stone and Steel” is the BigDamnHeroes version of the main theme of the Heavensward expansion. Estinien Wyrmblood was a major character in Heavensward who became a fan favourite. In the patches after Heavensward, “Stone and Steel” effectively becomes Estinien’s theme and plays whenever he shows up to do something badass.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA29a5UoqAY Blackbosom's theme song]] is based off of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv4sq8Ri-A4 'My Soul to Keep']], which was originally for Lady Amandine in Haukke Manor. It was reused for Tam-Tara (Hard) in which Blackbosom makes an appearance and has been associated with her since.
*** Later on, Zenos yae Galvus often appears in cutscenes to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4MwU9gtZAA "Meteor"]] which was originally used as Nael van Darnus's theme.

* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' has a shuffling soundtrack of pop, rap, and rock music, and not much in the way of character themes. That didn't stop fan-favorite LargeHam Sho Minamimoto from being associated with the hard rock song ''Transformation.'' His boss fight was originally set to ''Someday,'' but all future ports of the game changed his boss theme to ''Transformation,'' and a remix of the track plays when he makes his dramatic entrance in [[VideoGame/NEOTheWorldEndsWithYou the sequel.]]

** Sans has his own {{Leitmotif}} named after himself, and has a remix of the song named "Song That Might Play When You Fight Sans". ([[NonindicativeName It does not actually play when you fight Sans.]]) However, the song most people associate him with is [[spoiler: his actual boss theme, "MEGALOVANIA".]]

* [[RobotMe Metal Sonic]] from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' has had a number of leitmotifs over the years, but more often than not he's associated with the Stardust Speedway BadFuture track from the Japanese and European soundtracks of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD'', which wasn't even a boss-exclusive track. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4 Episode 2'', and ''VideoGame/SonicMania'' all use variants of it in their Metal Sonic fights, while ''VideoGame/SonicForces'' uses a variant of the American track.

** The melody of "Ghost Fight" is actually more associated with perennial EnsembleDarkhorse [[CuteMonsterGirl Muffet]] than any of the actual ghost characters.[[note]]The leitmotif ''is'' used in her battle theme, and it seems to have been intended as a general mini-boss theme. That said, the anniversary concert specifically features "Spider Dance" over "Ghost Fight" or "Dummy!", which can be seen as an acknowledgement that it's viewed specifically as Muffet's theme song.[[/note]]

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' series, "Theme of Adol" and its variations is implied to be the titular hero's leitmotif, although it never seems to be directly connected with him in-game.

** "Area A" from ''Puyo Puyo Tsu'' became Carbuncle's theme as of ''Puyo Puyo Fever''.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rV40ypje7o Those Chosen by the Planet]]" is Sephiroth's {{leitmotif}}. However, his FinalBattle theme, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7wJ8pE2qKU One Winged Angel]]" (which, in fairness, is partially a remix of "Those Chosen by the Planet"), has mutated into his theme song in the minds of the fandom and, as a consequence, the compilation. ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' goes even further in cementing it by using "One Winged Angel" in his reveal trailer.

* ''[[VideoGame/StarFox Star Fox]]'' defines this trope, as the theme that is known to represent his character in both the ''Super Smash Bros.'' titles and the later games in the ''Star Fox'' series was originally taken from the opening cutscene in ''VideoGame/StarFox64''.
** After this theme appeared in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' as his stage theme, it was immediately adopted as the new leitmotif for Fox and his games starting with ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'', ignoring any previously established motifs in ''[[VideoGame/StarFox1 Star Fox]]'' (SNES) and ''Star Fox 64''.

** ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' continued the trend with Venom's Stage [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqe3XMO9tEo theme]]. Even though Venom had an entirely different theme in all previous titles (one of which, ironically, was used for Corneria, the other Star Fox stage in the same game), the theme has become so synonymous with the ''Star Fox'' series that it couldn't be helped.
** The original ''VideoGame/StarFox'' Corneria theme is also very popular, though it took ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' three games to finally implement the theme into ''Brawl''[='s=] soundtrack.

* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'' got the theme "''Eternal Bond''" as the Greil Mercenaries' charging theme, but in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' it was renamed "''Ike's Theme''", and now is remembered as such. To be fair, it was also used in a character {{Leitmotif}} fashion in several scenes.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', while there are close to 250 distinct stage themes available, each character has one specific stage theme that always plays over the credits after beating Classic Mode. Each unlockable character also has a specific theme that plays during the fight to unlock them. Sometimes these are the same ([[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Luigi]] gets "''[[VideoGame/LuigisMansion Luigi's Mansion]]'' Theme" for both), and sometimes they are different ([[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Ganondorf]] gets "Gerudo Valley" from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' for his credits music and "Hidden Mountain & Forest" from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]'' for his unlocking match). In most cases, however, these tracks are more relevant to the ''games'' the characters came from than the characters themselves.

* An inversion of this trope occurs in the ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia''. In ''Shadow Dragon'', the track entitled "The Proud Commander" was the Leitmotif for Camus and Michalis. In ''New Mystery'', it's used as background music for pretty much any boss or character of vaguely high status.

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'', a character's {{Leitmotif}} usually ends up being the music from their boss fight, but this trope happens a few times. Hong Meiling, Alice Margatroid and Youmu Konpaku all get their stage themes as {{Leitmotif}}s (along with their boss themes); Suika Ibuki gets her pre-battle theme (again, along with her boss theme). Also, midbosses (Daiyousei, Koakuma, Lily White etc.) usually don't have their own leitmotifs, so they tend to get associated with the theme of the stage they appear in.

* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei''

** ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} [[UpdatedRerelease FES]]''' ''The Answer'' epilogue stars {{deuteragonist}} Aigis in the playable role. "Heartful Cry", the boss theme for [[spoiler:the fights against the rest of the party]], has become associated with her since, with remixes serving as her character theme in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4 Arena}}'' and one of her dance routines in ''VideoGame/Persona3DancingInMoonlight''.
** In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4 Arena}}'', [[TheHero Yu]] gets a remix of "Reach Out to the Truth", the normal battle theme from ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', as his character theme.

* ''Franchise/AceAttorney:''

[[folder:Web Comics]]

*** Later on, Zenos yae Galvus often appears in cutscenes to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4MwU9gtZAA "Meteor"]] which was oringally used as Nael van Darnus's theme.

* 8 The song called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3RiF2r3vTY "Theme of Samus Aran: Galactic Warrior"]] in ''[[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Super Metroid]]'', is now probably better known as the music for Upper Crateria. Instead, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMvKDRCBQBM main theme of Super Metroid itself]] has since mutated into Samus' leitmotif, as well as the theme tune for the 2D ''Metroid'' games as a whole. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHmGBQiSTv0 This video]] gives a good background on the history of the song.
** The Lower Crateria theme had a similar fate. The first time it cues in the game is when Samus returns from her brief visit to Brinstar and is suddenly faced with Space Pirates that weren't there before. Thanks to this, as well as remixes in ''[[VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission Zero Mission]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption Corruption]]'', the theme is now associated with Space Pirate bases in general.

* The song called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3RiF2r3vTY "Theme of Samus Aran: Galactic Warrior"]] in ''[[VideoGame/{{Metroid}} Super Metroid]]'' originally, is now probably better known as the music for Upper Crateria. Instead, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMvKDRCBQBM main theme of Super Metroid itself]] has since mutated into Samus' own character theme. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHmGBQiSTv0 This video]] gives a good background on the history of the song.

* The Music/SiIvaGunner music channel does this for many characters featured in their MassiveMultiplayerCrossover story-based videos. Said characters are chosen to represent songs frequently referenced in the non-story videos, for example "We Are Number One" from ''Series/LazyTown'' has been remixed several times, with Robbie Rotten being the representing character. In that case the character choice makes sense as he sung that song, but some cases can be stranger, like "Snow halation" from ''Anime/LoveLive'' which is represented by the character Nozomi even though ''Love Live!'' canonically associates it with Honoka. The oddest one is probably a ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' song being represented by WesternAnimation/FelixTheCat because he happened to be featured in a remix of it.