Juxtaposition of music and scene\character.

[RepresentingWrath]

So we all know how in games, anime or movies they use the music that fits the scene or character, right? If the scene is sad, they use sad music. Slow, melancholic and so on. If the scene is happy we have upbeat tune. Sometimes however they use juxtaposition when the scene or the character don't really suit the music at the first glance. Usually it happens with something happy or brute-ish characters.

The examples of such juxtaposition. Guts' theme, while Guts is portrayed as a brute, Conan-like character, his theme is melancholic and calm. Gwyn from DS1 is the last boss of the game, we await an epic fight but what we get is plin-plin-plon, nothing but piano. Akuma from Street Fighter always had themes that do not necesserily fit an old guy who is overwhelemed with fury and killing intent. And so on. Those themes fit the character or a scene, but only once you learn more about the said character or watched the whole season before seeing this theme.

Countrary to those examples, Soul of Cinder from DS3 is the last boss of the main game, and before DLCs came out it was the last boss of the whole trilogy, so the theme is fittingly epic. Same for Slave Knight Gael from DS3 who is the last boss of the trilogy if we include DLCs. He is the last, the 'strongest' and thus his theme is Epic.

I hope you understand what I meant there and I can move on to my question. Do you know of any instances when they used upbeat song for a sad scene or tragic character? The only example I can think of is the song I Really Want to Stay at Your House from CP2077 Edgerunners(I know it is from the game first and foremost, shaddup). Even then, it's not AS upbeat.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I remember distinctly a movie where the character falls to their death and It's the hard knock life starts playing as they hit debris to the exact tune. Can't remember the movie name.

Also, mostly anytime Ichigo nearly dies tragically in bleach. Just gotta go out to upbeat gospel-like music, I guess.

 

[Mystic_Grasshopper]

Yeah there's a bunch of scenes like this. The most significant from anime recently that I recalled was

Spoiler: Jujutsu Kaisen

the playing of the opening "Specialz" for season 2 of Jujutsu kaisen, during the break down scene of the protagonist after witnessing the death and destruction caused by the main antagonist taking over his body.

There's probably more examples and some of them by nature are kind of tied to the fact the series is a dark comedy. Things I can think of in that category are the Amazing Digital Circus' first closing song when the realization of being stuck in a virtual world still comes with a weezer-like close. Or even the playing of Love story by taylor swift in The Bear, since it happens to a character, Richie, who represents old-school masculinity and who is generally considered downtrodden, tragic and still sort of an asshole at times.

 

[ShrimpShady]

There are probably moments like this in the MGS games.

I swear there was at least one in Peace Walker (the only one I played)

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I remember distinctly a movie where the character falls to their death and It's the hard knock life starts playing as they hit debris to the exact tune. Can't remember the movie name.

Also, mostly anytime Ichigo nearly dies tragically in bleach. Just gotta go out to upbeat gospel-like music, I guess.

I don't know about Ichigo. Call me a hater but I don't think Bleach had anything tragic in it, not when compared to other works. And even if there were tragic moments, they were not connected to Ichigo.

 

[Wenlock]

Yeah there's a bunch of scenes like this. The most significant from anime recently that I recalled was

Spoiler: Jujutsu Kaisen

the playing of the opening "Specialz" for season 2 of Jujutsu kaisen, during the break down scene of the protagonist after witnessing the death and destruction caused by the main antagonist taking over his body.

There's probably more examples and some of them by nature are kind of tied to the fact the series is a dark comedy. Things I can think of in that category are the Amazing Digital Circus' first closing song when the realization of being stuck in a virtual world still comes with a weezer-like close. Or even the playing of Love story by taylor swift in The Bear, since it happens to a character, Richie, who represents old-school masculinity and who is generally considered downtrodden, tragic and still sort of an asshole at times.

The JJK one. I was ready to feel his despair but I ended up laughing like a villain because of the song. That song made it look like we were watching Sukuna's pov instead of Yuji's. I still laugh when I think of that scene.

I don't know about Ichigo. Call me a hater but I don't think Bleach had anything tragic in it, not when compared to other works. And even if there were tragic moments, they were not connected to Ichigo.

