Cartoon Underscoring: Creative Ways to Add Music to Your Cartoons

 

Characters are much more interesting when they're animated and brought to life with sound. This is the reason why most cartoons today use music to bring the story alive. Below, Canadian music composer Andrew Huggett, shares some creative ways you can add music to your cartoons.

 

How to Use Music in Cartoon Soundtracks

One idea is to use music that's a little bit more on the background. This can be done by using music from other sources. For example, if you're making a cartoon about a rock band, you can use a song from the band's album or even a cover of their song. If you're making a cartoon about an orchestra, you could use music from your favourite movie soundtrack or even the classic "Ode to Joy." Another way to go about this would be to make your own soundtrack! It might sound difficult at first, but it is actually quite easy and it will help with establishing a consistent visual tone for your cartoons.

If you're thinking about creating your own soundtrack, there are some things that you should consider beforehand:

- Consider what kind of mood your character needs to convey

- Consider what kind of soundtrack suits the theme

- Remember that great music doesn't have to cost much

 

The Benefits of Using Music in Your Cartoon Intro

One of the best benefits of using music in your cartoon intro is the fact that it can attract more viewers. People are drawn to things that are catchy and enjoyable. If people watch your video and like it, they will share it, which means you'll get even more views from their friends.

Another benefit is that adding music to a cartoon can increase the viewer's interest in your story. This is because when you start the video with a song playing, it will set up the pace for what's to come. In addition, Andrew Huggett explains, songs can be used as triggers in order to engage your audience's emotions at certain points during your story or sequence of events. With this, you can create an emotional connection between the viewer and character. A good example of this would be using a sad song as a trigger for sadness or heartbreak in one part of the story, whereas using a happy song as a trigger for happiness or joy in another part of the story.

Another benefit is that music can help add more depth to your characters' personalities. For example, Andrew Huggett states, if you're drawing an intro scene where your character has low self-esteem or doesn't believe in themselves, then starting off with upbeat music could help them feel better about themselves and their situation.

 

Creative Ways You Can Add Music to Your Cartoons

Using music to animate your character is a creative way to make your cartoon stand out. One idea is to have the music tell the story of your cartoon. This is a technique that can be seen in the popular show "Rick and Morty." The song used in the opening sequence tells an interesting story about how Rick got his job at the Citadel. Another idea would be to add sound effects or songs that fit your style of cartooning. If you are looking for songs, start with mood-based selections like sad, happy, and silly. If you are looking for sound effects, think about how things move in nature like wind, rain, or thunderstorms. There are so many different ways you can use music to create a unique intro!

 

Conclusion

If you are looking for creative ways to add music to your cartoon, check out Andrew Huggett’s Behance portfolio for some creative inspiration that will take your cartoons to the next level.