History Main / Leitmotif

* ''Animation/SimpleSamosa'': In the episode "Tutti Frutti", Tutti Frutti the [[AnthropomorphicFood anthropomorphic ice cream]] has a short, cheerful ditty which plays throughout the episode, with lyrics based on a well-known rhyme. The full set of lyrics below only appears at the beginning of the episode; otherwise, only the "I scream, yeah, you scream, we all scream for ice cream, yeah!" part shows up.

** Totobory has a theme comprised primarily of descending clarinet glissandos

* Advertising/JakeFromStateFarm: The "Like a good neighbor..." tagline is punctuated by a jaunty five-note melody. Lampshaded in "Dunk" and "Storytime" where Chris Paul hears the notes and instantly assumes he's in a comercial.

** Cozybory has a suspensful theme with a synthesizer.
** Totobory has a theme comprised primarly of descending clarinet glissandos

* ''Animation/SimpleSamosa'': In the episode "Tutti Frutti", Tutti Frutti the [[AnthropomorphicFood anthropomorphic ice cream]] has a short, cheerful ditty which plays throughout the episode, with lyrics based on a well-known rhyme. The full set of lyrics below only appears at the beginning of the episode, otherwise, only the "I scream, yeah, you scream, we all scream for ice cream, yeah!" part shows up.

** ''Leitmotif/GameOfThrones''
** ''Leitmotif/{{Lost}}''

[[folder:Asian Animation]]

* In ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye, Tarn, head of the Decepticon Justice Division has the classical Cybertronian piece, the "Empyrean Suite" as his theme song in universe.

-->-- '''Tom Servo''', ''Series/{{Mystery Science Theater 3000}}'' episode #209, ''Film/TheHellcats''

* Leitmotif/{{Pinball}}

* Leitmotif/ComicBooks

In ''Radio/TheGoonShow'' almost every appearance of Major Bloodnok is heralded by a specially-composed[[note]] by series composer/conductor Wally Stott, who later transitioned into Angela Morley[[/note]] fanfare. One one occasion, this is played with slightly by beginning the tune in grand, operatic style, before reverting to a fanfare at the end.

See also MoodMotif, StandardSnippet. Supertrope to LoveTheme. Compare ArcWords, which is more or less the literary equivalent. Also compare AMFMCharacterization, when it's the character's music tastes that define them.

If a character with a distinctive-sounding Leitmotif is in a production or episode with NoFourthWall (or at least some MediumAwareness), one of their fellows may [[LampshadeHanging comment]] on how loud and annoying their theme music is. (To which the character will almost always reply, "What theme music?") Can become a ThemeSongReveal for audiences if (or after) they recognize the theme. The character might also have their leitmotif as their own ringtone, for a subtler joke; see also LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn.

Note that if a character's leitmotif starts playing during an action scene, [[ThemeMusicPowerUp start running]].

One especially common leitmotif in video games is the BattleThemeMusic, associated with monster battles in general. (Which also [[RPGsEqualCombat happen]] [[LevelGrinding a]] [[RandomEncounters lot]].) If a specific character's BattleThemeMusic is actually a remix of their Leitmotif, it may be a BossRemix.

A leitmotif (pronounced "Light-motif") is a recurring piece of music (or at least melody) that represents a character, action, or theme. This is a well-established technique used in almost every medium that involves music and story. The leitmotif technique was invented (or more accurately, codified) by opera composer Music/RichardWagner in the second half of the 19th Century. In his later operas, not only would every character have their own musical theme, but so did many objects, places, and even abstract ideas.

[[caption-width-right:350:Now found in [[http://shirtoid.com/29031/imperial-marching-band/ more places]] than the music store.]]

A leitmotif (pronounced "Light-motif") is a recurring piece of music (or at least melody) that represents a character, action, or theme. This is a well-established technique used in almost every medium that involves music and story. The leitmotif technique was invented (or more accurately, codified) by opera composer Music/RichardWagner in the second half of the 19th Century. In his later operas, not only would every character have his/her own musical theme, but so did many objects, places, and even abstract ideas.

If a character with a distinctive-sounding Leitmotif is in a production or episode with NoFourthWall (or at least some MediumAwareness), one of his or her fellows may [[LampshadeHanging comment]] on how loud and annoying their theme music is. (To which the character will almost always reply, "What theme music?") Can become a ThemeSongReveal for audiences if (or after) they recognize the theme. The character might also have their leitmotif as their own ringtone, for a subtler joke; see also LeftTheBackgroundMusicOn.