Now that you mention, there really isn't much tragedy in Bleach. Yeah they get mauled but nothing emotional? Maybe a few character deaths and when Rukia gets jailed. Maybe I don't remember much.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Now that you mention, there really isn't much tragedy in Bleach. Yeah they get mauled but nothing emotional? Maybe a few character deaths and when Rukia gets jailed. Maybe I don't remember much.

I think there were a couple emotional moments, maybe something with Nemu and Quincy? But they all come from flashbacks and they are way too brief.

 

[Wenlock]

I think there were a couple emotional moments, maybe something with Nemu and Quincy? But they all come from flashbacks and they are way too brief.

Exactly! I don't feel that connected with flashbacks especially when it has nothing to do with Ichigo. It was just interesting. Nothing like other shounen like Naruto where that damn swing with the ost made me sad every 10 episodes.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I don't know about Ichigo. Call me a hater but I don't think Bleach had anything tragic in it, not when compared to other works. And even if there were tragic moments, they were not connected to Ichigo.

Fair

 

[Hoshino]

The ones I can think of is Neon Genesis Evangelion - Komm, süsser Tod, and Undertale - Megalovania in Genocide Route, nya.

 

[Zinless]

Ace Combat 4's Final Mission.

Your target is an enemy infrastructure, Megalith, their final/last resort of a weapon. Despite your opponent being just a building, the song is painting it as if you're fighting against god.

You might even remember the song as the one used in those "Somebody I Used To Know - Epic Version" remixes

 

[SirContro]

If I ever turned the minor villain script into an audio drama, Scott would definitely have two themes juxtaposed to his actions. One would be a very somber, depressing tune whenever he accomplishes a goal, hinting at his lust for power, the self-destructing nature that is Scott in pursuit of his goals, and his feelings of inadequacy.

The other would be a very upbeat, chirpy tone, juxtaposed to his regular behavior of bullying other characters or doing something morally bankrupt, showcasing how delusional he is in regards to anyone's impression of him.

 

[NotaNuffian]

Not an actual example, but in Cultivation 40K, the evil faction had spies in the MC's rebellion team and said team is on a suicide mission.

So while the team is going for a melancholic tone, the evil faction broadcasted their bravado with slapstick laughing tracks to the faction's citizens in order to mock and dehumanize the rebellion.

 

[AlanDufran]

So we all know how in games, anime or movies they use the music that fits the scene or character, right? If the scene is sad, they use sad music. Slow, melancholic and so on. If the scene is happy we have upbeat tune. Sometimes however they use juxtaposition when the scene or the character don't really suit the music at the first glance. Usually it happens with something happy or brute-ish characters.

The examples of such juxtaposition. Guts' theme, while Guts is portrayed as a brute, Conan-like character, his theme is melancholic and calm. Gwyn from DS1 is the last boss of the game, we await an epic fight but what we get is plin-plin-plon, nothing but piano. Akuma from Street Fighter always had themes that do not necesserily fit an old guy who is overwhelemed with fury and killing intent. And so on. Those themes fit the character or a scene, but only once you learn more about the said character or watched the whole season before seeing this theme.

Countrary to those examples, Soul of Cinder from DS3 is the last boss of the main game, i remember playing it on music equipment, which i tuned with the help of https://manuals.online/mackie and before DLCs came out it was the last boss of the whole trilogy, so the theme is fittingly epic. Same for Slave Knight Gael from DS3 who is the last boss of the trilogy if we include DLCs. He is the last, the 'strongest' and thus his theme is Epic.

I hope you understand what I meant there and I can move on to my question. Do you know of any instances when they used upbeat song for a sad scene or tragic character? The only example I can think of is the song I Really Want to Stay at Your House from CP2077 Edgerunners(I know it is from the game first and foremost, shaddup). Even then, it's not AS upbeat.

Yeah i can agree with it. A few examples off the top of my head: Donnie Darko with the original “Mad World” (more poppy compared to the cover), Atomic Blonde using “Blue Monday” during a brutal fight, or even Fallout 3 opening with “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire.” The cheerful or catchy vibe just makes the sadness more impactful.