The importance of soundtrack in world-building of fantasy games and movies : project and study case - "Shimmering Land" animation and soundtracks

Abstract

The goal of this study was to discuss and determine the importance of soundtrack in fantasy games and movies. Specifically, the aspect of world-building is analysed. The stream of new games and movies is massive, and modern media presents numerous ways to optimize the soundtrack creation, which can be overwhelming for composers and media creators. This thesis aims to explore the purpose of the soundtrack, to examine the numerous ways music can be used in films and games, and to help composers and directors to create powerful, emotional, and immersive experiences for their audiences.

The musical works created by Joe Hisaishi for Hayao Miyazaki’s movie “Spirited Away”, Vangelis’s compositions for Ridley Scott’s movie “Blade Runner” and Daniel Rosenfeld’s soundtracks for the game “Minecraft” were analysed as examples. Online sources, books, and articles were used to research various ways a soundtrack can enhance and influence the world of a game or a movie. Modern media tools such as online music libraries and AI music generation are also discussed.

In addition to the written part of the thesis, the short animation “Shimmering Land”, along with three music tracks was made as a project part. The animation was paired with 3 different soundtracks and a survey was conducted as a study case. The survey aimed to determine how different audios affect participants’ emotions and influence their opinions about the fictional world presented in the moving image. The results of the study case revealed that the soundtrack is a crucial part of the world-building of fantasy games and movies and affects how the audience perceives fictional worlds.